FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CHLOROTHALIDONE LOADED MOUTH DISSOLVING FILM-A BIOAVAILABILITY ENHANCEMENT APPROACH USING MULTILEVEL CATEGORIC DESIGN

Objective: The intension of the present study includes fabrication and optimization of mouth dissolving film loaded with Chlorothalidone by solvent evaporation techniques using two components and their three levels as multilevel Categoric design. Methods: Major problem associated with the development of film loaded with BCS class II drug is to increase its solubility. Here the Chlorothalidone solubility achieved by co-solvents, such as methanol. After dissolving the drug in co-solvent, this drug solution is poured into an aqueous dispersion of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose E5 (HPMC E5) and Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). The two independent variables selected are factor A (concentration of HPMC E5) and factor B (concentration of PEG 400) was selected on the basis of preliminary trials. The percentage drug release (R1), Disintegration time in sec (R2) and folding endurance (R3) were selected as dependent variables. Here HPMC E5 used as a film former, PEG 400 as plasticizer, mannitol as bulking agent, Sodium starch glycolate as a disintegrating agent, tween 80 as the surfactant, tartaric acid as saliva stimulating agent, sodium saccharin as a sweetener and orange flavour etc. These fabricated films were evaluated for physicochemical properties, disintegration time and In vitro drug release study. Results: The formulation F6 has more favorable responses as per multilevel categoric design is % drug release about 98.95 %, average disintegration time about 24.33 second and folding endurance is 117. Thus formulation F6 was preferred as an optimized formulation. Conclusion: The present formulation delivers medicament accurately with good therapeutic efficiency by oral administration, this mouth dissolving films having a rapid onset of action than conventional tablet formulations

Finding the forgotten gems: revisiting the butterflies of Matheran after 125 years with introduction to novel colour barcode for depicting seasons and activity of the Indian butterflies

We present here an updated checklist for the butterflies of Matheran, Maharashtra, India, an eco-sensitive zone, with identification remarks for locally rare or very rare butterflies. This is the first dedicated checklist for butterflies of Matheran after 125 years. A total of 140 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to six families. Amongst them, 15 species were either listed under Schedule I, II or IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. We also list the habitats of the species along with the data for their activity at the time of recording the observation. We propose a uniform colour code system for representing season and activity for the Indian butterflies. Examples of colour barcodes are provided with the images of rare and very rare butterflies. The lack of abundance data is a limitation of the study for which we propose long term monitoring with dedicated efforts

Immature stages and the larval food plant of Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica Fruhstorfer, 1916 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Sri Lanka

The biology of  Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica (Large Four-lineblue ), a rare butterfly endemic to Sri Lanka is described with a report of Entada rheedii (Fabaceae) as the first known larval host plant. Information pertaining to the distribution of this butterfly is also provided.</p

Immature stages and the larval food plant of Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica Fruhstorfer, 1916 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Sri Lanka

The biology of  Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica (Large Four-lineblue ), a rare butterfly endemic to Sri Lanka is described with a report of Entada rheedii (Fabaceae) as the first known larval host plant. Information pertaining to the distribution of this butterfly is also provided.</p