Formulation, Development, and Evaluation of Herbal Effervescent Mouthwash Tablet Containing Azadirachta Indica (Neem) and Curcumin for the Maintenance of Oral Hygiene.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries originate due to the localized dissolution of the hard tissues of teeth, mainly caused by acids, developed by the presence of microorganisms in the biofilm (dental plaque) on the surface of teeth causing "cavities". Commercially available liquid mouthwashes containing synthetic active ingredients possess limitations like teeth staining, higher alcoholic content, taste disturbances, xerostomia, and stability issues. OBJECTIVE: To make the solid preparation for oral hygiene (US6428770B1) in the form of herbal effervescent mouthwash tablet (CN106619318A, US8728446B2) using Azadirachta indica and Curcumin having antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiplaque, and anti-inflammatory activity. METHODS: The optimization study of effervescent granules was performed by 33 factorial design. A total of 27 preliminary experimental batches were prepared by the fusion method, varying the amount of citric acid, tartaric acid, and sodium bicarbonate. A complex of curcumin was prepared with hydroxyl propyl ß-cyclodextrin and further examined by scanning electron microscopy. The prepared tablets were evaluated for pre and post-compression parameters. The in vitro antimicrobial study was performed by Agar well diffusion method against S. mutans. RESULTS: All the experimental batches of effervescent granules were evaluated for pH, effervescent time, and CO2 content. Six batches were further selected for final tablet preparation. The results of the pre-compression parameters revealed excellent flow properties and post-compression parameters; the results were also significant. The antimicrobial study revealed the F3 as a final best formulation. CONCLUSION: The developed herbal formulation (F3) has a good potential to maintain oral hygiene as compared to alcoholic mouthwash and further studies may be necessary to confirm the efficacy of the formulation since only a single bacterial strain was assayed.

Designing of a phytosome dosage form with Tecomella undulata as a novel drug delivery for better utilization.

In recent past scientists are moving for the novel herbal medicines for treatment of almost all diseases as they have no or lesser adverse effects as compared with modern allopathic medicines. The potency of any dosage form is depending on effective drug delivery level of any therapeutically active drug molecule. Phytosome is a novel approach to drug delivery system that produce more absorption and utilization than conventional herbal extracts and shows enhanced bioavailability. The present investigation is to prepare and evaluate phytosomes of Tecomella undulata using aqueous extract of its stem bark and lecithin. Solvent evaporation method was used for preparation of phytosomes. Phytosomes were studied for their evaluation parameters such as morphology, release character, drug entrapment efficiency, size of particles and charge on surface. Phytosomes were successfully developed and having unilemellar vesicles, good entrapment efficiency and drug release in nano sizes (up to 90%) and average particle size 153.2 nm with -23.7 mv charge on their surface. The results showed that the phytosomes can improve the bioavailability without resorting any pharmacological adjuvant or structural modification of the ingredients.

Development and optimization of controlled release bioerodable anti infective ophthalmic insert.

The present investigation was carried out to formulate and optimize the bioerodable insert of Azithromycin in order to prolong the release time and improve the ocular availability in ophthalmic infections. A modified solvent casting method was used for the preparation of azithromycin insert in which hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and Eudragit RL100 were used as drug reservoir and rate controlling membrane respectively. Thereafter the, formulations were evaluated for the uniformity of thickness and weight, surface pH, folding endurance, percentage moisture loss, percentage moisture absorption, drug content, in-vitro release, kinetics studies (zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer - Peppas model) and stability studies. The Formulation H8 (amongst the range of H1-H10), comprising of 1.5% HPMC and 3% Eudragit RL100, was found to be optimized formulation on the basis of uniformity of thickness (0.26±0.004 mm) and weight (24.9±0.27 mg), surface pH (7.1±0.063), folding endurance (18.3±0.81), percentage moisture loss (7.49±0.30%), percentage moisture absorption (5.7%), drug content (1.98 mg), in-vitro release (99%), AUC for in vitro and in vivo release is 38828.33 and 39783.33 g min/ml respectively and higher than pure drug (1190 g min/ml), (Shelf life- 622 days) and further better occular tolerablity found. The formulation H8 showed a steady and controlled release of the drug over a 12 hour period with non-Fickian diffusion release mechanism, compared to a normal release period of 2-3 hours. The optimized insert showed promising results and can be used to treat a wide range of ocular infections.

Probiotics and their Effects on Metabolic Diseases: An Update.

Probiotics are lactic acid bacteria which are used extensively in therapeutic preparations and added to foods. There are many studies which have demonstrated the effects of probiotics on metabolic diseases. One study has shown the effect of fermented dairy products on the serum cholesterol, especially with selected strains of lactic acid bacteria. It has been found that a minute quantity of the dry culture of Lactobacillus fermentum KC4b, for example, can remove 14.8 mg of cholesterol from the culture medium. Lactobacilli also play an important role in deconjugating the bile salts in the intestine to form bile acids and thereby inhibiting the micelle formation. Probiotics reduce the lipid peroxidation and improve the lipid metabolism in vivo. The addition of probiotics to the diet for weeks improved the immune response without the release of inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing the onset of systemic inflammatory induced diabetes. There are evidences that the differences in the composition of the gut microbiota may precede the development of obesity in children. This review has illustrated the potential of probiotics in mediating metabolic diseases via the positive modulation of several different physiological systems, apart from its conventional benefits for the gastrointestinal health.

Surface modification of poly (l-lactic acid) microspheres for site-specific delivery of ketoprofen for chronic inflammatory disease.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential of surface modified Poly (l-lactic acid) (PLA) microspheres as a carrier for site-specific delivery of anti-inflammatory drug, ketoprofen, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using 20% w/w PLA in methylene chloride and 100 mL of a 2.5% poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. Formulations were optimized for several processing parameters like drug to polymer ratio, stirring rate and volume of preparation medium etc. The surface of PLA microspheres was modified with gelatin to impart fibronectin recognition. The microspheres were characterized by surface morphology, size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, and by in vitro drug release studies. The prepared microspheres were light yellow, discrete, and spherical. Formulation with optimum drug to polymer ratio exhibited smallest vesicle size (43.02), high drug encapsulation efficiency (81.11) and better process yield (83.45). The release of drug was extended up to 24 h with Higuchi pattern of drug release. The in vivo results showed that the gelatin modified formulation reduced paw edema at greater extent than pure drug and PLA microspheres and it could be a promising carrier system for controlled and site-specific delivery of ketoprofen with possible clinical applications.

Preparation, characterization, and biological properties of ß-glucans.

ß-Glucans are soluble fibers with physiological functions, such as, interference with absorption of sugars and reduction of serum lipid levels. ß-glucans are found in different species, such as, Rhynchelytrum repens, Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa, Tremella mesenterica, Tremella aurantia, Zea may, Agaricus blazei, Phellinus baummi, Saccharomyces cerevisae (yeast), and Agaricus blazei murell (mushroom). Analysis of the fractions reveals the presence of arabinose, glucose, xylose, and traces of rhamnose and galactose. The presence of ß-glucan in these fractions is confirmed by hydrolyzing the polymers with endo-ß-glucanase from Bacillus subtilis, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the characteristic oligosaccharides produced. The 4 M KOH fractions from different tissues are subjected to gel permeation chromatography on Sepharose 4B, with separation of polysaccharides, with different degrees of polymerization, the highest molecular mass (above 2000 kDa) being found in young leaves. The molecular mass of the leaf blade polymers is similar (250 kDa) to that of the maize coleoptiles ß-glucan used for comparison. The 4 M KOH fraction injected into rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes has shown hypoglycemic activity, reducing blood sugar to normal levels for approximately 24 hours. This performance is better than that obtained with pure ß-glucan from barley, which decreases blood sugar levels for about four hours. These results suggest that the activity of ß-glucans is responsible for the use of this plant extract as a hypoglycemic drug in folk medicine.

Effect of yoga on pulmonary function tests of hypothyroid patients.

Aim of this study was to see any effect on respiratory functions in hypothyroid patients after pranayama (yoga). The subjects for the study were 20 hypothyroid females, 39.70 +/- 8.27 years of mean age referred from medicine department of UCMS & G.T.B. Hospital. Spiro metric recordings were taken with hypair (version-1.28). Baseline (first) recordings were taken when patient came for the first time. Patients came to yoga lab in physiology department for 21 days continuously where they were trained by the yoga instructors and then told to do pranayama at home and called at regular intervals after 7 days to see the compliance. The breathing exercises were done for 45 minutes everyday. After 6 months of pranayama second recording was taken and compared with the baseline. There were significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and Inspiratory Capacity(IC). Thus Pranayama and meditation has beneficial effect on pulmonary functions of hypothyroid patients along with conventional treatment.