Application of Starch and Starch Derivatives in Pharmaceutical Formulation

Starch is a homo-glucose unit connected with glycosidic linkage. It is well known for its biodegradability, renewability, low cost, flexibility, and availability. However, to reach its potential in the pharmaceutical application, modification is necessary to solve the problem of solubility, retrogradation, and loss of viscosity. In this chapter, we discuss the different physical, chemical, enzymatic, and biotechnological modifications and their subsequent pharmaceutical application both as an excipient and directly as drug delivery vehicles. Overall, there were different characteristics conferred in a modification which were exploited in pharmaceutics, drug delivery, and antimicrobial preparation. We, however, believe that collation of the data on modification would go a long way toward standardizing the application of the modified products

A polyherbal formulation reverses hydrogen peroxide-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats

DRHM® is a polyherbal formulation [composed of Cymbopogon citratus (17%), Carica papaya leaves (16%), Mangifera indica bark (15%), Moringa oleifera leaves (14%), Citrus limon (12%), Psidium guajava (11%), Zingiber officinale root (9%) and Allium sativum (6%)] that is indicated for many disease conditions and as a detoxifier. In this study, the effects of DRHM® on hydrogen peroxide (3 mL/kg b.w of 5% H2O2, i.p)-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats were evaluated. H2O2 significantly (p<0.05) reduced hemoglobin level, packed cell volume and red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts. It elevated the activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and levels of total bilirubin and malondialdehyde. In addition, H2O2 also decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione and antioxidant vitamins levels. However, after 14 days of treatment at 1, 2 and 3 mL/kg/d b.w. p.o, DRHM® reversed aberrations in hematological status, enhanced antioxidant status and attenuated lipid peroxidation and hepatic damage induced by H2O2, in a dose-dependent manner comparable to silymarin (100 mg/kg/d. b.w.). These findings suggest that the phytoconstituents in DRHM® might be responsible for these ameliorative effects by boosting antioxidant defense system. DRHM® was tolerable up to 10 mL/kg. b.w

Methanol Extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum Stem Bark Has Antimalarial Activity and Normalizes Biochemical Changes Induced by Plasmodium berghei Infection

This study evaluated the antimalarial, haematological and biochemical status of Plasmodium berghei Anka 65-infected mice treated with methanol extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum stem bark (MEPT). The acute toxicity profile and phyto-constituents were also evaluated. Thirty mice were divided into 6 groups of 5 mice each. Group 1 served as normal control and received distilled water only. Group 2 was parasitized and untreated. Groups 3-5 were parasitized and treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.w. body weight of MEPT respectively. Group 6 was parasitized and treated with 28 mg/kg. b.w. of arthemeter/lumenfantrin combination. Malaria parasitemia were monitored on treatment days 0-3. Antioxidant, liver, kidney and lipid peroxidation status were determined using classical methods 5 days post-treatment. There were dose-dependent reductions in malaria parasitemia percentages of groups 3-5 that are comparable with group 6. In addition, there were dose and duration-dependent increases in malaria chemo-suppression in groups 3-5. The existence of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and kidney and liver dysfunctions were observed in group 2 when compared with group 1. Treatment of groups 3-5 with MEPT and group 6 with arthemeter/lumenfantrin for 4 days restored the biochemical anomalies induced by malaria. The extract was tolerable up to 5,000 mg/kg b.w. of MEPT. The presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, carotenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, terpenoids and anthocyanins were detected in high amounts while phenols was detected in low amount in MEPT. These suggest that MEPT possesses antimalarial activity and normalizes malaria-modified biochemical changes. These effects might be attributed to its bioactive constituents. Keywords: malaria, Peltophorum pterocarpum, phytochemicals, toxicity, biochemical dysfunctions DOI: 10.7176/ALST/73-05 Publication date: April 30th 201

A polyherbal formulation reverses hydrogen peroxide-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats

927-933DRHM® is a polyherbal formulation [composed of Cymbopogon citratus (17%), Carica papaya leaves (16%), Mangifera indica bark (15%), Moringa oleifera leaves (14%), Citrus limon (12%), Psidium guajava (11%), Zingiber officinale root (9%) and Allium sativum (6%)] that is indicated for many disease conditions and as a detoxifier. In this study, the effects of DRHM® on hydrogen peroxide (3 mL/kg b.w of 5% H2O2, i.p)-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats were evaluated. H2O2 significantly (p<0.05) reduced hemoglobin level, packed cell volume and red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts. It elevated the activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and levels of total bilirubin and malondialdehyde. In addition, H2O2 also decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione and antioxidant vitamins levels. However, after 14 days of treatment at 1, 2 and 3 mL/kg/d b.w. p.o, DRHM® reversed aberrations in hematological status, enhanced antioxidant status and attenuated lipid peroxidation and hepatic damage induced by H2O2, in a dose-dependent manner comparable to silymarin (100 mg/kg/d. b.w.). These findings suggest that the phytoconstituents in DRHM® might be responsible for these ameliorative effects by boosting antioxidant defense system. DRHM® was tolerable up to 10 mL/kg. b.w

A polyherbal formulation reverses hydrogen peroxide-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats

927-933DRHM® is a polyherbal formulation [composed of Cymbopogon citratus (17%), Carica papaya leaves (16%), Mangifera indica bark (15%), Moringa oleifera leaves (14%), Citrus limon (12%), Psidium guajava (11%), Zingiber officinale root (9%) and Allium sativum (6%)] that is indicated for many disease conditions and as a detoxifier. In this study, the effects of DRHM® on hydrogen peroxide (3 mL/kg b.w of 5% H2O2, i.p)-induced hematological and biochemical aberrations in rats were evaluated. H2O2 significantly (p<0.05) reduced hemoglobin level, packed cell volume and red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts. It elevated the activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and levels of total bilirubin and malondialdehyde. In addition, H2O2 also decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione and antioxidant vitamins levels. However, after 14 days of treatment at 1, 2 and 3 mL/kg/d b.w. p.o, DRHM® reversed aberrations in hematological status, enhanced antioxidant status and attenuated lipid peroxidation and hepatic damage induced by H2O2, in a dose-dependent manner comparable to silymarin (100 mg/kg/d. b.w.). These findings suggest that the phytoconstituents in DRHM® might be responsible for these ameliorative effects by boosting antioxidant defense system. DRHM® was tolerable up to 10 mL/kg. b.w

Nature-derived ingredients as sustainable alternatives for tenderizing meat and meat products:an updated review

Tenderness is one of the most desirable meat qualities and a significant determinant of consumers’ preference. Estimating/achieving optimal tenderness are not straightforward because of their susceptibility to complex factors. Efforts toward fostering optimal tenderness in meat are called meat tenderization and can be categorized under physical, chemical, and biological approaches. While physical tenderization involves mechanically breaking the muscle myofibrillar/connective tissues, chemical techniques apply chemical/synthetic additives. Conversely, the most sustainable biological approaches use natural products (mainly proteases) to foster meat tenderness. This study presents an updated review of natural products from plants, animals, and microbes that have gained applicability as meat tenderizers. We have discussed in detail the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the different natural sources of tenderizers and presented some overarching factors that limit the widespread acceptance of natural tenderizers over synthetic chemicals. Finally, prospects for achieving natural products as a more global choice for tenderizing meat were suggested.</p

Meat tenderization using acetaminophen (paracetamol/APAP): A review on deductive biochemical mechanisms, toxicological implications and strategies for mitigation

Meats consist of edible portions originating from domestic and wild animals. Meat's palatability and sensory accessibility largely depend on its tenderness to consumers. Although many factors influence meat tenderness, the cooking method cannot be neglected. Different chemical, mechanical, and natural means of meat tenderization have been considered healthy and safe for consumers. However, many households, food vendors, and bars in developing countries engage in the unhealthy use of acetaminophen (paracetamol/APAP) in meat tenderization due to the cost reduction it offers in the overall cooking process. Acetaminophen (paracetamol/APAP) is one of the most popular, relatively cheap, and ubiquitous over-the-counter drugs that induce serious toxicity challenges when misused. It is important to note that acetaminophen during cooking is hydrolyses into a toxic compound known as 4-aminophenol, which damages the liver and kidney and results in organ failure. Despite the reports on the increase in the use of acetaminophen for meat tenderizing in many web reports, there have not been any serious scientific publications on this subject. This study adopted classical/traditional methodology to review relevant literature retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect using relevant key terms (Acetaminophen, Toxicity, Meat tenderization, APAP, paracetamol, mechanisms) and Boolean operators (AND and OR). This paper provides in-depth information on the hazard and health implications of consuming acetaminophen tenderized meat via genetic and metabolic pathways deductions. Understanding these unsafe practices will promote awareness and mitigation strategies

Nature-derived ingredients as sustainable alternatives for tenderizing meat and meat products:an updated review

Tenderness is one of the most desirable meat qualities and a significant determinant of consumers’ preference. Estimating/achieving optimal tenderness are not straightforward because of their susceptibility to complex factors. Efforts toward fostering optimal tenderness in meat are called meat tenderization and can be categorized under physical, chemical, and biological approaches. While physical tenderization involves mechanically breaking the muscle myofibrillar/connective tissues, chemical techniques apply chemical/synthetic additives. Conversely, the most sustainable biological approaches use natural products (mainly proteases) to foster meat tenderness. This study presents an updated review of natural products from plants, animals, and microbes that have gained applicability as meat tenderizers. We have discussed in detail the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the different natural sources of tenderizers and presented some overarching factors that limit the widespread acceptance of natural tenderizers over synthetic chemicals. Finally, prospects for achieving natural products as a more global choice for tenderizing meat were suggested.</p

Impacts of some divalent cations on periplasmic nitrate reductase and dehydrogenase enzymes of Escherichia, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species

The impacts of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ on the activities of periplasmic nitrate reductase (NAP) and dehydrogenase (DHA) enzymes of three organisms isolated from soil and sediment-water interface were analysed in liquid culture studies. NAP and DHA activities were estimated from nitrite and triphenyl formazan were produced respectively after 4h incubation at 28 ± 2oC. Hg2+ completely inhibited NAP activity in Escherichia and Pseudomonas spp at all the concentrations (0.2 – 1mM) while progressive inhibitions of NAP activity were observed in Escherichia and Pseudomonas spp with increasing concentrations of Zn2+ and Cd2+. Both metals were stimulatory to NAP of Acinetobacter sp at 0.2 – 1mM. Apart from stimulation of DHA activity by Zn2+ (0.2 – 1mM) in Escherichia sp, Cd2+ (0.4 -1.0mM) in Acinetobacter sp and (1.0mM) in Pseudomonas sp, all the metals progressively inhibited DHA activities in the three organisms. In Escherichia sp, the activities of the two enzymes were negatively correlated on exposure to Zn2+ (r = -0.91) and positively correlated (r = >0.90) on exposure to Cd2+ and Hg2+. Based on IC50 values of the metals for the DHA and NAP enzymes, the most resistant of the three organisms were Escherichia sp and Acinetobacter sp respectively. Quantitatively, NAP with its lower IC50 values than DHA was a more sensitive toxicity measure for Hg2+ in all the organisms. The sensitivity of microbial metabolic enzymes to the toxic effects of metals varies with the type of enzyme, metal and the microorganism involved

Aquatic Phlorotannins and Human Health:Bioavailability, Toxicity, and Future Prospects

Medicinal chemists and pharmacognosists have relied on terrestrial sources for bioactive phytochemicals to manage and treat disease conditions. However, minimal interest is given to sea life, especially macroalgae and their inherent phytochemical reserves. Phlorotannins are a special class of phytochemicals mainly predominant in brown algae of marine and estuarine habitats. Phlorotannins are formed through the polymerization of phloroglucinol residues and derivatives via the polyketide (acetate–malonate) pathway. Studies over the past decades have implicated phlorotannins with several bioactivities, including anti-herbivory, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative, anti-diabetic, radio-protective, adipogenic, anti-allergic, and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) properties. All these activities are reflected in their applications as nutraceuticals and cosmeceutical agents. This article reviews the chemical composition of phlorotannins, their biological roles, and their applications. Moreover, very few studies on phlorotannin bioavailability, safety, and toxicity have been thoroughly reviewed. The paper concludes by suggesting exciting research questions for further studies.</p