Optimization of molding process and physical fingerprint of Shuangye pipa granules based on QbD concept / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To optimize the molding process of Shuangye pipa granules based on the concept of quality by design （QbD） and analyze its physical fingerprint. METHODS The dry extract of Shuangye pipa granules was used as the main drug. The retention rate of total flavonoid， moisture absorption rate， dissolution rate， angle of repose and molding rate of the granules were selected as evaluation indexes. The single-factor test combined with the entropy weight method and Box-Behnken response surface design was used to optimize the molding process， and validation test was conducted. The physical fingerprints of 10 batches of Shuangye pipa granules prepared by the optimal process were comprehensively analyzed by eight secondary physical indexes （relative homogeneity， moisture， moisture absorption rate， Hausner ratio， angle of repose， bulk density， tap density and porosity）. RESULTS The optimal molding process of Shuangye pipa granules was as follows： soluble starch-maltodextrin-mannitol was 1∶1∶1 （m/m/m）， 95% ethanol was as wetting agent and the amount of it was 37%， the drug-assisted ratio was 1∶0.8 （m/m）， the drying temperature was 59 ℃， drying time was 28 min. The results of 3 validation tests showed that the average comprehensive score was 0.879 6， the RSD of which with prediction value （0.881 9 score） was 1.97%. The similarity between the physical fingerprints of 10 batches of Shuangye pipa granules and the control physical fingerprint was higher than 0.99. CONCLUSIONS The optimized molding process of Shuangye pipa granules is stable and feasible， and the physical property of Shuangye pipa granules is stable and controllable.

Optimization of preparation process and evaluation of physical fingerprint of Angelicae Sinensis Radix cellwall broken powder / 中草药

Objective: To optimize the preparation process of Angelicae Sinensis Radix cellwall broken powder (ASR CBP) and evaluate the physical quality of powder. Methods: A HPLC method was established for the determination of five active constituents (ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, coniferyl ferulate, ligustilide and n-butylidenephthalide) of ASR. The Box-Behnken response surface design method was used. The pulverization time, pulverization temperature and sampling capacity in the pulverization process were investigated. The particle size distribution (D90) of the broken wall powder of ASR and the five active ingredients content were used as the response value to construct the response surface model. Under the premise of D90 < 45 μm, the maximum value of the five active ingredients was calculated to optimize the superfine grinding process parameters. A total of 13 physical indicators of D90, coefficient of nonuniformity, particle size distribution width, bulk density, tap density, interparticle porosity, Karl index, specific surface area, pore volume, Hausner ratio, angle of repose, loss on drying and hygroscopicity were used to establish the physical fingerprint of ASR CBP. The similarity evaluation method was used to evaluate the similarity of different batches of ASR CBP. Results: The methodological results of the HPLC method for the determination of the five active ingredients were in accordance with the guidelines. Results of response surface method showed the optimized preparing parameters of ASR CBP technology as follows: 35 min of pulverization time, -10 ℃ of pulverization temperature, and 580 g of sampling capacity. The RSD values between the content and the response surface fitting results of five active ingredients of three batches of cellwall broken powder prepared by the optimal process were all less than 3%. The similarity of the three batches of the optimal process of ASR CBP was above 99.4%. Conclusion: Box-Behnken optimized preparation method of ASR CBP has obvious advantages in retaining the content of active ingredients, especially volatile components. Physical fingerprinting has good practical effects as a tool to evaluate the consistency of physical properties of Chinese material medica powder. The combination of applications helps to achieve a higher quality control level of Chinese medicine cellwall broken powder production.

Optimization of Formulation of Compound L-Carnitine Coating Agent by Response Surface Design Method / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To provide a theoretical basis for industrialized production of compound L-carnitine coating agent by optimizing the prescription. METHODS: Using the time of coating formation as the evaluation index, Central composite design was used to optimize the ratio of film-former and plasticizer on the basis of single factor experiments. RESULTS: The film-former is 15.4% acrylic resin II, and the plasticizer is 10.4% glycerin. CONCLUSION: In this paper, the optimal formulation and dosage of compound L-carnitine coating agent was screened. This formulation can provide reference for the molding process of the preparation and the experiment of percutaneous absorption.

Processing Optimization and Antioxidant Activity of Chiffon Cake Prepared with Tomato Powder

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal mixing condition of tomato powder and sugar for producing chiffon cake. The experiment was designed according to the central composite design of response surface, which yielded ten experimental points, including two replicates. Physiochemical and sensory properties were measured, and theses values applied to mechanical models. A canonical form and perturbation plot showed the influence of each ingredient on the final product mixture. The results of the physiochemical analysis of each sample showed significant differences in sweetness (P<0.01), color L (P<0.001), color a (P< 0.001), color b (P<0.05), hardness (P<0.05), and cohesiveness (P<0.01). The sensory measurements were significantly different in color (P<0.05), appearance (P<0.05), flavor (P<0.05), sweetness (P<0.01), moistness (P<0.05), and overall acceptability (P<0.05). The optimal formulation, calculated using the numerical and graphical method, was determined to be 59.27 g tomato powder and 285.66 g sugar. The sensory evaluation showed significantly higher preferences in the color, flavor, appearance, texture, sweetness, tenderness, moistness and overall quality of the optimized chiffon cake compared to the controlled chiffon cake. The optimized chiffon cake also showed a high antioxidative activity compared to the controlled chiffon cake. Our results show that chiffon cake prepared with tomato powder enhances sensory characteristics and antioxidative activity.

Statistical optimisation of cell growth and carotenoid production by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Sequential statistical methods were used to maximise carotenoid production by a strain of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, isolated from the Brazilian ecosystem. Initially, a factorial 2(5-1) experimental design was used, and the variables were pH and the levels of glucose, yeast extract, MgSO4.7H2O and KH2PO4. The nitrogen source (yeast extract) was the most important variable in enhancing carotenoid production; MgSO4.7H2O and KH2PO4 had a negative influence. The initial pH had no significant effect on carotenoid and cell productions. We further investigated the effects of glucose and yeast extract effects, using a second-order central composite design (CCD) to optimise carotenoid production, which was adequately approximated with a full quadratic equation obtained from a two-factor-2-level design. The analysis of quadratic surfaces showed that after 5 days of cultivation at 25ºC, the maximum carotenoid concentration (745 µg l-1) was obtained with 15 g l-1 of yeast extract and 20 g l-1 of glucose. The maximum carotenoid production (152 µg g-1) was obtained with 5 g l-1 yeast extract and 10 g l-1 glucose. Carotenoid formation was more sensitive to changes in yeast extract concentration than to changes in glucose concentration. Maximum cell production was achieved with 15-17 g l-1 of yeast extract and 15-20 g l-1 of glucose.

Statistical optimisation of cell growth and carotenoid production by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Sequential statistical methods were used to maximise carotenoid production by a strain of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, isolated from the Brazilian ecosystem. Initially, a factorial 2(5-1) experimental design was used, and the variables were pH and the levels of glucose, yeast extract, MgSO4.7H2O and KH2PO4. The nitrogen source (yeast extract) was the most important variable in enhancing carotenoid production; MgSO4.7H2O and KH2PO4 had a negative influence. The initial pH had no significant effect on carotenoid and cell productions. We further investigated the effects of glucose and yeast extract effects, using a second-order central composite design (CCD) to optimise carotenoid production, which was adequately approximated with a full quadratic equation obtained from a two-factor-2-level design. The analysis of quadratic surfaces showed that after 5 days of cultivation at 25ºC, the maximum carotenoid concentration (745 µg l-1) was obtained with 15 g l-1 of yeast extract and 20 g l-1 of glucose. The maximum carotenoid production (152 µg g-1) was obtained with 5 g l-1 yeast extract and 10 g l-1 glucose. Carotenoid formation was more sensitive to changes in yeast extract concentration than to changes in glucose concentration. Maximum cell production was achieved with 15-17 g l-1 of yeast extract and 15-20 g l-1 of glucose.