Formulation And Characterization Of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Ginger Oil For Enhancement Of Stability

Objective: To develop and characterize ginger oil loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for enhancement of its stability. Methods: Ginger oil loaded SLNs were prepared in four different batches by double emulsification method using different concentrations of soya lecithin and Tween 80. Further, these batches were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release study. After observing the results, batch F4 was further characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Spectroscopy (TEM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition the optimized batch was subjected to anti-microbial study. Finally, stability studies were done by storing the F4 formulation at accelerated condition, room temperature, refrigerated temperature and photostability were performed by exposing the formulation to UV/fluorescence lamp for 6 mo. Results: The encapsulation efficiency of various batches of SLNs was in the range of 79.75 to 90.24%. The size ranges varied between 50 to 1000 nm. Zeta potential of all formulations was found to be in the range of-44.52 to-49.37 mV. The FTIR spectra of optimized F4 batch indicated no significant structural changes or complexation reactions between drug and excipients. Moreover, TEM image of displayed spherical shape with smooth surface. In vitro drug release study exhibited 95% drug release up to 12 h which indicated suitability of formulation. Thus F4 batch formulation stored at room temperature and refrigerated conditions was found most stable while, accelerated and photostability samples were found to be most susceptible in comparison. Conclusion: The physicochemical stability of ginger oil extract was enhanced by loading it into solid lipid nanocarriers; the resulting SLNs also showed good antimicrobial potential against Klebsiella pneumonia throughout storage conditions.

Comparative chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of normal and organic ginger oils (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe).

Essential oils obtained from the rhizomes of normal and organic ginger plants (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) were characterized by GC and GC‐MS. Zingiberene was the chief compound in both ginger oils. Organic ginger oil contained geranial (10.5%) as the second main compound and had more oxygenated compounds (35.1%) compared to normal ginger oil (31.9%). The organic ginger oil also contained β‐bisabolene (6.1%), ar‐curcumene (5.8%), sesquiphellandrene (2.6%) and δ‐cadinene (2.2%). Antimicrobial activity of both the extracted oils was assessed against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stephylococcus aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Shigella flexneri, Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp by disc diffusion method and obtained results are comparable with the reference compounds. The MIC values of the oils ranged from 20μg/mL to 1 μg/mL which is very significant. The study shows a wide application of oil extracted from organic ginger in the treatment of many bacterial and fungal diseases.

Qualidade de rosas de corte tratadas com produtos naturais / Quality of cut roses treated with natural products

O uso de produtos naturais como conservantes florais vem contribuir para a redução do uso indiscriminado de produtos químicos potencialmente tóxicos. Assim, objetivou-se neste trabalho testar soluções para manter a qualidade e aumentar a durabilidade comercial de rosas vermelhas cortadas da cv. 'Vega'. Foi empregado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial composto por seis tratamentos pós-colheita e quatro datas de avaliação. Os tratamentos realizados foram os seguintes: 1) Água destilada; 2) Metil jasmonato (350µM); aplicado na forma de pulsing, por quatro horas; 3) Pulverização de Metil jasmonato (500µM); 4) Óleo de menta (100ppm); 5) Óleo de gengibre (100ppm); e 6) Própolis (0,05%), utilizados na forma de solução de manutenção. As flores foram mantidas em ambiente com temperatura de 20±2°C e umidade relativa de 67±3%. Procedeu-se a avaliações fisiológicas e qualitativas. De modo geral, os produtos naturais apresentaram ação benéfica sobre a vida de vaso das flores, entretanto, o uso do metil jasmonato em pulverização mostrou, em todos os parâmetros avaliados, ser o produto mais eficiente para manutenção da qualidade floral, promovendo menor perda de massa fresca e menor taxa respiratória das flores, além de permitir melhoria na manutenção da coloração, do conteúdo relativo de água e de carboidratos redutores.

Use of natural products like floral preservative has contributed to reduce indiscriminate use of chemical products. Therefore, this research tested solutions to keep quality and to increase commercial durability of 'Vega' cv. cut roses. It was used a casual design in a factorial schema composed by six post harvest treatments and four evaluation dates. The following treatments were conducted: 1) Distilled water; 2) Metil jasmonate (350µM) application in pulsing form for four hours; 3) Metil jasmonate (500µM) spraying; 4) Mint oil (100ppm); 5) Ginger oil (100ppm); and 6) Propolis (0.05%) used as a maintenance solution. Flowers stayed in an environment at 20±2°C and 67±3% RH. Physiological and qualitative evaluations were conducted. Generally speaking, natural products presented a beneficial action over the shelf life of flowers. However, metil jasmonate spraying was, in all evaluated parameters, the most efficient product to maintain floral quality, providing a lower fresh mass loss and a lower respiratory rate of flowers. It also permitted improvement in coloration maintenance, water relative content and reducing sugars.

Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Ginger Oil / 中草药·英文版

Objective Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used as a spice in cooking and as a medicinal herb in traditional herbal medicine. The present study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ginger oil in experimental animal models. Methods The analgesic effect of the oils was evaluated by the acetic acid and hot-plate test models of pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of the oil was investigated in rats, using rat paw edema induced by carrageenan, adjuvant arthritis, and vascular permeability induced by bradykinin, arachidonic acid, and histamine. Indomethacin (1 mg/kg), Aspirin (0.5 g/kg) and Dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) were used respectively as reference drugs for comparison. Results The ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) produced significant analgesic effect against chemically- and thermally-induced nociceptive pain stimuli in mice (P < 0.05, 0.01). And the ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) also significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, adjuvant arthritis, and inflammatory mediators-induced vascular permeability in rats (P < 0.05, 0.001). Conclusion These findings confirm that the ginger oil can be used to treat pain and chronic inflammation such as rheumatic arthritis.