Floating drug delivery system: an outlook

Floating drug delivery is considered as the most effective amongst the several approaches of gastro retentive drug delivery systems. The short gastric residence times (GRT) and unpredictable gastric emptying times (GET) are the two most important parameters that play a vital role in improving the bioavailability of drugs those are having an absorption window at the stomach. The floating drug delivery approach is a low-density system that may be effervescent or Non-Effervescent type with sufficient buoyancy to flow over the gastric contents and remain buoyant in the stomach without affecting the stomachic emptying rate for a prolonged duration. Floating dosage forms include tablets, granules, capsules, microspheres, microparticle, etc. are few formulations available commercially. A comprehensive summary of different floating drug delivery and its present status has been highlighted in this review

Prevalence of Depression and Drug Use Pattern among Elderly People in Living in Old Age Homes in Kathmandu

Among 150 respondents, 25 [16.67%] respondents were normal. Out of theses 25respondents, 98 [65.33%] and 27 [18%] respondents had mild and severe depression respectively according to GDS. Regarding the socio-demographic information of the respondents, 7.33% were of age 60-64yrs, 10.66% were of 65-69 yrs, 31.33% were of 70-79 yrs, and 51.33 were of >80 yrs. 100 percent of the elderly people were regularly using drugs, and the average patient was regularly using more than 21 drug classes. The most common classes of drugs used by the older people living in Old Age Homes  were antihypertensive agents [9.33 %], vitamins [8.67 %], cardiac drugs [3.33%], cardiovascular dilators [2%], laxatives [6%], and tranquilizers [4%], diuretics [6.67%], and least class of drug used was sedatives i.e. [0.67%], and following drugs classes were  hypnotics [6%], antidepressants [2.67%], anti-arrhythmic drugs [3.33%],  pulmonary drugs [4.67%], antacids [5.33%] and anti-secretary agents [4%]. Keywords: Old age homes, hypnotics, antidepressant, depression, drug patter

Preliminary Study on the Antibacterial Activities and Antibacterial Guided Fractionation of Some Common Medicinal Plants Practices in Itum Bahal, Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plant practices by a traditional healer of the Newar community in Itum Bahal, Kathmandu, Nepal. The antibacterial activities of the methanolic extract (1 mg/disc) of fifteen medicinal plants were screened against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella typhi CCM 5445) using the disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were calculated for the different fractions (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, and acetone) of the plants having a significant antimicrobial effect. Only Quercus infectoria G. Olivier (galls) and Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Müll.Arg. (seeds) exhibited prominent antibacterial effects. The acetone fraction from Q. infectoria had the strongest antibacterial effect, with a 41.00 mm inhibition zone against S. aureus. In contrast, the ethyl acetate fraction in M. repandus exhibited the highest efficacy, producing a 29.00 mm inhibition zone against S. typhi. In a similar manner, in the case of Q. infectoria, the acetoe fraction depicted the lowest MIC (0.19 mg/mL) and MBC (0.98 mg/mL) values against S. aureus, whereas the ethyl acetate fraction of M. repandus was most significant, showing the lowest MIC and MBC of 0.25 and 0.53 mg/mL, respectively, against S. typhi. This study suggested that the acetone extract of Q. infectoria galls can be used as a potential source against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas the ethyl acetate extract of M. repandus seeds could serve as a useful source to inhibit Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, extensive scientific investigation is mandatory to ensure the proper use of folk medicines