Background Highlighting afordable alternative crops that are rich in bioactive phytoconstituents is essential 
for advancing nutrition and ensuring food security. Amaranthus blitum L. (AB) stands out as one such crop with a traditional history of being used to treat intestinal disorders, roundworm infections, and hemorrhage. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and hematologic activities across various extracts of AB and investigate the phytoconstituents responsible for these activities.
Methods In vitro anthelmintic activity against Trichinella spiralis was evaluated in terms of larval viability reduction. The anti-platelet activities were assessed based on the inhibitory efect against induced platelet aggregation. Further, efects on the extrinsic pathway, the intrinsic pathway, and the ultimate common stage of blood coagulation, were monitored through measuring blood coagulation parameters: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT), respectively. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis.
Results Interestingly, a previously undescribed compound (19), N-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan, was iso‑
lated and identifed along with 21 known compounds. Signifcant in vitro larvicidal activities were demonstrated 
by the investigated AB extracts at 1mg/mL. Among tested compounds, compound 18 (rutin) displayed the high‑
est larvicidal activity. Moreover, compounds 19 and 20 (N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan) induced complete 
larval death within 48h. The crude extract exhibited the minimal platelet aggregation of 43.42±11.69%, compared 
with 76.22±14.34% in the control plasma. Additionally, the crude extract and two compounds 19 and 20 signifcantly inhibited the extrinsic coagulation pathway.
Conclusions These fndings extend awareness about the nutritional value of AB as a food, with thrombosis-preventing capabilities and introducing a promising source for new anthelmintic and anticoagulant agents

Ocular fungal infections can pose severe health conditions that may develop into vision impairment and
blindness. Sertaconazole (STZ) is a widely used antifungal; however, its low aqueous solubility restricts its topical application for managing ocular keratitis. This investigation aimed to develop polymeric nanoparticles as delivery carriers to improve the ophthalmic availability of STZ for treating fungal keratitis. The impact of STZ solid dispersion incorporation within polymeric nanoparticles for in vitro drug release enhancement was also evaluated.
STZ-laden PLGA NPs were formulated via nanoprecipitation technology, using a 24-full factorial layout to
optimize the formulation. The formed nanoparticles were assessed for encapsulation efficiency percentage, hydrodynamic size, surface charge, and polydispersity index. The selected formula exhibited a particle size of 305.9 ± 4.36 nm, an entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 98.8 ± 0.008%, a surface charge of 22.57 ± 0.23 mV, and a low polydispersity index, indicating a uniform size distribution. Incorporating STZ in a solid dispersion form with PEG 2000 at a 1:3 w/w drug-to-carrier ratio increased the hydrodynamic size of the PLGA NPs. However, no significant variation in the entrapment efficiency percentage was recorded. The developed STZ-solid dispersionloaded PLGA NPs have round-shaped structures. DSC and FTIR spectroscopy data indicated drug amorphization with successful loading within the PLGA matrix. Introducing the drug as a solid dispersion within PLGA NPs resulted in enhancing the rate of drug dissolution at initial time intervals, followed by a controlled drug release over 24 h. STZ-PEG2000-laden PLGA NPs enhanced permeability through rabbits’ corneas (Papp), 2.5-fold higher versus STZ-loaded PLGA NPs. The antimycotic activity of the developed formulation was tested against Candida albicans, and a 4-fold reduction in the MIC value was detected upon applying the nanoparticles’ formulation embedding STZ solid dispersion versus that containing the free drug. In conclusion, the formulation of solid dispersions of STZ loaded in PLGA nanoparticles may serve as a starting point for an efficient approach to the ocular delivery of hydrophobic medications and a viable setup for the upcoming research in animal models of fungal keratitis.