OXIDATIVE STRESS-BASED HEPATOTOXICITY OF DULOXETINE IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: Duloxetine, a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor used in major depressive disorders, urinary incontinence and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. It is reported to be associated with several types of liver injuries, including hepatocellular, cholestatic and mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic patterns. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of duloxetine or its metabolites on oxidative stress-induced liver damages.Methods: In this study, animals were divided into five groups. In the first group, the only vehicle was given orally for 21 d. The second group has been considered as hepatotoxic control group where Erythromycin was given orally for 14 d and remaining three groups have been considered as test groups where duloxetine, fluvoxamine and duloxetine along with fluvoxamine were administered orally for 21 d. Liver GSH, oxidised lipid (malonaldehyde MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), protein carbonyl (PC) and plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured to determine the level of hepatotoxicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of liver tissues was also performed to examine the liver injuries.Results: GSH and SOD levels were found to be decreased in duloxetine-treated groups with respect to the hepatotoxic control group, whereas increased level of MDA, CAT and PC signify the damages of liver cells. Increased level of plasma ALT, AST and ALP at the same time indicated liver tissue damage. Opposite effects were observed in the case of duloxetine and fluvoxamine-treated groups. SEM of liver tissues revealed that the tissue injury occurred in Duloxetin treated groups, whereas the restoration of normal tissue architecture took place due to the administration of duloxetine and fluvoxamine-treated groups.Conclusion: Our results collectively indicated that hydroxylated and epoxide metabolites of duloxetine might have hepatotoxic potential due to oxidative stress produced by the release of free radicals or reactive oxygen species

PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF FRUIT EXTRACT OF ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of ethanolic fruit extract of medicinally important plant of Elaeocarpus ganitrus for identification of major bioactive constituents.Methods: Studies were carried out in terms of qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents. The phenolic content was examined by using Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The total flavonoid was determined spectrophotometrically by using the aluminium chloride reagent.Results: The yield extraction value in ethanolic fruit extracts was 28.65%. The preliminary phytochemical analysis results indicated the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and fixed oils, but protein and amino acids were absent in this extract. The total phenolic content was 232.24 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per gram of ethanolic fruit extract of E. ganitrus. The total flavonoid concentration was 91.42 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE) per gram of ethanolic extract.Conclusions: Phenolic and flavonoid compounds have several prevailing biological activity, which outlines the necessity of their determination. Results revealed the presence of different bioactive compounds which could be exploited for their potential applications for medicinal purposes.Â

DESIGN, FORMULATION AND IN VITRO DRUG RELEASE FROM TRANSDERMAL PATCHES CONTAINING IMIPRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE AS MODEL DRUG

Objective: The aim of the present investigation was to form matrix type transdermal patches containing imipramine hydrochloride were prepared using two polymers by solvent evaporation technique to minimise the dose of the drug for lesser side effect and increase the bioavailability of a drug.Methods: In the present study, drug loaded matrix type transdermal films of imipramine hydrochloride were prepared by the solvent evaporation method with the help of polymers along with polyethene glycol (PEG) 400 was used as plasticizer and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as penetration enhancer. Drug-polymer interactions determine by FTIR and a standard calibration curve of imipramine hydrochloride was determined by using UV estimation.Results: The formulated transdermal patch by using PVP K-30, HPMC K100M showed good physical properties. All prepared formulations indicated good physical stability. The formulation F-1 gave the most suitable transdermal film with all desirable physicochemical properties. The thickness of the patches was varied from 0.263±0.67 mm to 0.301±0.61 mm, uniformity of patches showed that patches prepared by solvent evaporation while low standard deviation values ensued by thickness measurements of the film, and weights ranged between 50.5±0.75 mg and 52.15±2.15 mg, which indicates that different batches patch weights, were comparatively similar. Folding endurance was found to be>200 that is satisfactory for the patches, drug content was found to be 5.33±0.14 mg to 5.57±0.095 mg. In vitro, drug permeation studies of formulations were performed by using K-C diffusion cells using abdomen skin of the albino rat. The results were best in in-vitro skin permeation through rat skin as compared to all other formulations prepared with a hydrophilic polymer containing permeation enhancer. The formulation, F1 is considered as the best formulation, since it shows maximum in vitro drug release as 84.71±3.07 % at 24 h. The drug release kinetics studies showed that the majority of formulations were governed by Higuchi model and mechanism of release was non-Fickian mediated.Conclusion: In conclusion, controlled release transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) patches of imipramine hydrochloride can be prepared using the polymer combinations, with plasticizer and enhancer. The release rate of drug through patched increased simultaneously as the concentration of hydrophilic polymer was increased. However, the mechanism of drug release of all formulations was non-Fickian. The properties of a film did not change during the period of study

Natural Polymeric Nanobiocomposites for Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery Therapeutics: A Recent Update

Cancer is one of the most common lethal diseases and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Effective cancer treatment is a global problem, and subsequent advancements in nanomedicine are useful as substitute management for anti-cancer agents. Nanotechnology, which is gaining popularity, enables fast-expanding delivery methods in science for curing diseases in a site-specific approach, utilizing natural bioactive substances because several studies have established that natural plant-based bioactive compounds can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Bioactive, in combination with nanotechnology, is an exceptionally alluring and recent development in the fight against cancer. Along with their nutritional advantages, natural bioactive chemicals may be used as chemotherapeutic medications to manage cancer. Alginate, starch, xanthan gum, pectin, guar gum, hyaluronic acid, gelatin, albumin, collagen, cellulose, chitosan, and other biopolymers have been employed successfully in the delivery of medicinal products to particular sites. Due to their biodegradability, natural polymeric nanobiocomposites have garnered much interest in developing novel anti-cancer drug delivery methods. There are several techniques to create biopolymer-based nanoparticle systems. However, these systems must be created in an affordable and environmentally sustainable way to be more readily available, selective, and less hazardous to increase treatment effectiveness. Thus, an extensive comprehension of the various facets and recent developments in natural polymeric nanobiocomposites utilized to deliver anti-cancer drugs is imperative. The present article provides an overview of the latest research and developments in natural polymeric nanobiocomposites, particularly emphasizing their applications in the controlled and targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs