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Volume 5 Number 1 2011
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Aditi Sourabh, Sohini Walia, S. S. Kanwar (India) Role of Probiotics in Colorectal Cancer (pp 1-6)
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Mini-Review: Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common form of cancer, is treated by surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Probiotics have been proposed as an option for combating CRC. There are several possible mechanisms that might explain how probiotic bacteria protect against CRC. The strongest evidences for the anticancer effects of probiotics come from animal studies; however, fragmentary evidences are available in case of human volunteers. Various mechanisms which have been attributed to the anti-carcinogenic potential of probiotics are binding and degradation of carcinogens, prevention of DNA damage, stimulation of protective enzymes, augmentation in immune response, alterations in metabolic activities of intestinal microflora and physicochemical conditions of the colon, and production of anti-tumorigenic/anti-mutagenic compounds. In the present review, these mechanisms have been precisely addressed keeping in view the role of probiotics.
Saswati Sen, Samir Kr. Dutta, Sujata G. Dastidar (India) Development of a Highly Potent Therapeutic Regimen for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia using the Extract of Eleusine coracana Seeds (pp 7-11)
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Original Research Paper: Leukemia, a virulent blood disease, is known to spread throughout the body asymptomatically. An increasing number of chronic myeloid leukemia patients showing resistance towards available treatments has created a substantial need for developing new natural therapeutic options. Eleusine coracana (commonly called ragi or finger millet) is a highly nutritive cereal and has long been used as a remedy for many infections. Since ragi is a prospective therapeutic cereal, this study was designed to elucidate the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of the protein extracted from seeds on chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from healthy young volunteers. Cell growth inhibitory and anti-proliferative activity of the seed extract of ragi was studied by trypan blue dye exclusion method and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, using both K562 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Apoptosis inducing activity of the extract was determined by flow cytometric analysis. The protein extract of ragi seeds showed a dose-dependent reduction of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in the K562 cells. In contrast, normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were resistant to the seed extract mediated anti-proliferative activity. The IC50 value of the extract was found to be 2 mg/ml. Thus this study suggests the seed extract of ragi can target and inhibit K562 cells selectively, which may be claimed as its anticancer activity. As ragi is safe and relatively inexpensive and can be administered orally, there is a definite possibility that it will have a therapeutic role on patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
Nagla El-Sayed, Moutawaa El-Houssainy, Mohamed Ali, Nagwa Shalaby, Atef Hanna, Hanaa Rady (Egypt) Antitumor Effect of Honey and Squirting Cucumber Fruit Juice Mixture on Glioblastoma Cells in Vitro (pp 12-17)
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Original Research Paper: This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of Ecbalium elaterium (squirting cucumber) (Cucurbitaceae) fruit juice and some fruit extracts as well as bee honey separately and in mixture. The fruit juice of E. elaterium, which is found to be rich in cucarbitacins, was selected for further evaluation of antitumor activity on the bases of a phytochemical study by thin layer chromatographic technique (TLC). The antitumor effects of the fruit juice and bee honey (separately and in mixture) were assessed for human brain tumor cell line (U251) using trypan blue exclusion assay for evaluating cytotoxicity, and H3-thymidine assay for estimating DNA synthesis. ELISA technique for measuring cell cycle regulation and the evaluation of the effects on metastasis and angiogenesis were also achieved. Results suggested that honey did not inhibit tumor cell growth through cyclin D1, P21 regulation or cell number reduction but through a significant inhibition of DNA synthesis. Results showed that E. elaterium fruit juice significantly down regulated P21, up-regulated cyclin D1, decreased cell number and inhibited DNA synthesis. Mixing of honey with E. elaterium fruit juice decreased the cytotoxicity induced by the latter and produced intermediate inhibition of DNA synthesis and down regulation of P21. All treatments inhibited MMP2 and MMP9. Thus, honey was able to reduce the cytotoxic effect of E. elaterium juice on glioblastoma cells enhancing its ability of inhibiting DNA synthesis and they acting together as antiangiogenic and antimetastatic agents.
Dieudonne Kuate, Blanche Cunegonde Omgba Etoundi, Yves Bertrand Soukontoua, Judith Laure Ngondi, Julius Enyong Oben (Cameroon) Comparative Study of the Antioxidant, Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Human LDL Oxidation Inhibition of Three Extracts From Seeds of a Cameroonian Spice, Xylopia parviflora (A. Rich.) Benth. (Annonaceae) (pp 18-30)
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Original Research Paper: The antioxidant activity of water, ethanol and hydroethanolic extracts of the spice Xylopia parviflora (A. Rich.) Benth. (Annonaceae) from Cameroon, was evaluated using different antioxidant tests such as O-2, OH•, NO, DPPH., ABTS•+ scavenging activities, FRAP, as well as metal chelation and inhibition of copper-induced in vitro human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and α-linoleic acid oxidation. DPPH and ABTS were determined kinetically. Compared with two other extracts, the water extract exhibited the lowest phenolic content, AEABTS and AEDPPH values while the ethanol extract had the highest phenolic content and reductive potential and the hydroethanolic extract the highest AEABTS and AEDPPH values (P <0.05). All extracts exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of O-2, OH•, NO, radicals, metal chelating activity and inhibition of α-linoleic acid and LDL oxidation (P < 0.05). Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as catechin and ascorbic acid. Compared with controls, each extract significantly decreased malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxide formation in LDL (P < 0.05). Contrary to other antioxidant methods where the ethanolic extract was the most potent, the hydroethanolic extract exhibited the highest inhibition of LDL oxidation, metal chelating and nitric oxide scavenging activities. Therefore, Xylopia parviflora could be a good source of natural antioxidant.
Varsha J. Galani, Bharat G. Patel (India) Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Argyreia speciosa Roots against Experimentally-induced Anxiety, Depression and Convulsions in Rodents (pp 31-35)
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Original Research Paper: Argyreia speciosa (Convolvulaceae) is regarded as a ‘Rasayan’ drug in the Ayurveda system of medicine to cure diseases of the nervous system. This work researched the action of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. speciosa root (ASE) on experimentally-induced anxiety, depression and convulsion in rodents. ASE (100, 200, 500 mg/kg, p.o.) was tested for the elevated plus maze, open field, forced swimming and tail suspension tests in mice. ASE at the same doses was also tested for its anticonvulsant activity by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions in mice and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsions in rats. ASE at the tested doses did not cause a significant increase in the open arm entries and time spent in the open arms indicating the absence of an anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus maze test. However, the total number of entries in the open and enclosed arms was reduced indicating a reduction of locomotor activity in the elevated plus maze test. ASE did not affect the emotional activity parameters in the open field test significantly. ASE also decreased locomotor activity in the open field test suggesting a possible central depressant action. In addition, ASE increased the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests, which further confirmed a probable central depressant effect. ASE protected rats against maximal electroshock-induced convulsions and mice against PTZ-induced convulsions indicating an anticonvulsant action. The results of the study suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of A. speciosa roots contained phytochemically active ingredients with central nervous depressant and anticonvulsant effects.
Veldandi Uday Kiran, Malothu Nagulu, Martha Srinivas, Venkatesham Allenki, Porika Mahendar, Yellu Narsimha Reddy, Rama Krishna Devarakonda (India) Antitumor Activity of Flavonoids against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma-induced Mice (pp 36-39)
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Original Research Paper: Flavonoids are phenolic compounds widely present in plants and foods of plant origin. Methylhesperidine and chrysin were evaluated for in vivo antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-bearing Swiss albino mice. The present study deals with the effect of methyl hesperidine and chrysin on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC-bearing hosts, hematological profile, and biochemical parameters such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and serum creatinine levels. Test compounds were administered at the dose of 20 mg/kg body weight per day for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. After the last dose and 18 h fasting, the blood samples were collected from tail vein of all the mice. Both flavonoids produced a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable tumor cell count, and they prolonged the life span of EAC-bearing mice. Compared to control mice, hematological profile is more or less normal levels in flavonoids-treated mice. Selected flavonoids significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the levels of serum creatinine levels. The results indicate that methylhesperidine and chrysin exhibited significant in vivo antitumor activity in EAC-bearing mice.
Nitin Dubey, Dinesh K. Jain, Balvant Solanki (India) Simultaneous Estimation of Atenolol and Indapamide in Combined Tablet Dosage Form using RP-HPLC (pp 40-42)
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Techniques Paper: A simple, accurate, reproducible and sensitive method for the determination of Atenolol and Indapamide was developed and validated. Atenolol and Indapamide were separated using a C-18 octadecylsilane (ODS) column (250 × 4.6 mm, id., 5 µm) with a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. The mobile phase was methanol: acetonitrile: water (45: 25: 30 v/v/v, pH 3.5 adjusted with orthophosphoric acid), at 226 nm. The retention time of Atenolol and Indapamide was 2.34 and 4.34 min, respectively. The linearity range for Atenolol and Indapamide was 2-20 µg/ml and 5-45 µg/ml, respectively. Recovery was 100.12 ± 0.0275 for Atenolol and 99.98 ± 0.669 for Indapamide. The development method was suitable and statistically validated for all parameters.
Himangshu Sekhar Maji, Sushomasri Maji, Kausik Bhar, Jaishree Chandra, Manik Baral, Pranabesh Chakraborty, Sujata Ghosh Dastidar (India) Anthelmintic, Free-Radical Scavenging Property and Potent Antibacterial Activity of Flavonoid Fraction Isolated from the Whole Plant of Oldenlandia corymbosa L. (pp 43-48)
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Techniques Paper: The flavonoid fraction isolated from the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Oldenlandia corymbosa L. (Family: Rubiaceae) exhibited distinct antibacterial activity when tested against 15 bacterial strains of different genera. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the flavonoid fraction was determined following NCCLS (2003) guidelines using the agar dilution method. Micrococcus lutea and Salmonella typhi 7652 were inhibited at the lowest concentration (25 mg/ml), while other bacteria were inhibited at < 200 mg/ml. The ethanolic extract when tested for possible anthelmintic activity to determine the paralyzing and death time on the aquarium worm, Tubifex tubifex. The ethanolic extract showed anthelmintic property comparable to the reference drug piperazine citrate at 80 mg/ml. Various phytochemical tests performed on the ethanolic extracts suggest that the plant contains reducing sugars, amino acids, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides. The active phytocomponent (flavonoid) was isolated by TLC, column chromatography and characterized using various analytical techniques like CHN analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral analysis. The presence of flavonoids in the ethanolic fraction prompted us to search for its free radical scavenging property. The IC50 value by DPPH radical scavenging activity of the crude ethanolic fraction containing the flavonoid part was 560 mg/ml. Though this value was not comparable to the reference compound BHT but it indicated the urge to examine the isolated flavonoids in vivo for their free radical scavenging activity.
Gaurav Mundra, Nitin Dubey, Subhash C. Chaturvedi, Dinesh K. Jain (India) Simultaneous Estimation of Amlodipine Besylate and Olmesartan Medoxomil in Combined Tablet Dosage Form Using UV-Spectroscopy and Reverse Phase High- Performance Liquid Chromatography Method (pp 49-52)
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Techniques Paper: Simple, accurate and precise ultraviolet spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of amlodipine besylate (AMLO) and olmesartan medoxomil (OLME) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed and validated. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 5-70 and 5-60 µg/mL in methanol at 238 nm and 257 nm for AMLO and OLME, respectively for simultaneous equation method. The RP-HPLC method uses a Shimadzu LC 10 ATVP system with Luna C18 column and acetonitrile: phosphate buffer (pH 4.0) (42:58 v/v) as the mobile phase. The detection was carried out using a diode array detector set at 238 nm. Linearity of chromatographic method was found in the concentration range of 2-40 and 8–160 µg/mL for AMLO and OLME respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 99.79 ± 0.161% and 100.12 ± 0.446% for AMLO, 99.85 ± 0.275% and 99.98 ± 0.404% for OLME in simultaneous equation method and HPLC methods respectively. Both methods may be used for routine analysis of the drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation. Results of analysis were validated statistically.
Mayank Mandhanya, Nitin Dubey, Subhash C. Chaturvedi, Dinesh K. Jain (India) Spectrophotometric and Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol and Nabumetone in Combined Tablet Dosage Form (pp 53-56)
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Techniques Paper: Simple, accurate, precise and sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of paracetamol (PCM) and nabumetone (NAB) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed and validated. Linearity of PCM and NAB was found in concentration range of 2-30 and 1-12 µg/mL in methanol at 249 and 230 nm, respectively for the spectroscopic method. The detection was carried out using a diode array detector set at 239 nm in Shimadzu LC 10 AT VP system and methanol: acetonitrile: water (55: 30: 15, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Linearity of the LC method was in the concentration range of 5.0-100.0 and 5-60 µg/mL for PCM and NAB, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 99.70 ± 0.38 and 99.38 ± 0.36 for PCM and 99.85 ± 0.09 and 99.31 ± 0.23 for NAB in simultaneous equation method and HPLC method, respectively. Both methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of PCM and NAB in a pharmaceutical formulation. Results of analysis were validated statistically.
Sunil Singh, Nitin Dubey, Dinesh Kumar Jain (India) Simultaneous Estimation of Cefpodoxime Proxetil and Clavulate Potassium Combined Dosage Form Using UV-Spectroscopy and Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography (pp 57-60)
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Techniques Paper: Simple, accurate, precise, and sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of clavulanate potassium (CLA) and cefpodoxime proxetil (CEF) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed and validated. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 5-70 and 5-50 µg/mL in methanol at 270 nm and 235 nm for CLA and CEF, respectively for simultaneous equation method. The RP-HPLC method uses a Shimadzu LC 10 ATVP system with Luna C18 column and methanol: acetonitrile: water: tetrahydrofuran (THF) (40: 30: 20: 10, v/v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The detection was carried out using a diode array detector set at 220 nm. Linearity of the LC method was in the concentration range of 5-70 and 5.0–50 µg/mL for CLA and CEF, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 99.56 ± 0.32 and 99.67 ± 0.46 for CEF and 99.89 ± 0.27 and 99.7 ± 0.45 for CLA in simultaneous equation method and HPLC method, respectively. Both methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of CEF and CLA in a pharmaceutical formulation. Results of analysis were validated statistically and by recovery studies.
Gautam R. Chauhan, Kamlesh K. Tiwari (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Pinak Patel, Falgun Mehta (India) Simultaneous Estimation of Cetrizine Hydrochloride and Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride in Tablet Dosage Form Using Reverse Phase HPLC (pp 61-63)
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Techniques Paper: An accurate, sensitive and specific reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for the estimation of cetrizine (CET) and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) in combined dosage form have been developed and validated. The molecular mass of CET and PPA conformed with molecular masses derived from a mass spectrometer (MS) in an electro-spray ionization method. Liquid chromatography was carried out on an ODS AQ Prontosil C18 column by binary elution with a mobile phase (acetonitrile: methanol: phosphate buffer (50: 20: 30, v/v/v) with pH adjusted with orthophosphoric acid to 3. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and the response to UV was monitored at 244 nm. The average retention time for CET and PPA was 4.02 and 5.13 min, respectively. Method calibration showed linearity in the range of 5-65 μg/ml for CET and 150-325 μg/ml for PPA. The method is accurate and precise with recoveries of CET and PPA in the range of 100.37 ± 0.62 and 99.99 ± 0.74, respectively. The recovery values (> 99.4%) were high, indicating reliability and suitability of the method.
Vincent Ngouana, Thierry Ngouana Kammalac, Patrick Valère Tsouh Fokou, Valerie Flore Donkeng Donfack, Fabrice Fekam Boyom, Paul Henri Amvam Zollo (Cameroon) Antifungal Activity and Acute Toxicity of the Methanolic Crude Extract and Fractions of Croton zambesicus Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) (pp 64-67)
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Research Note: Fungal infections are increasingly a public health concern in the developing World. Due to drug resistance, high cost and side effects of available drugs, the development of new antifungals is an urgent issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity and the acute toxicity of the stem bark of Croton zambesicus. The methanolic crude extract was fractionated by flash chromatography. After a phytochemical screening of the crude extract and fractions, their antifungal activity was assessed on three yeasts (Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata)and three dermatophytes(Microsporum langeronii, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes). The acute toxicity was evaluated on Wistarmale and female rats, aged about 8 weeks. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tanins and anthraquinones. The crude extract and fractions were found to be active on all fungal strains, with MIC values ranging from 0.048 to 0.195 mg/ml for yeasts and 3.125 to 6.250 mg/ml for dermatophytes. Almost all the fractions showed fungicidal action against the dermatophytes. No death was recorded up to a dose of 12 g/kg, showing that the crude extract is less toxic according to the WHO standards. The results achieved confirm the traditional use of C. zambesicus against fungal infections.
Francisca Iziegbe Okungbowa, Faith Efosa Oviasogie (Nigeria) Antimicrobial Effect of Grapefruit Crude Extracts on Selected Bacterial Isolates (pp 68-70)
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Research Note: The antimicrobial activity of crude aqueous extracts (pulp and rind) of two varieties (white pulp and pink pulp) of grapefruit against five clinical bacterial isolates (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia entercolitica, Salmonella sp., Streptococcus mutans and Klebsiella aerogenes) was investigated in vitro. The pulp and rind were macerated mechanically and water-extracted, serially diluted to get 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, and 1.563% concentrations, and the punch-hole method employed for the antimicrobial activity test using nutrient agar medium. Culture plates containing peptone water instead of extract served as control. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and diameter of zone of inhibition measured. The inhibitory effect increased with concentration of extract. The pulp extracts had no effect on Y. enterocolitica and S. mutans. At 12.5% concentration, white pulp extract did not inhibit growth of S. aureus. Generally, diameters of zone of inhibition of each bacterium at same concentration of both white and pulp extracts were not significantly different except for Salmonella sp. and K. aerogenes (P = 0.05). Also, E. coli, Salmonella sp., and K. aerogenes were affected by the rind oil while others were not. At 6.25% concentration, pink rind but not the white, inhibited growth of Salmonella sp. Where applicable, there was no significant difference between minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of pulp and rind extracts, except for Salmonella sp. in which the pink variety rind had lower MIC (6.25%) as against 12.5% of pulp. Grapefruit pulp and rind extracts have antimicrobial potential that can be harnessed.
Ibrahim Hassan Garba, Auwal Adamu Mahmoud (Nigeria) Oxidative Stress Levels, Metalloenzymatic Defense and Redox-Active Metals in Typhoid Perforation before and after Surgical Intervention (pp 71-74)
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Short Communication: The serum concentration of two antioxidant metalloenzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and the redox-active metals iron, copper, zinc and manganese were assessed in patients presenting typhoid perforation before and after surgical intervention. CAT and SOD activity decreased by 12.7 and 8.8% and by 40.16 and 52.70%, respectively during the pre- and post-surgical periods. There was a marginal elevation in the serum MDA concentration in the pre-surgical period and significant (P < 0.05) decline in MDA after surgical intervention. Significant perturbations were found in the serum concentration of iron, zinc and copper and the serum zinc/copper ratio. Serum copper concentration and Zn/Cu ratio were significantly elevated, while zinc and iron levels were significantly decreased in both pre- and post-surgical typhoid perforation relative to the control group (P < 0.05). These finding have potentially deleterious consequences on the ROS-scavenging ability of both CAT and SOD in typhoid perforation patients prior to surgical intervention, which has been found to have a positive effect in maintaining the homeostatic equilibrium of a significant number of these perturbed parameters.
Manik Baral, Subrata Biswas, Subrata Chakraborty, Ashoke Kumar Ghosh (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Subhamay Panda, Pranabesh Chakraborty (India) In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of the Whole Plant of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (pp 75-78)
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Research Note: The antioxidant components and antioxidant activity of the whole plant of Amaranthus spinosus Linn. were studied. The whole sun-dried plant was powered; 100 g of this dried powder was continuously heat extracted 5 times with hydroalcholic solvent (70% ethanol +30% water). The extract was collected and distilled to recover the solvent. The antioxidant activity of the extract was compared with standards (ascorbic acid and butyl hydroxyl toluene (BHT)). The DPPH-radical scavenging and NED methods were used to measure the antioxidant activity, which was due to the presence of flavanoids and other phenolic contents. The extract showed significant scavenging activity when the IC50 value was compared to ascorbic acid and BHT: IC50 of the hydroalcoholic extract = 525.593 and 433.168 µg/ml, for ascorbic acid = 594.937 and 570.652 µg/ml, and for BHT = 29.452 and 22.499 µg/ml by the DPPH method and NED method, respectively.
Subrata Biswas, Dipankar Lala (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Kalyan Kumar Sen, Malay Kumar Saha (India) Development and Evaluation of Colonic Drug Delivery of Aceclofenac using Pectin and Guar Gum (pp 79-84)
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Research Note: The objective of the present study was to microencapsulate the anti-inflammatory drug (Aceclofenac) to provide controlled release and to minimize or eliminate local side effects by avoiding drug release in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The drug was targeted to the colon and its aligned areas for local effects. Aceclofenac was microencapsulated with guar gum or modified guar gum (carboxymethyl guar gum) and pectin using an ionotropic-gelation technique. Aceclofenac microspheres were subjected to micromeritic properties, drug loading, in-vitro drug release as well as SEM, DSC, FT-IR spectroscopy and a swelling study (swelling index and swelling kinetics), among others. The prepared microspheres were light yellowish in colour, free-flowing, and almost spherical in shape. The drug-loaded microspheres showed 57.28 to 81.73% drug entrapment efficiency and particle size ranged from 0.80 to 1.10 mm. The DSC study showed the possibility of a weak non-covalent interaction between drug and polymer which may be due to H-bonding or an ionic interaction. The swelling study showed a swelling index of 0.7 at pH 1.2 and 1.2 at pH 6.8; at both pHs, the swelling followed a zero-order kinetics. The FT-IR spectra showed a peak at 1742.65 cm-1, which confirms the carboxymethylation of guar gum. FT-IR spectra of drug-loaded beads indicate that the drug was properly loaded. In-vitro drug release studies were carried out up to 8 h in 0.02M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and up to 2 h in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2). All the formulations followed a Higuchi-Matrix model of release kinetics.
K. Yoganandha Reddy, K. N. Jayaveera (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), R. Kumanan (India) Physico-Chemical Constant, Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Different Extracts of Commelina clavata (pp 85-87)
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Research Note: The present study was designed to phytochemically screen different extracts of the whole plant of Commelina clavata (Commelinaceae), a plant generally used in the cure of pain and to establish physicochemical constants and in vitro antioxidant activity of these extracts. A physicochemical evaluation was carried out by assessing ash, alcohol and water-soluble extraction values: 5.35, 2.70 and 3.10% (w/w), respectively. Carbohydrates, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids were present. The ethanolic extract showed potent antioxidant activity, assessed by in vitro methods (reducing power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging methods). |
