Controlled Release Formulation of Indomethacin Prepared With Bee Glue Extracts

Purpose: To prepare and evaluate new sustained release formulations of indomethacin based on extracts of propolis (bee glue).Methods: Standardization of propolis (bee glue) extracts was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determination of the values of fat and fixed oils. Several indomethacin capsule formulations (F1 - F18) containing varying amounts of chloroform (0.75 - 75 mg) and ethanol extracts (30 - 75 mg) of propolis were prepared. The dissolution rate of the formulations was evaluated by USP dissolution (rotating basket) method I and the release data subjected to various kinetic models. Probable interaction between the drug and propolis extracts was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Results: The results show that, although the release rate of formulations F1 - F7 did not show any significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to F18 as blank, the other formulations did. DSC results indicate that incorporation of propolis extract in the formulations lowered indomethacin melting point by between 5 and 30 ºC, indicating interaction between the drug and the waxy extract. Kinetic analysis of the in vitro release data of the formulations showed that the best-fit drug release model varied with the drug:propolis extract ratio of the formulations.Conclusion: Formulation F13 (with equal proportion of drug and bee glue extract) came out best from the dissolution test for indomethacin extended-release capsules as it exhibited zero order kinetics. This fpormulation is therefore suitable for further development as a matrix formulation for controlled release.Keywords: Propolis (bee glue), Indomethacin, Controlled release, Zero order kinetics, Waxy material

HPLC DETERMINATION OF PARTHENOLIDE AND APIGENIN CONTENTS VERSUS LABEL CLAIMS IN IRANIAN PRODUCTS

In this study parthenolide content of feverfew product (Tanamigraine capsule) and apigenin content of chamomile products (Chamomill drop, Kamisol solution, Prostatan drop, Prostatan tablet) were determined as effective compound by HPLC. Feverfew product was extracted by methanol/distilled de-ionized water (50: 50) and chamomile products by methanol. The HPLC operating conditions were C-18 reversed phase column (VP-ODS 250×4.6 mm, 5 mm), methanol/ distilled de-ionized water (60: 40) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 214 nm for parthenolide and 2% acetic acid: acetonitril with linear program 80 to 40 % of acetic acid 2% with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 275nm for apigenin. The amount of parthenolide and apigenin obtained in Tanamigraine capsules and chamomile products is 0.13- 016% and 0.04- 35% respectivel

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Induced by the Fungus Penicillium citrinum

Purpose: To evaluate a green process for the extracellular production of silver (Ag) nanoparticles synthesized and stabilized using Penicillium citrinum isolated from soil.Methods: The pure colonies of Penicillium citrinum were cultured in Czapek dox broth. The supernatant of the broth was examined for the ability to produce silver nanoparticles. The reactions were performed in a dark compartment at 28 oC. After 24 h, the synthesized silver nanoparticles were filtered through a membrane filter (0.45 ƒÊ) and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for particle size, shape and the presence of different functional groups in the nanoparticles.Results: The silver nanoparticles formed were fairly uniform in size with a spherical shape and a Zaverage diameter of 109 nm. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of amide linkage groups which were also found in the fungal extract itself.Conclusion: The current approach suggests that rapid synthesis of nanoparticles of silver nitrate would be suitable for developing a biological process for mass scale production of formulations.Keywords: Green synthesis, Penicillium citrinum, silver nanoparticles

Investigating the cytotoxic effect of some medicinal plants from northern parts of Iran

Abstract Background and objectives: Iran owns a rich and prestigious heritage of medicinal herbs but the majority of these plants have not yet undergone chemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies. In the present study some species form northern parts of Iran were evaluated for cytotoxicity. Methods: Sixteen medicinal plants were extracted with methanol and screened for their cytotoxic activities. The inhibition of cell growth for these extracts was evaluated against MCF-7, WEHI-164, HepG-2 and MDBK cell lines. Their 50% inhibitions of growth (IC 50 ) were determined by MTT assay. Moreover, cytotoxic evaluation of different fractions of the most potent species was performed. Results: Among examined samples, the IC 50 values of methanol extract of Centaurea bruguierana (DC.) Hand.-Mzt. on mentioned cell lines were found 47.30-87.40 µg/mL. In addition, the chloroform fraction of the species was cytotoxic with IC 50 values 17.00-23.03 µg/mL. Conclusion: It was concluded that the chloroform fraction of C. bruguierana was the best candidate for identification and isolation of active principles with cytotoxic effects. These results recommend further studies about this species

The Association between Carbohydrate Intake and Periodontal Health in the Elderly

Background and Objective: Periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic oral diseases worldwide. A variety of foods may affect periodontal health. Due to the importance of periodontal health in the old age, this study was designed to investigate the association between carbohydrate intake and periodontal health in the elderly in Amirkola, northern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). The evaluated participants included 400 elderly people (200 men and 200 women). Socio-demographic data of all subjects were recorded in the information form. Periodontal status, including plaque index (PI), periodontal disease index (PDI) and Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) were evaluated. Then, the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) was completed in order to receive daily carbohydrates in grams per day for all Participants. Then, the relationship between carbohydrate intake and periodontal health was evaluated. Findings: The participants consumed an average of 316±102.4 gr/day carbohydrates. The mean range of PI, OHI, PDI and in the high carbohydrate intake (>300 gr) group were 2.18±1.39, 2.84±1.51 and 1.51±0.86, respectively, and this rate was lower than the group with low carbohydrate intake (<300 gr) (1.96±1.52, 2.56±1.53 and 1.37±0.91), but the difference between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: In the present study, there was no relationship between periodontal health indices and carbohydrate intake

Natural occurrence of Cucumber mosaic virus infecting water mint (Mentha aquatica) in Antalya and Konya, Turkey

A virus causing a disease in mint (the aromatic and culinary plant) has recently become a problem in the Taurus Mountains, a mountain range in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. To detect the virus and investigate its distribution in the region, mint leaf samples were collected from the vicinity of spring areas in the plateaus of Antalya and Konya in 2009. It was found that Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was detected in 27.08% of symptomatic samples tested by DAS-ELISA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV on mint plants in this region of Turkey

Urinary Aminopeptidase Activities as Early and Predictive Biomarkers of Renal Dysfunction in Cisplatin-Treated Rats

This study analyzes the fluorimetric determination of alanyl- (Ala), glutamyl- (Glu), leucyl-cystinyl- (Cys) and aspartyl-aminopeptidase (AspAp) urinary enzymatic activities as early and predictive biomarkers of renal dysfunction in cisplatin-treated rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 8 each group) received a single subcutaneous injection of either saline or cisplatin 3.5 or 7 mg/kg, and urine samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 14 days after treatment. In urine samples we determined Ala, Glu, Cys and AspAp activities, proteinuria, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), albumin, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance and renal morphological variables were measured at the end of the experiment. CysAp, NAG and albumin were increased 48 hours after treatment in the cisplatin 3.5 mg/kg treated group. At 24 hours, all urinary aminopeptidase activities and albuminuria were significantly increased in the cisplatin 7 mg/kg treated group. Aminopeptidase urinary activities correlated (p0.259) with plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance and/or kidney weight/body weight ratio at the end of the experiment and they could be considered as predictive biomarkers of renal injury severity. ROC-AUC analysis was made to study their sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between treated and untreated rats at day 1. All aminopeptidase activities showed an AUC>0.633. We conclude that Ala, Cys, Glu and AspAp enzymatic activities are early and predictive urinary biomarkers of the renal dysfunction induced by cisplatin. These determinations can be very useful in the prognostic and diagnostic of renal dysfunction in preclinical research and clinical practice.This study was supported by a grant (R1/12/2010/66) from the University of Jaén with the participation of Caja Rural of Jaén, and from the Carlos III Health Institute of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Red de Investigación Renal, REDinREN RD06/0016/0017 and RD07/0016/2008), “FEDER una manera de hacer Europa.

Photodegradation of organic pollutants RhB dye using UV simulated sunlight on ceria based TiO2 nanomaterials for antibacterial applications

To photo-catalytically degrade RhB dye using solar irradiation, CeO2 doped TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized hydrothermally at 700 °C for 9 hrs. All emission spectra showed a prominent band centered at 442 nm that was attributed to oxygen related defects in the CeO2-TiO2 nanocrystals. Two sharp absorption bands at 1418 cm−1 and 3323 cm−1 were attributed to the deformation and stretching vibration, and bending vibration of the OH group of water physisorbed to TiO2, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of Ce-TiO2 nanocrystals were investigated through the degradation of RhB under UV and UV+ visible light over a period of 8 hrs. After 8 hrs, the most intense absorption peak at 579 nm disappeared under the highest photocatalytic activity and 99.89% of RhB degraded under solar irradiation. Visible light-activated TiO2 could be prepared from metal-ion incorporation, reduction of TiO2, non-metal doping or sensitizing of TiO2 using dyes. Studying the antibacterial activity of Ce-TiO2 nanocrystals against E. coli revealed significant activity when 10 μg was used, suggesting that it can be used as an antibacterial agent. Its effectiveness is likely related to its strong oxidation activity and superhydrophilicity. This study also discusses the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis in the presence of TiO2