Analysis of lead content in paints used for face painting in Nairobi county

Face painting is a common practice among young children. 59 samples from 7 manufacturers of paints used for face painting in Nairobi County were purchased and analysed for lead content using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The labels were also examined for batch number, date of manufacture and expiry as well as instructions for use. All samples analysed were found to contain lead with the highest being 10.5413 ppm. Only one manufacturer declared on the label that the paint was intended for use in face painting.Keywords: Face painting, lead conten

Quality and In Vitro Pharmaceutical Equivalence of Ciprofloxacin Tablets Brands in Kenya

The quality and in vitro pharmaceutical equivalence of nineteen generic products of ciprofloxacin tablets with marketing authorization in Kenya are reported. The tablets were assessed for compliance with pharmacopoeial specifications for identity, uniformity of weight, disintegration, drug content and dissolution. All the evaluated generic brands complied with the compendial specifications for identity, uniformity of weight, disintegration and drug content. However, five (26.3%) of the evaluated generic brands were non-compliant in the dissolution test at pH 1.2. In vitro pharmaceutical equivalence analysis showed that ten (52.6%) generic ciprofloxacin tablets brands exhibited similar dissolution profiles as the innovator Cipro® brand at pH 1.2 and pH 4.5, while the other nine (47.4%) had significantly variable dissolution profiles. Therefore only 10 of the 19 generic ciprofloxacin tablets brands evaluated in this study may be regarded as pharmaceutically equivalent to the innovator Cipro® brand.Key words: Ciprofloxacin tablets, quality parameters, pharmaceutical equivalenc

Estrogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Steroidal Indoxyl

The estrogenic and anti-inflammatory activities of 3-methoxy-16, 17-seco-16-norestra-1,3,5-trien-15-(2'-indoxyliden)-17-oic acid is reported. After intraperitoneal administration, the dose of this compound required to reduce swelling of the rat paw by 50% (ED50) was 14.1 mg/kg using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema anti-inflammatory assay method. Indomethacin had an ED50 of 3.2 mg/kg in this assay while dexamethasone had an ED50 of 1.7 mg/kg. The estrogenic activity of the compound after intramuscular administration in rats was 0.72 relative to diethylstilbestrol, when the two compounds were assayed at three dose levels of 1.0, 0.3 and 0.1 mg/kg. Key Words: Steroidal indoxyl, synthesis, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.5(3) 2002: 44-4

Quantification of three macrolide antibiotics in pharmaceutical lots by HPLC: Development, validation and application to a simultaneous separation

A new validated high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with rapid analysis time and high efficiency, for the analysis of erythromycin, azithromycin and spiramycin, under isocratic conditions with ODB RP18 as a stationary phase is described. Using an eluent composed of acetonitrile –2-methyl-2-propanol –hydrogenphosphate buffer, pH 6.5, with 1.5% triethylamine (33:7: up to 100, v/v/v), delivered at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL min-1. Ultra Violet (UV) detection is performed at 210 nm. The selectivity is satisfactory enough and no problematic interfering peaks are observed. The procedure is quantitatively characterized and repeatability, linearity, detection and quantification limits are very satisfactory. The method is applied successfully for the assay of the studied drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms as tablets and powder for oral suspension. Recovery experiments revealed recovery of 97.13–100.28%

Steroidal Indoxyls: Evaluation of Pka Values and Anti-inflammatory Activity

Three steroidal indoxyls, 3-oxo-16,17-seco-16-nor-1,4-androstadien-15-(7\'-methoxy-2-indoxyliden)17-oic acid, 1-(2\'-indoxyliden)-2-nor-1,2-secocholestan-3-oic acid and 1-(5\'- chloro-2-indoxyliden)-2-nor-1,2-secocholestan-3-oic acid were synthesized and screened for anti-inflammatory activity. Their pKa values were also determined using a solubility method. The first compound, 3-oxo-16,17-seco-16-nor-1,4-androstadien-15-(7\'-methoxy-2-indoxyliden) 17-oic acid, had an ED50 value of 15.3 mg/kg and a pKa of 7.09. The cholestane derivative, 1-(2\'-indoxyliden)-2-nor-1,2-secocholestan-3-oic acid, and its chloro analogue 1-(5\'-chloro-2-indoxyliden)-2-nor-1,2-secocholestan-3-oic acid had ED50 values of 16.2 and 22.8 mg/kg, while their pKa values were 6.56 and 7.07, respectively, suggesting that these compounds are relatively weak acids. Keywords: Steroidal indoxyls, pKa values, anti-inflammatory The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 9 (2) 2006: pp. 52-5