DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-MICROEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS (SMEDDS) OF TELMISARTAN FOR ENHANCEMENT OF IN VITRO DISSOLUTION AND ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY IN RABBIT

Objective: The main purpose of this investigation was to prepare self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for enhancement of oral bioavailability of a poorly water soluble drug telmisartan (TLS), a BCS class II drug by improving its dissolution rate. Methods: Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SEDDS) of TLS were formulated using cinnamon essential oil as the oil phase, Gelucire 44/14 as the surfactant and Transcutol HP as co-surfactant. Drug-excipient interactions were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The formulations were evaluated for its self-emulsifying ability, clarity, and stability of the aqueous dispersion after 48 h and the phase diagram was constructed to optimize the system. Selected formulations were characterized in terms of droplet size distribution, zeta potential, cloud point and were subjected to in vitro drug release studies. The bioavailability of optimized formulation was assessed in New Zealand white rabbits.Results: By considering smaller droplet size, higher zeta potential and faster rate of drug release the formulation TF9 was chosen as optimized SMEDDS formulations. TF9 was robust to different pH media and dilution volumes, remained stable after three cooling-heating cycles and after stored at 4 °C and 25 °C for 3 mo without showing a significant change in droplet size. The pharmacokinetic study in rabbits showed SMEDDS have significantly increased the Cmax and area under the curve (AUC) of TLS compared to suspension (P<0.05).Conclusion: SMEDDS can be an effective oral dosage form for enhancing aqueous solubility and improving oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs

In vitro Potency of Chemical Fungicides over Alternaria lini (Dey) Growth Inhibition Causing Black Bud Disease of Linseed

Linseed, the only economically significant species of family Linaceae is a dense plant with sound branches that gives rise to more production of seed per plant. It is a significant oilseed and fibre crop that grows in diverse range of climate from temperate to tropical regions of India. So, it is crucial to preserve the excellence and yield of such an oilseed crop due to its commercial significance. Linseed cultivation is impacted by a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases. Alternaria blight or often called as Black Bud Disease is one of the most important fungal diseases of this oilseed crop which causes yield loss ranging from 28-60%. The present study emphasized upon two objectives. First one is the survey of different cultivars that was conducted in various parts of Uttar Pradesh during the month of March-April, 2021-22 to assess the disease prevalence and severity of Black Bud Disease which revealed that cultivar Neelum had the highest disease intensity of 45%, while the variety Rashmi had the lowest disease intensity of 10%. Second one involves the study regarding in vitro potency of chemical fungicides that revealed the potency of three fungicides i.e. Tilt, Vitavax and Matco over 11 fungicides examined at 0.2 % concentration in fully inhibiting the growth of corresponding fungal pathogen, Alternaria lini. Rovral, Thiram, Folpet, Captan, Ridomil, Companion, Mancozeb, Zineb, Sulfex, Topsin-M, and Bavistin were the remaining fungicides in order of their inhibitory activity against the pathogen