Determination of hydrophile-lipophile balance (hlb) of bovine mucin for possible emulsifying properties

The Hydrophile-Lipophile balance (HLB) of bovine mucin was evaluated. Mucin was processed fromthe small intestine of freshly saughtered cow via precipitation wth chilled acetone, air-drying andpulverization Series of emulsion were formed with bovine mucin and paraffin oil, in varying ratios,the most stable emulsion with the least creaming level was found to be mucin-oil ratio of 19, aftera period of 7 days and the HLB value of mucin calculated according to standard methods. The HLB value of mucin was 8.4. These HLB value fell within the range of 8 – 18, that is characteristcs o oil-in-water (o/w) emulgents.Keywords: Hydrophile-Lipophile balance, Bovine mucin, Emulsifying propertie

Evaluation of the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of cleistopholis patens (fam. Annonaceae) on candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients

Background: Candida species (sp) is implicated in causing opportunistic disseminated mycotic  complications in stage II HIV patients. Cleistopholis patens is a West African medicinal tree reported to have significant antifungal activity against C. albicans.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of  Cleistopholis patens against Candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients.Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract and Nystatin®® was determined by agar dilution method. The killing rate studies of the plant extract and Nystatin® were also determined.Results: The extract had activity against all Candida isolates, with the MIC against the five isolates ranging from 6.0 - 9.8 mg/ml. Nystatin® also demonstrated plausible activity against the isolates with MICs ranging from 0.3125 – 25 mg/ml. Candida albicans strain 2 was the most sensitive to both extract and Nystatin® with MIC values of 6 and 0.3125 mg/ml respectively. Candida krusei was the least  sensitive with MIC values of 9.8 and 25 mg/ml for the extract and Nystatin® respectively. The killing rate values for the extract ranged from -0.029 to -0.091 min-1 and that of Nystatin® ranged from -0.076 to –0.11216 min-1.Conclusions: The results indicate that the methanolic extract of Cleistopholis patens is a promising clinical alternative besides Nystatin® in the treatment of infections caused by Candida species in stage II HIV patients.Keywords: Anti-candidal activity, Cleistopholis patens, Candida, HIV Patients

In vitro Evaluation of PEGylated-Mucin Matrix as Carrier for Oral Delivery of Metformin Hydrochloride

Purpose: To formulate metformin hydrochloride-loaded PEGylated-mucin microparticles and evaluate their in vitro properties.Method: Three different formulations of metformin hydrochloride (MTH) (PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEGM3) were prepared using PEGylation method. PEG-8000 and snail mucin, in a ratio of 1:3, were PEGylated together using solvent interaction principle. Loading of MTH into the matrix was by diffusion method and the microparticles characterized for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, stability and in vitro release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4).Results: Maximum yield and encapsulation were 97 and 87 % respectively. Zeta potential was -37.7, - 42.3 and -46.2 mV for PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEG-M3 with a corresponding polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.320, 0.374 and 0.398, respectively. Particles size was 85, 115, and 145 μm for PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEG-M3, respectively, and they showed a unimodal distribution. Drug release was biphasic and exhibited controlled release pattern with maximum release of 92 % in 18 h compared to 81 % in 6 h for the conventional formulation.Conclusion: Extended release metformin hydrochloride formulations were successfully developed using PEGylated mucin matrices.Keywords: Drug delivery, Extended release, Polyethylene glycol, Mucin PEGylation, Encapsulation, Zeta potential, Polydispersity inde

In Vitro Study of Release of Metronidazole Tablets Prepared from Okra Gum, Gelatin Gum and their Admixture

The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of okra gum to release it\'s medicament in bioadhesive polymer-based drug delivery system. Bioadhesive studies using the tensiometer were done to evaluate its bioadhesivenes. Conventional tablets were made with okra gum as binder and in-vitro release studies carried out using gelatin as a standard reference. Okra gum was seen to have a comparable result with gelatin in term of the bioadhesive property the amount of drug released. Keywords: Bioadhesive, Okra gum, Gelatin gum, Metronidazole, Release studiesBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 339-34

In-vitro evaluation of bioadhesive and release properties of thiamine hydrochloride formulation from Gelatin, Gellan as their admixtures

This study was aimed at determining the effect of gelatin on the bioadhesive strength and release properties of gelatin gum. Bioadhesive strength determination was carried out using tensiometric methods. Thiamine tablets was prepared by wet granulation method and used for the study. Tablets properties evaluated include: weight uniformity, friability, disintegration time test and release studies in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The study showed that the gelatin alone had the highest bioadhesive strength, while gellan had the least. Admixture of both gelatin and gellan showed values that were intermediate to those obtained for the two polymers differently. The release study showed a better release with batch A (1:1) highest in SIF, followed by F (0:1), and the reverse was the case in SGF

Alzheimer's disease pathology explains association between dementia with Lewy bodies and APOE-ε4/TOMM40 long poly-T repeat allele variants.

Introduction: The role of TOMM40-APOE 19q13.3 region variants is well documented in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but remains contentious in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Methods: We dissected genetic profiles within the TOMM40-APOE region in 451 individuals from four European brain banks, including DLB and PDD cases with/without neuropathological evidence of AD-related pathology and healthy controls. Results: TOMM40-L/APOE-ε4 alleles were associated with DLB (OR TOMM40 -L = 3.61; P value = 3.23 × 10-9; OR APOE -ε4 = 3.75; P value = 4.90 × 10-10) and earlier age at onset of DLB (HR TOMM40 -L = 1.33, P value = .031; HR APOE -ε4 = 1.46, P value = .004), but not with PDD. The TOMM40-L/APOE-ε4 effect was most pronounced in DLB individuals with concomitant AD pathology (OR TOMM40 -L = 4.40, P value = 1.15 × 10-6; OR APOE -ε4 = 5.65, P value = 2.97 × 10-8) but was not significant in DLB without AD. Meta-analyses combining all APOE-ε4 data in DLB confirmed our findings (ORDLB = 2.93, P value = 3.78 × 10-99; ORDLB+AD = 5.36, P value = 1.56 × 10-47). Discussion: APOE-ε4/TOMM40-L alleles increase susceptibility and risk of earlier DLB onset, an effect explained by concomitant AD-related pathology. These findings have important implications in future drug discovery and development efforts in DLB

The 2022 symposium on dementia and brain aging in low- and middle-income countries: Highlights on research, diagnosis, care, and impact

\ua9 2024 The Authors. Alzheimer\u27s & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer\u27s Association.Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected to affect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costs occur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focusing on HICs. This imbalance necessitates LMIC-focused research to ensure that characterization of dementia accurately reflects the involvement and specificities of diverse populations. Development of effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for dementia in LMICs requires targeted, personalized, and harmonized efforts. Our article represents timely discussions at the 2022 Symposium on Dementia and Brain Aging in LMICs that identified the foremost opportunities to advance dementia research, differential diagnosis, use of neuropsychometric tools, awareness, and treatment options. We highlight key topics discussed at the meeting and provide future recommendations to foster a more equitable landscape for dementia prevention, diagnosis, care, policy, and management in LMICs. Highlights: Two-thirds of persons with dementia live in LMICs, yet research and costs are skewed toward HICs. LMICs expect dementia prevalence to more than double, accompanied by socioeconomic disparities. The 2022 Symposium on Dementia in LMICs addressed advances in research, diagnosis, prevention, and policy. The Nairobi Declaration urges global action to enhance dementia outcomes in LMICs

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided