Effects of a combination of Nigella sativa and Vitex agnus-castus with citalopram on healthy menopausal women with hot flashes: results from a subpopulation analysis.

The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficiency of a phytotherapeutic intervention consisting of a combination of Nigella sativa and Vitex agnus-castus with citalopram in the control of hot flashes in healthy menopausal women. An 8 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed among 46 women aged between 40 and 60 years experiencing an average of more than four hot flashes per day recruited during July 2016 to June 2017. Data on severity of vasomotor symptoms were collected at the end of the eighth week. Herbal medication or placebo capsules were administered once daily in morning. At the end of the 8-week treatment period, analyses of covariance demonstrated the superiority of herbal combination with citalopram over placebo and citalopram for three MENQOL domain scores including vasomotor (p < .001), physical (p = .036), psychosocial (p = .001) but no significant differences were observed in terms of sexual function (p = .231). Based on the results, the addition of a combination of N. sativa and V. agnus-castus to the citalopram may be a potential clinical application for improving therapeutic outcomes. Larger randomized, controlled trials are also warranted for further investigations of these symptoms.

Fabrication and characterization of a Bi2O3-modified chitosan@ZIF-8 nanocomposite for enhanced drug loading-releasing efficacy.

In this study, a simple novel hybrid mesoporous nanomaterial derived from a metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) and chitosan, which were coated on green bismuth oxide, has been successfully synthesized, characterized, and applied to investigate its dapsone loading-releasing capability in the aqueous media. This suggested nanocomposite showed promise for drug loading from water b using hydrogen bonds, pi-pi, and electrostatic interactions. Structural and morphological analyses were performed on the proposed green synthesized nanocomposite through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Various influencing parameters, including pH, nanocomposite dose, and contact time, were investigated to optimize the dapsone loading process. Utilizing the non-linear optimization methodology, the results show that dapsone-loading efficiency was >85 % for 50 mg.L-1 of dapsone drug. The optimum parameters for achieving maximal loading of dapsone drug were pH = 6.8, hybrid mesosphere dose = 2.6 mg.mL-1, and time = 53 min. Based on the release investigations, the dapsone-loaded nanocomposite was put into phosphate buffer saline, at pH = 7.4 and T = 37 °C, with a maximum efficiency of 93.9 after 24 h.

Formulation and In-vitro Evaluation of Tretinoin Microemulsion as a Potential Carrier for Dermal Drug Delivery.

In this study, tretinoin microemulsion has been formulated based on phase diagram studies by changing the amounts and proportions of inactive ingredients, such as surfactants, co-surfactants and oils. The effects of these variables have been determined on microemulsion formation, particle size of the dispersed phase and release profile of tretinoin from microemulsion through dialysis membrane. In released studies, static Franz diffusion cells mounted with dialysis membrane were used. Sampling was conducted every 3 h at room temperature over a period of 24 h. The amount of released drug was measured with UV-spectrophotometer and the percentage of drug released was calculated. Based on the results obtained, the oil phase concentration had a proportional effect on particle size which can consequently influence on drug release. The particle size and the amount of released drug were affected by the applied surfactants. The components of the optimized microemulsion formulation were 15% olive oil, 12% propylene glycol (as co-surfactant), 33% Tween(®)80 (as surfactant) and 40% distilled water, which was tested for viscosity and rheological behavior. The prepared tretinoin microemulsion showed pseudoplastic-thixotropic behavior. The profile of drug release follows zero order kinetics. The optimized tretinoin microemulsion showed enhanced in-vitro release profile compared to the commercial gels and creams.

Development and In-vitro Evaluation of a Contraceptive Vagino-Adhesive Propranolol Hydrochloride Gel.

The objective of the present investigation was to develop and evaluate a contraceptive vagino-adhesive propranolol hydrochloride gel. To achieve this, various mucoadhesive polymers including guar gum (1-4% w/w), sodium alginate (4-7% w/w), xanthan gum (2-5% w/w ), HPMC 4000 (3-5% w/w), Na CMC (4-7% w/w), carbomer 934 and carbomer 940 both in the range of 0.5-2.0% w/w, were dispersed in an aqueous-based solution containing the drug (1.6% w/w). The mucoadhesive properties of the gels were assessed on sheep vaginal mucosa (as model mucosa) in pH 4.5 citrate-phosphate buffer at 37°C. Formulations containing charged functional groups in their polymeric structure, showed higher mucoadhesive strengths in comparison to those composed of neutral polymers. In-vitro drug release profiles of the gels were determined in pH 4.5 citrate-phosphate buffer. Results indicated that, only formulation F13 (containing sodium alginate 6.5% w/w), could release its drug over 12 h, with a burst release at the initial phase followed by a sustained release pattern. This formulation, which showed a good mucoadhesive strength (386.97 ± 9.31 mN), was considered as the final formulation and underwent complementary tests including determination of drug content and duration of mucoadhesion. Its drug content was found to be 101.05 ± 0.106% (n = 3) and it attached to the model mucosa for more than 10 h. In conclusion, formulation F13 was considered as the most desirable formulation as it exhibited appropriate mucoadhesive properties while having the potential of providing an immediate contraceptive effect, followed by a prolonged drug release which is assumed to render longer contraceptive efficacy.