Study of Moisture Absorption by Ranitidine Hydrochloride: Effect of % RH, Excipients, Dosage Forms and Packing Materials

ABSTRACT: Moisture absorption by ranitidine at three different level of relative humidity (RH) has been studied. Percentage of moisture absorption at 22%, 57 % and 75 % RH was 0.6%, 3.1%, and 4.9 % respectively. Ranitidine blended with various excipients (maize starch, lactose, avicel PH-101, mannitol, povidone K-30, magnesium stearate and purified talc) were also exposed to 75 % relative humidity ( % RH) to observe their effects on moisture absorption. Moisture absorption by ranitidine was either increased or decreased when ranitidine was mixed with various diluents, binders and lubricants. Ranitidine mixed with lactose, aerosil-200 and avicel PH-101 absorbed minimum amount of moisture while ranitidine mixed with maize starch absorbed maximum. On the other hand, ranitidine mixed with mannitol was found to absorb intermediate amount of moisture. Ranitidine mixed with povidone K-30 absorbed almost double moisture than pure ranitidine. Ranitidine mixed with purified talc and magnesium stearate absorbed almost same amount of moisture. The type of dosage form and type of packing materials also influenced moisture absorption. Uncoated tablets absorbed maximum amount of moisture (4.5%) while coated tablets absorbed minimum (2%). On the other hand, capsule was found to absorb intermediate amount of moisture (3.4%). PVC-Alu foil packed uncoated ranitidine tablet absorbed more moisture (3.3%) than that of Alu-Alu packed uncoated ranitidine tablet (0.16%). Key words: % RH, ranitidine hydrochloride, moisture, absorptio

- Short communication Phytochemical and Biological Investigations of

The n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride and choloroform soluble fractions of a methanol extract of Acokanthera spectabilis were subjected to antimicrobial screening and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. All of the partitionates showed moderate to strong inhibitory activity to microbial growth, while the carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction demonstrated highest cytotoxicity having LC50 6.16 µg/ml. Acokanthera spectabilis (Family- Apocynaceae) is a fragrant ornamental shrub. The plant has reputation for its cardiotonic activities. 1 Previous phytochemical investigation with A. spectabilis led to the isolation of acobioside A and 14-Oacetylacovenodose C. 2 In the present study, we report the presence of a cardenolide as well as antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the extractives of A. spectabilis growing in Bangladesh. The 1 H NMR spectra were recorded using a Bruker AMX-400 (400 MHz) instrument and the NMR spectra were acquired in CDCl3 and the δ values for 1 H spectra were referenced to the residual nondeuterated solvent signal

Antibacterial, cytotoxic, analgesic and diuretic activities of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Rhizophora mucronata</i> Lam. bark

229-232<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rhizophora mucronata Lam., locally known as ‘Garjon or Jhanna’ in Bangladesh is a mangrove plant of Rhizophoraceae family. Different parts of this plant have got applications in folk medicine from the ancient time. In the present study, attempts have been made for a detailed phytochemical study of the bark of the plant for antibacterial, cytoxic, analgesic and diuretic activites. Disc diffusion method was used for the screening of antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity study was performed by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Acetic acid induced writhing method was employed to assess the analgesic potentiality of the extract. Diuretic property of the bark extract was studied by Lipschitz method. The ethanolic extract of the barks of R. mucronata Lam. showed moderate antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Marked inhibitory effects were found with Escherichia coli and Staphylococus epidermidis at a concentration of 500 µg/disc. The extract showed very high level of general toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay having an LC50 value of 0.5 µg/mL. The extract of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">R. mucronata Lam. bark at concentrations of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg exhibited significant (P<0.01) inhibition of writhing reflex by 36.96% and 50%, respectively while the standard diclofenac inhibition was found to be 65.21% at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. The extract also showed very high response to diuresis in a dose-dependent manner