Disclosed are systemic and intravaginal non-hormonal contraceptives comprising a spermicidal triterpenoid. The contraceptive may be in the form of a foam, cream or gel, or in unit form of a pill, vaginal contraceptive film (VCF), suppository, sponge, transdermal or hypodermal patches or a slow release intravaginal device or intrauterine device such as a drug-impregnated silicone elastomer vaginal ring or polymeric IUD.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for efficiently producing uniform microparticles of curcumin and/or -oryzanol at a higher yield. The target microparticles are produced by dissolving a starting material in a solvent to give a starting material solution and then subjecting the starting material solution to crystallization by a poor solvent method to thereby deposit the starting material. To prepare the starting material solution, curcumin and/or -oryzanol are used as the starting material(s) and ethanol is used as the solvent. The starting material(s) and the solvent are stirred in a pressurized state at a temperature of 78.3-130 C. inclusive to give the starting material solution. Then, the starting material solution thus obtained is subjected to crystallization by the poor solvent method and thus the target microparticles are produced.

The present invention refers to a process for the industrial-scale preparation of 17?-hydroxy-6?,7?; 15?,16?-dimethylene-3-oxo-17?-pregn-4-ene-21-carboxylic acid y-lactone, known by the common name of Drospirenone, in the form of a fine powder without the use of mechanical grinding or micronization techniques. but rather exploiting a double change of crystalline form, from Crystalline Form I to Crystalline Form II and from Crystalline Form II to Crystalline Form I. The invention also refers to the new Crystalline Form II of Drospirenone obtained in the process.

The present disclosure relates to polycyclic (e.g., tetracyclic) androgen receptor (AR) modulators, synthetic methods for preparing such AR modulators, and methods of using such AR modulators to treat an androgen-dependent condition, such as prostate cancer or BPH. Exemplary compounds have quaternary centers at C10 and C13 and a fused cyclic ring comprising C14 and C15.

A method for synthesizing 3-oxolupenal nanoparticles including isolating 3-oxolupenal from a fraction of Nuxia oppositifolia plant, reducing the 3-oxolupenal to obtain a powder of 3-oxolupenal, dissolving the powder of 3-oxolupenal in methanol to form a first solution, adding the first solution to boiling water to form a second solution, sonicating the second solution, and freeze-drying after sonication to obtain the synthesized 3-oxolupenal nanoparticles. The synthesized 3-oxolupenal nanoparticles exhibited cytotoxic effects and antimicrobial effects.

Compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are set forth. In particular, betulinic acid derivatives that possess unique antiviral activity are provided as HIV maturation inhibitors, as represented by compounds of Formula I:

##STR00001## These compounds are useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.

The present invention relates to C-3 novel triterpenone with C-28 urea derivatives of formula (I); or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable hydrates, tautomers, stereoisomers, prodrugs, compositions or combination thereof, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, W, J and X are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) useful for the treatment of viral diseases and particularly HIV mediated diseases.

##STR00001##

In one aspect, the invention relates to methods for promoting muscle hypertrophy or decreasing adiposity by providing to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

In one aspect, the invention relates to methods for promoting muscle hypertrophy or decreasing adiposity by providing to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and for enhancing proliferation of stem and progenitor cells.