FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LEVOFLOXACIN-CHITOSAN / β- CYCLODEXTRIN NANOPARTICLES BY IONIC GELATION

Background: Levofloxacin is a broad spectrum anti-infective agent, which is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. The half life of Levofloxacin is 6-8 h after conventional dosing. The objective of the present work was to develop Levofloxacin nanoparticles to retain the dosage form in the absorption site more than the half life of the drug, enhance the bioavailability of drugs, reduce dose frequency, toxicity and patient compliance. Methods: The compositions of different formulations of Levofloxacin nanoparticles by the ionic gelation method using biodegradable polymer chitosan and tripolyphosphate as cross linking agent. Result and Discussion: The particle size lies of the prepared nanoparticles between 199 and 369 nm and the drug content found between 51.13± 0.28 and 71.12 ± 0.14 %. The particle size of nanoparticles increased with increasing concentration of polymer matrix density and this may be due to the increased viscosity of the inner phase and decreased with increasing concentration of β-cyclodextrin. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the prepared nanoparticles were discrete, uniform and spherical with a smooth surface. The in vitro release showed that the drug release from the prepared nanoparticles was characterized by an initial fast release and followed by a delayed release phase. During and at the end of the accelerated stability study, the tested formulation showed almost same drug content, in vitro drug release and no colour changes were observed from that observed at the opening of the study. Conclusion: Among all the formulations (GIA, GIB, GIC, GID, GIE and GIF), the formulations G1C, G1E and G1F followed the drug release in a controlled manner. The in vitro release profile showed that this is a potential drug delivery for Levofloxacin and has to confirm in the in vivo settings as a separate investigation in future. Key words: Controlled drug delivery, In vitro drug release, Nanoparticle, Particle size, Stability studies, Surface morpholog

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF WHOLE PLANT OF SOLANUM DULCAMARA L. AND NEPHROLEPIS CORDIFOLIA (L) C. PRESL AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCE HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

 Objective: To investigate the effect of hepatoprotective activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Solanum dulcamara L. and Nephrolepis cordifolia (L)C. Presl against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.Methods: Albino rats of either sex were divided into nine groups and treated for 7 days. Group I and II served as normal and toxic control, Group IIIwere treated with Silymarin (100 mg/kg), and Group IV to IX were treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg hydro-alcoholic (70%v/v) extract ofS. dulcamara (HASD) and hydro-alcoholic (70%v/v) extract of N. cordifolia (HANC) respectively. The biochemical markers like serum glutamicpyruvictransaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin (total and direct), total protein,triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-densitylipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). The in vivo antioxidant activity was determined by estimating the tissue levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxidedismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Histopathology of liver was also carried out.Results: The HASD and HANC (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) produced significant effect by decreasing the activity or level of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, billirubinand total protein, where decrease in total protein level in liver, TG, TC, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels and increase in the HDL-C. And decrease tissue LPO,while it significantly increased the levels of tissue GSH, SOD and CAT in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion: From the present study it can be concluded that hydro-alcoholic extract of S. dulcamara L. and N. cordifolia (L) C. Presl whole plantpossesses hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity.Keywords: Hepatoprotective, In-vivo antioxidant activity, Paracetamol, Solanum dulcamara L. and Nephrolepis cordifolia (L) C. Presl, Silymarin

Anti-Diabetic Activity of Terminalia catappa Linn. Leaf Extracts in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

In view of suggested anti diabetic potential, effect of aqueous and cold extracts of Terminalia Catappa Linn (Combretaceae) leaves, on fasting blood sugar levels and serum biochemical analysis in alloxaninduced diabetic rats was investigated. All the extracts of Terminalia Catappa produced a significant anti diabetic activity at dose levels of 1/5th of their lethal doses. Concurrent histological studies of the pancreas of these animals showed regeneration by aqueous and cold extracts which were earlier necrosed by alloxan