A smart approach for delivery of aripiprazole via oro-soft palatal mucosal route for improved therapeutic efficacy

Effective management of schizophrenia, acute mania, mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorders, and depression can be managed with aripiprazole moiety. In the present research work an attempt was made to minimize the dose related side effects thus improving the quality life of the patients. A novel biopolymer was isolated from the fruits of Trachyspermum ammi. Ten optimized nanosized aripiprazole loaded formulations were prepared in 1-5% concentration of biopolymer (FA1-FA5) and sodium CMC (FM1-FM5) by solvent casting technique. The formulated flexy films were evaluated for thickness, folding endurance, weight uniformity, surface pH, mucoadhesivity, In-vitro drug release studies, In-vivo pharmacodynamic study and stability studies. The isolated biopolymer showed inbuilt fimability and mucoadhesivity and consists of carbonyl, hydroxyl and thiocarbonyl functional groups. All formulations showed folding endurance from 153 to 170, mucoadhesion time in the range of 24-48hrs., and in-vitro drug release was performed using dynamic Franz Diffusion cell and analyzed using BIT-SOFTWARE. The experimental animals showed improved activity score on actophotometer. The formulated nanosized aripiprazole loaded bio-flexy films showed pharmacotherapeutic response. Conclusion can be drawn that optimized formulation showed effective Pharmacodynamic activity and can be used as for improving therapeutic efficacy of aripiprazole through this platform.

Carum induced hypothyroidism: an interesting observation and an experiment.

Carum carvi is a widely available herb that has been used as a food additive and as a medication in traditional medicine for many years. Its potential biological effects include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and antispasmodic activities. We report a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma who were under treatment with levothyroxine and experienced an elevated TSH level by ingestion of Carum carvi. TSH level was increased to 60.3 mIU/L with no change in levothyroxine dosage and decreased to normal range after discontinuation of the Carum carvi. Observing this dramatic change in TSH level by carum ingestion, carum carvi capsules was produced and one of the researcher tried the medication on herself with a dose of 40 mg/kg/day. She had a history of hypothyroidism and was taking 100 ugr/day of levothyroxine. TSH was markedly increased 2 weeks after ingestion of Carum carvi and returned to normal range 5 months after discontinuation of it. This case report shows the effect of consumption of Carum carvi in increasing TSH level in hypothyroid patients treating with levothyroxine. The exact mechanism of action of carum carvi remains unknown.