Anti-bio gram of the most common dietary additives [spices] against common problematic organisms

Background: In the current scenario, the greater antibiotic toxicity, increasing drug cost, and continually rising multi drug resistance are the main compelling factors for the researchers to focus on natural bioactive sources for safe and natural therapeutic agents as an alternative to allopathic antibiotic

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to investigate antimicrobial potential of most commonly used kitchen spices in an attempt to explore the natural bioactive sources for natural therapeutic agents as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics, against which there is a continuous rise in multi-drug resistant pathogens

Study design: Experimental/in vitro study conducted [from Sep, 2015 to Feb, 2016] in different departments [of School of Pharmacy, Pathology and Bio-chemistry of UM and DC], The University- of Faisalabad

Methodology: Antibiotics assay is performed by using the disc diffusion methods. Clove and Cinnamon extracts are prepared and from these sensitivity discs are prepared. Standard size inoculum is also prepared. Then by using standard disc diffusion method the zones of inhibitions produced by Clove and Cinnamon extracts are measured and recorded, and is compared with positive and negative controls

Results: Spice extracts of Clove and Cinnamon tested against test organisms revealed antimicrobial potency with diameter of zone of inhibition [13.33+/-0.33mm to 20.50+/-0.72mm] and [12.17+/-0.31mm to 15.67+/-0.49mm] respectively while positive control manifested zone of inhibition [19.33+/-0.21mm to 29.50+/-0.22mm]. Ethanol extracts prepared by soxhlet apparatus showed better results compared with extracts prepared by simple maceration process. Furthermore, overall ethanol extracts showed better results compared with the aqueous extracts. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed by two-way analysis of variance [SPSS]

Conclusion: This study reported the presence of natural bioactive compound[s] in Clove and Cinnamon with highly significant broad spectrum antibacterial potential, even against multi drug resistant pathogens

Pharmacokinetic studies of metformin and glibenclamide in normal human volunteers

The study was aimed to evaluate various pharmacokinetic parameters of a commercially available fixed dose combination of oral antidiabetics [Metformin/Glibenclamide 500/5mg tablets] in plasma sample of normal healthy adult male volunteers by applying an accurate, selective, and reproducible HPLC-UV analytical method for quantification of Metformin HCL and Glibenclamide simultaneously in a single chromatographic run. Previously no HPLC-UV analytical method for simultaneous estimation of Metformin/Glibenclamide has been reported in Pakistan. The human plasma samples were evaluated by using an isocratic High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] system of Sykam consisted of a pump with a column of Thermo Electron Corporation USA [ODS hypersil C[18] 4.6 mm x 250 mm], a UV-detector with data processing Clarity software. The mobile phase of 0.040M Potassium dihydrogen phosphate containing 0.25mL/L triethylamine at pH 3.5 [adjusted with 1:1 phosphoric acid] and acetonitrile [465: 535v/v] was delivered with injection volume of 100microL at flow rate of 1 mL/min at 25degreeC temperature. The detection was performed at lamda[max]230 nm. By applying this method, important pharmacokinetic parameters C[max], T[max], AUC[0-infinity], AUMC[0-infinity], t[1/2], Ke, MRT, V[d] and Cl[T] are calculated. Maximum plasma concentrations C[max] was 131.856 +/- 8.050ng/ml for Glibenclamide [Mean +/- SEM] and 511.106 +/- 12.675 ng/ml for Metformin HCl [Mean +/- SEM].

Physicochemical characterization and evaluation of suspending properties of arabinoxylan from Ispaghula [Plantago ovata] husk

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of arabinoxylan as potential suspending agent, an effective alternative to commercially used excipients for the preparation of pharmaceutical suspensions. Alkali extraction was done to separate arabinoxylan from ispaghula [Plantago ovata] seed husk by alkali extraction its physicochemical characterization was done and the suspending properties of arabinoxylan isolated were evaluated comparatively with those of bentonite at different concentration ranges of 0.125,0.25,0.5 and 1% in Zinc oxide suspension. The parameters employed for evaluation were sedimentation volume, degree of flocculation, flow rate, density, pH, redispersibility, microbiological evaluation and particle size analysis. Physicochemical characterization of arabinoxylan indicates its suitability as excipient as it has fair flow properties, low moisture content and almost neutral pH. Arabinoxylan at low conc. 0.125% showed sedimentation volume comparable to commercially used suspending agents such as bentonite 1% while suspensions containing higher concentrations such as 0.25% [sedimentation volume 92%], 0.5% [sedimentation volume 94%] and 1% conc. [sedimentation volume 98%] of arabinoxylan remained almost completely suspended during study period of 7 days. Formulations containing 0.125% and 0.25% arabinoxylan as suspending agents are easily redispersible as compared to bentonite containing formulation while formulation containing 0.5% arabinoxylan are moderately redispersible while formulation containing 1% suspending agent gel upon storage and was not redispersible. Furthermore arabinoxylan produces stable, highly flocculated suspension, which fulfilled microbiological, and particle size specifications, however the formulations containing higher arabinoxylan 1% concentration gel upon storage. So it is concluded that arabinoxylan could be used as effective suspending agent at low concentrations in Zinc oxide suspension

Neurofibrosarcoma of thigh arising in a case of neurofibromatosis a case report

This is a report of 14 year old boy who had neurofibromatosis Type-I, with plexiform neurofibromas, multiple cafe-au-lait spots, papillomas throughout the body and a large diffuse lesion of left thigh. The latter had completely disabled him. Investigations revealed this lesion to be a case of neurofibrosarcoma, which is a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Details of management are discussed in this report. A brief review of literature is also presented