Evaluation of Cissus populnea gum as a directly compressible matrix system for tramadol hydrochloride extended-release tablet

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the compactibility, mechanical and release properties of tramadoltablets prepared by direct compression using cissus gum, a naturally occurring plant polymer as directly compressibleexcipient in comparison with xanthan gum. Compactibility was measured by Heckle, mechanical properties by tensilestrength and friability, and release properties by dissolution profile. Student t-test with GraphPad Prism 5 was used toidentify differences between data at p < 0.05. The result showed that the Py of xanthan formulation was significantlylower than cissus formulations (p = 0.03). Onset of plastic deformation was directly dependent on the concentrationof the polymer and the properties of the active ingredient. The presence of the active ingredient retarded the onsetof plastic deformation. There was increase in crushing strength and tensile strength with decrease in friability as theconcentration of the polymer increased in all formulations. The mechanical properties of cissus gum and xanthan gumformulations were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Tramadol dissolution decreased as the concentration of thepolymers increased. Cissus gum has some properties that would make it suitable as direct compressible excipient inmatrix systems for extended-release.

The antiplasmodial effect of the extracts and formulated capsules of Phyllanthus amarus on Plasmodium yoelii infection in mice

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the antiplasmodial activity of the extracts of Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) on Plasmodium yoelii (P. yoelii) (a resistant malaria parasite strain used in animal studies) infection in mice.@*METHODS@#The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the whole plant of Phyllanthus amarus was administered to Swiss albino mice at doses of 200 mg/kg/day, 400 mg/kg/day, 800 mg/kg/day and 1600 mg/kg/day and the prophylactic and chemotherapeutic effect of the extracts against P. yoelii infection in mice was investigated and compared with those of standard antimalaria drugs used in the treatment of malaria parasite infection. Acute toxicity test was carried out in mice to determine the safety of the plant extract when administered orally.@*RESULTS@#The results showed that the extracts demonstrated a dose-dependent prophylactic and chemotherapeutic activity with the aqueous extracts showing slightly higher effect than the ethanol extract. The antiplasmodial effects of the extracts were comparable to the standard prophylactic and chemotherapeutic drugs used in chloroquine resistant Plasmodium infection although the activity depended on the dose of the extract administered. The extracts showed prophylactic effect by significantly delaying the onset of infection with the suppression of 79% at a dose of 1600 mg/kg/day.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results obtained indicate that the extracts of the whole plant of P. amarus possess repository and chemotherapeutic effects against resistant strains of P. yoelii in Swiss albino mice. The findings justify the use of the extract of P. amarus in traditional medicine practice, for the treatment of malaria infections.