Development of a sensitive HPTLC method for quantification of nimbolide in Azadirachta indica and its dosage form.

An improved and sensitive High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method has been developed for determination of anticancer compound, nimbolide in different parts of Azadirachta indica and its dosage form. A quick and simple ultrasonication technique was used for the preparation of sample solutions. Separation of the components was achieved on precoated TLC plates by using optimized tertiary mobile phase consisting of n-hexane:ethyl acetate:acetic acid (6:4:0.2, v/v/v) with a solvent migration distance of 68 mm. Densitometric quantification was performed after derivatization of the plate with methanol-sulfuric acid reagent in reflection/absorption mode at 515 nm. A linear response of nimbolide was obtained over the range of 200-1400 ng/spot with a correlation coefficient of r(2) = 0.99968, indicating good relationship between concentration and peak area. The method sensitivity was found to be increased by performing the analysis after derivatization with methanol-sulfuric acid reagent. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 70 and 200 ng/spot, respectively. The obtained recovery range from 96.70 to 98.01% with an average of 97.46% proves excellent accuracy of the method. ICH protocol was followed for validation of the HPTLC method in terms of precision, repeatability and accuracy. The developed method was found to be highly sensitive and the mobile phase efficiently separated nimbolide from other components. The maximum content of nimbolide was found in leaves. Further, the developed HPTLC method can be applied successfully for the marker evaluation of the formulations containing A. indica.

Effect of formulation factors on in vitro transcorneal permeation of voriconazole from aqueous drops.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect the formulation factors on in vitro permeation of voriconazole through freshly isolated goat and sheep corneas. An increase in the pH of the drops from 4.0 to 8.0 resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increase drug permeation. Raising concentration of the drops from 0.05% to 0.2% (w/v) significantly, (P < 0.05) increased drug permeation, but decreased the percent permeation. Corneal transport of voriconazole is both pH and concentration dependent. Eye drops containing disodium edetate (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) alone or combination with benzalkonium chloride showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher permeation as compared with control formulation. Addition of beta-cyclodextrin to the formulation enhanced corneal permeation of voriconazole. Compared with control formulation, voriconazole 0.2% (w/v) drop containing viscosity modifier produced significant (P < 0.05) decrease in permeation. Most of the formulations showed higher zone of inhibition against Candida albicans.

Antidiabetic effect of Streblus asper in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

CONTEXT: In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Streblus asper Lour (Moraceae) is prescribed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, α-amyrin acetate isolated from S. asper, and the petroleum ether extract of S. asper stem bark (PESA) was screened for their antidiabetic properties in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Successive Soxhlet extraction of the dried stem bark with petroleum ether and then with ethanol (95%) yielded petroleum ether and ethanol extracts, respectively, which were concentrated under reduced pressure. Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by STZ (50 mg/kg, b.w.). Twenty-four hours after STZ induction, respective groups of diabetic rats received PESA (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, b.w.) and α-amyrin acetate (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg, b.w.) respectively, orally daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg, orally) served as a reference. Blood glucose levels were measured on every 5th day during the 15 days of treatment. The serum lipid profiles and biochemical parameters, viz., serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin level, were measured. RESULTS: PESA significantly (p < 0.01) normalized blood-glucose levels and serum biochemical parameters as compared with those of STZ controls. α-Amyrin acetate (75 mg/kg, b.w.) exhibited maximum glucose lowering effect (71.10%) in diabetic rats compared to the other dose (25, 50 mg/kg) at the end of the study. The protective effect was further confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver. CONCLUSION: PESA and α-amyrin acetate demonstrated remarkable antidiabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Estimation of berberine in ayurvedic formulations containing Berberis aristata.

A sensitive, simple, rapid, and efficient high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed and validated for the analysis of berberine in marketed Ayurvedic formulations containing Berberis aristata DC for regulatory purposes. Chromatography of methanolic extracts of these formulations was performed on silica gel 60 F254 aluminum-backed TLC plates of 0.2 mm layer thickness. The plate was developed up to 66 mm with the ternary-mobile phase butanol-acetic acid-water (8 + 1 + 1, v/v/v) at 33 +/- 5 degrees C with 5 min of tank saturation. The marker, berberine, was quantified at its maximum absorbance of 350 nm. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation values were found to be 5 and 10 ng/spot. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plot showed a good linear relationship with correlation coefficient = 0.9994 in the concentration range of 10 to 50 ng/spot for berberine with respect to peak area. The instrumental precision was found to be 0.49% coefficient of variation (CV), and repeatability of the method was 0.73% CV. Recovery values from 98.27 to 99.11% indicate excellent accuracy of the method. The developed HPTLC method is very accurate, precise, and cost-effective, and it has been successfully applied to the assay of marketed formulations containing B. aristata for determination of berberine.

Standardization of the ayurvedic formulation Haridra Khanda using high-performance thin-layer chromatography-densitometry.

The present study aimed to standardize the Ayurvedic preparation Haridra Khanda containing Curcuma longa as a major ingredient. Various physicochemical parameters such as alcohol-soluble extractive, water-soluble extractive, total ash, and acid-insoluble ash were determined according to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Microscopic evaluation of the formulation revealed the presence of various diagnostic cell structures of C. longa. Trace metal analysis indicated the absence of toxic metals such as As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprint patterns at multiple wavelengths (254, 366, and 430 nm) identified the number of components present at each wavelength. The bioactive markers curcumin (C1), demethoxycurcumin (C2), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (C3) were quantified by using a simple, rapid, and efficient HPTLC method using plates precoated with silica gel 60F254 stationary phase. The instrumental precision [coefficient of variation (CV)] was 0.51, 0.64, and 0.79% and the repeatability of the method (CV) was 0.89, 1.11, and 0.95%, respectively, for C1 to C3. Limits of detection and quantitation for compounds C1 to C3 were 20, 20, and 15 ng and 50, 40, and 50 ng, respectively. Response was a linear function in the ranges of 50-350, 40-240, and 50-300 ng with correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9998, 0.9995, and 0.9992, respectively, for C1 to C3. The mean recovery values of 99.63 (C1), 98.65 (C2), and 98.97% (C3) indicated the excellent accuracy of the method. It is shown that HPTLC can be applied successfully for the marker evaluation of the formulation containing C. longa.