A review on phytochemical and ethnopharmacological studies of Ajuga Bracteosa Wall. Ex Benth.

Herbal medicines as the major remedy in traditional system of medicine have been used in medical practices since antiquity. The plants of genus Ajuga are evergreen, clump-forming rhizomatous perennial or annual herbaceous flowering species, with Ajuga being one of the 266 genera of the family Lamiaceae. There are at least 301 species of the genus Ajuga with many variations. Ajugabracteosa Wall. ex Benth (A. bracteosa) is an important medicinal plant of Himalaya regions. Medicinal potential is due to presence of of various pharmacologically active compounds such as neo-clerodane diterpenoids, flavonol glycosides, iridoid glycosides, ergosterol-5,8- endoperoxide and phytoecdysones. The aim of this review article was to gather information about A. bracteosa which is currently scattered in form of various publications. This review article tried to attract the attention from people for therapeutic potential of A. bracteosa. The present review comprises upto date information of,traditional uses, botanical aspects, active ingredients and pharmacological activities such as antitumor, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic activity, antiarthritic activity, antioxidant activity . A large variety of compounds have so far been isolated from Ajuga bracteosa. Keywords:  Ajuga bracteosa, Herbal medicines, pharmacological activities

Preparation, Characterization and Applications of Nanoemulsions: An Insight

Nanoemulsions are defined as isotropic, thermodynamically stable, transparent or translucent; dispersions of oil and water stabilized by surfactant molecules (forms an interfacial film) having the droplet size of 20-500nm. Ease of preparation and scale-up, stability and increased bioavailability are features of these formulations which have attracted the attention of researchers. Its basic principle lies in its ability to spontaneously generate fine o/w microemulsion under mild agitation following dilution with aqueous phases. These conditions mimic the digestive motility in the GIT necessary to provide the agitation required for In vivo self emulsification. Unlike emulsions, self-nanoemulsified drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) generates microemulsion with a narrow droplet size distribution of less than 50 nm due to which these systems have also been addressed as nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions (NE) are lipidic nanoformulations with droplet diameter in nanometer range have established tremendous attention as drug delivery formulations for lipophilic drugs due to their capability to increase solubility, permeation across biological membranes as well as their therapeutic efficiency of lipid soluble drugs due to predictable size-distribution, high drug loading and stability under biological environment. However there is still relatively narrow insight regarding preparation, characterization and applications of nanoemulsions. This limitation unfolds the premise for current review article. In this review, we attempt to explore varying intricacies, methods of preparation, characteristics, and drug delivery applications of nanoemulsions to spike interest of those contemplating a foray in this field. Keywords: Nanoemulsions, Novel drug delivery system, increased bioavailability

The traditional medicine and phytoconstituents from natural products for liver disease: A review

To combat a variety of liver ailments medicinal plants may serve as a vital source because of presence of pharmacologically active phytoconstituents. It is very interesting to note that there is no drug available in the modem system of medicine for treating hepatic disorders; only certain herbal preparations are available to treat this quite vulnerable disease. A large number of plants with hepatoprotective activity are present but only handful of herbs have such scientific support. Herbal medicines have been used to alleviate liver disorders for many centuries and have currently become a favorable therapy for pathological liver disease. Keywords: Liver disease, Herb, Hepatoprotective activit

Floating Oral In-Situ Gel: A Review

The drugs having a narrow absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) when administered by oral route are often limited by poor bioavailability due to incomplete drug release and short residence time at the site of absorption. Novel drug delivery systems in the form of gastroretentive systems such as floating systems, mucoadhesive, high-density, expandable have been developed as they provide controlled delivery of drugs with prolonged gastric residence time. Liquid orals are more prone to low bioavailability because they are eliminated quickly from the stomach since they are subjected to faster transit from the stomach/ duodenum. The problems of immediate release and short gastrointestinal residence of liquids are eliminated by formulating as oral in situ gels as they provide the best means to overcome these problems The in situ gel dosage form is a liquid before administration and after it comes in contact with gastric contents due to one or more mechanisms gets converted to gel which floats on gastric contents. This achieves increased residence as well as sustained release. This approach is useful for systemic as well as local effect of drugs administered. This review gives a brief idea about floating oral in-situ gel formation and research done by various scientists on a number of drugs and polymers. Keywords: Floating drug delivery, gastric retention time, In-situ gel