Formulation and characterization of Brucea javanica oil microemulsion for improving safety.

OBJECTIVE: This study engaged in investigation of optimal formulation, characteristics analysis of Brucea javanica oil microemulsion (BJOM) in order to address safety concerns and make recommendations for improvements in BJOM safety during clinical use in vivo. METHODS: Pseudo-ternary phase diagram techniques were used to determine the appropriate ratio of surfactant, cosurfactant and oil phases. Subsequent stability testing of BJOM was performed by dilution, centrifugation and accelerated stability testing. The results were expounded through additional assessment utilizing the classical thermostat method to establish the shelf life of the material. These results were utilized to evaluate the safety of BJOM by haemolytic, irritative and allergic testing in vitro. In addition, the cytotoxicity of BJOM was examined using the tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), with particular emphasis given to potential uses in cancer treatment. RESULTS: The most suitable method of preparation for BJOM was found to be a one to one ratio (Km 1:1) of Solutol HS15 surfactant matched with sorbitol cosurfactant in the ratio. The microemulsion droplets of BJOM possessed a spherical shape, uniform size and average diameter of 23.8 nm. The expiration date of BJOM was found to be 568 d. The safety study demonstrated no hemolysis activity at the experimental BJOM concentrations; however, mild hemolysis was observed at higher concentrations of Brucea javanica oil emulsion (BJOE), a common commercially available product. Irritation observed upon BJOM treatment can be primarily attributed to Brucea javanica oil (BJO) with little influence of BJOM excipients. In addition, BJOM caused no observed hypersensitivity or other visible allergic reactions in guinea pigs. The anticancer activity curves of BJOM and BJOE demonstrate that both BJOM and BJOE inhibit Hela cells, with BJOM demonstrating significantly more dramatic anticancer activity. CONCLUSION: An optimal formulation of BJOM superior to commercially available products and safe for medical application such as intravenous injection has been outlined along with its anticancer activity rating.

[Study on the extraction process of total flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors affecting the extracting total flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum L. systematically. METHODS: Taken total flavonoids yield as index, the effects of ethanol concentration, extraction temperature, extraction time, extraction times and solvent consumption on total flavonoids yield were investigated separately by single factor test. Orthogonal test was designed by extraction temperature, solvent consumption, ethanol concentration and extraction time. RESULTS: The factors affecting total flavonoid yield was in the order of extraction temperature, ethanol concentration, extraction times and ethanol consumption. The total flavonoid was the highest extracted in ten times of 60% ethanol for 3 times. CONCLUSION: Process condition is optimized, which forms the scientific and reasonable bases for developing the anti-impressive active parts from Hypericum perforatum L.

The study on the extraction method of indirubin from Indigo Naturalis.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss how to extract the indirubin of the higher purity from Indigo Naturalis. METHODS: After extracting the indirubin from Indigo Naturalis by acetic ether, compare the separation effect of the extract in Si gel column with that in alumina column. RESULTS: The indirubin in Indigo Naturalis by Si gel column chromatography is chosen. The purity of indirubin is 98.3% after Si gel column chromatography. CONCLUSION: The indiruhbin of the higher purity was attained by the simple experimental method.