STUDIES ON SIDA ACUTA HYDROGEL I: PROCESSING AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE DERIVED HYDROGEL OBTAINED FROM SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Objective: Sida acuta is a plant that is widely distributed in the subtropical regions where it is found in bushes, in farms and around habitations. This study was carried out to isolate hydrogel from this freely available natural source.Methods: The sieved dried powder from the leaves of Sida acuta was macerated in distilled water. The mucilage formed was filtered and precipitated with equal volumes of isopropyl alcohol. This was repeated using ethanol and acetone respectively. The precipitated hydrogel was purified by washing twice with isopropyl alcohol, once with acetone and dried in the oven at 40 °C for 8h.Results: The mean percentage yield of the hydrogel as obtained was 10.15±1.22, 9.24±0.74 and 7.90±0.03 %w/w for isopropyl alcohol, ethanol and acetone precipitated hydrogels respectively. The swelling index of the hydrogel in water was 10.00±0.02. The solubility of the hydrogel in water at 28 °C and 80 °C were 7.00±0.41 and 8.63±0.63 respectively. The solubility of the hydrogel in 0.1 N NaOH and 0.1 N HCl solutions were 11.86±1.75 and 5.67±0.58 mg/ml respectively. The loss on drying was 14 5±1.87% while total ash was 53.33±5.77 mg per 1 g hydrogel. The viscosity of a 1%w/v solution of the hydrogel using rotor 1 of a Brookfield viscometer at 30 rpm was 71.4±0.00 mPas. The pH of a 1%w/v solution was 6.60±009. The Carr's index and Hausner ratio were 38.77±1.69% and 1.63±0.05 respectively.Conclusion: The hydrogel obtained from powdered dried leaves of Sida acuta may have potential in various drug delivery systems

DESIGN AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE MATRIX TABLETS OF METFORMIN PRODUCED USING DETARIUM MICROCARPUM GUM

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate sustained release matrix tablets of metformin formulated using Detarium microcarpum gum (DMG) as the matrix polymer. Methods: DMG was produced by acetone desolvation of the filtrate obtained by maceration of powdered seeds of Detarium microcarpum in distilled water. Metformin matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression technique using DMG or sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) alone, or their combinations as the polymer matrix. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, weight uniformity, drug content, swelling behaviour and in vitro dissolution. They were compared to a marketed product. Results: The results of the evaluation showed that the tablets had physical characteristics that were within the acceptable limits and were comparable to the marketed product. They include hardness (7.13±1.99 to 13.17±1.59 Kgf), friability (0.40 to 0.80%), and drug content (95.11 to 104.17%). Formulations MTF2 (30% DMG) and MTF6 (20% DMG and 10% NaCMC) showed good sustained release behaviour, as they released 75% of the drug within 7 to 9 h and 100% release in more than 12 h. Conclusion: DMG alone or with NaCMC was successfully used to formulate sustained release metformin matrix tablets that were comparable to the marketed product

Formulation and Evaluation of Sustained Release Tablet of Metformin by Ionic Gelation Technique using Sida acuta Gum as Release Retardant

This research was done to formulate and assess the sustained release property of metformin tablets prepared from metformin microcapsules produced by ionic gelation technique using Sida acuta gum or sodium carboxymethylcellulose as release retardant. Sida acuta gum was produced by isopropyl alcohol precipitation of the filtrate obtained from distilled water maceration of powdered dried Sida acuta leaves. Metformin and Sida acuta gum compatibility was determined using FTIR. Metformin microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation technique using sodium alginate alone or with either Sida acuta gum or sodium carboxymethylcellulose as release retardant. The microcapsules were evaluated for % yield and flow properties. The size and surface morphology of the microcapsules were determined using scanning electron microscopy. Metformin tablets were prepared from the microcapsules using direct compression technique. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability and in vitro dissolution. There was no major incompatibility between metformin and Sida acuta gum. The microcapsules have excellent flow property and were of micrometer size range. They have rough surfaces. The friability of the tablets ranged from 0.4-1.6% while the hardness was from 3.82-11.17 Kgf. The tablets from formulations M2 failed both friability and hardness test. About 44.5-47.1% of metformin was released from the tablet formulations after 6 h while 86.0-100% was released after 10 h. All the tablet formulations showed sustained release ability. Keywords: Microcapsules, metformin, Sida acuta gum, sustained release, ionic gelatio

Physicochemical and microbiological evaluation of ibuprofen suspension produced using Detarium microcarpum as suspending agent

Suspensions are two phase systems composed of solid materials dispersed in liquid. Detarium microcarpum gum (DMG) was obtained by acetone precipitation of filtrate obtained from maceration of Detarium microcarpum seed powder using distilled water. Ibuprofen was pulverized using a mortar and dispersed in distilled water to form ibuprofen suspension formulation (IS1). Five other ibuprofen suspension formulations were prepared using either DMG or acacia as the suspending agent (IS2-IS6). Benzoic acid was added during the preparation of formulations IS4 and IS6 as preservative. Physicochemical properties like pH, viscosity and the total microbial count for the suspensions were evaluated. Drug-excipient compatibility was studied using FTIR spectroscopy. The pH of the suspensions ranged from 3.7±0.0 -5.3±0.0 on day 0 to 3.9±0.0 - 6.3±0.0 on day 35. Flow rate was from 2.21±0.13 – 33.00±3.70 mls-1 on day 0 to 1.88±0.12 – 20.19±0.16 mls-1 on day 35. The viscosity at 25oC ranged from 2391.3 – 5702.2 mPas on day 0 to 3793.0 – 3828.2 mPas on day 35. It was a shear thinning system. Formulation IS6 was the most stable and IS1 was the least stable. The suspensions contained high level of bacteria on day 0 which increased significantly on day 35, with exception of formulations IS4 and IS6. Ibuprofen suspensions with good physicochemical properties were produced using DMG but the level of microbial contamination observed highlighted the need of having good environmental hygiene and use of preservatives when natural gums are used in formulations. Keywords: ibuprofen, Detarium microcarpum, suspension, suspending agent, microorganism

Incidence and antibiotic profile of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria isolated from aprons and tables used in abattoir located in Abraka and Obiaruku, Delta State, Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate the presence of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in aprons and tables used in abattoirs in Abraka and Obiaruku.  A total of one hundred samples were obtained. Fifty samples were obtained from the aprons of butchers and meat vendors working in an abattoir located in Abraka and fifty samples from the sectioning tables in an abattoir located in Obiaruku using sterile swab sticks. Biochemical tests were carried out to characterize the bacterial isolates and susceptibility carried out using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of the 50 aprons sampled, 47 were gram negative bacteria and 3 were gram positive bacteria. The bacteria were: Proteus spp. (16), Citrobacter spp. (15), Salmonella spp. (10), Shigella spp.  (3), Aeromonas spp. (2), Providentia spp. (1), Mycobacterium spp. (1), Enterococcus spp. (1) and Streptococcus spp. (1). From the table samples, all 50 were gram negative bacteria. The gram-positive bacteria showed high susceptibility (100%) with high zones of inhibition to most antibiotics used. Gram-negative bacteria showed highest susceptibility to erythromycin (95.7%) This study reveals that aprons and tables of butchers and meat vendors at the abattoirs are reservoir of various bacteria, some of which are food borne pathogens and are multidrug resistant. The high prevalence of some of these organisms in this study coupled with their high antibiotic resistance profile is reflective of the poor hygiene practices carried out at the abattoirs in Abraka and Obiaruku and thus, pose a serious public health concern to the consumers of meat from such abattoirs. Keywords: Bacteria, isolates, abattoir, butchers, meat vendor

The Role of Medicinal Plants in Diabetes Mellitus and Oxidative Stress: A Review

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrinology disorder of great global concern. It results from an irregularity in the secretion or action of insulin. It is a metabolic condition characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of some diseases such as diabetes, aging, cancer, cardiovascular disease, as well as liver and lung diseases. Oxidative stress occurs due to an imbalance between radical generation and radical scavenging. One of the main mechanisms for the development of diabetes complications is via oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a main upstream occurrence for diabetes complications as well as the development of insulin resistivity. Medicinal plants can be useful in the treatment of numerous diseases and some of their healthful effects are due to their antioxidant activity. Their antihyperglycemic effect is very much linked to their antioxidant potential. This review summarized the antidiabetic potential of some medicinal plants in animal models. There is a continuous need to explore the medicinal capability of herbal products with antioxidant effects in the management of diabetes mellitus