Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity and In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation of Ochradenus baccatus Methanolic Extract.

Background and Objectives: Ochradenus baccatus belongs to the family Resedaceae. It is widely spread in Saudi Arabia and other countries in Southwest Asia. O. baccatus is extensively used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, in addition to being a vital source of food for certain desert animal species. The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial/anticancer activities of O. baccatus methanolic extracts collected from Hail, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The O. baccatus extracts were obtained by macerating the crude powder in methanol, followed by filtration and evaporation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze the methanolic extracts' chemical constituents. Broth microdilution assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination was used to assess antimicrobial activity, while the extracts' anticancer potential was assessed by sulforhodamine B Assay (SRB) assay. Results: The results of the antibacterial assay showed that the methanolic extracts from the roots and branches possessed varying degrees of activity against particular bacterial strains, with the highest activity being exerted by the branches' extract against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium (St), demonstrating MIC values of 15.6 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the SRB cell viability assay revealed that only the branches' extract inhibited the growth of A549 cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 86.19 µg/mL. The LC-MS analysis of the methanolic extracts from the plant's roots and branches was then conducted, resulting in the identification of 8 and 13 major chemical constituents, respectively. Azelaic acid, ß-amyrin, and phytanic acid are some of the bioactive compounds that were detected in the extracts via LC-MS, and they are thought to be responsible for the observed antibacterial/anticancer activity of O. baccatus methanolic extracts. Conclusions: This study confirmed the antibacterial/anticancer potential of O. baccatus methanolic extracts and analyzed their phytochemical constituents. Further isolation and biological screening are warranted to understand the therapeutic potential of O. baccatus.

Capillary Electrophoresis Method for Determination of Escitalopram Oxalate in Urine Samples and Different Dosage Forms.

Application of capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become a rapidly growing analytical technique for the estimation of drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological fluids. In this study, an effective and sensitive method was developed for the determination of escitalopram oxalate (ESC-OX) by CE with diode-array detection at 200 nm. The separation was achieved by a fused silica capillary with 40 cm effective length (48.5 cm total, 75 µm i.d.). The background electrolyte was composed of 15 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5). The applied potential was 22.5 kV, and the samples were injected at 50 mbar pressure for 10 s. Metoprolol was used as an internal standard (IS). The migration time under these optimum conditions was 6.51 ± 0.07 and 6.73 ± 0.08 min for ESC-OX and IS, respectively, with total run time 7 min. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and sensitivity. The limit of detection was calculated as 3.85 and 5.07 ng mL-1 for standard and urine samples, respectively. The developed method was employed successfully for the determination of ESC-OX in different pharmaceutical dosage forms and spiked human urine after simple liquid-liquid extraction with good recovery.

An insight into the pharmaceutical sector in Yemen during conflict: challenges and recommendations.

In our world today, we need to understand, measure, and respond to inequality. The conflict and siege in Yemen have caused serious repercussions and consequences for the pharmaceutical sector and health of the people. Hospital, health centres and facilities, medicines warehouses and pharmaceutical factories have been destroyed. Further, the conflict has aggravated the health situation with shortages of medicines, an increase in chronic illnesses, and multiple epidemics and casualties. This article aims to highlight the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector in Yemen. It will address the overall state of health of the Yemeni people, as well as focus on the past, current status and future development of the pharmaceutical sector. Further, it will focus on possible remedial actions to solve some of these problems. These problems can be tackled if the responsible parties have the political will to do so. Acknowledging the different classes of problems is undeniably very important to provide clarity on the future of Yemen's supposedly promising pharmaceutical landscape.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles for Different Isolates in Aden, Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Resource-Poor Setting.

BACKGROUND: There is a rapid deterioration in the effectiveness of antibiotics due to the global prevalence of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR can cause an increase in mortality and morbidity due to treatment failures and a lack of effective therapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the AMR pattern of different bacterial isolates at hospitals and laboratories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study from March 2019 to June 2019 was conducted at different governmental and private hospitals and laboratories in Aden, Yemen. Age, sex, specimen type, bacterial isolates, and antibiotic susceptibility pattern were collected using a data extraction sheet. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. RESULT: Data were recorded for 412 patients from whom 20 clinical specimens were collected and analyzed. The most common bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus spp. (n = 172, 41.74%), E. coli (n = 164, 39.80%), Pseudomonas spp. (n = 37, 8.98%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 18, 4.36%); other bacteria were less common. The overall bacterial resistance was highest against the combination of sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (73.12%), followed by amoxicillin and clavulanate (65.19%). The cephalosporin antibiotics also showed high resistance rates. The study also showed moderate bacterial resistance to gentamycin (32.65%), azithromycin (29.92%), cefoxitin (62.65%), and ciprofloxacin (25.60%). Ertapenem (16.67%) and levofloxacin (15.56%) had the lowest resistance rates. CONCLUSION: There was a high percentage of bacteria resistant to several antibiotics. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is a prerequisite guide for the selection of appropriate antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections.

Application of LC-ESI-MS/MS Method for Analysis of Escitalopram Oxalate in Human Urine and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms.

An effective and sensitive liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization tandem mass-spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for quantification of escitalopram oxalate (ESC-OX), antidepressant drug in spiked human urine and pharmaceutical formulations. In this work, simple liquid-liquid extraction was optimized and used for extraction of cited drug from urine samples. The chromatographic separation was attained within 6 min including re-equilibration time by using gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase, Zorbax Eclipse RP C18 (50 × 2.1 mm) column was used with a particle size of 1.8 µm; the flow-rate was 0.35 mL min-1. Ion signal m/z 262.0 and 109.0 for ESC-OX product ions were monitored at positive ESI mode. Validation of the method was carried out according to the ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines and EMEA criteria. The method was linear over 79-196,450 pg mL-1 with a regression of 0.9999 and 0.9993 for both standard and urine samples. The LOD was 3.88 and 10.66 pg mL-1 for standard and urine samples, respectively, while lower limit of quantification was 79 pg mL-1.

Knowledge and Attitudes on Khat Use among Yemeni Health Sciences Students.

Background: Khat chewing has a negative impact on an individual's life. Objectives: The study was execute to assess health sciences students' knowledge and attitudes regarding khat use in Yemen. Methods: This survey involved health sciences students from Aden University. Approximately 500 participants were selected through convenience sampling. The data were collected using a structured and validated self-administered questionnaire. The data were tabulated and descriptively analyzed. Results: The total number of respondents was 500. Almost half of the students reported that they chewed khat (n = 239, 48%). Approximately 66% (n = 330) of the students spent 2000 Yemeni riyals or less (USD1 = YER249.9) per day on khat. The main reasons for chewing khat were 'it is a social habit' (n = 155, 31%), followed by 'it improves my concentration when studying or working' (n = 140, 28%). Students knew that the effects of khat are similar to those of amphetamines (n = 210, 42.0%) and that khat is addictive (n = 254, 50.8%). Additionally, they knew that cathinone is the dependence-producing constituent of khat leaves (n = 269, 53.8%). The students agreed with the following statements: 'I will advise people to cease khat use'; 'Khat chewing is harmful to health'; 'Children and adolescents should not chew khat'; 'Khat chewing helps people stay awake'; and 'Health professionals serve as role models for patients and the public'. Conclusions: Khat chewing is prevalent among Yemeni university health sciences students. Only about half of the students recognized health risks associated with khat use. Also, among those who used khat, students endorsed positive benefits such as improved concentration.

Effect of Khat Chewing on the Salivary pH before and after Using Mouthwashes.

BACKGROUND: Saliva is a biological fluid that has multiple protective functions. These functions can be attained only if the saliva keeps certain physo-chemical properties such as pH. The main purpose of the current study was to compare the salivary pH among khat chewers and non-khat chewers before and after specific intervals (15, 30, and 60 minutes) of using three commercially available mouthwashes (MWs). METHODS: In this cross sectional study, thirty pharmacy student volunteers were divided into three groups of 10 for the three MWs. Each group was then subdivided into 5 volunteers as khat chewer and non-khat chewer. The statistical evaluation was carried out by using paired t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for in vivo study of salivary pH. FINDINGS: Low salivary pH in all khat-user volunteers before and after using MWs was indicated. There was an increase in the salivary pH after 15 minutes of rinsing with the three selected MWs for both groups of volunteers, after that there was a gradual decrease to the initial pH. The difference between the three groups was not significant at baseline and after 15 minutes, but there was a significant difference after 30 and 60 minutes for the non-khat-chewing and khat-chewing volunteers. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that using MWs results in altering salivary pH and continuous khat chewing lowers the baseline pH of saliva and ability to compensate the change of salivary pH.

Attitudes and practices of community pharmacists and barriers to their participation in public health activities in Yemen: mind the gap.

BACKGROUND: Patients in Yemen commonly visit community pharmacies to obtain consultation or treatment for common ailments. Community pharmacists have an opportunity to optimize medication use and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and practices of community pharmacists regarding their participation in public health activities and barriers to their participation in these activities. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacists working in pharmacies located in urban areas of the Aden governorate of Yemen from March to June 2017 using a self-administered questionnaire. We selected pharmacies from a line list using proportional sampling according to the number of pharmacies in the urban areas of each district. The questionnaire contained four sections: demographic characteristics, attitudes, practices, and barriers encountered. Data were analyzed descriptively, and the Chi-square test was used for analyzing the association of variables (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The questionnaire was distributed to 200 community pharmacists working in community pharmacies. Of the 200 respondents, 62% (n = 124) were male. Overall, the mean age (sd) was 30.0 years (8.6) with the number of years of work experience between 2 and 9.9 years (n = 158, 79%). On average, 62.3% of the pharmacists had a positive attitude toward participation in public health activities. Providing education to stop tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol drinking and improve oral hygiene was an important activity of the community pharmacists. Blood pressure measurements (86%, n = 172) and glucose tests (45%, n = 90) were commonly conducted for clients. Lack of time (71%, n = 142) and lack of teamwork (70%, n = 140) were mentioned as common barriers to participation in public health activities. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists had a positive attitude toward public health activities. Health education and routine health tests were important practices of the community pharmacists. Barriers need to be overcome to enable more active participation by community pharmacists in public health activities by consulting with all stakeholders, assessing the situation, considering alternatives and taking action.