Phytic acid: How far have we come?

Phytic acid is a major storage form of phosphorous. Obvious reasons are there to favor its reduced concentration in organisms. However, certain justifications can also be settled, in order to support its increased natural concentration. In both cases, there are questions to be answered to favor one side while alleviating the harm of neglecting the other. This article reviews our current state of understanding of phytic acid - focusing on the topics of current and future interests in the field

Tuberculosis chemotherapy: current drug delivery approaches

Tuberculosis is a leading killer of young adults worldwide and the global scourge of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is reaching epidemic proportions. It is endemic in most developing countries and resurgent in developed and developing countries with high rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This article reviews the current situation in terms of drug delivery approaches for tuberculosis chemotherapy. A number of novel implant-, microparticulate-, and various other carrier-based drug delivery systems incorporating the principal anti-tuberculosis agents have been fabricated that either target the site of tuberculosis infection or reduce the dosing frequency with the aim of improving patient outcomes. These developments in drug delivery represent attractive options with significant merit, however, there is a requisite to manufacture an oral system, which directly addresses issues of unacceptable rifampicin bioavailability in fixed-dose combinations. This is fostered by the need to deliver medications to patients more efficiently and with fewer side effects, especially in developing countries. The fabrication of a polymeric once-daily oral multiparticulate fixed-dose combination of the principal anti-tuberculosis drugs, which attains segregated delivery of rifampicin and isoniazid for improved rifampicin bioavailability, could be a step in the right direction in addressing issues of treatment failure due to patient non-compliance

Analysis of chemical constituents and antinociceptive potential of essential oil of <it>Teucrium Stocksianum</it> bioss collected from the North West of Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Medicinal plants are used for the treatment of different diseases in almost all cultures. Teucrium species grow wildly at different geographical locations around the world. <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> is used in folk medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, cough, jaundice and abdominal pain. Scientific study on <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> shows that it possesses anthelmintic, cytotoxic and antispasmodic activity. The aim of our present study is to identify the chemical composition and antinociceptive potential of the essential oil extracted from <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> bioss.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Essential oil (EO) from the aerial parts of <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> were extracted by hydrodistillation process. The qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oil was determined with Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometer. Antinociceptive activity was determined by acetic acid induced writhing method. Percent inhibition of writhes of the test concentration was determined by comparing it with that of control. Tween-80 emulsion 2.5% (5 ml/kg b.w) was used as a control while Diclofenic sodium 50 mg/kg (b.w) was used as a standard drug.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The chromatogram of the essential oil of <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> shows differences both qualitatively and quantatively from essential oil composition reported in other countries. Hydrodistillation of <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> yielded 0.4% (v/w), pale yellowish oil on dry basis. A total of 26 chemicals were identified by GC-MS accounting for 90.28% of the oil. The major components of essential oil were δ-cadinene (12.92%), α-pinene (10.3%), myrcene (8.64%), β-caryophyllene (8.23%), germacrene D (5.18%) and limonene (2.36%). Essential oil of <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> has shown outstanding antinociceptive activity. It has been observed that increase in percent writhe inhibition (PWI) occurred from 20-80 mg/kg (b.w) and maximum writhe inhibition has been noted at a concentration of 80 mg/kg (b.w), but PWI decreased at 160 mg/kg, which may be due to some toxic effect of higher dose. ED₅₀ value for <it>Teucrium stocksianum</it> was calculated as 31.5 ± 1.72415 mg/kg (b.w).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that there is a lot of variation in the composition of essential oil of <it>Teucrium stocksianum boiss,</it> which may be due to different climatic and experimental conditions. Secondly, the essential oil possesses strong antinociceptive activity and could be used in analgesic preparations especially for topical use.</p