ABSTRACT
Rosuvastatin calcium is the most effective antilipidemicdrug and is called "super-statin" but it exhibits low aqueous solubility and poor oral bioavailability of about 20%. The present work aimed to develop and optimize chitosan-alginate nanoparticulate formulation of rosuvastatin which can improve its solubility, dissolution and therapeutic efficacy. Chitosan-alginate nanoparticles were prepared by ionotropic pre-gelation of an alginate core followed by chitosan polyelectrolyte complexation and optimization was done in terms of two biopolymers, crosslinker concentrations. The chitosan-alginate nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques such as particle properties such as size; size distribution (polydispersity index); Zeta-potential measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectra respectively. The designed rosuvastatin loaded chitosan-alginate nanoparticle had the average particle size of 349.3 nm with the zeta potential of +29.1 mV, and had high drug loading and entrapment efficiencies. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed no chemical interaction between the rosuvastatin and chitosan-alginate nanoparticle upon the encapsulation of rosuvastatin within the nanoparticles. Nanoparticles revealed a fast release during the first two hours followed by a more gradual drug release during a 24h period. Hence, our studies demonstrated that the new chitosan-alginate nanoparticle system of rosuvastatin is a promising strategy for improving solubility and in turn, the therapeutic efficacy of rosuvastatin. Therefore, the rosuvastatin-loaded chitosan-alginate nanoparticles are a promising approach for the oral delivery of rosuvastatin.
ABSTRACT
Metformin is a biguanide oral hypoglycemic drug used primarily in the treatment of DM. Nigella sativa (Activeingredient, Thymoquinone) has been found effective in lowering serum glucose levels and has protective effectspreventing the complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus causes several complications, affectingalmost every organ of the body. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of DM on liver, heartand kidney and to observe the protective as well as curative effects of Metformin and Nigella sativa from thosecomplications. The results obtained indicate that DM causes inflammation in liver and kidney and also leads tohydropic changes. While no significant changes could be observed in the heart during the study, it was observedthat Both Nigella sativa and Metformin decrease the early inflammatory changes caused by STZ induced DM inthe rat liver and kidneys but the hydropic changes continue.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder, that affects almost all the cells of the body. Well documented complications of DMinclude, neuropathy, nephropathy, microangiopathy, and retinopathy. The negative impact of the disorder is also found inother cells, including male reproductive system. In this study, fifty adult Wistar albino male rats were used. The rats weredivided into 10 groups, each group comprised of 5 rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ, effects ofDM were observed on the sperm producing cells then preventive as well as curative effects of Metformin, Punica granatum,Nigella sativa and Zingiber officinale were observed. It was found that all the substances prevent as well as repair/cure thedamage caused by DM to the seminiferous tubules and other structures. The results of this study show that Metforminthough prevented and caused repair to the damaged cells as well, but was not as effective as Punica granatum, Nigellasativa and Zingiber officinale.