Plumbagin, a plant naphthoquinone with antitumor and radiomodifying properties

The tumor inhibitory and radiomodifying effects of plumbagin (Pl), a naphthoquinone isolated from Plumbago rosea, on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was studied. Tumor response was assessed by increase in life span (% ILS) and animal survival at 120 days. The acute LD50 of plumbagin in normal mice was 9.4 mg/kg body weight. Single doses from 2 to 6 mg/kg Pl, given intraperitoneally (i.p.), produced inhibition of exponentially growing armors. However increases in dose above 3 mg/kg did not increase 120 clay survival significantly over that produced by 3 mg/kg. Multiple dose treatment, starling from 24 h after tumor cell inoculation, showed that a total dose of 9 mg/kg, administered in three fractions of 3 mg/kg once daily gave the maximum %ILS and tumor free survival. Combination of radiation (RT, 7.5 Gy to the abdomen) after the first Pl dose (1-3 mg/kg/fraction) synergistically increased mouse survival at 120 clays. The tumor inhibitory effect was less pronounced when treatment was started at more advanced tumor stages, but combination of low dose fractions (2.5 or 3 mg/kg/function) with RT enhanced the %ILS and animal survival. Higher dose fractions in combination with radiation were not tolerated by the mice. DNA appears to be the likely target of PI cytotoxicity; the mechanism of interaction of Pl + RT in enhancing tumor response is not clear

Rapid titrimetric and spectrophotometric determination of ofloxacin in pharmaceuticals using N-bromosuccinimide

One titrimetric and two spectrophotometric methods have been described for the determination of ofloxacin (OFX) in bulk drug and in tablets, employing N-Bromosuccinimide as an analytical reagent. The proposed methods involve the addition of a known excess of NBS to OFX in acid medium, followed by determination of unreacted NBS. In titrimetry, the unreacted NBS is determined iodometrically, and in spectrophotometry, unreacted NBS is determined by reacting with a fixed amount of either indigo carmine (Method A) or metanil yellow (Method B). In all the methods, the amount of NBS reacted corresponds to the amount of OFX. Titrimetry allows the determination of 1-8 mg of OFX and the calculations are based on a 1:5 (OFX:NBS) reaction stoichiometry. In spectrophotometry, Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration ranges 0.5-5.0 µg/mL for method A and 0.3-3.0 µg/mL for method B. The molar absorptivities are calculated to be 5.53x10(4) and 9.24x10(4) L/mol/cm for method A and method B, respectively. The methods developed were applied to the assay of OFX in tablets, and results compared statistically with those of a reference method. The accuracy and reliability of the methods were further ascertained by performing recovery tests via the standard-addition method.<br>Descrevem-se métodos, um titulométrico e dois espectrofotométricos, para a determinação de ofloxacino (OFX) na matéria-prima e em comprimidos, empregando a N-bromossuccinimida (NBS) como reagente analítico. Os métodos propostos envolvem a adição de excesso conhecido de NBS ao OFX, em meio ácido, seguida de determinação do NBS que não reagiu. Na titulometria, o NBS que não reagiu é determinado iodometricamente e na espectrofotometria, o NBS que não reagiu é determinado pela reação com quantidade fixa de índigo carmim (Método A) ou amarelo de metanila (Método B). Em todos os métodos, a quantidade de NBS que reagiu corresponde à quantidade de OFX. A titulometria permite a determinação de 1-8 mg de OFX e os cálculos se baseiam na estequiometria de reação de 1:5 (OFX:NBS). Na espectrofotometria, a Lei de Beer é obedecida nas faixas de concentração de 0,5-5,0 µg/mL, para o método A, e de 0,3-3,0 µg/mL, para o método B, respectivamente. Os métodos desenvolvidos foram aplicados para o teste de OFX em comprimidos e os resultados foram comparados estatisticamente com aqueles do método de referência. A precisão e a confiabilidade dos métodos foram, posteriormente, verificadas por meio dos testes de recuperação via método de adição de padrão