A Comparative Analysis of Phytochemicals, Metal Ions, Volatile Metabolites in Heart Wood, Stem Bark and Leaves of Salix alba L. along with in Vitro Antioxidant, Antacid, Antimicrobial Activities for Sake of Environment Conservation by Substitution of Stem Bark With Leaf.

The genus of Salix is used in food, medicine and nutraceuticals, and standardized by using the single marker compound Salicin only. Stem bark is the official part used for the preparation of various drugs, nutraceuticals and food products, which may lead to overexploitation and damage of tree. There is need to search substitution of the stem bark with leaf of Salix alba L. (SA), which is yet not reported. Comparative phytochemicals viz. Salicin, Procyanidin B1 and Catechin were quantified in the various parts of SA viz. heart wood (SA-HW), stem bark (SA-SB) and leaves (SA-L) of Salix alba L.by using newly developed HPLC method. It was observed that SA-HW and SA-L contained far better amount of Salicin, Procyanidin B and Catechin as compared to SA-SB (SA-HW~SA-L≫SA-SB). Essential and toxic metal ions of all three parts were analysed using newly developed ICP-OES method, where SA-L were founded as a rich source of micronutrients and essential metal ions as compared to SA-SB and SA-HW. GC-MS analysis has shown the presence of fatty acids and volatile compounds. The observed TPC and TFC values for all three parts were ranged from 2.69 to 32.30 mg GAE/g of wt. and 37.57 to 220.76 mg QCE/g of wt. respectively. In DPPH assay the IC50 values of SA-SB, SA-HW, and SA-L were 1.09 (±0.02), 5.42 (±0.08), and 8.82 (±0.10) mg/mL, respectively. The order of antibacterial activities against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and B. subtilis strains was SA-L>SA-HW>SA-SB with strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus, and B. subtilis strains. The antacid activities order was SA-L>SA-SB>SA-HW. The leaves of SA have shown significant source of nutrients, phytochemicals and medicinal properties than SA-HW and SA-SB. The leaves of SA may be considered as substitute of stem bark to save the environment or to avoid over exploitation, but after the complete pharmacological and toxicological studies.

Disposable optical sensor for Al(III) ions determination by coupled colorimetric solid-phase extraction-reflectance spectroscopy in leachates from cookware, antacids and hygienic care products.

A disposable and miniaturised optical sensor based on colorimetric solid-phase extraction has been designed using poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) membrane disks modified with the colorimetric reagent pyridoxal salicyloylhydrazone to determine the aluminium concentration in aqueous solutions. The extraction of Al(III) ions by the reagent immobilised onto a disk allows the quantification directly on the adsorbent surface by a miniature portable reflectance spectrometer with an optical fibre at 434 nm. The optimisation of the sensing system was carried out by a fractional factorial design 33-1 considering the extraction pH, amount of ligand immobilised onto the disk and time of immobilisation as experimental factors. The linear dynamic range of the sensor response ranged from 0.18 to 2 mg L-1 Al(III) with a detection limit of 0.18 mg L-1 (n = 10), being the precision of 6.3% for 1 mg L-1 Al(III) (n = 10, confidence level of 95%). The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of aluminium in leachates from cookware, antacids and hygienic care products, as contribution to the concern about aluminium as a known systemic toxicant at high doses.

Modulation of microenvironmental pH and utilization of alkalizers in crystalline solid dispersion for enhanced solubility and stability of clarithromicin.

Clarithromycin (CAM) is known to be poorly water-soluble and acid-labile drug. Various alkalizers such as MgO, Na2CO3, Na2HPO4 and NaHCO3 were utilized to modulate the microenvironmental pH (pHM) and to improve the low stability and solubility of CAM in a crystalline-solid dispersion system (CSD). Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K-30) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) 4000-based CSDs containing alkalizers were prepared by cosolvent precipitation followed by evaporation process. The dried-CSDs mixed with microcrystalline cellulose, 2% croscarmellose sodium, and 1% magnesium stearate was then directly compressed into tablet. A dissolution test was carried out in 900 mL of pH 5.0 buffer solutions at 37 °C with a 50 rpm paddle speed. pHM, surface morphology, and structural behaviors were investigated. The dissolution rates of CAM in CSD containing alkalizers were improved. The drug in CSD remained crystalline as observed by differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy revealed nearly identical images regardless of the sorts and amounts of carriers. PVP-based CSD tablet without alkalizer showed greater drug release, while HPMC-based CSD tablet without alkalizer retarded drug release due to its greater swelling capability. However, when the alkalizers were added in CSD tablet, the drug release was sharply increased. NaHCO3 induced the most rapid drug release while MgO retarded drug dissolution. Alkalizers in CSD also could maintain the pHM of the tablet above pH 5 under acidic conditions. The use of pH modifiers in CSDs could provide a useful method to improve the dissolution rate and stability of CAM via modulation of pHM without changing drug crystallinity.

Almagate interference in breath test results for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Infection by Helicobacter pylori is common and affects both genders at any age. The 13C-urea breath test is a widely used test for the diagnosis of this infection. However, multiple drugs used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection symptoms have interactions with this breath test that generate false negative results. This observational study was to assess the potential interaction between almagate and the breath test. METHODS: Thirty subjects on almagate therapy who underwent a breath test were included. If the result was negative, almagate was withdrawn for a month and the breath test was then repeated. RESULTS: In general, 51.9 % of assessed subjects had a negative result after the first test, and 100 % of these also had a negative result after the second test. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the use of almagate does not interfere in breath test results. These results provide a drug therapy option for the treatment of symptoms associated with Helicobacter pylori infection during the diagnostic process.

A validated HPLC assay method for the determination of sodium alginate in pharmaceutical formulations.

A high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector method was developed and validated for the quantification of sodium alginate in antacid oral suspension using a phenyl stationary phase and buffer solution at pH 7.0 as a mobile phase. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision and robustness. The method was specific for the determination of sodium alginate in the bulk drug, pharmaceutical dosage form and under stress degradation. The method was linear over the range of 600 to 1,400 µg/mL with r(2) = 0.9999, and accuracy and precision were acceptable with relative standard deviation < 2.0%. The described method is simple, specific, precise, accurate, robust and stability-indicating, and can be successfully applied for the routine analysis of sodium alginate in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage form.

Aluminium and strontium in calcium supplements and antacids: a concern to haemodialysis patients?

Trace elements, most notably aluminium and strontium, have been noted for their role in the development of secondary bone disorders in haemodialysis patients. Due to the large dosages of calcium required for the maintenance of dialysis patients, this study investigated whether the source of calcium chosen for supplementation, including the form of administration (i.e. chewable forms or capsules), has an influence on the total amount of strontium and aluminium ingested daily. A convenience sample of various calcium supplement tablets and antacids was acquired, and strontium and aluminium quantification was performed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The use of readily available oyster shell-based calcium was found potentially to increase the total amount of ingested strontium substantially with concentrations reaching (2.26 +/- 0.05) (mg Sr).(g Ca)(-1), while the use of antacids or chewable supplements was found to contain concentrations reaching as high as (1.2 +/- 0.3) (mg Al).(g Ca)(-1) in the supplements analysed within this work. It is recommended that the choice of calcium supplement prescribed to individuals undergoing haemodialysis be closely regulated and noted as a possible factor in the prevalence of bone disorders reported in these patients.

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion by a standardized aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth and underlying mechanism.

Cecropia glazioui Sneth (Cecropiaceae) is used in folk medicine in tropical and subtropical Latin America as cardiotonic, diuretic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic. The hypotensive/antihypertensive activity of the plant aqueous extract (AE) and isolated butanolic fraction (BuF) has been confirmed and putatively related to calcium channels blockade in vascular smooth musculature [Lapa, A.J., Lima-Landman, M.T.R., Cysneiros, R.M, Borges, A.C.R., Souccar, C., Barreta, I.P., Lima, T.C.M., 1999. The Brazilian folk medicine program to validate medicinal plants - a topic in new antihypertensive drug research. In: Hostettman, K., Gupta, M.P., Marston, A. (Eds.), Proceedings Volume, IOCD/CYTED Symposium, Panamá City, Panamá, 23-26 February 1997. Chemistry, Biological and Pharmacological Properties of Medicinal Plants from the Americas. Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, pp. 185-196; Lima-Landman, M.T., Borges, A.C., Cysneiros, R.M., De Lima, T.C., Souccar, C., Lapa, A.J., 2007. Antihypertensive effect of a standardized aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth in rats: an in vivo approach to the hypotensive mechanism. Phytomedicine 14, 314-320]. Bronchodilation and antidepressant-like activities of both AE and BuF have been also shown [Delarcina, S., Lima-Landman, M.T., Souccar, C., Cysneiros, R.M., Tanae, M.M., Lapa, A.J., 2007. Inhibition of histamine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs treated with Cecropia glaziovi Sneth and correlation with the in vitro activity in tracheal muscles. Phytomedicine 14, 328-332; Rocha, F.F., Lima-Landman, M.T., Souccar, C., Tanae, M.M., De Lima, T.C., Lapa, A.J., 2007. Antidepressant-like effect of Cecropia glazioui Sneth and its constituents -in vivo and in vitro characterization of the underlying mechanism. Phytomedicine 14, 396-402]. This study reports the antiulcer and antisecretory gastric acid activities of the plant AE, its BuF and isolated compounds with the possible mechanism involved. Both AE and BuF were assayed on gastric acid secretion of pylorus-ligated mice, on acute models of gastric mucosal lesions, and on rabbit gastric H(+), K(+)-ATPase preparations. Intraduodenal injection of AE or BuF (0.5-2.0g/kg, i.d) produced a dose-related decrease of the basal gastric acid secretion in 4-h pylorus-ligated mice. At 1.0g/kg, BuF decreased the volume (28%) and total acidity (33%) of the basal acid secretion, and reversed the histamine (2.5mg/kg, s.c.)- or bethanecol (1.0mg/kg, s.c.)-induced acid secretion to basal values, indicating inhibition of the gastric proton pump. Pretreatment of mice with the BuF (0.05-0.5g/kg, p.o.) protected against gastric mucosal lesions induced by 75% ethanol, indomethacin (30mg/kg, s.c.) or restraint at 4 degrees C. BuF also decreased the gastric H(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in vitro proportionately to the concentration (IC(50)=58.8microg/ml). The compounds isolated from BuF, consisting mainly of cathechins, procyanidins and flavonoids [Tanae, M.M., Lima-Landman, M.T.R., De Lima, T.C.M., Souccar, C., Lapa, A.J., 2007. Chemical standardization of the aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth endowed with antihypertensive, bronchodilator, antacid secretion and antidepressant-like activities. Phytomedicine 14, 309-313], inhibited the in vitro gastric H(+), K(+)-ATPase activity at equieffective concentrations to that of BuF. The results indicate that C. glazioui constituents inhibit the gastric proton pump; this effect may account for the effective antisecretory and antiulcer activities of the standardized plant extract.

Flow and sequential injection methods for the spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminium in pharmaceutical products using chromotropic acid as chromogenic reagent.

This work reports rapid and sensitive FI and SI spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of aluminium in pharmaceutical formulations. The methods are based on the reaction of aluminium with chromotropic acid (CA) in acidic medium to form a water-soluble complex (lambdaex.=360 nm, lambdaem.=385 nm). The proposed methods were validated in terms of linearity, repeatability, detection limit, accuracy and selectivity. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.03-2.0 and 0.1-4.0mg/l of aluminium using the FI and SI assays, respectively. The repeatabilities (sr=0.8% and 1.1% at 1mg/l aluminium using the FI and the SI assay, respectively, n=12) were satisfactory. The FI and SI methods proved to be adequately selective and sensitive with respective 3sigma limits of detection equal to cL=0.01 and 0.03 mg/l Al(III). The sampling rates were 120 and 72 h(-1) with the FI and SI assay. The methods were applied successfully to the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations (tablets and suspensions). The results were in good agreement with those by an official reference method and the nominal values of the pharmaceutical products.

An improved in vitro method for the evaluation of antacids with in vivo relevance.

An improved in vitro method for the evaluation of antacids for use with standard equipment is described. The method is a modification of an older method (RIGO method) and has in vivo relevance. The improved method uses USP dissolution test apparatus 2 with a stirring rate of 125 rpm in combination with a computerized automatic burette. The test solution is 250 ml 0.02 M HCl. A total of 20 min after addition of an antacid to the test solution titration starts at a constant speed of 2.0 ml/min 0.1 M HCl. The proposed acceptance criteria for a waiver for clinical studies are: pH after 4 min not less than 2.5 to ensure a rapid onset of effect, pH after 20 min not exceeding 7.0 to ensure that the pH in the stomach remains within physiological values, buffering capacity between pH 2.5 and 4.5 not less than 8 meq/dose and neutralizing capacity not less than 10 meq/dose to ensure sufficient efficacy within the physiological range. The improved method has been validated with respect to robustness to variations in sample preparation, repeatability and intermediate precision and has been cross-validated versus the RIGO method. The improved method has been found to be rather insensitive to variations in sample pretreatment and at least equivalent to the RIGO method.

Flow injection potentiometric determination of bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations.

A flow injection potentiometric procedure is proposed for determining bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations. In this work, a tubular electrode coated with an ion-pair formed between [Bi(EDTA)](-) and tricaprylylmethylammonium cation (Aliquat 336) in a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) was constructed and used in a single channel flow injection system. The effect of membrane composition, pH and flow injection parameter over the Bi(III) tubular electrode response (slope (mV/decade)) was initially evaluated in quintuplicate in 0.5 mol l(-1) EDTA solution as carrier. The best response (-59.6+/-0.9 mV/decade) was attained with the 5% m/m ion-pair; 65% m/m o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) and 30% m/m PVC in pH 6-9. The electrode showed a linear response to E (mV) versus log [Bi(EDTA)](-) in the bismuth(III) concentration range from 2.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-2) mol l(-1) and a useful lifetime of at least 5 months (more than 1000 determinations for each polymeric membrane). The detection limit was 1.2x10(-5) mol l(-1) and the R.S.D. was less than 2.0% for a solution containing 5.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) bismuth(III) (n=10). Several species such as Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Cr(III) and Al(III) at 1.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) concentration in 0.5 mol l(-1) EDTA solution did not cause any interference. The frequency rate was 90 determinations per hour and the results obtained for bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations using this flow procedure and those obtained using a spectrophotometric procedure are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Application of infrared spectrophotometry to the identification of inorganic substances in dosage forms of Antacida group.

Powdered tablets from the Antacida group: Alusal, Milk of Magnesia, Alumag, Maalox, Magnosil, Alugastrin, Malugastrin, Rennie, and components deciding about their antiacidity like Al(OH)3, Mg(OH)2, Mg2Si3O8, NaAl(OH)2CO3, MgAl(OH)(SO4)2, CaCO3, MgCO3, were subjected to infrared spectrophotometric investigations. It was found that infrared spectra of each pharmaceutical compound are different and show a series of characteristic maxima, by which they can be identified with in the spectral range of 4000 cm-1-200 cm-1. Comparison of infrared spectra of finished products with spectra of their components it was showed that the application of infrared spectrophotometry methods enabled us to prove the presence of particular compounds used in formulations. Tablet mass and odorizing agents do not cause significant changes in spectra of the tablets studied, preparations from the Antacida group.

Lead in calcium supplements.

Intercalibrated measurements of lead in calcium supplements indicate the importance of rigorous analytical techniques to accurately quantify contaminant exposures in complex matrices. Without such techniques, measurements of lead concentrations in calcium supplements may be either erroneously low, by as much as 50%, or below the detection limit needed for new public health criteria. In this study, we determined the lead content of 136 brands of supplements that were purchased in 1996. The calcium in the products was derived from natural sources (bonemeal, dolomite, or oyster shell) or was synthesized and/or refined (chelated and nonchelated calcium). The dried products were acid digested and analyzed for lead by high resolution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The method's limit of quantitation averaged 0.06 microg/g, with a coefficient of variation of 1.7% and a 90-100% lead recovery of a bonemeal standard reference material. Two-thirds of those calcium supplements failed to meet the 1999 California criteria for acceptable lead levels (1.5 microg/daily dose of calcium) in consumer products. The nonchelated synthesized and/or refined calcium products, specifically antacids and infant formulas, had the lowest lead concentrations, ranging from nondetectable to 2.9 microg Pb/g calcium, and had the largest proportion of brands meeting the new criteria (85% of the antacids and 100% of the infant formulas).

[Antacid and sorption properties of mushroom powder made of dried solids (Pleurotus ostreatus)]. / Antatsidnye i sorbtsionnye svoistva gribnogo poroshka iz veshenki obyknovennoi (Pleurotus ostreatus).

It was established in the experiments determining the influence of the mushroom powder on acidity of the HCl solution by means of ionometrical method that in 15 minutes after introduction 3 gram of the powder pH of the solution increases from 1.62 up to 2.64. The stable meaning of the solution pH (without fall) can be (held) the same in the presence of the powder more than 23 hours. The mushroom powder reduces the high content of the ions Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the solution from 8.8 x 10(-6) up to 3.3 x 10(-6) and from 11.8 x 10(-6) up to 8.6 x 10(-6) mole/ml correspondingly. The trustworthy reduction (fall) of the concentration of the ions Zn2+ and Cd2+ in the filtrate was not discovered (found out). To determine the content of metal in the solution the method of flaming atomic adsorption.

In vitro buffering capacities of proprietary non-particulate antacids available in New Zealand.

Four commercially available non-particulate antacid preparations were titrated against 1M hydrochloric acid to assess buffering capacity as compared to 30 ml 0.3M sodium citrate solution. All antacids were used in the manufacturers "unit dose". All antacids tested demonstrated some in vitro buffering capacity, and "Eno" (Reckitt and Colman) had a buffering capacity similar to that of sodium citrate. The retail cost per unit dose was established for each proprietary antacid and for sodium citrate. It was concluded that while proprietary antacids are cheaper per dose than sodium citrate, preparations differ in their acid-neutralising capacity.

Evaluation of antacid gel preparations available commercially in the Indian market.

A scoring system based on the neutralising capacity, cost efficiency and time of buffering of twenty four commercially available antacid gels was analysed. A gel scoring eight out of the ten points was considered as the best antacid. The study provides a practical guide in choosing a quick neutralizing and low cost antacid gel.

Alcoholism-associated spinal and femoral bone loss in abstinent male alcoholics, as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

Although alcoholism is a known risk factor for osteoporosis, there are few published reports on alcoholism-associated bone loss. To study alcoholism-associated bone loss, this study used a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) densitometer to measure lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) in a previously little-studied population: 32 relatively healthy, nonhospitalized, Caucasian, alcoholic men with a period of abstinence longer than that previously studied (median abstinence 4.0 months, range 3 days-36 months). DXA is a new, highly precise densitometric method with many advantages over the methods used in previous studies. The subjects had statistically significant bone loss at three sites: lumbar spine, femoral neck, and Ward's triangle (multiple correction adjusted two-tailed P < 0.008). Compared to the mean BMD of sex-, age-, and race-matched norms, the subjects' average femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and lumbar BMDs were, respectively, 0.56, 0.69, and 0.57 standard deviations (SDs) below the normative values.

Relative buffering capacity of goat milk, cow milk, soy-based infant formulas and commercial nonprescription antacid drugs.

Buffering capacities of goat milk (Alpine, Nubian), cow milk (Holstein, Jersey), soy-based infant formulas, and non-prescription antacid drugs were estimated. Total N, protein, NPN, and P2O5 as major buffering entities were quantified for each milk category. Nubian goat milk had the highest levels of the three major buffering chemical entities, and the infant formulas contained less total N and NPN compared with natural goat and cow milks. Buffering capacities of the formulas also were lower than those of natural milks. Combinations of milk and antacid drugs had higher buffering capacities than either the milk or drug alone. Drug plus goat milk combinations upon addition of more than 2 ml of acid titrant exhibited fewer changes in pH than the respective drug plus cow milk combinations.