The modulation of haemolytic activity of non-ionic surfactants by oil-in-water microemulsions as vehicles for parental drug delivery

Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable, clear, transparent fluid dispersions of oil, water, and surfactant, but may include a cosurfactant typically a short chain alcohol. The unique properties of microemulsions make them suitable candidates as vehicles for improving parenteral drug delivery. In the present study, we report of our investigations into the ability of some commercial non-ionic surfactants to produce o/w microemulsions with different oils and water or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), their physicochemical properties and modulation of haemolytic activity on human erythrocytes. The compositions over which clear o/w microemulsion systems formed and their areas of existence were dependent on the structure of the non-ionic surfactant and the oil incorporated. The clear o/w microemulsion systems remained clear and stable even on dilution with water or PBS. The haemolytic activities of the micellar solutions of the non-ionic surfactants were dependent on the nature and concentration of the surfactant. Generally, the clear o/w microemulsion systems were greatly less haemolytic than their corresponding micellar solutions at equivalent concentrations of surfactant. This indicated a high modulation of the haemolytic activity of the surfactants by the microemulsion formulations. The modulation of haemolytic activity was greatest with microemulsions formulated with the highest possible oil/surfactant ratios. The use of relatively longer triglycerides (oils) greatly enhanced the modulation activity of the resultant microemulsions. Our findings signified a high level of safety associated with the o/w microemulsions and lent a good support and credence to the high potential of microemulsions as suitable and safe vehicles for parenteral drug administration.Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana) Vol. 27 (2) 2007: pp. 41-5

The evaluation of selected ghanaian medicinal plants for cytotoxic activites

Cancer is still responsible for many deaths worldwide. Therefore, the need for an effective management, treatment and cure of cancer is undoubtedly crucial. In Ghana, several plants or herbal products are used by traditional healers for the management and/or the treatment of various cancers. However, the efficacies of these plant products as anticancer agents are often ill defined. In this study, the methanolic extracts of ten plant species were evaluated for cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, DLD- 1, MCF-7 and M14, using the MTT assay. Extracts of Adenia lobata root, Clerodendrum capitatum leaves, Garcinia kola stem bark, Plumbago zeylanica leaves and Vernonia conferta root, showed relatively low cytotoxic activities while extracts of Ficus asperifolia leaves, Paullinia pinnata root and Thonningia sanguinea root exhibited moderate activity (IC50 values 40 – 55μg/ml against at least one of the three cell lines). Croton membranaceus root extract exhibited markedly higher cytotoxic activities, particularly against the DLD-1 and MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 16.0 and 17.4μg/ml respectively), while Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides bark extract was 2-3 fold more active against DLD-1 cells (IC50 = 16μg/ml), than against the other cell lines. These results lend some support for the use of these species in traditional medicines for the treatment of cancer, especially for C. membranaceus and Z. xanthoxyloides.Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 27 (2) 2007: pp. 16-2

The Social Studies Curriculum in Atlanta Public Schools During the Desegregation Era

This historical investigation explores how teachers, students, and education officials viewed the social studies curriculum in the local context of Atlanta, and the broader state of Georgia, during the post-Civil Rights era, when integration was a court-ordered reality in the public schools. During the desegregation era, Atlanta schools were led by Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Superintendent, Dr. Alonzo Crim. Brought to Atlanta as part of a desegregation compromise, Dr. Crim became APS\u27s first African American superintendent. In particular, the authors investigate how national social studies movements, such as Man: A Course of Study (MACOS), inquiry-based learning, co-curriculum activities, and standards movements, adapted to fit this Southeastern locale, at a time when schools were struggling to desegregate. Local curriculum documents written in the 1970s reveal a traditional social studies curriculum. By the 1980s, APS\u27s social studies curriculum guides broadened to include a stronger focus on an enacted community—inside the classroom and around the world. In oral history interviews, however, former teachers, students, and school officials presented contrasting perspectives of how the social studies curriculum played out in the reality of Atlanta\u27s public schools during the desegregation era

Assessment of the physico-chemical and microbial quality of selected extemporaneous paediatric oral formulations frequently prepared at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) pharmacy prepares paediatric formulations of unavailable dosage forms on daily basis for children with a variety of acute and chronic diseases. This study assessed the physical and microbiological quality, and chemical stability of extemporaneous oral paediatric formulations prepared in this facility. The study team surveyed the hospital for unavailable formulations which were requested and prepared extemporaneously in the hospital's pharmacy. Stability studies were then conducted on the six (6) most frequently prepared paediatric suspension formulations namely; acetazolamide, spironolactone. propranolol, furosemide, phenobarbitone and lamivudine. These were prepared in accordance with KATH approved formulation procedures. HPLC and the agar diffusion methods were employed in the analysis. The formulated suspensions of spironolactone and furosemide were microbiologically and chemically stable up to 30 days. Lamivudine suspension was stable both chemically and microbiologically up to 60 days. The acetazolamide suspension was not stable up to a 30 days' mark. Phenobarbitone and propranolol suspensions were highly unstable even within 30 days and therefore, might require refrigeration to maintain their stability. The results showed that the formulated suspensions had sufficient microbial integrity and a range of active content stability, which suggested suitability for use as follows; lamivudine suspension up to 60 days, spironolactone and furosemide suspensions up to 30 days; acetazolamide, phenobarbitone and propranolol suspensions possibly up to 2 weeks, after preparation. &nbsp

A cytotoxic diterpenoid from Croton membranaceus, the major constituent of anticancer herbal formulations in Ghana

noCroton membranaceus is used by herbalists and traditional healers in Ghana for the management of various cancers, especially prostate cancers. A methanolic extract of the roots showed cytotoxic activities against two cancer cell lines, and bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract revealed that the cytotoxic activity resided mostly in the ethyl acetate fraction. Six compounds were isolated from this fraction, including a new furano-clerodane diterpenoid (1), for which the trivial name crotomembranafuran is suggested. This compound exhibited an IC50 value of 4.1 microgram/mL (10.6 microM) against human prostate (PC-3) cells, providing some support for the traditional use of C. membranaceus in the treatment of cancer