Isolation and seasonal variation of fruticin in fruits of false indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa L. Fabaceae) from Serbia

Fruticin (amorphin) is a constituent of the fruit of the false indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa L.), which belongs to the class of rotenoid glycosides, and shows several interesting pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to isolate and chemically characterize this natural product, as well as to determine the optimal period of the year for A. fruticosa fruits collection. Fruticin was obtained by re-crystallization of the precipitate that formed after partial evaporation of the extract, prepared by 3-fold extraction of powdered plant material by chloroform - ethanol (1:1, v/v). The structure of the final product was determined by various techniques of instrumental analysis (NMR, UV and MS), and confirmed by comparing the obtained spectra with corresponding data in available literature. The content of fruticin in A. fruticosa fruit was determined by LC-DAD-MS, using the external standard method based on the constructed calibration curve. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were also determined. A substantial increase in fruticin content was observed during the ripening period (>50%). It has also been established that the optimal time for fruit collection is mid-December. Obtained results indicate that the content of fruticin in the A. fruticosa fruit is highly dependable on the time of collection. Since the biosynthesis of secondary plant metabolites is influenced not only by the time of collection, but by numerous other factors as well, additional studies are needed to define, with greater certainty, the conditions that are necessary for design of prospective efficient and sustainable production process

Events of Interest

Newsletter for University Hospital practitioners, providing updates on pharmaceutical topics

Re-engineering of South Africa’s primary health care system: where is the pharmacist?

South Africa’s transition towards a district-based health system (DHS) aims to offer health promotion and prevention services at community level, through re-engineered primary health care (PHC) services. Along with pharmacy workforce shortages and service delivery challenges, health reform is a clarion call to strategically re-position the pharmacist’s role in DHS strengthening. The pharmacist’s involvement in the three DHS streams, namely the clinical specialist support teams, school health services and municipal ward-based PHC outreach teams, is pertinent. This paper contextualises pharmacists’ current peripheral role in the health system, discusses a team-based approach and identifies opportunities to integrate pharmacy students into the re-vitalised PHC framework. Re-positioning of pharmacists within district clinical specialist support and school health teams could create opportunities for community-based and population-based services whereby a range of clinical and pharmaceutical services could materialise. Pharmacy training institutions could strengthen the DHS through established partnerships with the community and health services. Academic service learning programmes could integrate pharmacy students as part of the PHC outreach teams to promote community health. Interdependence between the health services, pharmacy schools and the community would create a platform to contextualise learning and dismantle existing silos between them. Multi-sectoral engagement could enable pharmacy schools to design strategies to optimise pharmaceutical service delivery and align their activities towards social accountability.DHE

SEEDS AND FLOWERS OF CHESTNUT TREES IN URBAN AREAS: A MUNICIPAL WASTE OR A RAW MATERIAL?

This study deals with the examination of total aescin content in flowers and seeds of Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Aesculus x carnea Hayne (Hippocastanaceae), collected in urban areas, as well as the content of Pb, Cd and Hg as an indicator of potential aerial pollution. Aescin identification was performed by TLC. Total aescin content was determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry and HPTLC densitometry. The contents of Pb, Cd and Hg was determined by AAS. The concentration of aescin varied in a wide range between 0.17% (A. hippocastanum hulls) and 2.95% (A. hippocastanum cotyledons), as determined by spectrophotometric assay. Slightly lower results were recorded in HPTLC densitometry assay, ranging from 0,10% (the hulls of both plant species) to 2.39% (A. x carnea cotyledons). The extractable matter yield was between 5% and 26%, with a high share of total aescin (5% - 13%, depending on the source). The levels of Pb, Cd and Hg both in the plant material and the extracts remained low, indicating that the health safety of the plant specimens was not compromised. Our results suggest that the seeds and flowers of Chestnut trees in urban areas could be considered as a raw material for chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Serbia

When worlds collide

The UK has a strong tradition of innovative evaluative health care research. There are, however, considerable forces impeding collaboration between clinicians, academics, patients and their advocates and industry. This paper argues that, if the UK is to regain a position at the forefront of clinical research into evaluation of care, some of these forces need to be overcome. Now, with explicit encouragement from funders within the UK's NHS, it is urgent that all parties discover better ways of working together so that more broad and meaningful research can be produced in a timely fashion

Development of gastroretentive floating granules with gentian root extract by hot-melt granulation

The roots of yellow gentian, Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae) are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, with the literature data indicate a local gastric effect of gentian root extract (GRE) and support the use of the solid pharmaceutical forms. Gentiopicroside, as a dominant secoiridoid in the GRE, has a short elimination half-life and low bioavailability and, consequently, its bioactivity is limited. The aim of the study was to develop gastroretentive floating delivery system with GRE, and to provide prolonged release of gentiopicroside. Floating granules with dry GRE (DGRE) were prepared by the hot-melt granulation technique, while formulations included effervescent components (citric acid and sodium bicarbonate), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and meltable binders (Compritol® 888 ATO and Gelucire® 50/13). The flowability of the DGRE and prepared formulations was determined by calculating the Carr index and Hausner ratio. Floating properties and in vitro dissolution rate of gentiopicroside from investigated formulations were examined. Floating granules were characterized with improved flowability (Carr index 14-22 %; Hausner ratio 1.16-1.28) in comparison to the DGRE (Carr index 28.99 %; Hausner ratio of 1.41). Furthermore, the floating granules exhibited immediate and long-lasting buoyancy and prolonged-release of gentiopicroside (over 8 h). Compritol® 888 ATO has provided sustained release of gentiopicroside from floating granules, while HPMC has decreased release rate additionally. On the other hand, Gelucire® 50/13 has increased gentiopicroside release rate. The results have shown that hot-melt granulation technique, as a green granulation method was successfully employed for obtaining gastroretentive floating granules with DGRE

Pastoral power in the community pharmacy: a Foucauldian analysis of services to promote patient adherence to new medicine use

Community pharmacists play a growing role in the delivery of primary healthcare. This has led manyto consider the changing power of the pharmacy profession in relation to other professions and patient groups. This paper contributes to these debates through developing a Foucauldian analysis of the changing dynamics of power brought about by extended roles in medicines management and patient education. Examining the New Medicine Service, the study considers how both patient and pharmacist subjectivities are transformed as pharmacists seek to survey patient’s medicine use, diagnose non-adherence to prescribed medicines, and provide education to promote behaviour change. These extended roles in medicines management and patient education expand the ‘pharmacy gaze’ to further aspects of patient health and lifestyle, and more significantly, established a form of ‘pastoral power’ as pharmacists become responsible for shaping patients’ self-regulating subjectivities. In concert, pharmacists are themselves enrolled within a new governing regime where their identities are conditioned by corporate and policy rationalities for the modernisation of primary care

Effects of Cytokines and Immunosuppressants on the Production of Serum Amyloid A Protein and C-reactive Protein in HepG2 Cells

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) are acute- phase proteins produced by the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines. The concentrations of these proteins in serum vary in parallel in most pathological conditions, but sometimes vary independently. CRP and SAA were determined in HepG2 cell culture medium supplemented with five immunosuppressants (corticosteroid, gusperimus hydrochloride, cyclosporin A, mizoribine and tacrolimus hydrate), with or without interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We also examined the effects of the immunosuppressants on the production of cytokines and changes in CRP and SAA production in HepG2 cells stimulated with the culture fluid from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - treated monocytes. In HepG2 cells, production of CRP and SAA was greatly affected by IL-6 and IL-β, respectively. Prednisolone (PSL) suppressed CRP production, while it enhanced SAA production. The other four immunosuppressants did not affect CRP production, but inhibited SAA production. PSL significantly inhibited cytokine production in monocytes, while the other immunosuppressants enhanced it. In HepG2 cells incubated with the culture fluid from LPS-stimulated monocytes, CRP production was suppressed, while SAA production was enhanced. PSL suppressed CRP production in HepG2 cells by inhibiting IL-6 production in monocytes, whereas PSL increased SAA production through a direct action on the hepatoma cells. In contrast, the other immunosuppressive agents enhanced IL-β production in monocytes. The agents induced SAA production in the HepG2 cells but did not affect CRP production

Microencapsulation methods for plants biologically active compounds - a review

Biologically active compounds from plants have attracted great interest due to their affordability, effectiveness and low toxicity. Herbal extracts provide an infinite resource of raw materials for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry. Unfortunately, use of the valuable natural compounds can be limited by their low bioavailability, volatilization of active compounds, sensitivity to the temperature, oxidation and UV light, in vivo instability, as well as unpleasant taste. One of the potential strategies to overcome these issues is microencapsulation of the biologically active ingredients. In this review, preparation, applications and limitations of the most popular techniques for microencapsulation, such as spray drying, fluid bed coating, encapsulation using supercritical fluids, freeze drying, ionic gelation, emulsification-solvent removal methods and formulation of liposomes, were discussed. Also, microparticles properties produced by presented microencapsulation methods were interpreted