ABSTRACT

Luffa acutangula (Family: Cucurbitaceae) is commonly known as Ridge gourd. It is a widely growing vegetative climber.To evaluate the cerebroprotective effect of Petroleum ether extract of whole plant of Luffa acutangula (ELA) against the globalmodel of ischemia in rats. In the present study, the animals were pre-treated with ELA for a period of 1week (250 and 500 mg/kg)p.o. The animals were anaesthetized with thiopentone sodium (45mg/kg) and stroke was induced by Bilateral Carotid ArteryOcclusion (BCAO) for defined period with aneurism clamps placed on both arteries and later (10 minutes) clamps were removedto allow reperfusion and animals were then returned to their cages. After 24 hours of reperfusion, the animal behaviors wereevaluated by various methods such as behaviour pattern, Juvenile recognition, Motor activity, rotar rod test, Morris water maze testin stroke induced animals. The treatment was continued for another week after surgery with ELA. The present studies suggest that,there was a decrease in the escape latency in water maze in stroke induced (negative control) group. The group treated with250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg ELA showed significant (P<0.01) improvement in the behaviour pattern, and spatial learning, which wasconfirmed in trial sessions in water maze test when compared with the negative control group. In conclusion, Petroleum etherextract of whole plant of Luffa acutangula produced cerebroprotective effects in global cerebral ischemia as evident from reductionin behavioral score, hyper locomotion and neuronal damage.

Keywords: Whole plant of Luffa acutangula, Bilateral Carotid Artery Occlusion, Cerebral ischemia.

ABSTRACT

Ipomoea eriocarpa R.Br. (Family: Convolvulaceae) often called annual morningglories, are summer annual or perennialbroadleaf plants. The whole plant of Ipomoea eriocarpa is used for ulcer, fever and rheumatism. The present investigation wascarried out to evaluate the safety of pet ether extract of Ipomoea eriocarpa (PIE) whole plant by determining its potential toxicityafter acute and chronic administration in rats. Study on acute toxicity of extract found to be safe at the doses 2000mg/kg bodyweight orally as per OECD guidelines No.423. General behavior adverse effects and mortality were determined for up to 14 days.In the chronic toxicity study, the PIE was administered orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg once in a week for 6 weeks torats. Biochemical and hematological parameters were determined after 6 weeks. In the acute study in rats, there was no toxicity/death was observed at the dose of 2000mg/kg b.w. The onset of toxicity and signs of toxicity also not there. In the chronic toxicitystudy, no significant treatment-related changes in the levels of haematological, hepatic and renal parameters such as SGOT, SGPT,cholesterol, creatinine, urea, uric acid, protein and glucose, and serum ALP activities were observed at the termination of the study.It suggests that the pet ether extract of Ipomoea eriocarpa does not appear to have significant toxicity. In view of the dose ofIpomoea eriocarpa consumed in traditional medicine, there is a wide margin of safety for the therapeutic use of the pet etherextract of Ipomoea eriocarpa whole plant.

Key words: Ipomoea eriocarpa, Traditional Medicine, Acute and Chronic Toxicity, Heamatological Parameters, BiochemicalParameters.

ABSTRACT

Hot-melt extrusion is one of the most widely applied processing technologies in the plastic, rubber and food industry.Today this technology has found its place in the array of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Melt extrusion process arecurrently applied in the pharmaceutical field for the manufacture of a variety of dosage forms and formulations such as granules,pellets, tablets, suppositories, implants, stents, transdermal systems and ophthalmic inserts. This review article in detail describesthe melt extrusion equipment and process. Industrial application of this process along with specific areas on pharmaceuticalindustry is illustrated. This article concludes with the overview of published examples of the melt extrusion process.

Keywords: Hot-melt extrusion; Manufacturing operations; Extrusion geometry.

ABSTRACT

In our present research, we investigated the nephrocurative and nephroprotective effects nigella sativa oil [NSO] andvitamin-C [vit-C] both alone and in combination form on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, and compared the effects of NSOand vit-C with combined effects of NSO and vit-C. Biochemical analysis of serum and histopathological examination of kidneywere done for all groups. Nephrotoxicity was confirmed by comparing the serum levels of creatinine, urea and antioxidant activityin gentamicin-treated group with that of normal saline treated groups. NSO and vit-C both alone and in combined formsconsiderably ameliorated the toxic effects of gentamicin on kidneys. NSO and vit-C both alone and in combined forms showed theability to avert the elevated serum creatinine and urea levels, and augmented the antioxidant activity of the body along withimproved histopathological changes in the tubular parts of kidneys. On comparing with NSO in combination with vit-C with NSOand/or vit-C, combined form of NSO and vit-C showed a considerably significant [P<0.01] improvement in biochemicalparameters and morphological changes of kidneys in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Gentamicin; Nephrotoxicity; Nigella sativa; vitamin-C; combination therapy.

ABSTRACT

The recent advancement of nasal drug delivery systems has increased enormously and is gaining significant importance.Intranasal therapy has been an accepted form of treatment in the Ayurvedic system of Indian Medicine. The non-invasive deliveryof nasal drug delivery systems made to exploit for the development of successful treatment. The advantages, disadvantages,mechanism of action and application of nasal drug delivery system in local delivery, systematic delivery, nasal vaccines and CNSdelivery are explained lucidly. The relevant aspects of biological, physicochemical and pharmaceutical factors of nasal cavity thatmust be considered during the process of discovery and development of new drugs for nasal delivery as well as in theirincorporation into appropriate nasal pharmaceutical formulations are also discussed. Nasal route is more suitable for those drugswhich cannot be administered orally due to gastric degradation or hepatic first pass metabolism of the drug. Intranasal drugdelivery is found much promising route for administration of peptides and protein drugs. Much has been investigated and muchmore are to be investigated for the recent advancement of nasal drug delivery systems.

Keywords: Nasal route, Vaccines, Hepatic first pass metabolism, Bioavailability.

ABSTRACT

A simple, specific, accurate and precise RP HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofLosartan Potassium (LOS) and Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) from combined dosage form by reverse phase C18 column (ZorbaxCN (250mm x 4.6mm) 5μ). The sample was analysed using Triethylamine: Acetonitrile: Methanol in the ratio of 33:27:40(pHadjusted to 7.0 with phosphric acid) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0ml/min and detection at 270nm. The retention time forLosartan potassium (LOS) and Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was found to be 11.869 min and 7.893 min respectively. The stabilityassay was performed for this combination and was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, specificity and sensitivity inaccordance with ICH guidelines. Validation revealed the method is specific, rapid, accurate, precise, reliable, and reproducible.Calibration plots were linear over the 70%-130% concentration ranges for both the drugs of LOS and HCTZ respectively, andrecoveries from combined dosage form were between 98 and 102%. The method can be used for estimation of combination ofthese drugs in combined dosage form.

Keywords: Losartan Potassium, Hydrochlorothiazide, RP-HPLC.