LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY DETERMINATION METHOD OF BENCYCLOQUIDIUM BROMIDE: APPLICATION TO DRUG INTERACTION STUDY IN HUMAN

Objective: This study was conducted to develop a sensitive and effective LC-MS/MS method for the determination of bencycloquidium bromide (BCQB) and its application in pharmacokinetic drug interaction study between BCQB and paroxetine. Methods: The chromatographic separation was performed on Hedera ODS-2 C18 column with a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-10 mmol/l ammonium acetate containing 0.2% acetic acid (33:67, v/v) at 550 μl/min, and the plasma samples were processed using solid-phase extraction. The MS/MS transitions were m/z 330.2 → 142.0 for BCQB and m/z 344.2 → 156.1 for the I. S in positive ESI mode. Results: The validated method was linear over the concentration range of 2-1200 pg/ml with the correlation coefficient r2>0.998. The intra-and inter-batch precisions of the assay were lower than 8.2% and 9.1%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 2 pg/ml. The stability data at different storage conditions of BCQB were within±5% RE. The mean AUC0-36 of BCQB was increased by approximately 33%, after the administration of BCQB alone and upon co-administration with paroxetine during the drug interaction study. Conclusion: The LC-MS/MS method validated in this study was robust, reproducible, accurate, precise and reliable and was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies

IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF PHOSPHODIESTERASE-5 INHIBITOR AS FALSIFIED IN ‘‘NATURAL’’ MALAYSIAN HERBAL APHRODISIACS SOLD IN SOME BENINESE MARKETS

Objective: Nowadays, there have been several reports of herbal products falsified with well-known synthetic molecules, leading to harmful health consequences for the consumer. The aim of this study was to assess the profile of ‘natural' herbal aphrodisiacs in the local markets of the municipalities of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi in Benin and to screen some of them for the presence of additives such as sildenafil and tadalafil. Methods: A non-probability survey was conducted to identify the available aphrodisiacs and their characteristics. Some of them were then selected for analysis. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was adopted for qualitative detection. The TLC positive extracts were then analyzed by HPLC on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH 5.8), acetonitrile and methanol (30:50:20). The Detection was performed at 290 nm. Results: Seventy-seven aphrodisiacs were identified and from these, 18 were selected for analysis. Six of them were adulterated with tadalafil. The concentration of tadalafil in the samples was 1.7 to 4.6 times higher than the recommended dose of 20 mg. Conclusion: This work opens the door to the need to control ‘‘natural’’ labeled products in order to ensure their quality

Major decline in malaria morbidity and mortality in the Union of Comoros between 2010 and 2014: The effect of a combination of prevention and control measures

Background. Malaria remains a public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this, many countries are working towards achieving the World Health Assembly and Roll Back Malaria Partnership target of a 75% decline in malaria incidence.Objective. To assess trends in malaria morbidity and mortality in the three islands of the Comoros Archipelago from 2010 to 2014.Methods. This was a retrospective study in which all confirmed malaria cases and deaths recorded between 2010 and 2014 were accessed from the national malaria control database. Trends and comparisons in malaria incidence and case fatality rates for all age groups, including under-5 children and pregnant women, were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 16.Results. A substantial decline in malaria incidence was observed for each island between 2010 and 2014; from 75.98 cases per 1 000 population in 2010 to 0.14 in 2014 in Moheli, 60.60 to 0.02 in Anjouan and 235.36 to 5.47 in Grand Comoro. Additionally, a general reduction in malaria case fatalities was observed. In Moheli, there were no case fatalities between 2010 and 2014, while there was a decline in the case fatality rate in Anjouan (from 1.20 fatalities per 1 000 cases to 0) and Grand Comoros (0.51 to 0). There were also significant differences (p<0.05) in malaria incidence and case fatalities between the three islands. A similar trend was observed for pregnant women and under-5 children.Conclusions. Our study indicates a significant decline in malaria morbidity and mortality in the islands of Moheli, Anjouan and Grand Comoro from 2010 to 2014. This considerable reduction is attributed to a combination of malaria prevention and control interventions implemented during the study period

Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Kang 601 heji, a traditional Chinese oral liquid dosage form

Objective: To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of Kang 601 heji (K-601) as an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent using appropriate animal models. Methods: Carrageenan-induced rat paw and xylene-induced ear oedemas were models used to investigate anti-inflammatory actions of K-601. Lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia model was used to evaluate antipyretic activity in Wistar rats. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic mechanisms were evaluated by detecting prostaglandins E2, nitric oxide, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α levels using appropriate reagents and ELISA kits. Results: The results revealed that K-601 reduced the level of inflammations in both anti-inflammatory models in a dose-dependent manner. The same was true for the antipyretic model. The possible mechanisms of actions were through the inhibition of prostaglandins E2, interleukin-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide. Conclusions: K-601 has proven anti-inflammatory and antipyretic actions. The findings provide a scientific basis for the use of K-601 as anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent in traditional Chinese medicinal practice

Formulation and Optimization of Matrix Tablets Based on Spirulina and Vitamin C

Spirulina is a type of algae widely consumed around the world as a dietary supplement due to its great nutritional potential. However, it does not contain vitamin C, a vital vitamin for the proper functioning of the human body, particularly given its immunostimulant potential. The objective of this work was to formulate sustained release spirulina–vitamin C matrix tablets that would enhance particularly a prolonged release and better absorption of vitamin C. A galenic formula based only on vitamin C was made, and then the proportion of vitamin C was reduced in favor of spirulina powder. The manufactured tablets were then subjected to various pharmacopeial quality control tests. The results of these tests showed a good distribution of the powder mixtures in the formulated tablets (i.e., mass uniformity test) and satisfactory outcomes were found for the content uniformity, disintegration and dissolution tests (with 45 % of vitamin C dissolved after 4 hours). Only the results for the friability test were unsatisfactory, indicating the need to improve the physical properties of the powders before compression. These findings open a new area for developing supplementary dietary.            Keywords: Spirulina, Vitamin C, Matrix tablet, Quality control

C42 - Optimisation d’une formule de comprime matriciel à base de spiruline enrichi en vitamine C

La spiruline est une algue fortement consommée dans le monde comme complément alimentaire en raison de son grand potentiel nutritionnel. Elle se trouve toutefois exempte de vitamine C, une vitamine capitale pour le bon fonctionnement de l’organisme humain compte tenu notamment de son pouvoir immunostimulant. L’objectif de notre travail était de formuler des comprimés matriciels de spiruline et de la vitamine C, qui assureront une libération prolongée et une meilleure absorption de la vitamine C ; cette dernière étant sujette à un mécanisme de saturation lors de son absorption. Nous sommes donc partis d’une formule galénique uniquement à base de vitamine C (A1), pour ensuite réduire la proportion de vitamine C au profit de la poudre de spiruline (S). Les comprimés fabriqués ont subi les différents tests pharmaco-techniques pour le contrôle de leur qualité. Les résultats de ce contrôle ont montré une bonne distribution des mélanges de poudres dans nos comprimés à l’issue du test d’uniformité de masse (A1 : 405±8,8 mg ; S : 665±9,4 mg), des résultats également satisfaisants pour les tests d’uniformité de teneur (A1 :175 ± 15,7 mg S : 41 ± 3,4 mg), de désagrégation (300 minutes) et de dissolution avec 45 % de la vitamine C dissoute au bout de 4 h de test (Comprimé S) contre 85% pour A1. Seul le test de friabilité était non satisfaisant témoignant la nécessité d’améliorer les propriétés physiques de nos poudres avant la compression. Ce travail sera approfondi en vue de l’installation sur place d’une unité de production desdits comprimés pour leur mise sur le marché.