Vitamin A knowledge and household consumption frequency of vitamin A – rich foods in Tangail, Bangladesh

@#Introduction: Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most serious health problems in developing countries. This study aims to explore the comparative figure of vitamin A knowledge, household consumption frequency of vitamin A-rich foods, and association of socio-demographic factors with knowledge and consumption in four residential areas in Tangail district, Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a population-based cross-sectional design with 400 study participants selected using purposive sampling technique. Knowledge and consumption frequency were assessed by a structured questionnaire along with food frequency table. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Only 33.5% participants had primary vitamin A knowledge, where most from urban (48.5%) and semi-urban (30.6%) areas had comparatively higher knowledge than those from rural (11.2%) and slum (9.7%) areas. Specific knowledge level was also poorer in rural and slum areas than urban and semi-urban areas. Most of the participants received knowledge through commercial advertisements (65.7%). Household consumption frequency of vitamin A-rich foods (plant and animal) was comparatively lower in rural and slum areas than in urban and semi-urban areas. Different socio-demographic factors (place of residence, education and household income) significantly influenced participant’s vitamin A knowledge and household consumption of vitamin A-rich foods (p<0.05). Conclusion: In general, the study population lacked knowledge regarding the importance of vitamin A. Consumption frequency of vitamin A-rich foods was still poorer in slum and rural areas than in urban and semi-urban areas.

Standardization, quality control and pharmacological review on Glycyrrhiza glabra L. A potential medicinal herb in Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is a potential herbal drug used in Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine. In view of the medicinal and pharmacological importance of this species in different systems of medicine, an attempt has been made to provide comprehensive information on standardization and quality control of the herb based on WHO guidelines. The important parameters for standardization and quality control are sensory, macroscopic, microscopic and chemical characteristics along with the physico-chemical characteristics [moisture content, successive extractive value, ash value, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive value, acid value, iodine value] and TLC finger prints of different extractives. At the same time, chemical constituents, properties and its uses, pharmacology, precautions and toxicity are discussed based on literature review

Theft of Unani formulations for the treatment of various diseases is not new but it is a matter of concern since last couple of decades. However, information regarding Unani Medicine exists in Arabic, Urdu, Persian and other regional languages. The examiners of different national/ international patent offices are unable to understand this information as prior art, before granting patents due to language barrier

Some of the examples of case studies of misappropriation of Pistacia lentiscus Linn is discussed in which the indication of Pistacia lentiscus Linn i.e. anti-inflammatory [mentioned in Unani classical texts] has been claimed for wrong patent

Standardization, quality control and pharmacological review on andrographis paniculata[Burm.f.] Wall ex nees a Potential Medicinal herb in unani and ayurvedic systems of medicine

Andrographis paniculata [Burm.f.] Wall ex Nees is a potential herbal drug used in Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine. In view of the medicinal and pharmacological importance of this species in different systems of medicine, an attempt has been made to provide comprehensive information on standardization and quality control of the herb based on WHO guidelines. The studied important parameters for standardization and quality control are sensory characteristics, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, chemical characteristics with some chemical reagents, physico-chemical characteristics [moisture content, successive extractive value, ash value, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive value, acid value, iodine value] and TLC and HPLC finger prints of different extractives. At the same time, chemical constituents, properties and uses, pharmacology, precautions and toxicity arc discussed based on literature review

Record of ethnomedicinal plants used for the treatment of various diseases and ailments in the South-Western Region of Bangladesh

An ethnomedicinal survey was undertaken to collect information from local traditional healers on the medicinal use of plants in the south-western region of Bangladesh during June 2003 to July 2005 for the first time. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during field trips. The investigation revealed that, the local people and traditional healers used 126 species of plants distributed in 112 genera belonging to 58 families to treat various diseases and ailments. These plant species are enumerated alphabetically in the text by adopting the accepted names, synonym/s wherever applicable, local names, habit and habitat, along with short description of their ethnomedicinal uses

Chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of capsule gurmar, a new anti-diabetes formulation of Hamdard laboratories [Waqf] Bangladesh

Capsule Gurmar is a new polyherbal Unani formulation developed by the R and D Department of Hamdard Laboratories [Waqf] Bangladesh for management and treatment of diabetes. The chemical constituents and analgesic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, neuropharmacological and hypoglycemic properties of the formulation have been preliminarily investigated using standard methods. We report here the results of these investigations. Phytochemical tests on the methanol extract of the contents of the capsules showed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins in the formulation. When tested by using Tail-immersion method and acetic acid-induced Writhing test, the extract exhibited significant analgesic activity [comparable to that of the standard drug, Diclofenac-Sodium] and reduction of writhing response [38% at a dose of 400 mg/Kg body weight] in a dose-dependant manner. In the Hole cross and Open-field tests, the extract, at a dose of 400 mg/Kg body weight, displayed significant suppression of locomotor activity and exploratory behaviour of the mice. When subjected to Brine shrimp Lethality Bioassay, the extract was found to be significantly toxic to Brine shrimp nauplii [having LC[50] value of 3.16 micro g/ml]. Glucose Tolerance Test [GTT] demonstrated quite strong hypoglycemic activity of the Formulation, which significantly lowered the blood glucose level of the treated mice at the doses of 100 mg and 200 mg/Kg body weight. The effect was comparable to that of the standard oral hypoglycemic drug, Metformin Hydrochloride. These results indicated that Capsule Gurmar possesses analgesic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, CNS depressant and hypoglycemic properties

Effect of starch 1500 as a binder and disintegrant in lamivudine tablets prepared by high shear wet granulation

High shear wet granulation is a preferred manufacturing method of tablets. It allowed for rapid production of compressible granulations. The resultant granulation characteristics depend on a combination of formulation properties and processing parameters. Fully pregelatinized starches are currently being used as binders in wet granulated formulations. But due to the gelatinization, much of the disintegration properties are lost. Partially pregelatinized starches [Starch 1500] have a mixture of properties of both native and fully gelatinized starches; made them useful as both a binder and a disintegrant in wet granulated formulations. Starch 1500 performed as an excellent binder producing a granulation that was compressible and produced Lamivudine tablets of improved hardness and friability compared with those prepared with povidone. The formulation of Lamivudine tablets with Starch 1500 exceeded the disintegration and dissolution performance of the povidone formulation that utilized a super disintegrant. High shear wet granulation is also well suited for the use of partially pregelatinized starches

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of atenolol and amlodipine in pharmaceutical-dosage form

A simple, rapid and precise method is developed for the quantitative simultaneous determination of atenolol and amlodipine in a combined pharmaceutical-dosage form. The method is based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] on a reversed-phase column, shim-pack CLC, ODS [CIS], 4.6 mm x 25 cm and 0.5 micro m, using a mobile phase of ammonium acetate buffer [the pH was adjusted to 4.5 +/- 0.05 with glacial acetic acid], acetonitrile and methanol [35:30:35 v/v]. The buffer used in the mobile phase contains ammonium acetate in double-distilled water. The chromatographic conditions are- flow rate of 1.5ml/min, column temperature at 40°C and detector wavelength of 237 nm. Both the drugs were well resolved on the stationary phase and the retention times were around 1.5 minute for atenolol and 3.4 minute for amlodipine. The method was validated and shown to be linear for atenolol and amlodipine. The correlation coefficients for atenolol and amlodipine are 0.999963 and 0.999979, respectively. The relative standard deviations for six replicate measurements in two sets of each drug in the tablets is always less than 2% and mean% error of active recovery not more than +/- 1.5%. The method was validated for precision and accuracy. The proposed method was successfully applied to the pharmaceutical dosage forms containing the above-mentioned drug combination without any interference by the excipients