Quality analysis of different marketed brands of paracetamol available in Bangladesh.

Paracetamol is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide. The present study was conducted to analyze the quality of seven marketed brands of paracetamol tablet formulation manufactured by different multinational and national companies. The tablet formulations of different brands were tested for various parameters like weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution profile using standard techniques to evaluate their quality. The values were compared with the standards. Weight variation value requirement was complied by all brands. All studied samples except two local products complied with the standard specification for tablet hardness. All brands showed impressive friability values and products of multinational companies comparatively exhibited the highest values. Disintegration time for all brands was within 15 minutes also complying the USP (United State of Pharmacopeia) recommendation. Moreover, the release rate of different brands of paracetamol was satisfactory within 45 minutes and ranged from 79.82% to 103.53%. Therefore, it can be concluded that almost all the brands of paracetamol that are available in Bangladesh meet the USP specification for quality control analysis.

Quality analysis of different marketed brands of paracetamol available in Bangladesh.

Paracetamol is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide. The present study was conducted to analyze the quality of seven marketed brands of paracetamol tablet formulation manufactured by different multinational and national companies. The tablet formulations of different brands were tested for various parameters like weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution profile using standard techniques to evaluate their quality. The values were compared with the standards. Weight variation value requirement was complied by all brands. All studied samples except two local products complied with the standard specification for tablet hardness. All brands showed impressive friability values and products of multinational companies comparatively exhibited the highest values. Disintegration time for all brands was within 15 minutes also complying the USP (United State of Pharmacopeia) recommendation. Moreover, the release rate of different brands of paracetamol was satisfactory within 45 minutes and ranged from 79.82% to 103.53%. Therefore, it can be concluded that almost all the brands of paracetamol that are available in Bangladesh meet the USP specification for quality control analysis.

Assessment of pharmacological activities of two medicinal plant of Bangladesh: Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb in the management of pain, pyrexia and inflammation

BACKGROUND: The current study aims at evaluating the analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extract of the stem, bark and leaves of Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb. RESULTS: The AELS and AEAR extract presented a significant (***p < 0.001) dose dependent increase in reaction time in writhing method and showed inhibition of 63.1% and 57.1% respectively at the doses of 400 mg/kg body weight while standard drug showed (P < 0.001) inhibition of 69.23%. In tail immersion method, AELS and AEAR showed maximum time of tail retention at 30 min in hot water i.e. 6.93 sec and 6.54 sec respectively at highest doses of 400 mg/kg body weight than lower dose while standard pentazocine showed reaction time of 7.62 sec. The AELS and AEAR extract also exhibited promising anti-inflammatory effect as demonstrated by statistically significant inhibition of paw volume by 32.48% and 26.75% respectively at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight while the value at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight were linear to higher dose at the 3rd hour of study. On the other hand, Standard indomethacin inhibited 40.13% of inflammation (***P < 0.001). In Cotton-pellet granuloma method, AELS and AEAR extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight exhibited inhibition of inflammation of 34.7% and 29.1% respectively while standard drug showed (P < 0.001) inhibition of 63.22%. Intraperitoneal administration of AELS and AEAR showed dose dependent decrease in body temperature in brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia in rats at both doses. However, AELS significantly decreased body temperature (***p < 0.001) at 400 mg/kg compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Present work propose that the methanolic extract of Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb possesses dose dependent pharmacological action which supports its therapeutic use in folk medicine possibly mediated through the inhibition or blocking of release of prostaglandin and/or actions of vasoactive substances such as histamine, serotonin and kinins.

Prevalence, belief and awareness of preferring traditional healthcare system in urban and rural people of Noakhali district, Bangladesh.

Healthcare systems contribute a major role in maintaining good health. The study was conducted to analyze the prevalence, belief and awareness of preferring traditional healthcare systems in urban and rural people of Noakhali district of Bangladesh. Data were collected randomly from 400 respondents aging 20 to 60 years by personal inter-viewing with a well structured questionnaire during October 20, 2011 to December 20, 2011. Study stated that, overall 79% of the respondents were found to feel comfortable in using traditional healthcare system whereas only 21% prefer the modern system. Urban people showed their belief mostly in homeopathy (23%), ayurvedic/unani (18%) and herbal medicine (17%) of traditional healthcare system whereas Kaviraji (27%), herbal medicine (18%) and spiritual healing (11%) were the systems on which rural people showed their much faith and belief for the treatment of different ailments. Jaundice and sexual problems were the two dominant disease conditions for which traditional healthcare systems were most preferred by the respondents. Beside these 68% of urban and 88% of rural as well as 57.64% of educated and 97.82% of uneducated respondents were not aware about the appropriate healthcare system for different diseases. Belief in no side effect and safe remedy, mass population of the study area preferred different traditional healthcare systems but most of them were not aware about the exact therapy.

Effects of release modifier on Carvedilol release from Kollidon SR based matrix.

Sustained release Carvedilol matrix tablets constituting Kollidon SR were developed in this study in an attempt to investigate the effect of release modifiers on the release profile of Carvedilol from matrix. Three matrix tablet formulations were prepared by direct compression of Kollidon SR in combination with release modifier (HPMC and Microcrystalline Cellulose) and magnesium stearate. Tablets containing only Kollidon SR with the active ingredient demonstrated a rapid rate of drug release. Incorporation of HPMC in the matrix tablet prolonged the release of drug but incorporation of Microcrystalline Cellulose showed superimposable release pattern with an initial burst effect as confirmed by mean dissolution time and Higuchi release rate data. After 7 hours of dissolution, Carvedilol release from the matrix systems were 91.42%, 83.41%, from formulation F1 and F2 respectively. Formulation F3 exhibited 100 % release at 4 hours. All the tablet formulations showed acceptable pharmaco-technical properties and complied with the in-house specifications for tablet weight variation, friability, hardness, thickness, and diameter. Prepared tablets also showed sustained release property for carvedilol. The drug release mechanism from the matrix tablets of F1 and F2 was found to be followed by Fickian and F3 by Non-Fickian mechanism.

In Vitro Evaluation of Oral Extended Release Drug Delivery System for Metoprolol Succinate Using Kollidon SR.

The objective of this study was to develop a sustained release matrix tablet Metoprolol Succinate by cost saving and production efficient process. Among various tablet manufacturing process, direct compression is the simplest and cost saving process. Different trials were formulated and evaluated using different concentrations of directly compressible grade Kollidon SR as release retardant. The formulated tablets were evaluated for physical and dissolution study using buffer medium. The most outstanding aspect of this study is to monitor the influence of different percentage of Kollidon SR on release rate from the matrix tablet. In this study, influence of different ratio of polymer concentration on drug release was evaluated. The release pattern of different batches were evaluated for Zero order, Higuchi, First order, Krosmeyer-Peppas and Hixson-Crowell kinetics and showed that all the batches followed best the Higuchi kinetics. The drug release kinetics was found to be governed by the amount of the polymer in the matrix system. The higher polymeric content in the matrix decrease the release rate of the drug. The nature of the drug release from the matrix tablets was dependent on drug diffusion and polymer relaxation and therefore followed non-Fickian or anomales release. The studies indicated that the drug release can be modulated by varying the concentration of the polymer. Among the four formulations, formulation 1 is the best formulation as it controls the release best and best linearity for zero order plots.

Development and evaluation of sustained release losartan potassium matrix tablet using kollidon SR as release retardant

The present study was undertaken to develop sustained release (SR) matrix tablets of losartan potassium, an angiotensin-II antagonist for the treatment of hypertension. The tablets were prepared by direct compression method, along with Kollidon SR as release retardant polymer. The amount of losartan potassium remains fixed (100 mg) for all the three formulations whereas the amounts of Kollidon SR were 250 mg, 225 mg, and 200 mg for F-1, F-2, and F-3 respectively. The evaluation involves three stages: the micromeritic properties evaluation of granules, physical property studies of tablets, and in-vitro release kinetics studies. The USP apparatus type II was selected to perform the dissolution test, and the dissolution medium was 900 mL phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The test was carried out at 75 rpm, and the temperature was maintained at 37 ºC ± 0.5 ºC. The release kinetics was analyzed using several kinetics models. Higher polymeric content in the matrix decreased the release rate of drug. At lower polymeric level, the rate and extent of drug release were enhanced. All the formulations followed Higuchi release kinetics where the Regression co-efficient (R²) values are 0.958, 0.944, and 0.920 for F-1, F-2, and F-3 respectively, and they exhibited diffusion dominated drug release. Statistically significant (P<0.05) differences were found among the drug release profile from different level of polymeric matrices. The release mechanism changed from non-fickian (n=0.489 for F-1) to fickian (n=0.439 and 0.429 for F-2, and F-3 respectively) as a function of decreasing the polymer concentration. The Mean Dissolution Time (MDT) values were increased with the increase in polymer concentration.

O presente estudo foi realizado para desenvolver (SR) matriz de comprimidos de liberação sustentada de losartana, um antagonista da angiotensina II, para o tratamento da hipertensão arterial. Os comprimidos foram preparados pelo método de compressão direta com Kollidon SR como polímero de liberação lenta. A quantidade de losartana potássica permanece fixa (100 mg) para todas as três formulações enquanto que as quantidades de Kollidon SR foram de 250 mg, 225 mg e 200 mg para F-1, F-2 e F-3, respectivamente. A avaliação envolve três etapas- propriedades micromeríticas dos grânulos, estudo das propriedades físicas dos comprimidos e estudos de cinética de liberação in vitro.. Selecionoou-se o aparelho USP tipo II para realizar o teste de dissolução em meio com 900 mL de tampão fosfato pH 6,8 . O teste foi realizado em 75 rpm e a temperatura foi mantida a 37 ºC ± 0.5 ºC. Analisou-se a cinética de liberação utilizando-se vários modelos cinéticos. Conteúdo mais alto de polímero na matriz reduziu a taxa de liberação do fármaco. Em níveis mais baixos de polímero, a taxa e a extensão de liberação do fármaco foram aumentados. Todas as formulações seguiram a cinética de liberação de Higuchi, em que os valores do coeficiente de regressão (R2) foram 0,958 , 0,944 e 0,920 para F-1, F-2 e F-3, respectivamente, e elas apresentaram liberação do fármaco dominada pela difusão. Encontraram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas (P<0,05) entre os perfis de liberação do fármaco com diferentes níveis de matrizes poliméricas. O mecanismo de liberação mudou de não-fickiano(n=0,489 para F-1) para fickiano(n=0,439 e 0,429 para F-2 e F-3, respectivamente) em função da diminuição da concentração de polímero. Os valores do Tempo de Dissolução Média (TDM) aumentaram com o aumento da concentração polímero.

Prevalence, belief and awareness of preferring traditional healthcare system in urban and rural people of Noakhali district, Bangladesh.

Healthcare systems contribute a major role in maintaining good health. The study was conducted to analyze the prevalence, belief and awareness of preferring traditional healthcare systems in urban and rural people of Noakhali district of Bangladesh. Data were collected randomly from 400 respondents aging 20 to 60 years by personal inter-viewing with a well structured questionnaire during October 20, 2011 to December 20, 2011. Study stated that, overall 79% of the respondents were found to feel comfortable in using traditional healthcare system whereas only 21% prefer the modern system. Urban people showed their belief mostly in homeopathy (23%), ayurvedic/unani (18%) and herbal medicine (17%) of traditional healthcare system whereas Kaviraji (27%), herbal medicine (18%) and spiritual healing (11%) were the systems on which rural people showed their much faith and belief for the treatment of different ailments. Jaundice and sexual problems were the two dominant disease conditions for which traditional healthcare systems were most preferred by the respondents. Beside these 68% of urban and 88% of rural as well as 57.64% of educated and 97.82% of uneducated respondents were not aware about the appropriate healthcare system for different diseases. Belief in no side effect and safe remedy, mass population of the study area preferred different traditional healthcare systems but most of them were not aware about the exact therapy.

Effects of release modifier on Carvedilol release from Kollidon SR based matrix.

Sustained release Carvedilol matrix tablets constituting Kollidon SR were developed in this study in an attempt to investigate the effect of release modifiers on the release profile of Carvedilol from matrix. Three matrix tablet formulations were prepared by direct compression of Kollidon SR in combination with release modifier (HPMC and Microcrystalline Cellulose) and magnesium stearate. Tablets containing only Kollidon SR with the active ingredient demonstrated a rapid rate of drug release. Incorporation of HPMC in the matrix tablet prolonged the release of drug but incorporation of Microcrystalline Cellulose showed superimposable release pattern with an initial burst effect as confirmed by mean dissolution time and Higuchi release rate data. After 7 hours of dissolution, Carvedilol release from the matrix systems were 91.42%, 83.41%, from formulation F1 and F2 respectively. Formulation F3 exhibited 100 % release at 4 hours. All the tablet formulations showed acceptable pharmaco-technical properties and complied with the in-house specifications for tablet weight variation, friability, hardness, thickness, and diameter. Prepared tablets also showed sustained release property for carvedilol. The drug release mechanism from the matrix tablets of F1 and F2 was found to be followed by Fickian and F3 by Non-Fickian mechanism.

Evaluation of Kollidon SR based Ketorolac Tromethamine Loaded Transdermal Film.

The present study concerns the development of polymeric films of Ketorolac tromethamine by solvent casting method to explore the possibilities of using kollidon SR as a transdermal drug delivery system. Ketorolac tromethamine was used as a model drug & incorporated in low doses. The films were prepared by using various amounts of Kollidon SR to prolong the drug release with localized action. Some films were also prepared containing certain percent of PEG-6000 along with the drug & polymer. The prepared polymeric films were evaluated for various parameters like weight uniformity, flatness, % elongation, surface pH, uniformity of drug content, in-vitro dissolution studies. The drug-polymer ratio was found to influence the drug release. The rate of drug release decreased with increased polymer concentration. About 10% increased in polymer concentration causes 50% decreased drug release. All the formulation followed Higuchian kinetics & the mechanism of release was diffusion mediated. When PEG-6000 was used as a channeling agent in this formulation drug release was increased accordingly but higher concentration of PEG-6000 results in decreasing release rate of drug because of increasing viscosity of the matrix channels.