Transdermal patches: Design and current approaches to painless drug delivery

Use of transdermal patches can evade many issues associated with oral drug delivery, such as first-pass hepatic metabolism, enzymatic digestion attack, drug hydrolysis and degradation in acidic media, drug fluctuations, and gastrointestinal irritation. This article reviews various transdermal patches available in the market, types, structural components, polymer role, and the required assessment tools. Although transdermal patches have medical applications for smoking cessation, pain relief, osteoporosis, contraception, motion sickness, angina pectoris, and cardiac disorders, advances in formulation development are ongoing to make transdermal patches capable of delivering more challenging drugs. Transdermal patches can be tailored and developed according to the physicochemical properties of active and inactive components, and applicability for long-term use. Therefore, a number of chemical approaches and physical techniques for transdermal patch development are under investigation

Development of Phytocosmeceutical Microemulgel Containing Flaxseed Extract and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization

Antioxidants from natural sources are extensively attaining consideration to avert the skin from damage and aging caused by free radicals. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), a natural therapeutic agent, was meant to be explored cosmeceutical by quantifying its potential phytoconstituents and to be incorporated into a microemulgel for topical use. Hydroalcoholic fractions (both methanolic and ethanolic; 80%) flaxseed extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening by quantifying total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV), and for biological activities through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, tyrosinase inhibition assay, and sun protection factor (SPF). Ethanolic fraction was selected for further study by TPC (18.75 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and TFC (1.34 mg quercetin equivalent/g). HPLC-UV analysis showed the existence of benzoic, quercetin, caffeic, vanillic, p-coumaric, gallic, cinnamic, syringic, and sinapic acids. Biological activities showed 87.00%, 72.00%, and 21.75 values for DPPH assay, tyrosinase inhibition, and SPF assays, respectively. An oil-in-water (OW) microemulsion containing the flaxseed extract, with 99.20 nm Zeta size, −19.3 Zeta potential and 0.434 polydispersity index was developed and incorporated in Carbopol-940 gel matrix to formulate an active microemulgel with 59.15% release in in vitro studies. The successfully formulated stable active microemulgel produced statistically significant effects (p < 0.05), in comparison to a placebo, on skin erythema, melanin, sebum, moisture, and elasticity, in a noninvasive in vivo study performed on 13 healthy human female volunteers. Other cosmeceutical products can also be formulated from flaxseed, making it a considerable candidate for further utilization in the pharmaceutical industry

Formulation and characterization of a multiple emulsion containing 1% L-ascorbic acid

The purpose of the study was to prepare a stable multiple emulsion containing a skin anti-aging agent and using paraffin oil. Vitamin C, was incorporated into the inner aqueous phase of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) multiple emulsion at a concentration of 1%. Multiple emulsion was prepared by two step method. Stability studies were performed at different accelerated conditions, i.e. 8 oC (in refrigerator), 25 oC (in oven), 40 oC (in oven), and 40 oC at 75% RH (in stability cabin) for 28 days to predict the stability of formulations. Different parameters, namely pH, globule size, electrical conductivity and effect of centrifugation (simulating gravity) were determined during stability studies. Data obtained was evaluated statistically using ANOVA two way analyses and LSD tests. Multiple emulsion formulated was found to be stable at lower temperatures (i.e. 8 and 25 oC) for 28 days. No phase separation was observed in the samples during stability testing. It was found that there was no significant change (p > 0.05) in globule sizes in most of the samples kept at various conditions. Insignificant changes (p > 0.05) in both pH and conductivity values were determined for the samples kept at 8, 40, and 40 oC at 75% RH, throughout the study period. Further studies are needed to formulate more stable emulsions with other emulsifying agents. KEY WORDS: Multiple emulsion, Vitamin C, StabilityBull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(1), 1-10.

Time and Dose Dependent Antipyretic Investigations of Ethanolic Leaves and Fruits Extracts of Prosopis cineraria L. (Druce)

The aim of this Study was to establish a comparative investigation of Antipyretic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves and fruits of the Prosopis cineraria and phytochemical evaluation of ethanolic extracts of these parts. Crude ethanolic plant extracts of leaves and fruits of Prosopis cineraria at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg of body weight were used to evaluate the antipyretic activity. These extracts were evaluated by inducing brewer’s-yeast induced pyrexia in albino rats. Results were presented as Mean ± SEM by using SPSS 12.0. Leaves and fruit extracts of Prosopis cineraria decreases hyperpyrexia to a significant level when these results were compared to standard control. The leaves extract shows significant effects in lowering the rectal temperature of rats than fruits extract at 200mg/kg while at dose of 300 mg/kg both leaves and fruit extract reduce pyrexia significantly. The phytochemical evaluation shows that both parts of plant contain saponins, tannins, pholobatannins, flavanoids, alkaloids, steroids and cardiac glycosides. Results indicate that ethanolic leaves and fruit extract of Prosopis cineraria possess significant antipyretic activity at different doses which establishes scientific basis for its traditional uses i.e. in rheumatism. Keywords: Prosopis cineraria, Pyrexia, Paracetamol, brewer’s-yeast, albino rat

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Evaluation of Postoperative complaints and satisfaction status of patients after undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a teaching hospital of Pakistan

This study was performed to evaluate the complaints of patients during first 24 postoperative hours and the satisfaction status of patients after undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in surgical units of Bahawal Victoria Hospital. Methodologically this prospective cross-sectional study was performed using a structured questionnaire containing 10-items, for a period of 6 months (Nov 2013-Apr 2014). Subjects were selected via convenience sampling technique and IBM SPSS® (v. 21) was used for statistical analysis. In total n=127 patients undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy during this study period. Male to female ratio was 1:3.70. Mean age of patients was 44.49 years (±15. 33). 86.61% patients were below 60 years of age. Every patient was suffering from mean 2.09 complaints. Reported complaints were abdominal pain (32.71%), shoulder pain (24.06%), headache (18.80%) and fatigue (24.40%). A p-value of less than 0.05 was observed for pain complaints between gender variables. Satisfaction scale revealed that 64.6% of patients were satisfied from behavior of health professionals and 75.6% were satisfied with the treatment provided. However, 70.9% patients were unsatisfied from hospital facilities. Though LC is an advanced procedure still numerous patients were suffering from different unprivileged postoperative complaints. In western countries LC is performed as an ambulatory procedure, but still being practiced as an inpatient procedure in Pakistan. More research by multidisciplinary team on multimodal pain management is required for making cost-effective interventions that will decrease pain complaints and escalate the satisfaction status of patients. Keywords: Cholelithiasis, Laparoscopic, Cholecystectomy, Pain, Shoulder Pain, Postoperative Pain, Patient Satisfactio

Polymeric emulgel carrying Cinnamomum tamala extract: promising delivery system for potential topical applications

Currently, the use of natural compounds obtained from plants tremendously increased due to their promising therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to formulate a stable emulgel formulation loaded with Cinnamomum tamala (CT) extract. The antioxidant activity of plant extract was determined by DPPH inhibition assay. The extract was successfully loaded into an emulgels using different concentrations of carbopol-940, liquid paraffin, emulsifying agents and preservatives. Preliminary stability study was performed of 17 CT emulgel formulations at accelerated temperature of 50 °C for 2-months. Organoleptic evaluation, centrifugation, globule size, pH, electrical conductivity and rheological studies were performed for a period of 90-days at different temperature including 8, 25, 40 and 40 °C ±75% RH. The CT extract showed promising antioxidant activity of about 81%. On the other hand, the CT loaded emulgel formulation displayed high physical stability at all tested conditions of temperature and time. However, slight decrease in pH and minimum increase in conductivity was observed at 40 and 40 °C±75% RH. The rheological examination of CT emulgel indicated the flow index values of all the samples kept at different temperatures were less than 1, demonstrated non-newtonian and pseudo-plastic nature of CT emulgel. Taken together, the CT emulgel formulation has been evinced to be an excellent addition in the field of topical formulations

Assessment of Physical Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Polysiloxane Polyalkyl Polyether Copolymer-Based Creams

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the changes on physical stability (color, creaming, liquefaction, pH, conductivity, centrifugation, viscosity and rheological parameters) by non-ionic surfactant polysiloxane polyalkyl polyether copolymer based creams following inclusion of plant extract containing phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of the plant extract alone and after addition in the cream was assessed using the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Physical stability was assessed by submitting the creams to storage at 8°C, 25°C, 40°C, and at 40°C with 70% RH (relative humidity) for a period of two months. Physical characteristics of polysiloxane polyalkyl polyether copolymer based creams, that is, color, creaming, liquefaction, centrifugation and pH were noted at various intervals for 2 months. The viscosities and rheological behavior of creams were determined using a rotational rheometer. Data were analyzed by using Brookfield Software Rheocalc version (2.6) with IPC Paste and Power Law (PL) math models. Cream with plant extract showed pseudo plastic behaviour with decreasing on viscosity. The Acacia nilotica (AN) extract alone and the cream containing this extract showed great antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. Power Law and IPC analysis were found to fit all the rheograms

<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Cream Containing <i>Acacia </i>Bark Extract Significantly Reduces Skin Sebum Content in Healthy Volunteers</span>

678-681This study presents sebum reduction in volunteers’ cheeks when applied a cream containing Acacia bark extract analyzed by non-invasive instrument Sebumeter. A cream containing Acacia nilotica bark extract (3%) versus base was applied in single blinded study twice daily to the cheeks for a period of 12 weeks. The instrumental measurements were carried out with Sebumeter under a draught-free room, with controlled temperature (18.0–20.6°C) and relative humidity (55–65%). Active cream showed a significant decrease in skin sebum and base showed insignificant results when applied ANOVA. This study indicates that incorporation of Acacia bark extract in creams significantly reduces sebum secretion in vivo and can be used for the topical treatment of oily skin in humans