PROTECTIVE ROLE OF POMEGRANATE JUICE BLENDED WITH WHEATGRASS AND LEMON EXTRACTS FOR RELIEVE CARBOHYDRATE INTOLERANCE

Characteristics and protective effect of pomegranate juice (PJ), lemon juice (LJ), wheatgrass juice (WGJ) and their functional blends were evaluated. Total phenolics (TP), flavonoids (TF) content as well as free radical scavenging activity were determined. Meanwhile, total acidity, pH values were determined and the organoleptic attributes were evaluated. Also, the protective effect of functional blending juice against carbohydrate intolerance in patients was investigated by hydrogen breath test.  The results revealed that the WGJ are low acidic in nature. While, the PJ and LJ showed high acidity which raised the total acidity in the functional blending juice. PJ had high content of total phenolics 17.45 mg/ml followed by 5.85 mg/ml for functional blending juice. While, the LJ showed high acidity which raised the total acidity in the in the functional blending juice. PJ had high content of total phenolics 17.45 mg/ml followed by 13.25 mg/ml for functional blending juice. While, significant increase in the TF 22.15 mg/ml in the wheatgrass juice followed by functional blending juice 5.70 mg/ml significant increase in the TF 25.25 mg /ml in the functional blending juice followed by 22.15 mg/ml for wheatgrass juice. Whereas, the results showed that functional blending juice recorded the highest antioxidant activity, which revealed great free radical scavenging activity 98.16%. Depending on sensory evaluation, the proportions of fourth blend WGJ: PJ: LJ in ratio 20:70:10 was most preferred for consumption by the panelists compared to other blending ratios.  After one month for patients group treated by functional blending juice at blinds ratio (WGJ 20: PJ 70: LJ 10), showed a significant decrease in the concentration of the hydrogen level in the exhalation air to reach a significant level of the control patients group, indicating the ability of the active compounds in functional blending juice to relieve the problems of carbohydrate intolerance. Accordingly, healthy promoting beverages can be produced by addition blending of pomegranate juice, lemon juice and wheatgrass juice

Nanoethosomes for transdermal delivery of tropisetron HCl: multi-factorial predictive modeling, characterization, and <i>ex vivo</i> skin permeation

<p><b>Objective:</b> The aim of the present work is to exclusively optimize and model the effect of phospholipid type either egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) or soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), together with other formulation variables, on the development of nano-ethosomal systems for transdermal delivery of a water-soluble antiemetic drug. Tropisetron HCl (TRO) is available as hard gelatin capsules and IV injections. The transdermal delivery of TRO is considered as a novel alternative route supposing to improve BAV as well as patient convenience.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> TRO-loaded ethanolic vesicular systems were prepared by hot technique. The effect of formulation variables were optimized through a response surface methodology using 3 × 2²-level full factorial design. The concentrations of both PC (A) and ethanol (B) and PC type (C) were the factors, while entrapment efficiency (<i>Y</i>₁), vesicle size (<i>Y</i>₂), polydispersity index (<i>Y</i>₃), and zeta potential (<i>Y</i>₄) were the responses. The drug permeation across rat skin from selected formulae was studied. Particle morphology, drug–excipient interactions, and vesicle stability were also investigated.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The results proved the critical role of all formulation variables on ethosomal characteristics. The suggested models for all responses showed good predictability. Only the concentration of phospholipid, irrespective to PC type, had a significant effect on the transdermal flux (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The ethosomal vesicles were unilamellar with a nearly spherical shape. EPC-based ethosomes proved good stability.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The study suggests the applicability of statistical modeling as a promising tool for prediction of ethosomal characteristics. The ethanolic vesicles were considered as novel potential nanocarriers for accentuated transdermal TRO delivery.</p