Assessment of killing kinetics assay and bactericidal mechanism of crude methanolic bark extract of Casuarina equisetifolia

Casuarina equisetifolia L. is an important medicinal plant widely used to treat various diseases particularly ulcers, diabetes, cough, diarrhea and many infectious and skin diseases. The aim of this research study was to examine the killing mechanism and killing kinetics assay of methanolic bark extract of C. equisetifolia against some highly resistant human pathogens. The comparison on antibacterial activity of extract was firstly done with six different well reputed antibiotics using disk diffusion method. The broth dilution method was used to measure the MIC and MBC values. The mechanism of killing was identified by scanning electron microscopy [SEM] technique. Results showed that higher inhibitory zones were produced by methanolic plant extract than that of some tested antibiotics. The lower MIC and MBC values indicated the antibacterial potency of plant extract. The extract of C. equisetifolia produced a more drop in optical density of S. aureus, MRSA B. subtilis and S. epidermidis up to 12 hrs. The complete destruction of the cell membrane of MRSA was observed after 12 h treatment with plant extract. It is concluded that crude bark extract of C. equisetifolia is potent antimicrobial agent and produced both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. Its killing time was extremely faster especially against MRSA. The cell membrane rapturing is a suggested killing mechanism of plant extract

Spectrophotometric method development and validation for determination of chlorpheniramine maleate in bulk and controlled release tablets

Spectrophotometric technique is considered to be the simplest and operator friendly among other available analytical methods for pharmaceutical analysis. The objective of the study was to develop a precise, accurate and rapid UV-spectrophotometric method for the estimation of chlorpheniramine maleate [CPM] in pure and solid pharmaceutical formulation. Drug absorption was measured in various solvent systems including 0.1N HCl [pH 1.2], acetate buffer [pH 4.5], phosphate buffer [pH 6.8] and distil water [pH 7.0]. Method validation was performed as per official guidelines of ICH, 2005. High drug absorption was observed in 0.1N HCl medium with lambdamax of 261nm. The drug showed the good linearity from 20 to 60microg/mL solution concentration with the correlation coefficient linear regression equation Y= 0.1853 X + 0.1098 presenting R2 value of 0.9998. The method accuracy was evaluated by the percent drug recovery, presents more than 99% drug recovery at three different levels assessed. The % RSD value

Irrational antibiotic prescribing practice among children in critical care of tertiary hospitals

This study assessed the prescribing pattern of irrational use of antibiotic among children under age of 12 years in public and private sector hospitals in Pakistan. The prospective clinical evaluation of drug utilization pattern of antimicrobials from Patient Bedside File [PBF] of in-patients and Culture Sensitivity Test [CST] reports were evaluated to determine the antibiotic resistance. Two indicators recorded to assess antibiotic prescribing were; dose of prescribed antibiotic [low-dose, rational and high -dose] and Indication [valid or invalid]. Antibiotics resistance for 25 selected antibiotics was determined by culture sensitivity test. This study showed that in Private Sector Hospital 77.7% neonates, 13.3% infants and 9% children admitted in ICU were receiving antibiotics, among them only 57.3% neonates, 62% infants and 59.9% children were found valid that is prescribed antibiotics for right indication. 27% neonates, 19% infants and 22.1% children were prescribed under dose of antibiotics, which may lead to antimicrobial resistance and increased cost of hospital stay. Only 29.1% neonates, 30% infants and 36.8% children were receiving rational dosing. In Public Sector Hospital, 65.6% neonates, 19.4% infants and 15% children were receiving antibiotics. Among them valid indication was found in 35.3% neonates, 35.6% infants and 39.8% in children. 33.3% neonates, 26.6% infants and 28.2% children were receiving under dose that may lead to resistance not only among those who were prescribed under dose but also such bacteria become resistant and spread to other population to increase antimicrobial resistance. The irrational prescribing of antibiotics was found very high [above 50%] in Public sector hospital [Hospital-B] for every age group whereas in Private sector hospital [Hospital-A] this practice was found near to 50%. In this study the prescribing frequency of Amikacin, Cefixime, Cefotaxime, Meropenem, Amoxicillin, Vancomycin, Azithromycin, Levofloxacin and Clarithromycin was found above 80% in both hospitals [A and B]. Among these, Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Erythromycin and Cephalexin showed higher resistance i.e. 49.2%

Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Hibiscus schizopetalus [Mast] Hook in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Hibiscus schizopetalus [Mast] Hook [Malvaceae] flower and leaves extracts were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic activity of both the extracts [100mg/kg, body weight] was tested in fasting normal rat, glucose loaded rats. Observation on body weight was also recorded. The extracts showed a significant [P<0.001] reduction in blood glucose level in normal fasting rats. In glucose tolerance test, significant [P<0.01] decreased observed in all glucose loaded animals. While in alloxan induced diabetic rats, the percent blood glucose reduction was 59.94% and 45.14% in extracts treated groups. The results obtained were compared with the reference standard drug Tolbutamide [100mg/kg, body weight]. The diabetic rats showed sign of decreased in their body weight during the treatment period. Cholesterol and triglycerides levels were significantly decreased [P<0.001] by HFE. The results obtained demonstrated the potential hypoglycemic activity of methanolic extracts of H. schizopetalus. There is need of bioassay-directed assay of the active principles responsible for the anti-diabetic activity. The methanolic extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, saponins and glycosides.

Drug development of herbomineral capsule [ALG-06] used for hypopigmentation specially in vitiligo

Many herbomineral preparations in traditional medicines are being used from time immemorial like Kushta Ahrak Safaid, Busoor-e-Labinyah etc. as therapeutics remedies in common ailments such type of preparations are known to have additive and pronounced effects to cure any obstinate disease condition

The main objective of this research dtudy is the formulation of herbomineral capsule [ALG-06] to treat such type of condition like hypopigmentation in case of vitiligo

In order to achieve the best quality of this formulation physicochemical analysis i.e. fluorescence test, ash values, extractive values and moisture content of combined powdered drug of herbs and minerals were performed followed by phytopharmaceutical calculation of flow ability of blended powder by means of angle of repose, porosity,

Accelerated stability studies were also performed to establish the efficacy of the formulation. In this regard organoleptic properties color, odor, appearance and tosMt. weight variation, disintegration and bio burden of ALG-06 formulation were monitored at 40°C/75% relative humidity [RH] along with a room temperature [RT] for a period of one month