ABSTRACT
Aims: To assess the acute toxicity and skin irritation potential of a rhizobacterium Bacillus cereus RS87 and the rhizo-product in rats and rabbits. Study Design: Adult Wistar rats were gavaged with a single dose of B. cereus RS87 in acute oral toxicity test and were applied with single doses of rhizo-product for 24 hours in acute dermal toxicity test. New Zealand albino rabbits were applied with 0.5g rhizoproduct in acute dermal irritation test. Place and Duration of Study: Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Department, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), Pathum Thani, Thailand, between November 2013 and March 2014. Methodology: Animal toxicity studies were carried out by the methods described in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines. Mortality data of animals were used to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) values after oral and dermal exposures to B. cereus RS87 and the rhizo-product along with distilled water as control. The skin irritation potential of the rhizo-product was evaluated in rabbits. Distilled water was used as a control. The average weight gains were calculated and gross examination at necropsy was performed. Results: No mortality and no signs of toxicity were observed. The oral LD50 of B. cereus RS87 and dermal LD50 of rhizo-product in rats were greater than 9x108 CFU kg-1 and 15,000 mg kg-1(about 4.5x108 CFU kg-1), respectively. However, significant decrease in mean weight gain in the high-dose groups when compared to controls (21.40+/-1.47 versus 28.40 +/- 0.24 (male); 13.80+/-2.57 versus 20.20+/-0.58 (female)) were reported at day 8 after 24-hour dermal exposure to rhizo-product. No pathological changes in major organs were observed at necropsy. Conclusion: B. cereus RS87 and the rhizo-product (about 3x107 CFU/g) have low acute toxicity and very low skin irritation potential, which was considered safe for humans. However, adverse effect needed to be further explored in the field experiment or in practical use.
ABSTRACT
In this study, 130 small-scale farmers were surveyed regarding pesticide use patterns in rural Phitsanulok, northern Thailand using a structured questionnaire administered via personal interviews and an observational checklist of farmer pesticide storage practices. The survey was conducted during December 2007-January 2008. The results indicate pesticides are readily available and widely used in crop production. This includes the use of endosulfan which has been banned by the Thai government since 2004. Overall, pesticide use was inappropriate. Farmers did not wear suitable personal protection, apply pesticides in an appropriate fashion, or discard the waste safely. They frequently relied on commercial advertisements for the best pesticide to use. Pesticide use patterns among small-scale farmers in Thailand need improvement. Educational interventions are essential for promoting safety during all phases of pesticide handling. Public policies should be developed to encourage farmers to change their pest management methods from chemical based to methods that are healthier and more environmentally friendly.
ABSTRACT
Drugstores and drug outlets are the main sources of care for the majority of Cambodian citizens because of the availability of drugs, short waiting time, and ability to control the cost of treatment. Unfortunately, no enforcement of pharmacy regulations and little consumer and drugstore personnel education contribute to a potential harmful unregulated drug market resulting in high costs and prolonged illness. No study has looked at the quality of over-the-counter drugs, which would have the highest impact on the people. In this study, we were interested in exploring the quality of commonly used pharmaceutical items available from drugstores in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using uncoated aspirin tablets as a case study. Factors relating to quality of the drug were also examined. This study was conducted by means of drug fishing method to obtain uncoated aspirin tablet samples from 96 drugstores in Phnom Penh. The quality of the samples was examined in six aspects: percent label amount, weight variation, hardness, percent friability, disintegration time, and dissolution rate. We found that only seven (7.3%) of the total 96 samples passed all six quality criteria. Dissolution test appeared to be the most critical step in determining aspirin quality. Factors that were statistically related to the quality of the sample were type of packaging. All the drugs that passed the six criteria were in bottles. Source of the medications was also significantly related to their quality. Among seven samples that passed the test, six were from Vietnam. Our study revealed that the quality of uncoated aspirin tablets was a serious problem. The vast majority of the samples did not meet the standard requirements. Type of packaging and source of medications were related to the quality of samples. This study has important implications for the Cambodian government regarding the control of the quality of pharmaceutical items available in drugstores.