Programmed delivery of verapamil hydrochloride from tablet in a capsule device

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver sistema de liberação programada de cloridrato de verapamil capaz de liberação imediata do fármaco após 6 h de intervalo de tempo usando polímeros hidrofílicos. O corpo da cápsula foi impermeabilizado por tratamento de vapor de formaldeído, enquanto a tampa não foi submetida ao tratamento. Dois comprimidos foram inseridos na cápsula (comprimidos em cápsula) seguido de mistura de bicarbonato de sódio: ácido cítrico e lactose, utilizados como excipientes. O alginato de sódio, a quitosana, o HPMC K15 e o complexo quitosana:alginato de sódio foram utilizados para modular a razão de liberação do fármaco. A combinação entre o HPMC K15 e o ajuste da proporção do complexo quitosana:alginato de sódio permitiu a liberação do fármaco após 6 h. O efeito dos excipientes na liberação do fármaco foi também avaliado. Verificou-se que o tempo de latência foi reduzido na presença de maior quantidade de lactose, enquanto o menor tempo foi observado empregando maior concentração da mistura efervescente.The aim of the present work was to develop a programmed drug delivery system which would be able to release the drug after 6 h of lag time by use of hydrophilic polymers. The capsule body was made impermeable by use of formaldehyde vapor treatment, while the cap was untreated. The capsule was filled with two layered tablets (tablet-in-capsule), followed by a sodium bicarbonate:citric acid mixture (SBCM) and lactose as bulking agent. Sodium alginate, chitosan, HPMC K15 and chitosan:sodium alginate complex (CSAC) were used as the rate modulating layer. Through combined use of HPMC K15 and adjusting the ratio of CSAC, the desired lag time of 6 h was obtained. The effect of the bulking agents on the lag time were also studied and it was found that the lag time was decreased with higher amounts of lactose, and delayed dissolution and decreased lag time was observed at higher amount of effervescent mixture

Hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extract of Urtica parviflora roxb. in normoglycemic rats

In the present study aqueous and ethanolic extract of leaves of Urtica parviflora were evaluated for hypoglycemic effect in normal rats using both 18 hr fasted rat model and oral glucose tolerance test. The aqueous extract of leaves showed a good hypoglycemic response in both the models, while ethanolic extract exhibited very week but insignificant effect, only in 18 hr fasted rat model. The aqueous extract was further tested for effect on intestinal glucose absorption. The amount of glucose absorbed in a segment of jejunum in situ was 13±0.75 mg in presence of aqueous extract vs. vs. 9.05±0.68 mg in control rats during 2 h (P<0.05). Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, polysaccharides, tannins, saponins, glycosides and flavonoids. The results indicate that aqueous extract possess significant hypoglycemic activity which may be attributed to, in part by reduction of intestinal glucose absorption by the abovementioned chemical constituents.Keywords: Hypoglycemic activity, Urtica parviflora, Oral glucose tolerance tes

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: A Rare Case Report

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is an uncommon infiltrative pulmonary disease characterized by deposition of microliths in the alveoli. We present the case of a young adult with complaints of shortness of breath on exertion. Chest radiograph showed innumerable small, dense nodules, diffusely involving both the lungs - predominantly in the lower zones. High-resolution CT scan illustrated widespread intra-alveolar microliths, diffuse ground-glass attenuation areas, septal thickening, and black pleural lines - predominantly in the basal regions. Transbronchial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis

New Xanthone from the roots of <i>Swertia cordata</i> (G. Don) Clarke

<p>The chloroform extract of <i>Swertia cordata</i> (G. Don) roots was subjected to column chromatography, afforded two (one new and one known) xanthones. Both the compounds were isolated for the first time from <i>S. cordata</i>. The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of melting point,1D (¹H NMR & ¹³C NMR) and 2D (¹H ¹H COSY, HSQC & HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high-resolution mass spectrometry.</p