In vivo antioxidant potential of fruit mucilage from two varieties of Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis against oxidative stress induced toxicity.

To evaluate in-vivo antioxidant potential of fruit mucilage from Cucumis melo variety momordica (PM) and variety agrestis (KM) using rats as experimental animals, the fruits were collected, identified, dried and pulverized. Mucilages were isolated from the fruit powders by microwave-assisted method. Aqueous extracts obtained were filtered to remove fruit pulp. Each filtrate was centrifuged at 4000xg rpm for 15 min. Each supernatant was precipitated with 3 volumes of 95% ethanol and maintained overnight at 4°C. These precipitates were filtered and lyophilized. In vivo antioxidant activity was determined using rats for 14 days. Paracetamol (75mg/Kg, i.p.) for inducing oxidative stress and Vitamin C & Vitamin E (200mg/Kg each, p.o.) as standard treatment were used. PM and KM were given in 500mg/Kg and 1000mg/Kg, p.o. doses in separate groups. SOD, MDA, GSH and CAT levels were estimated in organs (liver, kidney, heart, brain) of all groups using standard procedures. Toxic control showed prominent toxicity in the liver. The levels of GSH, CAT and SOD were raised and MDA levels were reduced in all organs of test and standard groups. The levels of antioxidant biomarkers varied in all remaining groups. The overall results are significant suggesting strong antioxidant potential of PM and KM.

Physicochemical Characterization of Grewia ferruginea Hochst. ex A. Rich Mucilage for Potential Use as a Pharmaceutical Excipient.

Gum and mucilages from natural sources are in recent times increasingly investigated for pharmaceutical applications. Different studies have shown that the gum and mucilage fraction of various species of the genus Grewia were found to be effective viscosity enhancers, stabilizers, disintegrants, suspending agents, gelling agents, bioadhesives, film coating agents, and binders. However, no study has been conducted on the potential use of Grewia ferruginea mucilage (GFM) as a pharmaceutical excipient. Therefore, this study was aimed at characterizing the Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage for its potential use as a pharmaceutical excipient. The mucilage was extracted from the Grewia ferruginea inner stem bark through aqueous extraction, precipitated with 96% ethanol, dried, and powdered. The powdered mucilage was characterized for different physicochemical properties such as powder property, loss on drying, solubility and swelling index, ash value, pH, viscosity, moisture sorption property, microbial load, and acute oral toxicity. According to the results, the percentage yield of the final dried and powdered GFM was found to be 11.96% (w/w). The density and density-related properties of the mucilage showed good powder flow property. The GFM exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior. Moisture sorption property of GFM revealed its hygroscopic nature, and its solubility and swelling property was increased with temperature. The pH of GFM was near neutral. Microbial load of the mucilage was within the pharmacopoeial limit, and the oral acute toxicity test revealed that the mucilage is safe up to 2000 mg/kg. From the investigations of this study, it can be concluded that Grewia ferruginea bark mucilage has the potential to be utilized as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations.

Intra-articular mucilages: behavioural and histological evaluations for a new model of articular pain.

OBJECTIVES: The creation of a new valid preclinical model of articular pain by the intra-articular (i.a.) injection of mucilages for the screening of new treatments against arthritis. METHODS: A single intra-articular injection (20 µl) of mucilages (from Althaea officinalis roots and Linum usitatissimun seeds) or vegetal components (Amorphophallus konjac gum powder and ß-glucan, used as reference standard) were assessed in the rat. The pathology progression was monitored by behavioural measurements (paw pressure test, von Frey test, incapacitance test and beam balance test) and compared to that induced by the i.a. injections of monoiodioacetate (MIA) and Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA), well-recognized models of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. KEY FINDINGS: Among all, the mucilage of L. usitatissimun showed the best pro-algic profile inducing a painful long-lasting condition. Hypersensitivity was characterized as a mixed form of inflammatory and neuropathic pain by the responsiveness to ibuprofen (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and pregabalin (30 mg/kg, p.o.). The histological evaluation of joint showed a damage that represents both MIA and CFA features. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a single i.a. injection of L. usitatissimun mucilage can represent a valid model to assess articular pain in the rat for the screening of new treatments against arthritis.

Isolation and characterization of natural polysaccharide from Cassia Obtustifolia seed mucilage as film forming material for drug delivery.

In this work Cassia obtustifolia seed mucilage isolated and evaluated as novel excipient for drug delivery. Seed mucilage was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively for presence of polysaccharide. A novel biodegradable film based on mucilage obtained from seeds of Cassia obtustifolia was fabricated and characterized. The microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of the film were determined. Results of the scanning electron microscopy revealed a smooth and regular surface morphology. DSC and X-ray diffraction studies revealed an amorphous structure of Cassia obtustifolia seed mucilage films. In vitro degradation simulated body fluids and oral acute toxicity studies with high LD50 value of >2 g/kg of body weight demonstrate its safety as excipient. Diclofenac loaded film exhibited sustained drug release due to swelling and diffusion of film. These findings demonstrated that the Cassia obtustifolia seed mucilage had potential to use as film forming excipient with enhanced characteristics for drug delivery application.

Physicochemical characterization and toxicological evaluation of plant-based anionic polymers and their nanoparticulated system for ocular delivery.

The water-soluble fractions of mucilages and gum from the seeds of fenugreek, isphagula and mango bark exudate were isolated, purified and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), maldi/GC-MS, elemental analysis, 1D ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D (HMQC, COSY) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The fenugreek mucilage was identified to be a galactomannan chain consisting of 4 units of galactose attached to the backbone of 6 mannose units in 1:1.5 ratio. The isphagula mucilage was identified to be an arabinoxylan polysaccharide chain consisting of 4 units of arabinofuranose attached to the backbone of 9 xylopyrannose units in 1:3 ratio. The mango gum showed the presence of amylose, α-arabinofuranosyl and ß-galactopyranosyl, respectively. The characterized mucilages and gum were individually formulated into nanoparticulate system using their complementarily charged polymer chitosan. The particles were observed to be spherical in shape in the range of 61.5-90 nm having zetapotential between 31 and 34 mV and PDI of 0.097-0.241. The prepared nanoparticles were observed to be nonirritant and nontoxic in vitro and in vivo upto 2000 µg/ml. Therefore, these mucilages and gum can be the alternatives of anionic polymers for the ocular drug delivery system.