Antilithiatic effect of grains of Eleusine coracana

The effect of aqueous and alcohol extracts of Eleusine coracana Linn. [Poaceae] on calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis has been studied in male albino rats. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria as well as increased renal excretion of calcium and phosphate. Supplementation with aqueous and alcohol extracts of E. coracona grains [300 mg/kg b.w., p.o.] significantly reduced the elevated urinary oxalate, showing a regulatory action on endogenous oxalate synthesis. The increased deposition of stone forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats was significantly lowered by curative and preventive treatment using aqueous and alcohol extracts. From this study, we conclude that both the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with aqueous and alcohol extracts of grains of E. coracana had an inhibitory effect on crystal growth, with improvement of kidney function as well as cytoprotective effect

Enhanced transdermal delivery of ketoprofen from bioadhesive gels

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the in vitro and in vivo transdermal potential of bioadhesive gels of ketoprofen by using gelling polymers like sodium carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, poloxamer 407 and carbopol 934P as bioadhesive polymer with and without penetration enhancer [oleic acid]. The effect of oleic acid as a penetration enhancer was examined when it was added to the bioadhesive formulations. Gels were evaluated for bioadhesive force and viscosity. To study the in vitro potential of these formulations, permeation studies were performed with Franz diffusion cell using excised rat abdominal skin. Carrageenan induced rat paw edema model was used to investigate their in vivo performance. The commercial formulation of ketoprofen was used as a reference formulation. The in vitro permeation studies indicate that ketoprofen bioadhesive gel of poloxamer 407 with penetration enhancer was superior to gels of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and xanthan gum with penetration enhancer [oleic acid]. The permeation rate of ketoprofen from poloxamer 407 based bioadhesive gel with 15% v/w penetration enhancer was higher [rat abdominal skin flux = 0.421b 0.032 mg/cm2/h] than the permeation rate of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and xanthan gum based bioadhesive gel with 15% v/w penetration enhancer. In the paw edema test poloxamer 407 based bioadhesive gel with 15% v/w penetration enhancer showed the best permeation and effectiveness. The in vitro and in vivo studies showed that bioadhesive gels of ketoprofen could be used for effective therapy