Norfloxacin and metronidazole topical formulations for effective treatment of bacterial infections and burn wounds.

INTRODUCTION: Our various previous findings have shown the suitability of norfloxacin in the treatment of bacterial infections and burn wounds in alone as well as in combination with Curcuma longa in various topical (ointments, gels, and creams) and transdermal drug delivery systems. AIMS AND METHODS: Keeping these facts in consideration, we have made an another attempt to prepare semisolid formulations containing 1% w/w of norfloxacin and metronidazole with different bases like Carbopol, polyethylene glycol, and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose for effective treatment of bacterial infections and burn wounds. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physicochemical parameters, in vitro drug release, antimicrobial activity, and burn wound healing properties. RESULTS: The prepared formulations were compared with Silver Sulfadiazine cream 1%, USP. Antimicrobial activity of norfloxacin semisolid formulations was found to be equally effective against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in comparison to a marketed formulation of Silver Sulfadiazine 1% cream, USP. Based on the burn wound healing property, the prepared norfloxacin semisolid formulation was found to be in good agreement with marketed Silver Sulfadiazine 1% cream, USP. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest formulations containing norfloxacin and metronidazole may also prove as an effective alternative for existing remedies in the treatment of bacterial infections and burn wounds

Anti-malarial activity of Holarrhena antidysenterica and Viola canescens, plants traditionally used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing number of multidrug-resistant <it>Plasmodium </it>strains warrants exploration of new anti-malarials. Medicinal plant research has become more important, particularly after the development of Chinese anti-malarial drug artemisnin from <it>Artemisia annua</it>. The present study shows evaluation of anti-malarial effects of two plants commonly used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya, in order to discover the herbal-based medicine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>In vitro </it>anti-plasmodial sensitivity of plant extracts was assessed using schizont maturation and parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxic activities of the examined extracts were determined on L-6 cells of rat skeletal muscle myoblast. The 4-day test for anti-malarial activity against a chloroquine sensitive <it>Plasmodium berghei </it>NK65 strain in Swiss albino mice was used for monitoring <it>in vivo </it>activity of plant extracts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chloroform extract of <it>H. antidysenterica </it>(HA-2) and petroleum ether extract of <it>V. canescens </it>(VC-1) plants significantly reduced parasitaemia in <it>P. berghei </it>infected mice. The extract HA-2 showed <it>in vitro </it>anti-plasmodial activity with its IC₅₀value 5.5 μg/ml using pLDH assay and ED₅₀value 18.29 mg/kg in <it>P. berghei </it>infected Swiss albino mice. Similarly petroleum ether extract of <it>V. canescens </it>(VC-1) showed <it>in vitro </it>anti-plasmodial activity with its IC₅₀value 2.76 μg/ml using pLDH assay and ED₅₀15.8 mg/kg in <it>P. berghei </it>infected mice. The extracts coded as HA-2 at 30 mg/kg and VC-1 at 20 mg/kg exhibited parasite inhibition in mice: 73.2% and 63.0% respectively. Of these two plant extracts, petroleum ether extract of <it>V. canescens </it>was found slightly cytotoxic.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present investigation reflects the use of these traditional medicinal plants against malaria and these plants may work as potential source in the development of variety of herbal formulations for the treatment of malaria.</p

Evidence-Based Guidelines for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Summary of WHO Recommendations

Summary Points\u2022The treatment gap for mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders is more than 75% in many low- and middle-income countries.\u2022In order to reduce the gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a model intervention guide within its Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).\u2022The model intervention guide provides evidence-based recommendations developed with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.\u2022This article presents the management recommendations for MNS disorders, with a link to the World Health Organization website where all the background material may be accessed.\u2022To our knowledge, this is a first exercise involving such an extensive and systematic evaluation of evidence in this area

Impact of sterilization methods on electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Tissue engineering is a growing area within the regenerative medicine. The electrospun scaffolds are the most promising devices for translating engineered tissues into patients. However, in order to be used in clinical practice, one of the important fundamental aspects of the scaffold is to be sterile keeping the fact of patient safety in mind. Due to the various properties of electrospun fibers, such as high porosity and surface area, the effects of sterilization could have different outcomes than those observed in ordinary medical devices. Therefore, the present article provides an insight into the various sterilization methods that have been applied to electrospun scaffolds and their effects on scaffolds morphology, hydrophilicity, other physico-chemical and mechanical properties and the performance of seeded cells after sterilization. In conclusion, the information provided in the review will help all scientists involved in this interdisciplinary field to understand and apply the knowledge in selection of appropriate sterilization method for the electrospun scaffolds

The microbial quality aspects and decontamination approaches for the herbal medicinal plants and products: An in-depth review

© 2016 Bentham Science Publishers. Background: The present review article provides an overview of the published literature concerning microbial quality of medicinal plants and products and their decontamination methods. It is important to analyze different aspects regarding the cultivation, growing, harvesting, storage, manufacturing, and decontamination of medicinal plant products. Herbal medicinal plants bear a massive microbial load leading to contamination and mycotoxin, which needs to be considered, and properly controlled using suitable sterilization and decontamination methods. Methods: The main focus of this review is on the definition, advantages, disadvantages and applications of decontamination methods, particularly to show that one must consider the characteristics of the initial sample to be decontaminated. Results: The effects of various methods (ozone, plasma, irradiation) on medicinal herbs and products treated for microbiological decontamination are dependent on factors related to microbial load (i.e., nature and amount of initial contamination), herb/product matrix (i.e., complexity of chemical composition, physical state - solid or liquid) and treatment conditions (i.e., time, irradiation dose, absence or presence of oxygen). In addition, it is important to accept some loss of the chemical compounds, while decreasing microbial load to acceptable limits according to official herbal pharmacopoeias and literature, thus ensuring a final product with quality, safety and therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion: The conclusion, which comes from this contribution, is that herbal medicine has more contaminants than a chemically welldefined drug, thus, good manufacturing practices should be followed

Evaluating the Potential, Applicability, and Effectiveness of Ozone Sterilization Process for Medical Devices

© 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Purpose: Ozone (O3) can be considered the most potent natural germicide against microorganisms (in vegetative and spore forms) with high efficiency and speed, because of its highly oxidizing activity. Despite this, there are a few studies describing the application of ozone as a sterilizing agent of medical devices. The aim of this communication was to describe the development and validation of a sterilization cycle applied to medical devices. Methods: The sterilization process was challenged using Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 spores, which have shown great resistance. The sterilizing effect of ozone was measured using carriers inoculated with 106 CFU/mL spores, introduced into a 3-mL syringe and lumens of tubes of different sizes and diameters simulating hospital medical products, which have undergone a half-cycle or complete cycle. Results: The results of sterilization process studied in active vegetative form of microorganisms showed that the ozone sterilization was effective with a bioburden between 105 to 107 CFU/mL with one pulse sterilizing action. The validation of the process was confirmed by the satisfactory results for the half-cycle, corresponding to a treatment with four pulses allowed sterilizing the material with bioburdens < 106 CFU/mL spores which indicate an appropriate sterility assurance level. Conclusion: The results showed that the ozone may be considered as effective and promising alternative for sterilization of thermosensitive materials and medical devices

Hydrogel based drug delivery systems: A review with special emphasis on challenges associated with decontamination of hydrogels and biomaterials

© 2017 Bentham Science Publishers. Background: Many researches involving the development of new techniques and biomaterials to formulate a suitable drug delivery system and tissue engineering have been conducted. The majority of published literature from these researches emphasizes the production and materials characterization. The safety aspect of hydrogels and biomaterials is a major constraint in their biological applications. Objective: The present review article aimed to summarize various literatures that encompass the difficulties encountered with decontamination and sterilization methods in the preparations of biomaterials and especially hydrogels for biological applications. Method: We searched for original and review articles from various indexed journals reporting applications of hydrogels and biomaterials in drug delivery systems and the importance of decontamination process for hydrogel containing preparations based on various patents evidences. Results: Despite the vast literature available, limited information regarding the decontamination and sterilization processes related to hydrogels and biomaterials is reported. Sterilization processes to hydrogels are not yet fully explored. Researchers working on hydrogel based systems can consider decontamination of such biomaterial as an important tool to allow for commercialization within the chemical, herbal or pharmaceutical industries. Conclusion: Unfortunately, till date, limited papers are available which reported the challenges associated with decontamination methods to prepare hydrogels and biomaterials for biological applications. In conclusion, each case of biomaterial requires individual consideration to decontamination and/or sterilization. This must be submitted to a specific method, but more than one technique can be involved. Physicochemical and biological alterations must be avoided and evaluated by the appropriate assays method. Furthermore, it is also important to consider that each method must be validated depending upon the process variables