Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Diarrhoeal Activities of a Steroidal Indoxyl

The anti-inflammatory and antidiarrhoeal activities of 3β-Hydroxy-16, 17-seco-16-nor-5-androsten-15-(2-indoxyliden)-17-oic acid (I) are reported. After intraperitoneal administration, compound (I) gave an ED50 of 9.5 mg/kg using the carrageenan induced rat paw oedema anti-inflammatory assay method. Indomethacin had an ED50 of 5.8 mg/kg in this assay. Compound (I) and indomethacin caused comparable and dose-dependent varying degrees of delay in diarrhoea and also significantly reduced net colonic water flux into the colon of rats induced by castor oil. Key words: Steroidal Indoxyl, Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiarrhoeal. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.6(2) 2003: 26-2

In Vitro Drug Release Studies of Metronidazole Topical Formulations Through Cellulose Membrane

Three different topical formulations namely gel, cream and ointment, each containing 1% w/w metronidazole, were prepared and in vitro permeation studies carried out. The permeation of metronidazole from each of the topical formulation was determined using dialyzing cellulose membrane in a dissolution tester. Glycerin, a permeation enhancer, was incorporated in varying concentrations and the amount of permeated metronidazole analysed using high performance liquid chromatography. The drug release was found to be greatest in the gel formulation followed by cream and ointment preparations in that order. Incorporation of glycerine enhanced drug release profile.Key words: Metronidazole formulation, in vitro studies, permeation, glycerin

Quality Performance of Drugs Analyzed in the Drug Analysis and Research Unit (DARU) during the Period 2006-2010

During the period 2006-2010, the Drug Analysis and Research Unit analyzed 583 samples. The samples comprised 50.6% local and 49.4% imported products. Samples were subjected to compendial or in-house specifications. The failure rate was 12.2% for local products and 14.2% for imports.  Antibacterial products recorded the highest failure rate (21.6%) while  anticancers and drugs acting on the gastrointestinal, respiratory and  reproductive systems all passed in the tests performed. The failure rate for antiprotozoals, antimalarials, antifungals, anthelminthics and analgesics was 14.3%, 12.5%, 11.8%, 8.9% and 11.5%, respectively.Key words: DARU, drug product, assay, dissolution, antimicrobial, antimalaria

Quality of Antimalarial Drugs Analysed in the National Quality Control Laboratory during the Period 2002–2005

During the period 2002–2005, the National Quality Control Laboratory analysed 229 samples of antimalarial drugs. In 2002, 42% of these products failed to comply with compendial specifications, with the sulfadoxine/ sulfamethoxypyrazine and pyrimethamine combination products forming 39% of the total failures. The respective percentages were 46% and 84% for 2003 and 36% and 72% for 2004. By May 2005, the only failures reported were of sulfadoxine/sulfamethoxypyrazine and pyrimethamine combination products. Until recently, sulfadoxine/sulfamethoxypyrazine and pyrimethamine combination products were the first-line malaria treatment regimen in Kenya. These analytical results raise concerns that the reported therapeutic failures associated with the use of these products could possibly be due to the administration of sub-standard sulfadoxine/sulfamethoxypyrazine and pyrimethamine combination products to patients. The same could be true of artemisinin based combinations which are the current first-line treatment regimen if the observed trend continues Keywords: Antimalarials, dissolution, assay, quality control testsEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 10 (3) 2007: pp. 59-6