Evaluation of the effects of three plant species [Myrtus Communis L., Camellia Sinensis L., Zataria Multiflora Boiss.] on the healing process of intraoral ulcers in rats

Statement of the Problem: Use of traditional medicine to relieve human sufferings has a very long history. The effects of these plants in wound curing and subse-quently making the best mucosa patch for treatment of oral ulcers is still under investigation

Purpose: The main goal of present research work is to assess the efficacy of Myrtus communis L., Camellia sinensis L. and Zataria multiflora Boiss. on oral ulcer recov-ery process in rats

Materials and Method: In this study, 60 healthy adult male rats in 5 groups were investigated. A wound with 2 mm diameter was punched into the hard palate of each rat. For topical application, a mucosa patch of materials or blank was packed into the wound. Histological samples were harvested on post injury days 2, 4, 6, and 8

Results: This study showed that there were no significant differences between groups in the reduction of weight. Comparison of clinical wound size showed that group Myrtus communis L had the greatest reduction in wound size on days 4, 6 and 8, which was significantly different from the other groups. The highest thickness of epithelium was observed in groups Myrtus communis L and Camellia sinensis L on days 6 and 8. Group Myrtus communis L showed the highest values on days 6 and 8. This study showed a lower mononuclear cell counts in group Myrtus communis L on days 6 and 8 compared to other groups which was statistically significant

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that Myrtus communis L. has significant effects on oral wound healing processes. These favorable results might introduce a new group of material or medicine derived from this plant

Antioxidant effect and study of bioactive components of Valeriana sisymbriifolia and Nardostachys jatamansii m comparison to Valeriana officinalis

The roots of Nardostachys jatamansi have been used as a substitute for valerian in Iranian traditions. Moreover, six species from Valeriana genus such as V. sisymbriifolia grow in Iran which has not been studied yet. We aimed to study of antioxidant effect of Valeriana officinalis, Nardostachys jatamansi and Valeriana sisymbriifolia and comparing their content of valerenic acid and valepotriate. Antioxidant effect was evaluated using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl [DPPH] inhibition and beta carotene-bleaching assays. Identification of valepotriates was achieved using chemical and TLC method. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of valerenic acid was performed using TLC and spectrophotometry methods. Among the tested samples, V. Officinalis showed the highest DPPH inhibition effect with IC[50] value of 38mg/mL. All of the tested plants potentially inhibited beta-carotene oxidation. The calibration curve of authentic valerenic acid was linear in the range of 2-51 mg L[-1] The most and least amount of valepotraites was detectable in V. officinalis and V. sisymbriifolia respectively. Total valerenic acid in different plant species ranged from 0.02% in V. sisymbriifolia to 0.07% [w/w] in V. Officinalis. Our results indicated that all three tested plants contain different amount of valepotriates and valerenic acid. The highest percentage of valepotriates and valerenic acid was detectable in V. officinalis. Overall can conclude that N. jatamansii and V. sisymbriifolia would be a good candidate for substitutation of V. officinalis with noticeable antioxidant effect

Gabapentin determination in human plasma and capsule by coupling of solid phase extraction, derivatization reaction, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant widely used in the treatment of epilepsy. No peculiar chromophore is available on the gabapentin moiety for direct analysis by absorption spectrophotometry. A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of gabapentin in bulk, pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma has been developed. In this method, gabapentin directly derivatized with vanillin and analyzed without any extraction in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form and in plasma samples, it was extracted with a reversed-phase solid-phase extraction [SPE] cartridge followed by derivatization with vanillin. Analysis was performed by a spectrophotometer system. The quantitation limit of gabapentin in human plasma was 0.8 mg/L. The method was linear over the concentration range of 10.0-90.0 mg/L and 0.8-10.0 mg/L for pharmaceutical dosage form and plasma, respectively. The method was precise [relative standard deviation, RSD <1.20%] and accurate [relative mean error <5.5%] for both pharmaceutical dosage form and plasma samples. Mean absolute recoveries were 94.5% for plasma

influence of experimental spinal cord injury on carbamazepine pharmacokinetics

Previous studies have demonstrated that pharmacokinetic behavior of several drugs such as paracetamol, theophylline, and aminoglycosides are significantly altered in patients with spinal cord injury. So far, no study on pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine has been performed in patients or experimental models with spinal cord injury. The present study was designed to find the influence of experimental spinal cord injury on carbamazepine pharmacokinetics. Among 12 male albino rabbits, 6 were subjected to spinal cord injury at the 8th thoracic level by knife severance method and 6 rabbits underwent laminectomy alone [sham-lesioned control group]. All received a single oral dose of carbamazepine [20 mg/kg] 24 hours after the injury. Blood samplings were done at predetermined times to 96 hours after drug administration. Carbamazepine concentration in serum samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters including maximum concentration, time to reach maximum concentration, half-life, and area under the curve0 - 24 were directly determined from the concentration-time curve. Area under the concentration against time curve 24-infinity was calculated from the real data. Maximum concentration was appeared at 2.8 hours after administration in sham-lesioned control group at a concentration of 2.3 micro g/mL, whereas in spinal cord injury group it was appeared at 4.4 hours at a concentration of 2.7 micro g/mL. In spinal cord-injured group, area under the curve and half-life were increased from 29.1 micro g/mL.hr to 38.7 micro g/mL.hr and from 7.7 hr to 14.1 hr as compared with the sham-lesioned control group, respectively. Statistical analyses of data showed that spinal cord injury does not induce significant changes in carbamazepine pharmacokinetics. We concluded that pharmacokinetic behavior of carbamazepine was not significantly changed by spinal cord injury, although its subtle pharmacokinetic changes could be resulted from alteration in gastrointestinal tract motility, blood perfusion, or metabolism

Derivative spectrophotometry for simulataneous analysis of chlorpheniramine maleate, phenylephrine HCI, and phenylpropanolamine HCI in ternary mixtures and pharmaceutical dosage forms

In this study, different derivative spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine maleate [CP], phenylephrine HCl [PE] and phenylpropanolamine HCl [PP] in their ternary mixtures and in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Spectra of single component and ternary mixtures of various concentrations and combinations from zero- to fourth-derivation were obtained. Also the spectra of the excipients including lactose, starch, and microcrystalline cellulose were obtained to study the possible interference from matrices. Zero-crossing derivative spectrophotometry based on recording the second-derivative curve for PE at 286.5 nm and fourth-derivative curve for PP at 220 nm were used for determining each component. Third component, CP, was determined by measuring absolute amplitudes at 265.8, 262.2, 269.5, and 273.8 nm in its second derivative spectra. Results showed that the matrices have no interferences. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 1-8 micro g/ml for PE; 5-30 micro g/ml for PP; and 2-8 micro g/ml for CP. The limits of detection were 0.2 micro g/ml for PE, 0.1 micro g/ml for PP, and 0.3 micro g/ml for CP. The mean percentage recoveries obtained for different synthetic mixtures by using this method were 95.3% with coefficient of variation of 4.3% for PE, 101.5% with coefficient of variation of 1.4% for PP, and 99.4% with coefficient of variation of 1.5% for CP. This method has been applied successfully for the determination of PE and PP in its combination with CP in Antihistamine Decongestant tablets with a high percentage of recovery, good accuracy and precision

use of thermoresponsie hydrogel membrane as modulated drug delivery system

Stimuli-sensitive polymers are suitable candidates for novel drug delivery systems, since they release drugs in a controlled manner in response to a stimulus such as temperature. In the present study temperature-sensitive polymer of N-isopropylacryamide [NIPAAm] was evaluated to modulate release of drugs with different molecular weights. Membranes of poly NIPAAm and its copolymers with acryl amide [AAm] were prepared by casting monomers, cross linker, and initiator between two glass plates with a defined spacer thickness. These thermo sensitive hydrogels that cross linked with N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide [MBAAm] showed a swelling transition temperatures [37°C] that was used in the permeation control of hydroxy urea [HU] and erythromycin [Er]. Permeation rates of the drugs in various temperatures were investigated. It was shown that the diffusion rate of HU and Er through membranes is increased with a decrease in temperature. This phenomenon may be explained by the swelling [hydration] properties of the polymers and the thermodynamic influence of temperature and may be used as on-off switching key for controlled release of different molecules