Résumé
Objective: To enhance the pharmaceutical potential and oral bioavailability of quercetin contents of Allium cepa peel extract by novel nanosuspension technology. Methods: Nanoprecipitation approach was successfully used for the formulation of nanosuspension. To obtain pharmaceutical-grade nanosuspension with minimum particle size and polydispersity index, sodium lauryl sulphate was selected as a stabilizer. Important formulation parameters were statistically optimized by the response surface methodology approach. The optimized nanosuspension was subjected to stability and in vitro dissolution testing and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta sizer. To evaluate the preeminence of nanosuspension over coarse suspension, comparative bioavailability studies were carried out in male albino rats. The pharmaceutical potential of developed nanosuspension was evaluated by antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicity studies. Results: The optimized nanosuspension showed an average particle size of 275.5 nm with a polydispersity index and zeta potential value of 0.415 and -48.8 mV, respectively. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the average particle size of nanosuspension was below 100 nm. The formulated nanosuspension showed better stability under refrigerated conditions. Nanosuspension showed an improved dissolution rate and a 2.14-fold greater plasma concentration of quercetin than coarse suspension. Moreover, the formulated nanosuspension exhibited enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial potential and was non-toxic. Conclusions: Optimization of nanosuspension effectively improves the pharmaceutical potential and oral bioavailability of Allium cepa extract.
Résumé
Objective: To enhance the pharmaceutical potential and oral bioavailability of quercetin contents of Allium cepa peel extract by novel nanosuspension technology. Methods: Nanoprecipitation approach was successfully used for the formulation of nanosuspension. To obtain pharmaceutical-grade nanosuspension with minimum particle size and polydispersity index, sodium lauryl sulphate was selected as a stabilizer. Important formulation parameters were statistically optimized by the response surface methodology approach. The optimized nanosuspension was subjected to stability and in vitro dissolution testing and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta sizer. To evaluate the preeminence of nanosuspension over coarse suspension, comparative bioavailability studies were carried out in male albino rats. The pharmaceutical potential of developed nanosuspension was evaluated by antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicity studies. Results: The optimized nanosuspension showed an average particle size of 275.5 nm with a polydispersity index and zeta potential value of 0.415 and -48.8 mV, respectively. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the average particle size of nanosuspension was below 100 nm. The formulated nanosuspension showed better stability under refrigerated conditions. Nanosuspension showed an improved dissolution rate and a 2.14-fold greater plasma concentration of quercetin than coarse suspension. Moreover, the formulated nanosuspension exhibited enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial potential and was non-toxic. Conclusions: Optimization of nanosuspension effectively improves the pharmaceutical potential and oral bioavailability of Allium cepa extract.
Résumé
Introduction: Self-medication is a part of self-care and is a primary source of public health in a health care system. In Pakistan it is a common practice as a majority of population is underprivileged, economically unstable and medicines are freely available as and when desired. Self-medication is intended for quick relief in common illnesses with a resultant benefit of economy, convenience and saving on time. However, self-medication should not be taken lightly as it involves serious health risks
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from June-August 2014 based on convenience sampling of 200 undergraduate medical and non-medical students from Rehman Medical College and University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, respectively. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data which were analyzed using SPSS v. 22. Comparisons were done using Chi Square test, keeping p= 0.05
Results: 185 students participated [age 22.5 +/- 2.6 years; Male: Female ratio 2.36:1] in the study. The practice of self-medication among students was 93% [n=172] of which 92 were medical students and 80 were non-medical students. "Previous experience with similar symptoms" [50.8%] and "convenience" [27.6%] were common factors for self-medication. The commonest indications for self-medication were "cough/sore throat" [61.1%], "runny nose/nasal congestion" [56.8%] and "fever" [56.29%]. Analgesics [71.4%], antibiotics [62.2%] and anti-allergic [48.1%] drugs were the most common types of self-medication used. Selection of medicine was based on "friends and family's opinion" [40%] and "previous experience" [34.1%]. Participants showed positive attitude towards self-medication; however 32.4% considered it as not an acceptable practice. There was no significant difference between self-medication practice between medical and non-medical students [p=0.34]
Conclusion: Only justifiable rationale for self-medication would be 'urgency of the problem' but amongst our participants this was not the most popular reason. Students of health profession are under the influence of self-medication at the same rate as that of non-health profession. To prevent the growing trend of self-medication, strong policies should be applied prohibiting the supply of medicines and promoting education regarding the implications of self-medication