Design, characterization and in-vitro evaluation of different cellulosic acrylic and methacrylic polymers loaded aceclofenac microspheres

The aspire of this attempt was to design and evaluate aceclofenac loaded sustained release microspheres by emulsion solvent evaporation method, using different polymers like Ethyl cellulose [EC], Kollidon SR [KSR], Eudragit RS 100, Eudragit RL 100 and Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose [HPMC K100M]

Microspheres were prepared using different stirring rate [1200, 1500, 2000rpm] and larger microspheres were obtained with lower stirring rate. Performance of microspheres was evaluated in terms of in vitro dissolution study which was allowed according to USP paddle method using Phosphate Buffer [pH 6.8] for 8 hours. UV-spectrophotometric method was used to calculate the drug content and the maximum and minimum release of aceclofenac from microspheres was observed 96.08% and 46.41% for formulation F18 and F5 after 8 hours respectively

Dissolution data were fitted by different mathematical models such as the zero order plot, first order plot, Higuchi plot, Hixon-Crowel plot and korsemeyer plot. Korsemeyer model has found to best fitted with release data. Scanning electron microscopic technique was performed to obtain the particle size and morphological changes due to different polymers. Fourier Transform Infra-red [FT-IR] spectroscopy uas performed to find out any interaction of drug with the polymers. The drug might be released by both diffusion and erosion as data were best fitted with Korsemeyer model. So it has been demonstrated that aceclofenac microspheres containing different cellulosic, acrylic and methacrylic loaded polymers may be excellent candidates for consideration in drug delivery systems

In vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit in α-amylase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and hypoglycemic activity in normal and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (in vivo). Methods: Fruits of Citrus macroptera without rind was extracted with pure methanol following cold extraction and tested for presence of phytochemical constituents, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats. Results: Presence of saponin, steroid and terpenoid were identified in the extract. The results showed that fruit extract had moderate α-amylase inhibitory activity [IC

In vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr.fruit in α-amylase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and hypoglycemic activity in normal and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (in vivo).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fruits of Citrus macroptera without rind was extracted with pure methanol following cold extraction and tested for presence of phytochemical constituents, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Presence of saponin, steroid and terpenoid were identified in the extract. The results showed that fruit extract had moderate α-amylase inhibitory activity [IC50 value=(3.638±0.190) mg/mL] as compared to acarbose. Moreover at 500 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg doses fruit extract significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) reduced fasting blood glucose level in normal rats as compared to glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). In oral glucose tolerance test, 500 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level (P<0.05) at 2 h but 1 000 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level at 2 h and 3 h (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) whereas glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced glucose level at every hour after administration. Overall time effect is also considered extremely significant with F value=23.83 and P value=0.0001 in oral glucose tolerance test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that the plant may be a potential source for the development of new oral hypoglycemic agent.</p>

Pressure distribution phenomena over a wedge and sphere surface in uniform flow

In this paper, experimentally the pressure distribution over wedge and sphere surface in uniform flow has been investigated. Fluid flow over a smooth wedge surface was investigated experimentally to determine the pressure distribution at different values of Reynolds numbers and wedge angles as well as pressure distributions around the sphere of different size are reported for different Reynolds numbers. The variation of static pressures is larger near the wedge vertex and gradually decreases along the length of the wedge surface. At the forward stagnation point the pressure distribution depends on the size of spheres. Separation of flow takes place at an angle of 78° from forward stagnation point for all sizes of spheres. At the rear stagnation point of the sphere the pressure distribution predicts negative pressures. Experimental results provide useful information of interest to potential industrial application. It helps in determining the shape of various wedge and sphere surfaces used in industries for cooling or heating of different wedge surfaces. In the present experiment, it has been found that the pressure near vertex lower as the included angle of the wedge decreases and at lower values of Reynolds number

Toxicological evaluation of the root and stem bark extracts of madhuca indica

This research work was conducted with the root and stem bark of Madhuca indica to find out their toxicological properties employing Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay. It was found that the root and stem extracts of the plant contained some constituents that were toxic for the Brine Shrimp Nauplii. The ether and alcohol extracts may have cytotoxic properties as well as other pharmacological activities but the ethyl acetate extracts showed mild activity. The results were discussed with reference to the indication of using the plant extracts as anti-mutagenic agent and appeared to be well-supported by their chemical constituents

In vitro studies on antibacterial property of the root and stem bark extracts of oroxylum indicum

The antimicrobial properties of the bark extracts of Oroxylum indicum was investigated using agar diffusion method. In this study, eight pathogenic bacteria namely: Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pyogenes, Vibrio cholerae. Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Shigella dysenteriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one fungus, Candida albicans were selected. The ether extracts [EE] and alcohol extracts [AE] were found to be active against almost all of the bacteria and fungus tested. The ethyl acetate extract [EaE] of the root bark showed antimicrobial activity against four micro-organisms viz. Candida albicans, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus pyogenes but that of stem bark showed no activity against any of the micro-organisms. All the activities were compared by measuring the zone of inhibition with the standard antibiotic

Determination of antibacterial activity of some commonly used toothbrush sticks

As bacteria appear to be the main causative factor in most oral and dental problems, an attempt has been made in this investigation to determine the antibacterial properties of some fresh or dried plant parts commonly used as toothbrush sticks for routine cleaning of teeth. Ten such plants were chosen. In general these chosen plants were found to possess long strong fibres and bitter or astringent tastes. The crude water extracts of these plants were tested in vitro against the pathogenic bacteria and 8 of them showed a good antibacterial activity. The sensitivity of the strains to the extracts was compared with that of standard ampicillin sensidiscs

Formation of hydrogen peroxide by electro chemical Reduction of molecular oxygen using Luminol chemiluminescence

Formation of hydrogen peroxide by electrochemical reduction of molecular oxygen was examined by measuring luminol chemiluminescence and absorption spectrum using flow-injection method. Ferryl porphyrin is widely accepted as responsible species to stimulate the emission in hydrogen peroxide / iron porphyrin / luminol system. Emission was observed under the cathodic potentials [0.05V at pH 2.0 and -0.3V at pH 11.0] by the electrochemical reduction of aerated electrolytes solution but no emission was observed at anodic potentials. Iron porphyrin solution was added at the down stream of the working electrode and was essential for the emission. Removal of dissolved molecular oxygen resulted in the decrease of emission intensity by more than 70%. In order to examine the life time of reduced active species, delay tubes were introduced between working electrode and Fe III TMPyP inlet. Experimental results suggested the active species were stable for quite a long period. The emission was quenched considerably [>90%] when hydroperoxy catalase was added at the down stream of the working electrode whereas Superoxide dismutase [SOD] had little effect and mannitol had no effect. The spectra at reduction potential under aerated condition were shifted to the longer wavelength [>430nm] compared to the original spectrum of Fe III TMPyP [422nm], indicating that the ferryl species were mixed to some extent. These observations lead to the conclusion that hydrogen peroxide was produced first by electrochemical reduction of molecular oxygen which then converted Fe III TMPyP into O=Fe IV TMPyP to activate luminol. Comparing emission intensities with the reference experiments, the current efficiencies for the formation of hydrogen peroxide were estimated as about 30-65% in all over the pH range used

Quality assessment of some paediatric Cotrimoxazole suspensions marketed in Bangladesh

This report includes the actual analytical studies on the marketed paediatric Cotrimoxazole suspensions manufactured by different companies. Ten brands of those suspensions obtained from different drug shops of the country were analyzed mostly according to B.P. method. Not only potency, but also other vital pharmaceutical parameters, such as appearance, weight/ml., pH, viscosity were taken into consideration, for making decision about the standard of the products. Because all these parameters collectively contribute to the total quality of the drug products. Among the ten brands, 7 were found substandard from the pharmaceutical point of view. Some necessary informations were also not mentioned in the package inserts