Building Capability for Clinical Pharmacology Research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A strong scientific rationale exists for conducting clinical pharmacology studies in target populations because local factors such as genetics, environment, comorbidities, and diet can affect variability in drug responses. However, clinical pharmacology studies are not widely conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, in part due to limitations in technical expertise and infrastructure. Since 2012, a novel public-private partnership model involving research institutions and a pharmaceutical company has been applied to developing increased capability for clinical pharmacology research in multiple African countries.

Antiviral activities of some Ethiopian medicinal plants used for the treatment of dermatological disorders.

Acokanthera schimperi (Apocynaceae), Euclea schimperi (Ebenaceae), Inula confertiflora (Asteraceae), Melilotus elegans (Leguminosae), and Plumbago zeylanica (Plumbaginaceae), are some of the medicinal plants used in Ethiopia for treatment of various skin disorders. In this study, the antiviral activities of the 80% methanolic extracts of these plants have been examined against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), influenza A virus and herpes simplex virus type1 Kupka (HSV-1) using cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibitory assays in HeLa, MDCK, and GMK cells, respectively. In parallel, the cytotoxicity was quantified using a crystal violet uptake assay. The antiviral activity of the most active compound was confirmed with plaque reduction assays. The results revealed that the extracts of Acokanthera schimperi and Euclea schimperi showed antiviral activity against all three tested viruses albeit with unequal efficacy. Whereas the Acokanthera schimperi extract exhibited the strongest activity against CVB3, the extract of Euclea schimperi inhibited influenzavirus A replication most effectively. A weak anti-influenzavirus A activity was also exhibited by the other plant extracts tested. In addition, CVB3 was inhibited by the extracts of Plumbago zeylanica and HSV-1 by Inula confertiflora. Thus, the extracts of these plants, particularly those of Acokanthera schimperi, Euclea schimperi and Inula confertiflora which showed activity against CVB3 and HSV-1 support their traditional use in the treatment of skin diseases of viral origin.

Evaluation of starch obtained from Ensete ventricosum as a binder and disintegrant for compressed tablets.

The binding and disintegrant properties of starch obtained from Ensete ventricosum Musaceae have been evaluated. The effect of the starch on the physical properties such as crushing strength, friability and disintegration time of tablets of chloroquine phosphate, dipyrone and paracetamol was compared with tablets prepared with potato starch. The results show that enset starch can be used both as a tablet binder and disintegrant and the indication is that enset starch has a better binding ability and less disintegrating power than potato starch.

The influence of viscosity on the migration of chloramphenicol and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid through glycerogelatin gels.

Migration of chloramphenicol and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid from solutions in 1-octanol into Glycerol Suppository Base, BP and soft gelatin capsule shells is reported. Rates of migration through the gels, quantified in terms of diffusion coefficients, are given. An electron spin resonance probing technique was used to determine the microscopic viscosity. The latter, rather than the bulk viscosity, was shown to be the major rheological influence on the rate of diffusion.

The effect of gelatin grade and concentration on the migration of solutes into and through glycerogelatin gels.

The diffusion of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and phenobarbitone through glycerogelatin gels was found to be independent of the type of gelatin used. Three types of gelatin, two acid-processed and one alkali-processed were studied, and the bulk viscosities of gels prepared from them was seen to vary considerably. However, the microviscosities of the gels, as measured by ESR, showed no significant differences. Thus microviscosity was the factor governing diffusion. Gelatin concentration in aqueous solutions without glycerol influenced microviscosity and hence diffusion. This is believed to be caused by dissolution of water-soluble fractions of the gelatin. Interstices in the gelatin matrix, though reduced in size when gelatin concentration is raised, are still too large to act as physical barriers to diffusing molecules. It is suggested that hydrated gelatin forms the matrix of glycerogelatin mixtures and that the interstitial fluid, through which migration occurs, consists almost entirely of glycerol and water.

The use of electron spin resonance to measure microviscosity.

The viscosities of a series of mixtures of glycerol and water were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR), photon correlation spectroscopy and Ostwald viscometry. Close agreement was obtained between the last two methods but viscosity as measured by ESR was always significantly lower. The difference, the magnitude of which depended on the spin probe used, was attributed to interaction between water and glycerol. Similar results were obtained using water-sorbitol and water-sucrose mixtures.

Evaluation of the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities of the medicinal plants Dodonaea viscosa, Rumex nervosus and Rumex abyssinicus.

The crude extracts of the leaves of Dodonaea viscosa and Rumex nervosus as well as of the root of Rumex abyssinicus were tested for anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities. It was observed that the three plants possess antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus and strong activity against Coxsackie virus B3 and influenza A virus. In contrast, none of them exhibited anti-fungal activity. The anti-inflammatory activity test results verified that only R. abyssinicus inhibited the synthesis of prostaglandin (PG) E(2).

Standardisation and physicochemical characterisation of the extracts of seeds of Glinus lotoides.

Extraction methods were standardised for saponin-containing extracts from the seeds of Glinus lotoides and the effects of some extraction process variables, such as the extracting solvent (various concentrations of methanol in water) and method of extract drying (freeze-drying and vacuum oven-drying), on the physical properties of the extracts were investigated. Physicochemical properties, namely particle size and size distribution, morphology, water uptake profiles and sorption isotherms, densities, flow properties and compaction profiles, of the crude dry extracts of 60% methanol (extract A), 70% methanol (extract B) and 80% methanol (extract C) were investigated. The average particle sizes (X50) of extracts A, B and C were found to be 68.4, 92.1 and 68.5 microm, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of freeze-dried and vacuum oven-dried extract A showed that the particles are irregular in shape and are compact masses with sharp edges. The percent water uptake by the crude extracts was found to increase with an increase in relative humidities, while the hygroscopicity increased with decreasing methanol ratio of the extracting solvent. The bulk and the true densities of the three extracts (A, B and C) ranged from 0.66 to 0.67 and 1.49 to 1.50 g/ml, respectively. The tapped density (0.94 g/ml) and hence the porosity (56.0%), Carr's index (29.8%) and Hausner ratio (1.42) of extract A were greater than those of extracts B and C. Measurements of angle of repose indicated that all of the extracts exhibit poor flow properties. Compaction studies revealed that extract C has higher compactibility than extracts A and B.

Evaluation of the release profiles of flavonoids from topical formulations of the crude extract of the leaves of Dodonea viscosa (Sapindaceae).

Quercetin and isorhamnetin are found in adequately large concentrations in the plant Dodonea viscosa (Sapindaceae). Plants that contain flavonoids are effective in the topical treatment of skin or mucous membrane inflammation. In this study, the release profiles of quercetin and isorhamnetin from hydrophilic, amphiphilic and lipophilic creams of the crude extract of Dodonea viscosa were determined using a multilayer membrane system. The results revealed that the hydrophilic cream provided the highest rate of release of both flavonoids while there was practically no release from the lipophilic cream. The hydrophilic cream may, therefore, serve most in delivering flavonoids to a diseased skin.

Microencapsulation of citronella oil for mosquito-repellent application: formulation and in vitro permeation studies.

Citronella oil (CO) has been reported to possess a mosquito-repellent action. However, its application in topical preparations is limited due to its rapid volatility. The objective of this study was therefore to reduce the rate of evaporation of the oil via microencapsulation. Microcapsules (MCs) were prepared using gelatin simple coacervation method and sodium sulfate (20%) as a coacervating agent. The MCs were hardened with a cross-linking agent, formaldehyde (37%). The effects of three variables, stirring rate, oil loading and the amount of cross-linking agent, on encapsulation efficiency (EE, %) were studied. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the EE (%), and a polynomial regression model equation was generated. The effect of the amount of cross-linker was insignificant on EE (%). The response surface plot constructed for the polynomial equation provided an optimum area. The MCs under the optimized conditions provided EE of 60%. The optimized MCs were observed to have a sustained in vitro release profile (70% of the content was released at the 10th hour of the study) with minimum initial burst effect. Topical formulations of the microencapsulated oil and non-microencapsulated oil were prepared with different bases, white petrolatum, wool wax alcohol, hydrophilic ointment (USP) and PEG ointment (USP). In vitro membrane permeation of CO from the ointments was evaluated in Franz diffusion cells using cellulose acetate membrane at 32 °C, with the receptor compartment containing a water-ethanol solution (50:50). The receptor phase samples were analyzed with GC/MS, using citronellal as a reference standard. The results showed that microencapsulation decreased membrane permeation of the CO by at least 50%. The amount of CO permeated was dependent on the type of ointment base used; PEG base exhibited the highest degree of release. Therefore, microencapsulation reduces membrane permeation of CO while maintaining a constant supply of the oil.