Chitinase-bile salts complexes: a new approach for management of Hypercholesterolemia

The interaction of chitosan and both sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate was evaluated by viscosity measurement, differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] and Fourier-transform infrared [FT-IR] spectroscopy. The binding ratio of chitosan with sodium cholate or sodium deoxycholate was found to be 1: 10. DSC and IR studies revealed that chitosan forms complexes with both sodium cholate and deoxycholate. The effect of chitosan on serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins levels was also studied in rats fed with 2% cholesterol supplemented diet. Oral administration of chitosan in a dose of 1 g/kg body weight mixed with the cholesterol supplemented diet daily for 14 days resulted in significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels [P <0.01] compared with the group received cholesterol supplemented diet alone. Serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were not significantly affected. Since chitosan has extremely low toxicity and commonly used in sustained release dosage forms, these results encourage clinical trials of chitosan in treatment of hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and related disorders

Combining coprecipitation and solvent deposition in formulation tablet

Phenytoin tablets were formulated using different concentrations of PVP as a binder. Four different techniques of incorporating the drug and PVP in tablets were used; namely, coprecipitation and solvent deposition during granulation [A], coprecipitation [B], solvent deposition [C], and wet granulation [D]. The prepared tablets were found to exhibit good physical and mechanical properties. The disintegration time and dissolution rate of the drug were increased with the increase in PVP concentration in all tablet formulations. The dissolution rate of phenytoin from different formluae was in the following order: A > B > C > D. The dissolution data were mathematically analyzed to evaluate the effect of PVP and the method of preparation on the dissolution rate of the drug. In addition, the solubility in different concentrations of PVP revealed that a 1: 1 drug to PVP complex was formed