[Study of the chemical compositions of the Ocimum Basilicum family Lamiaceae]

The aim of this study is to determine the essential oil of Ocimum and to find out the chemical constituents of essential oils of Yemeni Ocimum basilicum Lamiaceae. Two samples of Ocimum basilicum which were collected from Sana'a region, Yemen. The color of leaves was green and purple. Oils were isolated from fresh leaves. The constituents are quantified using Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. The analysis of the oils resulted in the identification of twenty six constituents. Fifteen constituents were identified from green phenotype oil. Linalool [46.6%], verbenone, [10.0%], methyl chavicol [8.1%], geraniol [7.3%], 1, 8-cineole [7.1%] and borneol [4.3%] were found to be the major constituents in the oil distilled from green phenotype. Eleven constituents were identified from purple phenotype oil with linalool [41.8%], methyl chavicol [30.9%], 1, 8-cineole [9.7%] and TAU-cadinol [4.2%] as the major constituents. The study revealed that two chemo-types were identified. The isolated oils could be classified as the linalool - methyl chavicol [European chemotype] and linalool-verbenone -methyl chavicol chemotype, which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported so far

Assessment of different commercial brands of Tamoxifen 10 mg tablets marketed in Yemen as anti-breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women; one, out of nine women will have breast cancer in her life time. Tamoxifen is the trans-isomer of a triphenylethylene derivative. The chemical name is 2-[4-[1,2-diphenyl-1 -buteny l]-phenoxy]-N,N-dimethylethanamine. Tamoxifen is the first anti-estrogen to be used successfully for the treatment of all stages of breast cancer. Several laboratory principles, described 20 years ago, have been tested in clinical trials and became the standard treatment approach for women with breast cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality and quantity of the commercial brands of tamoxifen 10 mg tablets which are marketed in Yemen. We have selected five items of tamoxifen 10 mg, Tamocit [Ram-Pharma] Novofen, [Remedca], Nolvadex [Astrazenca], Tamoxifen [Amriya] and Zymplox [Gene-Pharma] of five different commercial brands, which are registered in the Supreme Board of Drugs and Medical Appliance of Yemen. We have applied the qualitative and quantitative analysis for evaluating these items and comparing them with Reference Standard of tamoxifen citrate. The limit of content of assay of tamoxifen tablet is [90-110%] [B.P.] and the dissolution content not less than 75% [Q] of the labeled amount of tamoxifen tablets is dissolved in 30 minutes [USP]. The results of analysis of these five items of tamoxifen tablet 10 mg were evaluated. They showed that the qualitative and quantitative analysis were complied with B.P. and USP requirements and there was no significant difference between the results of assays of commercial companies [p < 0.05]

[Chemical compositions of the essential oil of commiphora habessinica growing in Yemen: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis]

The aim of this study is to analyze the chemical constituents of essential oil of resin of Yemeni Commiphora habessinica. Commiphora. habessinica resin was collected from Hujarriyah district, Taiz Governorate, Yemen. Oleogum resin [20 g] of C. habessinica was subjected to hydrodistillation for 3 h in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The constituents are quantified using Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. Thirteen constituents of Yemeni Commiphora habessinica were identified whereas two unidentified compounds with RI 1715 [5.2%], and RI 1819 [4.1%] respectively by Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. The major constituents were beta-elemene [32.1%], alpha-selinene [18.9%], cadina-1, 4-diene [7.5%], germacrene B [3.6%], alpha-copaene [3.5%], t-muurolol [3.0%], caryophyllene oxide [2.9%] and alpha-cadinol [2.6%]. The data reported in our study showed that the oil composition of C. habessinica was characterized mainly by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons [69.7%] and showed among the Commiphora oils, the highest percentage in beta-elemene [32.1%] which possessed antitumor activity. Cadina-1, 4-diene, t-muurolol, and alpha-cadinol were identified for the first time in the oil of Cominiphora genus

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil of Soqotran Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. f

Chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of the endemic Soqotraen Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. Fil. was analyzed by GC-MS. Sesquiterpenes are the predominant portion of both essential oils. Major compounds of Pulicaria stephanocarpa oil were a-cadinol [42.5%], spathulenol [22.%], caryophyllene [10.8%], 8-cadinene [5.4%], cis-[-]-2,4a,5,6,9,9a-hexahydro-3,5,5,9-tetramethyi-1H-Benzocyclohepterie [4.6%], and oc-muurolene [4.1%]. The essential oils were screened for their antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus [Cladosporium cucumerinum] by using a microbioassay on TLC plates at concentrations of 400, 200 and 100 microg. At the concentration of 400 micro g, the oil showed marked antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 18.6.mm

Screening of antioxidant and antifungal properties of extracts from endemic Soqotran medicinal plants

A total of 50 different extracts from 18 endemic Soqotran medicinal plants belonging to 12 plant families were screened for their antioxidant activity, using the DPPH free radical scavenger assay and their antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporiumn cucumerinum, using a microbioassay on TLC plates. Of the extracts tested, 8 out of 25 methanol extracts showed more than 50% antioxidative activity at a concentration of 200 microg/ml. Extracts of Kalanchoe farinaceae, Caralluma socotrana, and Boswellia socofrana were the most active ones. Nine out of 50 extracts exhibited a fungitoxic activity. Chloroform extracts of Pulicaria stephanocarpa leaves and roots showed at an application amount of 400 micrg inhibition zones of 20 +/- 1.0 and 18 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively. The chloroform extract of Kalanchoe farinaceae leaves exhibited stronger antifungal activity [18 +/- 0.8 mm inhibition zone] than the methanolic extract [15 +/- 0.3 mm inhibition zone]. The most active methanolic extract was obtained from Acridocarpus socotranus leaves, with a 18 +/- 0.4 mm inhibition zone for 400 microgm applied

Survey of pesticides used in Qat cultivation in Dhale' and Yafe' and their adverse effects

A survey and questionnaire consisting of interviews with 100 Qat-farmers who used and applied different kinds of pesticides in Dhale' and Yafe' districts, where Qat is cultivated widely. Seven of the pesticides used in Yemen are either omitted or banned by the World Health Organization. Survey report shows six pesticides used most frequently by Qat farmers in the two districts. The result obtained revealed the selection of pesticides based on the farmers' experience, the irrational use of pesticides, [they used different concentrations of pesticides], the ignorance of Qat-farmers of importance of wearing protective clothes, the properties and adverse effect of pesticides. The irrational use of pesticide causes environmental pollution and endanger the health of the people. 40% of farmers interviewed recognized beneficial organisms in the soil, 10% said that there is no beneficial organism in the soil, 50% of farmers don't know. The goal of this study survey is to know the kinds of pesticides, which used by Qat farmers, and to reveal partly the healthy and environmental problems resulting from the misuse of pesticides by the Qat farmers

comparative study of a new spectrophtometeric assay of alpha-methyldopa tablets manufactured by different companies

Many spectrophotometeric methods have been described for the determination of alpha-Methyldopa powder and tablets. However, most of these methods suffer from extraction, heating, time consuming for developing colour. The objective of this study is to eliminate previous factors and to determine a simple and sensitive Spectrophtometeric method. A simple, and sensitive Spectrophtometeric method is proposed for the analysis of reference standard and four commercial brands of alpha-Methyldopa. The method is based on the oxidation of alpha-Methyldopa by 0.25% K2CrO4, followed by oxidative coupling with 0.5% sulphanilic acid, to yield greenish-yellow product having maximum absorbance at 400 nm, and the absorptions were taken after 5 minutes. The system obeyed Beer's law over the concentration 10-175 mcg/ml. The relationship between absorbance and concentration was linear by applying regression linear equation. We calculated the concentration of the drug from the calibration curve. The common excipients and additives did not interfere with their determinations. The results obtained by the proposed method were compared statistically with official method [USP]. There were no significant differences in precision between them [p = 0.011]. The method was successfully used for the determination of alpha- methyldopa powder and tablets

Bioequivalence study of different brands of propranolol -HCI tablets

Large numbers of p-blockers are widely dispensed in the market and used in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, angina pectoris, and cardiac arrhythmias. Propranolol HCI belongs to the group of p-blocking and it is one of the drugs of choice for sustained action dosage form, because of its high therapeutic index

The objectives of this study are to compare the percentage of content of selected brands and to determine the drug release of propranolol HCI in 30 minutes and the maximum absorption in vitro by spectrophotometer assay

The in-vitro dissolution method utilized USP apparatus 1 at 100 rpm. and the medium is 0.1 N HCI. The results of the percentages of selected brand assays are complied with B.P. Dissolution tests in 30 minutes of selected brands of propranolol HCI are complied with USP and showed that Astra Zeneca [England], Zeneca [Egypt], Kahira [Egypt] have similar formulations, whereas Lagap, [Switzerland] is different. The maximum absorption of an oral dosage form of selected brands of propranolol HC is determined [l-2hrs.] [In vitro] and that confirms the predicted time of the maximum absorption of propranolol HCI from gastrointestinal [l-2hrs] [In vivo

Assessment of the stability of different brands of ampicillin oral suspensions

Assessment of the stability of ampicillin trihydrate oral suspensions 250 mg/5 ml of three different commercial brands [Ultracillin[R]], [lpcacillin[R]], [Ampicillin mixture[R]] and ampicillin trihydrate as a reference sample has been tested by using lodometric assay. Ampicillin [trihydrate] oral suspension was reconstituted with different vehicles and stored at different temperatures, [Fridge 5°C] and [Room 25°C] for one week. The effect of vehicles, temperatures, electrolytes, antioxidant and buffers on stability of ampicillin [trihydrate] oral suspensions was studied. lodometric assay was applied to determine the percentage of the degradations of ampicillin trihydrate oral suspension. The rate of ampicillin trihydrate degradation from sustained release suspension after aging has been studied using first order kinetic reaction. We determined in the laboratory the effect of the type of water used in preparing the antibiotic suspension on stability. The shelf lives were also studied