Enhancement of Human Cheek Skin Texture by Acacia Nilotica Bark Extract Cream

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a topical application of a cream formulation containing extract of Acacia nilotica bark extract on human cheek skin texture.Methods: A cream containing 3 % concentrated extract of Acacia nilotica bark was developed by entrapping the extract in the internal aqueous phase of the cream having strong antioxidant activity. A similar cream but without the extract was also prepared. Each of the formulations was applied to the cheeks of 11 human volunteers for a period of three months. Both cream formulations were assessed, using Visioscan VC 98, for various parameters including texture parameters (energy, contrast and variance) as well as for skin roughness (Ser), skin scaliness (SEsc), skin smoothness (SEsm) and skin wrinkles (Sew).Results: Unlike the cream base, the extract cream exhibited steady, significant improvement in skin parameters over the 3-month period of application. Images showed visible improvement of the overall skin appearance and reduction of fine lines by the extract cream. Furthermore, skin texture (variance and contrast) and SELS (SEr, SEsc, SEsm and SEw) parameters showed significant decline (p < 0.05) and the texture parameter of energy showed significant increase (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the cream containing 3 % Acacia nilotica bark extract possesses anti-aging effect and improves skin surface appearance..Keywords: Acacia nilotica, Cream, Visioscan VC 98, Skin texture, Anti-agin

Pharmacokinetic Studies on Metoprolol - Eudragit Matrix Tablets and Bioequivalence Consideration with Mepressor®

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of of a developed metoprolol and a reference standard (Mepressor®).Methods: Metoprolol tartrate-loaded Eudragit® FS microparticles were formulated and compressed into tablets. The tablets were tested for their physicochemical properties according to United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) criteria. In vivo studies of the formulations were carried out in 28 young healthy fasting male volunteers based on a randomized open label 4×4 crossover study design with a washout period of 7 days.Results: In vitro tests showed that the developed and reference standard of metoprolol tablets met compendia (USP) requirements. Zero order release of drug was observed from all the tablets. In vivo data demonstrated that there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in tmax, Cmax, MRT, AUC0−t, and AUC0–∞ between the reference and test (developed) formulations. However, the 90 % class interval for the mean ratios of the ln-transformed Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-α for the reference, T1, T2, and T3 lied in the bioequivalence range (80 to 125 %) indicating bioequivalence between the compared formulations.                  Conclusion: It can be concluded from this single-dose study that the reference and test (developed) formulations met the predetermined criteria for bioequivalence in young healthy fasting male human subjects as the bioequivalence factor lie in the pre-determined limits for bioequivalence. Thus, the two formulations can be considered bioequivalent.Keywords: Metoprolol tartrate, Eudragit® FS, Microparticles, Bioavailability, Pharmacokinetics

Risk practices for animal and human anthrax in Bangladesh: an exploratory study

From August 2009 to October 2010, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research together investigated 14 outbreaks of anthrax which included 140 animal and 273 human cases in 14 anthrax-affected villages. Our investigation objectives were to explore the context in which these outbreaks occurred, including livestock rearing practices, human handling of sick and dead animals, and the anthrax vaccination program

Pharmacokinetic Studies on Metoprolol - Eudragit Matrix Tablets and Bioequivalence Consideration with Mepressor®

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of of a developed metoprolol and a reference standard (Mepressor®). Methods: Metoprolol tartrate-loaded Eudragit® FS microparticles were formulated and compressed into tablets. The tablets were tested for their physicochemical properties according to United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) criteria. In vivo studies of the formulations were carried out in 28 young healthy fasting male volunteers based on a randomized open label 4×4 crossover study design with a washout period of 7 days. Results: In vitro tests showed that the developed and reference standard of metoprolol tablets met compendia (USP) requirements. Zero order release of drug was observed from all the tablets. In vivo data demonstrated that there were significant (p <0.05) differences in tmax, Cmax, MRT, AUC0−t, and AUC0–∞ between the reference and test (developed) formulations. However, the 90 % class interval for the mean ratios of the ln-transformed Cmax, AUC0-tand AUC0-α for the reference, T1, T2, and T3 lied in the bioequivalence range (80 to 125 %) indicating bioequivalence between the compared formulations. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this single-dose study that the reference and test (developed) formulations met the predetermined criteria for bioequivalence in young healthy fasting male human subjects as the bioequivalence factor lie in the pre-determined limits for bioequivalence. Thus, the two formulations can be considered bioequivalent

Symptoms-Based Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Students of Bahawalpur Correlated with their Eating Habits

Purpose: To conduct a symptoms-based evaluation of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in university and colleges students of Bahawalpur- Pakistan and correlate the data with their eating habits.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was accomplished using a questionnaire for the assessment of IDA among 500 students enrolled in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur and two affiliated colleges in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Symptoms-based evaluation was carried out to obtain the results.Results: The results showed that 41.2 % (206 students) of the 500 students were anemic. The proportion of anemic females and males was 65.53 % (135) and 34.46 % (71), respectively. Of the 206 students, 96.11 % (198) were below the age of 25 years, 83.96 % (173) in official hostels, 52.42 % (108) belonged to families of average socioeconomic status, 77.18 % (159) suffer from short-term memory, and 47.08 % (97) were unaware of IDA. The most commonly observed symptoms were flattened brittle nails, dizziness, and fatigue after physical activity, 88.83 % (183); presence or absence of glosittis 87.37% (180); ringing in the ears, 84.46 % (174); headache, 62.62 % (129); frequent minor infections, 46.60 % (96); shortness of breath, 40.29 % (83); taste disturbance, 35.92 % (74); ice cravings, 22.33 % (46); and angular stomatitis 18.97 % (39).Conclusion: An unexpectedly large number of female students exhibit symptoms of IDA due to poor nourishment. Findings from this survey can be used in awareness programs to increase academic performance in young adults and to eliminate IDA.Keywords: Iron deficiency Anemia, Students, Eating habits, Awareness program

Skin depigmentation activity of Crocus sativus extract cream

Purpose: To determine the antioxidant activity of Crucus sativus extract and its effect on human skin using a non-invasive probe mexameter.Methods: The antioxidant activity of C. sativus extract was determined using DPPH method. Water in oil (w/o) topical cream of C. sativus extract (3 %) was formulated and compared with the base (cream without extract). Both creams (formulation and base) were applied to the cheeks of 10 healthy human volunteers for a period of 8 weeks. Melanin and erythema values of skin were measured with a mexameter.Results: The antioxidant activity of the extract was 81 %. Change in the levels of skin melanin and erythema was -24.04 ± 3.23 and -13.57 ± 2.28, respectively, indicating that unlike the base, the formulation containing Crocus sativus extract produced significant (p ≤ 0.05) depigmentation and anti erythemic effect on human skin.Conclusion: Application of the formulation containing 3 % C. sativus extract to human skin may be useful in the management of melanoma. However, further studies are still required to ascertain this.Keywords: Antioxidant, Crocus sativus, Cream, Skin, Melanin, Erythema, Depigmentatio

Penetration Enhancing Effect of Polysorbate 20 and 80 on the In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption of L-Ascorbic Acid

Purpose: To investigate the penetration enhancing effect of two polysorbates -polyoxyethylene 20 (POE-20) and polyoxyethylene 80 (POE-80) -on the in vitro percutaneous absorption of ascorbic acid (AA). Methods: For the permeation experiments, Franz diffusion cell covered with aluminum foil providing an effective diffusion area of 1.76 cm2 and hairless rabbit skin were used. A range of concentrations (1 - 5 %) of POE-20 and POE-80 was added to the ascorbic acid to determine their optimum enhancement concentration. Results: The cumulative amount of AA that diffused across the skin increased with increase in the concentration of the permeation enhancers. Without the enhancer, AA flux was 0.626 µg/cm2/h while mean permeability coefficient (Kp) was 2.09 × 10-6 cm/h. AA flux was 3.17 and 2.44 µg/cm2/h for POE-20and POE-80, respectively, while mean permeability coefficient was 10.6 × 10-6 and 8.14 × 10-6 Kp, cm/h. Maximum flux (3.16 µg/cm2/h) at POE-20 concentration of 5 % was obtained, with an enhancement ratio (ER) of 5.07 in relation to control (i.e., AA without enhancer). For POE-80 (5 %), maximum flux was 2.44µg/cm2/h with an ER value of 3.89, compared to control. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that POE-20 and POE-80 exerted a penetration enhancing effect on the percutaneous absorption of L-ascorbic acid (AA)

Drought inhibits early seedling establishment of Parkinsonia aculeata L. under low light intensity: a physiological approach

Seedling growth of the invasive weed Parkinsonia aculeata L. may occur during water shortage under dense canopy at low light intensity. Experiments performed under controlled conditions during 22 days showed that water stress inhibited growth and decreased water, osmotic and turgor potentials. Drought conditions reduced stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis but had no obvious impact on chlorophyll fluorescence or chlorophyll content. Maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was affected only after 22 days of stress. Despite the low light intensity, a precocious activation of the xanthophyll cycle allowed an efficient protection of PSII through non-radiative energy dissipation and a significant decrease of epoxidation state was observed already after 11 days of treatment. Water stress reduced photosynthesis mainly through stomatal closure but increased water use efficiency. Active osmotic adjustment was a late process observed after 15 days of treatment and proline over synthesis may account for it while sugar accumulation appeared as a consequence of growth inhibition. Malondialdehyde did not accumulate in stressed plants after day 11, suggesting a limited oxidative stress. However, a putative involvement of phenolic compounds in the management of stress-induced oxygen reactive species is hypothesized. Young seedlings of P. aculeata exposed to water stress in semi-arid areas under low light intensity may, to some extent, adopt physiological strategies allowing them to survive and contribute to the invader potential of this species. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrech