Formation and Investigation of Electrospun Eudragit E100/Oregano Mats.

An electrospun mat of Eudragit E100 (EE100) (a cationic copolymer based on dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and methyl methacrylate) was used as a delivery system for oregano ethanolic extract (OEE). Oregano is a biologically active material which is widely used because of the antibacterial and antifungal activity. The oregano herb consists of phenolic compounds, the main of which are rosmarinic acid and from essential oil-carvacrol. Such a material could be an ideal candidate for oral drug systems. The influence of the EE100 concentration in the OEE on the structure of electrospun mats, encapsulation efficiency, dissolution profile, release kinetics and the stability of biologically active compounds was investigated. The concentration of the solution is a critical parameter for the structure and properties of electrospun mats. The diameter of electrospun fibers increased with the increase of EE100 concentration in the OEE. Electrospun mats obtained from 24% to 32% EE100 solutions showed high encapsulation efficiency, quick release and high stability of rosmarinic acid and carvacrol. Dissolution tests showed that 99% of carvacrol and 80% of rosmarinic acid were released after 10 min from electrospun nano-microfiber mats and capsules obtained from such formulations. The stability tests showed that physicochemical properties, dissolution profiles, and rosmarinic acid and carvacrol contents of the formulations were not significantly affected by storage.

Evaluation of Chemical Composition, Radical Scavenging and Antitumor Activities of Satureja hortensis L. Herb Extracts.

Satureja hortensis L. is an annual herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae Lindl. family. S. hortensis L., related to thyme and rosemary, is used as spice and traditional medicinal herb in Europe. Mainly due to the polyphenols contained in S. hortensis L., this plant exhibits multiple biological effects. However, therapeutic effects on cells, including skin tumors, have not yet been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the composition and the resulting antioxidant as well as biological properties [on melanocytes and melanoma cells] of summer, savory growing in botanical garden of Vytautas Magnus University in middle Lithuania climatic conditions, collected during various phases of vegetation. It has been shown that the budding phase alcohol extract of this plant contains the largest amounts of polyphenols, including rutin and rosemary acid, which promote the radical scavenging activity and antioxidant properties. In contrast, the extract from the massive flowering phase already at a concentration of 12.5 µg/mL reduces the survival of melanoma cells to 60% with 90% melanocytes survival. In addition, extracts from beginning of flowering and end of flowering at a concentration of 25 µg/mL, containing significantly less rutin and rosmarinic acid, in combination with irradiation of cells with UVB, significantly increased the lipid peroxidation process, particularly in melanoma cells. These data indicate the possibility of using extracts from S. hortensis L. to modulate/differentiate the metabolism of normal and tumor skin cells.

[Herbal medicinal preparations in the Lithuanian market]. / Augalines kilmes preparatai Lietuvos farmacijos rinkoje.

Today phytopreparations take important place in the modern therapy. There are 6475 medicinal preparations registered in Lithuania (2 January, 2003). Out of them, 7.38 % or 482 are preparations herbal and animal origin. Lithuanian companies produce the biggest part of these drugs. Tea is the most popular drug form produced from medicinal plants. There are 4 producers of medicinal teas in Lithuania: "Acorus Calamus", "Svencioniu vaistazoles", "Herba Humana" and "Karvelio terapijos-fitoterapijos imone". Preparations of herbal origin are generally used in treatment of digestive, respiratory tract, and nervous system problems. Twenty-six different drug forms are produced from medicinal plants.

[Analysis of possibilities of pharmaceutical care elements implementation in Lithuanian community pharmacies]. / Farmacines rupybos elementu igyvendinimo Lietuvos visuomenes vaistinese galimybiu analize.

OBJECTIVE: Objective of this survey--possibilities of implementation of pharmaceutical care elements in daily work of Lithuanian community pharmacies. All pharmacists have to ensure the best quality of pharmaceutical services which they render to their patients. Pharmacists also must improve the quality of pharmaceutical services, according to recommendations of pharmaceutical care. For a start they should implement at least separate elements of pharmaceutical care if they are going to provide pharmaceutical care services in their community pharmacies in the future. That's why this survey was designed to clarify the possibilities of implementation of separate pharmaceutical care elements in to daily work of community pharmacies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Material of this survey--pharmaceutical services rendered in Lithuanian community pharmacies. This survey has an analytical character and was accomplished with questionnaire. Chiefs of community pharmacies were asked to complete of questionnaire. We gave 150 questionnaires and received answers from 128 pharmacists. RESULTS: After gathered data analysis we found out that only 2% of pharmacies are almost prepared and well equipped for provision of pharmaceutical care services; however, they still have to rearrange their facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Lithuanian community pharmacies are not ready to work according to recommendations of pharmaceutical care today. Some elements of pharmaceutical care (such as blood pressure measurement, provision of written information for patient, etc.) are already implemented by almost all Lithuanian community pharmacies. If pharmacists want to provide pharmaceutical care services they should create a database of patient medication records in pharmacy. Unfortunately Lithuanian pharmacists do not have such databases today. Only with such databases there is a possibility to render pharmaceutical services of the best quality.

[Analysis of flavonoids in the flowers and leaves of Monarda didyma L]. / Flavonoidu analize raudonosios monardos (Monarda didyma L.) zieduose ir lapuose.

Monarda didyma L. is a herbaceous perennial with the square stems and opposite leaves characteristic of herbs in the Labiate family. Monarda didyma L. is often used as a domestic medicine, being particularly useful in the treatment of digestive disorders. The leaves and flowering stems are antihelmintic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient and stimulant. Monarda didyma L. has twenty-six compounds in the essential oil, of which thymol, with smaller amounts of para-cymene, d-limonene, carvacrol, linalool, and hydrothymoquinone. A new method was used for the determining of the amount of separate flavonols by high-performance liquid chromatography. The flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin, luteolin, quercetin) were found in leaves and flowers of beebalm. The quantity of flavonoids was higher in flowers than in leaves of Monarda didyma L.