Alpha-pine self-emulsifying nano formulation attenuates rotenone and trichloroethylene-induced dopaminergic loss.

AIM: The current investigation's goals are to pharmacologically evaluate the neurotherapeutic role of the bioactive compound Alpha Pinene (ALP)-loaded Self-emulsifying nano-formulation (SENF) in neurotoxin (Rotenone and the Industrial Solvent Trichloroethylene)- induced dopaminergic loss. It is believed that these models simulate important aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ALP-nano-formulation's anti-Parkinson's activity was compared to ALP suspension in Wistar rats after rotenone and trichloro ethylene-induced dopaminergic loss. Neurobehavioral and motor performances were measured on the 14th, 21st, and 28th day in the rotenone model. However, in the trichloroethylene model, it was measured from the 4th to the 8th week. RESULTS: Significant neurobehavioral improvement has been found in ALP-SENF treated animals then untreated and animals treated with plain ALP suspension. Furthermore, biochemical tests reveal marked expression of catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, which significantly combat the (Oxidative stress) OS-induced neurodegeneration. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant effect of ALP-SENF likely includes free radicals neutralization and the activation of enzymes associated with antioxidant activity, leading to the enhancement of neurobehavioral abnormalities caused by rotenone and trichloroethylene.

Dissolution rate enhancement of piroxicam by ordered mixing.

Micronized piroxicam was mixed with lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol and sodium chloride to produce ordered mixture in a glass vial by manual hand shaking method. The effect of excipients, surfactant, superdisintegrant, drug concentration and carrier particle size on dissolution rate was investigated. Dissolution rate studies of the prepared ordered mixtures revealed that all water soluble excipients increased the dissolution rate of piroxicam when compared to the dissolution rate of piroxicam or its suspension. Ordered mixture formulation PLF4, consisting of lactose as water soluble excipient, SSG (8% w/s) and SLS (1% w/w), released piroxcam at a very fast rate so much so that about 90% of the composition had passed into solution within 2 min. The order of the dissolution rate enhancement for ordered mixtures of various water soluble excipients was: lactose > mannitol > maltitol > sorbitol > sodium chloride. Carrier granules of size 355-710 µm were most effective in increasing the dissolution rate of drug from ordered mixtures. Decreasing the carrier particle size reduced drug dissolution from ordered mixtures. The dissolution rate of ordered mixtures consisting of 1-5% w/w piroxicam was superior to dissolution rate of piroxicam suspension. The dissolution data fitting and the resulting regression parameters indicated Hixson Crowell, cube root law, as the best fit to drug release data of ordered mixtures.

Taste assessment trials for sensory analysis of oral pharmaceutical products.

Taste assessment trials are conducted with an aim to evaluate taste of tastants (food, chemical, drug etc.) and involve estimation of gustatory sensation responses in healthy human volunteers within well controlled procedures. Taste assessment trials are the standard and so far preferred method of taste assessment. Several in vitro taste assessment approaches have emerged as subsidiary methods but none could replace Taste assessment trials. The article provides an overview on conduct of taste assessment trials in healthy adult human volunteers and children.

The latest trends in the taste assessment of pharmaceuticals.

To date, the most widely used method for measuring the taste characteristics of pharmaceutical preparations is psychophysical evaluation by a taste panel. However, conventional chemical analyses, on the basis of release studies, have been shown to be useful subsidiary methods. More recently, novel in vitro taste assessment apparatus and methodologies have been developed for high-throughput taste screening and quality control. Biomimetic taste sensing systems (BMTSSs), such as multichannel taste sensors or electronic tongues with global selectivity, have been welcomed by both pharmaceutical scientists and the industry as a whole. As we discuss here, the emerging in vitro approaches for assessing taste characteristics of taste masked drug and drug products will result in a decreased reliance on human panel tests.