Development of microparticles and microparticulated tablets containing piperine

Abstract Piper nigrum (black pepper) is used in Indian traditional medicine and its main alkaloid, Piperine (PIP), presents antioxidant, antitumor and neuroprotective pharmacological properties. This substance is insoluble in aqueous media and can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Aiming to avoid these inconvenient characteristics and enable PIP oral administration, this study suggested the PIP microencapsulation through the emulsion-solvent evaporation method and the preparation of microparticulated tablets by direct compression. An UV-spectroscopy method was validated to quantify PIP. Microparticles and microparticulated tablets were successfully obtained and the microparticles exhibited excellent flow. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that PIP microparticles were intact after compression. The in vitro release showed a controlled release of PIP from microparticles and PIP microparticles from tablets in comparison to PIP and PIP tablets. The release profiles of PIP microparticles and the microparticulated tablets were similar. Therefore, tablets containing PIP microparticles are promising multiparticulated dosage forms because a tablet allows microparticles administration and the intact ones promote a controlled release, decreasing its irritating potential on the mucosa.

Atividades educativas sobre armazenamento e descarte correto de medicamentos: relato de experiência com público infantil / Educational activities about storage and correct disposal of medicines: experience report with children audience

RESUMO A conscientização do público infantil sobre uso racional e práticas adequadas relacionadas a medicamentos incentiva a transformação a partir da educação infantil e impulsiona a multiplicação desse conhecimento nas famílias. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a experiência de ações de conscientização com público infantil visando a orientar e divulgar a forma correta de armazenamento e descarte de medicamentos realizada por um programa de extensão de uma instituição de ensino superior. As atividades foram realizadas em duas escolas públicas rurais de um município do interior do Rio Grande do Sul, envolvendo alunos da pré-escola ao 8º ano do ensino fundamental. Elas foram planejadas e organizadas pelos extensionistas, que conduziram a abordagem das temáticas por meio de perguntas orais, orientação dialogada, com apoio de recurso audiovisual e quiz de assimilação de conteúdo. O público, de aproximadamente 125 pessoas, demonstrou aceitação e interesse pela temática, participando com relatos iniciais de práticas adotadas em suas residências e respondendo às perguntas no final das atividades. Verificaram-se tanto aprendizagem das informações pelas crianças quanto motivação para as práticas adequadas e multiplicação de conhecimento. As atividades educativas mostraram-se positivas e poderão ser subsídios para ações de educação em saúde, em outras localidades.

ABSTRACT Children awareness on the rational use and appropriate medicines-related practices encourages transformation through early childhood education and boosts the multiplication of such knowledge in families. In this perspective, the aim of this work is to report the experience of actions awareness with children aiming to guide and divulge the correct way of storage and disposal of medicines carried out by an extension program of an institution of higher education. The activities were carried out in two rural public schools of a municipality of the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, involving pre-school students to the 8th year of elementary school. They were planned and organized by extensionists, who led the approach to the topics through oral questions, negotiated orientation, with support of audiovisual resource and content assimilation quiz. The public, of approximately 125 people, showed acceptance and interest on the subject, participating with initial reports of practices adopted in their residences and answering the quiz questions at the end of the activities. The learning of children's information and the motivation for appropriate practices and the multiplication of knowledge have been verified. The educational activities were positive and could be subsidies for actions of health education, in other locations.