Pharmaceutics

Formulation and Evaluation of Physical Properties of an Emulsion Based on Lyophilized Snail Mucin for Possible Oral Insulin Delivery

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Formulation and Evaluation of Physical Properties of an Emulsion Based on Lyophilized Snail Mucin for Possible Oral Insulin Delivery Akudike, Kelechi Pricillia Contest: Formulation and evaluation of the physical properties of an emulsion based on lyophilized snail mucin for possible oral delivery. The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate the physical characteristics of an emulsion and analyse the physical characteristics of a prepared lyophilized sample of snail mucin. Material and methods: Formulation of the snail mucin was prepared by washing the mucin extracted with water and thereafter lyophilized and characterized using rheology, physical, and pH stability. The in-vitro release of the insulin-loaded emulsion was done using a SIG. Results obtained: results obtained indicated that batch B3 showed the lowest level of creaming and the best HLB values. In general, the physical properties of the batches were satisfying, while pH stability showed little variation. Conclusion: Lyophilized snail mucin might be an alternative for possible insulin delivery due to physical satisfaction.

Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Effects of Extract and Fractions of SphenocentrumJollyanum Roots in Mice

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Effects of Extract and Fractions of SphenocentrumJollyanum Roots in Mice Omotayo, Akinpelumi Ayedogba Despite advances in neurobiology and the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over the recent decades, available evidence indicate that the efficacy of drug treatment of epilepsy has not substantially improved. So the search for new antiepileptic drugs from natural compounds is imperative. This study aimed at providing supportive evidence for the folkloric use of Sphenocentrumjollyanum roots in the management of convulsions. In this study dried, pulverized roots of Sphenocentrumjollyanum were extracted with a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (1:1) using standard procedures to obtain Sphenocentrumjollyanum extract (SJE). The SJE was fractionated using chromatographic techniques to obtain the hexane fraction (HF), ethylacetate fraction (EF), and methanol fraction (MF). Anticonvulsant effects of SJE and the fractions were performed using strychnine- (STN), picrotoxin- (PTX) and pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ) induced seizure models in mice. Also, acute toxicity studies were performed using Lorke’s method. The results showed that SJE significantly (p<0.05) delayed the onset of myoclonic spasms and tonic-clonic phases of seizures induced by STN, PTX, and PTZ. The percentage protection in all three seizure models was remarkable with SJE. At doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of SJE, the percentage protection against STN induced death was 100%, 80%, and 20% respectively. For PTX it was 60%, 80%, and 80% respectively, while for PTZ it was 60%, 80% and 80% respectively. However, the fractions (EF, HF, and MF) showed variable none dose-dependent effectiveness against the three chemoconvulsant models (STN: HF< EF < MF, PTX: MF < HF < EF, PTZ: HF 5000 mg/kg indicating that SJE is compatible with the chronic administration required in the treatment of epileptic seizures. The results of the study suggest that Sphenocentrumjollyanum roots possesses anticonvulsant activity against seizure models in mice, thus validating the folkloric claims of the use of Sphenocentrumjollyanum root preparation in the treatment of convulsions. Further studies are needed to isolate the active compound responsible for this activity and to establish the possible mechanisms of action.

Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Activities Of Extracts Of TabernaemontanaPachysiphonStapf(Apocynaceae) And MitragynaLedermanii (K. Krause) Ridsdale (Rubiaceae)

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Activities Of Extracts Of TabernaemontanaPachysiphonStapf(Apocynaceae) And MitragynaLedermanii (K. Krause) Ridsdale (Rubiaceae) Olebuike, O.C.; Olebuike, O.C. The burden of microbial infection and oxidative stress mostly in developing countries has propelled the continued search for potent antimicrobials and antioxidants from natural products especially plants of the Apocynaceae and Rubiaceae families. The present research was designed to screen the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Tabernaemontanapachysiphonleaf and Mitragynaledermaniistem bark. The crude extract was obtained by cold maceration in methanol and subsequent drying. The extracts of both plants were subjected to fractionation using solvent partitioning with the following solvents in their order of polarity; n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl-acetate, and n-butanol. The extracts and the fractions of both plants were subjected to standard phytochemical screening. They were further tested for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using standard methods. Seven pathogenic microbial organisms were used in the antimicrobial assay. The gram positive bacteria are staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, the gram negative bacteria are Escherichiacoli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella shigellaand the fungi organisms are Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. In addition, the extracts and fractions of Tabernaemontanapachysiphonleaf and Mitragynaledermanii stem bark at the concentrations of “15.63-1000 µg/ml” were screened for antioxidant potentials using in-vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method against ascorbic acid as the standard and Ferric Reducing antioxidant Power (FRAP) against gallic acid as the standard. The phytochemical screening of the extractof Tabernaemontanapachysiphon (TP) leaf and Mitragynaledermanii stem bark showed the appearance of Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Cardiac Glycosides, Saponines, Tannins and Steroids. The fraction showed distribution of the metabolites in tandem with polarities of the solvents. At all tested concentrations (200 mg, 400 mg and 500 mg) neither the crude extract of Tabernaemontanapachysiphon leaf and Mitragynaledermanii stem bark nor the fractions showed appreciable antimicrobial activity compared to the clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi used. However, crude extract of Tabernaemontanapachysiphon leaf and Mitragynaledermanii stem bark at the concentration of “500 µg/ml “97.43±0.497” showed appreciable antioxidant result. Interestingly, the ethyl-acetate fraction of Mitragynaledermanii showed appreciable antioxidant result “95.0±0.978” among others when compared to the standard. Although the extracts of these plants showed poor antimicrobial potential, their potent antioxidant activities lend credible support for the ethno medicinal uses of the plants as anti-stress and for possible modulation of inflammation.

The Prescription Pattern of Antihypertensive Drugs Used at the Medical Outpatient Department of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital: A 2 Year Retrospective Study

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Prescription Pattern of Antihypertensive Drugs Used at the Medical Outpatient Department of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital: A 2 Year Retrospective Study Ezugwu, Onyinye Chiamaka Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. It is a major global public health problem and the 3rd cause of DALYS.Antihypertensive pharmacotherapy is effective in lowering BP and prevention of its complications. With optimal BP control, majority of the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension can be prevented. The study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension in ESUTH, the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs at the Medical Outpatient Clinic in ESUTH and prescribers compliance to the standard treatment guideline for the management of hypertension. The study was a 2 year cross- sectional retrospective study of the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs at the Medical Outpatient Clinic in ESUTH from March 2013 to February, 2015. From the hospital register, all cases of hypertension that presented within the study period were identified. Their case files were retrieved and relevant data extracted. Patients less than 18 years of age and hypertensive patients that were not on any antihypertensive drug within the 2 years of study were excluded. Data were entered and analysed using Epi info statistical software version 17. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the ESUTH Ethics review committee. Of the 7487 patients that presented at the MOPD during the study period, 2014 of them were hypertensive giving an overall hypertension prevalence rate of 26.9%. The hypertensive prevalence rate among the male patient was 29.7% (1000/3369), while that for the female was 24.6% (1014 /4118).Out of the 2014 hypertensive patients, 1712 patients case file were found for analysis (85% retrieval rate). About 142 files were dropped due to incomplete data and analysis was based on 1570 case files. Majority of the hypertensive patients were male (58.2%, n=914), middle aged (41-60years), married 73.8% (n =1159) and mainly Ibos (92.3%). About 27.6% of them had co morbidity.Of the 1570 patients analyzed, 1.8% (n=29) of them were not on any drug, 15.4% (n=242) were on monotherapy and 72.8% (n=1299) were on combination therapy. Diuretic was the most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drug either single (6.5%) or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs prescribed (84.5%). There was 82.9% compliance with the standard treatment guideline with respect to the drugs prescribed. There was also a significant drop in the mean arterial systolic and diastolic blood pressure with the prescribed anti hypertensive.There was a high prevalence of hypertension from the study, with relatively good prescriber compliance to standard treatment guideline.