FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF TRANSDERMAL PATCHES OF METOPROLOL TARTRATE USING PERMEATION ENHANCERS OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC ORIGIN

Objective: Oral metoprolol tartrate has a short elimination half-life (2-3h) and low bioavailability undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism and frequent dosing. The aim of the present investigation was to formulate, develop and evaluate metoprolol tartrate transdermal patches using various synthetic and natural penetration enhancers. Methods: Enhancers used were eugenol, limonene, basil oil, urea and SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate). Polymer used was chitosan and PEG 400 used as a plasticizer. Transdermal Films were prepared by using solvent casting method. FTIR and DSC were studied to assess any interaction between the drug and polymers. Films were evaluated for Physico-chemical Characteristics like thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, moisture loss, moisture absorption and drug content. In vitro skin permeation studies were performed using Keshary chien cell For 24 h across rat skin. Results: Chitosan was found to be a suitable polymer for matrix formation. 3.5% w/w was used to optimize to formulate transdermal patches. 1.5% of total solution v/v lactic acid was used for dissolution of chitosan. 2.5%v/v of total solution PEG 400 was used to provide plasticity and smoothness to the patches. From the evaluation of patches formulation, F10 containing Basil oil as penetration enhancer in the concentration of 1.5% v/v was found to be best among all batches because of its consistent release rate For 24 h and extent of drug release was 85.20%. It can be concluded that naturally occurring volatile oils i.e., terpenes appear acceptable permeation enhancer and shows the best permeation across skin as indicated by high percutaneous enhancement ability. Conclusion: The developed transdermal patches are stable, non-irritating, and had increased efficacy of metoprolol and therefore had a good potential for hypertension treatment

Rapid in vitro Propagation of Boerhaavia diffusa (L.) through Nodal Segments

 A rapid and efficient protocol for the large scale propagation of a potential medicinal plant Boerhaavia diffusa L., through in vitro culture of nodal segment explants obtained from aseptic seedlings. In vitro multiple shoot (14-15) induction was observed from axillary bud explants cultured on MS medium fortified with BAP (2.0 mg/l) and Kn (3.5 mg/l). The multiple shoots were separated and subcultured for their elongation on same medium supplemented with gibberelic acid (0.5 mg/l). Rooting on in vitro produced elongated shoots was achieved on half MS medium having IBA (0.5 mg/l). Rooted plantlets were hardened in plastic pots containing sterilized soil and vermiculite (3:1). Well established plantlets were acclimatized to the field with 70% survival rate.  Key words: Medicinal plants, Nodal segments, Micropropagation, in vitro rooting  Plant biotechnology laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, Rajastha

Structure and electronic properties of transition-metal/Mg bimetallic clusters at realistic temperatures and oxygen partial pressures

Composition, atomic structure, and electronic properties of TM$_x$Mg$_y$O$_z$ clusters (TM = Cr, Ni, Fe, Co, $x+y \leq 3$) at realistic temperature $T$ and partial oxygen pressure $p_{\textrm{O}_2}$ conditions are explored using the {\em ab initio} atomistic thermodynamics approach. The low-energy isomers of the different clusters are identified using a massively parallel cascade genetic algorithm at the hybrid density-functional level of theory. On analyzing a large set of data, we find that the fundamental gap E$_\textrm{g}$ of the thermodynamically stable clusters are strongly affected by the presence of Mg-coordinated O$_2$ moieties. In contrast, the nature of the transition metal does not play a significant role in determining E$_\textrm{g}$. Using E$_\textrm{g}$ of a cluster as a descriptor of its redox properties, our finding is against the conventional belief that the transition metal plays the key role in determining the electronic and therefore chemical properties of the clusters. High reactivity may be correlated more strongly with oxygen content in the cluster than with any specific TM type.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure