Exploring the gelling properties of Plantago ovata-based Arabinoxylan: Fabrication and optimization of a topical emulgel using response surface methodology.

Prime objective of the current research was to develop a stable nimesulide emulgel with the help of arabinoxylan, a natural gelling agent extracted from Plantago ovata. The response surface methodology was used by a Design Expert 10 software to formulate and optimize the emulgel. The experimental design approach evaluated the impact of independent and dependent variables. Independent variables were different concentrations of arabinoxylan, span 80 and tween 20, whereas, dependent variables were viscosity, pH, and content uniformity. FTIR demonstrated the compatibility of nimesulide with the excipients. Stability study indicated no phase separation and no change in pH for formulation F1, F3 and F4. The negative values of zeta potential revealed the excellent stability of emulgel. Viscosity, spreadability and extrudability values were in desired range. Ex-vivo permeation study illustrated 86%, 55% and 66% release of the drug over a period of 24 h from the formulations F1, F3 and F4, respectively. Analgesic effect of the optimized emulgel was significantly higher in test group as compared to control and did not produce any sort of irritation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the newly developed emulgel based on arabinoxylan, as gelling agent, appear to be an effective drug delivery system.

Taro-corms mucilage-alginate microspheres for the sustained release of pregabalin: In vitro &in vivo evaluation.

Taro corms mucilage (TCM)-alginate microspheres had been prepared using TCM and alginate as blend and coated form in various ratios through inotropic gelation approach. The prepared microspheres have been of sphere-formed having coarse surface with average particle size within the range 498 µm ±â€¯0.17 to 715 µm ±â€¯0.34. The drug entrapment efficiency was 74.33 ±â€¯0.04% to 89.63 ±â€¯0.01% and swelling of microspheres followed the pattern (blended >coated >plain). FTIR research showed that there had been no interactions among pregabalin and polymers used; these microspheres were further characterized by DSC and XRD. The in vitro drug release followed sustained release (Korsmeyer-Peppas model) pattern (R2 = 0.9552-0.9906) and value of n > 1 showed that drug released by means of anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion. The in vivo research established that there were highly significant difference with p < 0.001 within the pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, t½, AUC0-∞, Ke), while pregabalin microspheres in comparison to pure drug. Therefore, it is concluded that blended microspheres has greater bioavailability for pregabalin with sustained release effect. This evolved that TCM has been proved to be emerging potential pharmaceutical excipient for sustained release drug delivery systems.

Patient Satisfaction with Community Pharmacies Services: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Punjab; Pakistan.

Purpose: Patient satisfaction can identify specific areas of improvement in community pharmacy services. Currently in Pakistan, no evidence exists in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the needs of patients and the current standards of pharmacies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2016 and June 2017. A pilot tested questionnaire was used to collected the data from 1088 patients of 544 community pharmacies. Likert scale and one way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Results: The response rate of community pharmacies was 80% and that of purchasers was 68.1%. The mean age of participants was 35.2 years. The mean overall satisfaction score of participants was 2.78/5.00. Many patients were dissatisfied (1.65/5.00) with parking facilities provided by pharmacies. Pharmacy service time fulfilled the requirements of most patients (4.16/5.00). The counseling person's good attitude (3.99/5.00) was credited by purchasers. Level of patient satisfaction with the availability of medicines (3.19/5.00), safe storage of medicines in pharmacy stores (3.66/5.00), and quality of medicines (3.41/5.00) were almost moderate. Many patients were very satisfied (4.35/5.00) with readable instructions for their medications. Approximately half of the patients were dissatisfied with the waiting time. Many patients were also dissatisfied (2.28/5.00) with the knowledge of the counseling person. Patients perceived that staff interest in patient recovery (2.24/5.00) was low. No significant difference in level of satisfaction with regard to participant's characteristics was found. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated a low level of patient satisfaction with regard to community pharmacy services in Pakistan. These services need improvement.

Development of a rapid resolution HPLC method for the quantitative determination of sitagliptin in Human plasma.

A new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitative determination of sitagliptin in human plasma was developed and validated for pharmacokinetics study. The plasma was spiked with the internal standard (Salbutamol, IS), extracted with trichloro acetic acid. The extracted analyte was injected into a Symmetry® ODS C18 column (250mm×4.5mm, 5m) and the flourometric detector was operated at 267nm for excitation and 575nm for emission. The mobile phase consisting of Potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer pH (4.9)-Acetonitrile-Methanol (30:50:20 v/v) at flow rate of 1.0mL/min. The method showed high specificity. Calibration curves of the peak area ratio of each analyte/IS versus sitagliptin concentration were linear in the range of 0.122-31.25µg/mL (r>0.989) for plasma and 0.012-25ug/ml for QC solution(r>0.995). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.122µg/mL in plasma and 0.012 in QC solution. The intraday and interday coefficient of variation was lower than 10%. The accuracy (relative recovery) at three levels was 100.95%, 101.03% and 97.79% respectively. The extraction recovery was 97.6%, 92.2% and 91.96% at the concentrations of 6.25, 25 and 100µg/mL, respectively. Short term and long term, freeze thaw stability of standard solutions and plasma samples were satisfactory. The optimized HPLC method was validated and proved to be specific, robust and accurate for determination of Sitagliptin in human plasma.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of anticancer drugs in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients after their simultaneous administration.

A pharmacokinetic study of anticancer drugs was carried out in 18 Hodgkin's lymphoma male patients. The anticancer drugs were administered to the patient by a standard procedure and a validated HPLC method was used for plasma concentration determination. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine (ABVD) were 7.71, 4.32, 7.95 and 6.51µg/ml respectively. Adriamycin and Dacarbazine exhibited longer Tmax compared to Bleomycin and Vinblastine. Area under the curve values of ABVD were 118.30, 82.11, 245.54 and 86.62µg/ml*h. The elimination rate constant of Dacarbazine was highest. Vinblastine exhibited highest half-life and mean residence time. Clearances of ABVD were 346.69, 2499.44, 45.90 and 5800.05ml/h. The apparent volume of distribution was highest for Dacarbazine and lowest for Vinblastine. The pharmacokinetic parameters can be utilized for monitoring of plasma concentrations, therapeutic drug monitoring and dosage adjustments to optimize anticancer efficacy in patients of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Pharmacokinetic studies of metformin and glibenclamide in normal human volunteers.

The study was aimed to evaluate various pharmacokinetic parameters of a commercially available fixed dose combination of oral antidiabetics (Metformin/Glibenclamide 500/5mg tablets) in plasma sample of normal healthy adult male volunteers by applying an accurate, selective, and reproducible HPLC-UV analytical method for quantification of Metformin HCL and Glibenclamide simultaneously in a single chromatographic run. Previously no HPLC-UV analytical method for simultaneous estimation of Metformin/Glibenclamide has been reported in Pakistan. The human plasma samples were evaluated by using an isocratic High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system of Sykam consisted of a pump with a column of Thermo Electron Corporation USA (ODS hypersil C18 4.6 mm x 250 mm), a UV-detector with data processing Clarity software. The mobile phase of 0.040M Potassium dihydrogen phosphate containing 0.25mL/L triethylamine at pH 3.5 (adjusted with 1:1 phosphoric acid) and acetonitrile (465: 535v/v) was delivered with injection volume of 100µL at flow rate of 1 mL/min at 25°C temperature. The detection was performed at λmax230 nm. By applying this method, important pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, Tmax, AUCo-oo, AUMCo-oo, t1/2, Ke, MRT, Vdand CIT are calculated. Maximum plasma concentrations Cmax was 131.856±8.050ng/ml for Glibenclamide (Mean ± SEM) and 511.106±12.675 ng/ml for Metformin HCl (Mean ±SEM).