Anti-diabetic and anti-lipidepmic effect of Albizia lebbeck seeds against HepG2 cells.

Albizia lebbeck has been a medicinally important plant for its pharmacological potential. This study aims to determine the in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potential of A. lebbeck seeds. The seed extracts were prepared in petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. Crude methanolic extract (ME ext) was subjected further to sequential fractionation in increasing polarity based solvents. Extracts and fractions were analyzed for their antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potentials using hepatic cell line, HepG2. Results showed that crude extracts of A. lebbeck seeds specifically, ME ext are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. ME ext has also shown highly significant antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibition potential compared to petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. In vitro assays using different fractions of methanolic extract further highlighted the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions exhibiting significant antioxidant and anti-diabetic potentials. Alpha-amylase inhibition coupled with enhanced glucose uptake of cells treated with ME ext and ethyl acetate fraction emphasized on significant anti-diabetic potential of the plant. Expression alteration of genes and reduced level of cholesterol suggested the lipid synthesis mediated anti-diabetic activity of the plant. It is therefore, concluded that A. lebbeck seed has significant antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potentials.

In vitro antioxidant potential and antiproliferative activity of Aesculus indica seed extract against hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.

Therapeutic secondary metabolites have gained immense attention in recent years due to their effective medicinal properties. Aesculus indica is a medicinally important plant being traditionally used for various ailments. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of seeds of A. indica. The crude methanolic seed extract was prepared and subjected to sequential fractionation in increasing polarity. The extract and its fractions were investigated for antioxidant activities using various in vitro assays. Further, the extract along with its potential antioxidant fractions were analyzed for their cytotoxic activity against HepG2, human hepatocyte carcinoma cells through bioassays. The results showed highly significant antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of A. indica seeds and two of its fractions prepared with chloroform and ethyl acetate. The studies on hepatocyte carcinoma cells further revealed that the extract and two of its potential antioxidant fractions significantly induced cytotoxicity and inhibited migration, proliferation, clonogenicity and 3D growth of HepG2 cells. It is therefore, concluded that A. indica possess significant antioxidant and cytotoxic potential against HepG2 cells and with further research can be proposed for therapeutic interventions.

Chemical and pharmacological comparison of modern and traditional dosage forms of Joshanda.

Recently, a traditional remedy (Joshanda) has been replaced largely by modern ready-to-use dosage forms, which have not been compared to the original remedy. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare a number of modern dosage forms with traditional remedy. Seven brands, 3 batches each, were compared with a Lab-made formulation with reference to analytical (proximate analyses, spectroscopic and chromatographic metabolomes) and pharmacological profiles (anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities). Chemical and pharmacological differences were found between Lab-made Joshanda and modern dosage forms. Such variations were also found within the brands and batches of modern formulations (p < 0.05). The Lab-made Joshanda showed significantly higher pharmacological activities as compared to modern brands (p ). The results of the present study indicate that modern dosage forms are unstandardised and less effective than the traditional remedy. Characteristic profiles obtained from Lab-made Joshanda may be used as reference to produce comparable dosage forms.

Review - Medication errors and strategies for their prevention.

Medication errors occur every day causing injury to the patients and even deaths. The health care professionals are not fully aware of the damages done by medication errors in terms of patients' discomfort and economic burden. There is a need to provide information about medication errors to health care providers. This article reviews research done on the various aspects of medication errors. The research work done on prescribing errors, transcribing errors, dispensing errors, administration errors and discharged summaries errors have been examined. Eight strategies to reduce the occurrence of medication errors have been reviewed: (1) Electronic prescribing and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) with clinical decision support systems (CDSSs), (2) Bar Code, (3) Interventions to reduce medication errors, (4) Medication Error Reporting Systems (MERSs), (5) Alerts about medication errors, (6) Prevention of harm from high-alert drugs, (7) Smart Infusion Pumps and (8) Telemedicine or Telehealth or Telepharmacy. Statistical tests used in medication error studies have also been stated.

Glutathione sulfotransferase inhibition activity of a self-fermented beverage, Kanji.

CONTEXT: Kanji, a liquid preparation of roots of Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang. var. vavilovii Mazk. (Apiaceae), may inhibit glutathione sulfotransferase (GST) activity due to ferulic acid content. OBJECTIVES: GST inhibition activity and characterization of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots, and oral absorption pattern of ferulic acid from Kanji in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GST inhibition activity of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots in concentration range 0.001-100.00 mg/mL was determined using Sprague Dawley rat liver cytosolic fraction. Methanol extract upon column chromatography gave ferulic acid, which was used to characterize Kanji and determine its oral absorption pattern in Wistar rats. RESULTS: The GST inhibition activity of Kanji (100.00 µg/mL), methanol extract of D. carota roots (100.00 µg/mL) and tannic acid (10.00 µg/mL, positive control) was found to be 0.162 ± 0.016, 0.106 ± 0.013 and 0.073 ± 0.004 µM/min/mg, respectively. Different Kanji samples and methanol extract contained ferulic acid (0.222-0.316 mg/g) and 0.77 mg/g, respectively. Ferulic acid did not appear in plasma after oral administration of Kanji. DISCUSSION: Kanji having solid contents 80.0 µg/mL, equivalent to 0.0025 µg/mL ferulic acid, does not inhibit the activity of GST. The oral administration of Kanji, in human equivalent dose (528 mg/kg, 16.67 µg ferulic acid), to rats indicated poor absorption of ferulic acid. CONCLUSION: Kanji having solid contents 14-36 mg/mL does not inhibit GST activity, hence may not interfere with drugs that are the substrates of GST, if taken concomitantly.

In vitro enzymatic investigation of Ficus carica (Fruit).

The present study demonstrates the biological study of Ficus carica fruit. Methanolic extract of plant fruit was prepared and evaporated under reduced pressure by rota vapor and n- hexane, Chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble fractions were prepared separately from crude methanolic extract. These fractions were then screened for acetyl cholinesterase, butryl cholinesterase and lipoxygenase activities. n-butanol soluble fraction showed significant antiacetylcholinesterase activity (78.55±0.76%) with IC50 of 55.8±0.37µg/ml, ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed significant anti-butrylcholinesterase activity (70.35±0.85%) with IC50 of 276.5±0.64µg/ml and significant antilipoxygenase activity was shown by ethyl acetate soluble fraction (62.52±0.26%) with IC50 of 380±0.08µg/ml.

Effect of cellulose acetate phthalate and polyethylene glycol on physical properties and release of theophylline from microcapsules

ABSTRACT The present study describes the development of theophylline microcapsules by a non-solvent addition method and the effect of plasticizer addition on microencapsulation. The release was studied in distilled water and the data were analysed by various mathematical models for determining the mechanism of release. Prepared microcapsules were found to be spherical, free flowing and having more than 80% entrapped drug. The polymer - cellulose acetate phthalate and plasticizer - polyethylene glycol was considered to be affecting the properties of microcapsules including drug release (time for 50% drug release, T50). The formulation with the highest proportion of polymer and without plasticizer (F3) showed the slowest release with T50 = 4.3 h, while the formulation with lower proportion of polymer and 20% (w/w) plasticizer (F13 &14) showed the fastest release of drug with T50 values of 1.2 h and 1.3 h, respectively. The drug release from most of the formulations was found to be following Higuchi model. It is concluded from the results of the present study that cellulose acetate phthalate significantly affects the sustained release of the drug in water, whereas the addition of polyethylene glycol slightly enhances the drug release.

RESUMO O presente estudo descreve o desenvolvimento de microcápsulas de teofilina pelo método sem adição de solvente e o efeito da adição de plastificante na microencapsulação. A liberação foi estudada em água destilada e os dados foram analisados por vários modelos matemáticos para determinação do mecanismo de liberação. As microcápsulas preparadas mostraram-se esféricas, livres de corrente e com mais de 80% de fármaco encapsulado. O polímero - ftalato de acetato de celulose e o plastificante - polietileno glicol - afetaram as propriedades das microcápsulas, incluindo a liberação do fármaco (tempo para liberação de 50% do fármaco, T50). A formulação com a maior proporção de polímero e sem plastificante (F3) se mostrou como a de liberação mais lenta, com T50 = 4,3 h, enquanto as formulações com menor proporção de polímero e 20% de plastificante (m/m) (F13 &14) apresentaram a liberação mais rápida do fármaco, com T50 de 1,2 h e 1,3 h, respectivamente. A liberação do fármaco para a maioria das formulações seguiu o modelo de Higuchi. Concluiu-se, dos resultados do presente estudo, que o ftalato do acetato de celulose afeta significativamente a liberação controlada do fármaco em água, enquanto que a adição de polietileno glicol aumenta ligeiramente a liberação do fármaco.

Analytical, nutritional and biological evaluation of various brands of fortified and non-fortified wheat flour.

In Pakistan, a funded flour fortification program was launched for malnourished population, residing mainly in rural low income areas, but the urban population having comparatively better nutritional as well as economic status was focused wherein excessive intake of fortificants might cause complications. Therefore, the present study describes the physicochemical properties, elemental composition, nutritional components and hemoglobin/ferritin increasing potential of fortified and non-fortified flour. Domesticated chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), either sex, age one month, weight 380 ± 18.28 g, were randomly segregated into 4 groups (n=6). The group I, II and III were fed on fortified flour, whereas group IV was fed on non-fortified flour for 30 days. The birds were weighed and blood samples of each of the birds were analyzed for determination of markers of iron status, hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin (SF). Moisture, ash and iron contents were found to be lower in non-fortified flour than that of the fortified samples. Hb and SF levels in groups fed on fortified flour were significantly higher than the one received non-fortified flour (P < 0.05). The consumption of iron-fortified flour increases iron stores in the body without any further complication but long-term usage needs to be monitored.

A review of the literature and latest advances in research of Piper sarmentosum.

CONTEXT: Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (Piperaceae) is a traditional medicinal as well as a culinary plant in South East Asian countries, whereby aerial parts of the plant are consumed as a vegetable in various forms and the whole plant or parts are used as folk remedies, alone or in combination with other herbs, to treat various ailments. The plant has extensively been investigated in a broad range of studies to provide scientific evidence for folklore claims or to find new therapeutic uses; however, heretofore, a summary of the data are not available. OBJECTIVE: In order to describe nutritional and therapeutic potential of P. sarmentosum and summarize scientific evidence that supports traditional claims, a literature review and latest advances in research of the plant are given herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature has been retrieved from a number of databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, Science Direct and SciFinder. The articles related to synthetic work, ecology and agriculture have been excluded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The review has not only revealed a number of pharmacological activities supporting the traditional claims but indicates new prospects for the plant. Antiangiogenic activity and toxicity studies suggest the usage of the plant in treating diseases involving neo-vascularization. The available efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic and stability data urge clinical studies on extracts of the plant. CONCLUSION: The present review may be helpful to future researchers intending to investigate the plant and natural pharmaceutical industry for preparing evidence-based formulations.