Glycerol containing phospholipids have been put to extremely wide range of applications. Their applications in medical devices, liposomal drug delivery systems, artifical blood and in dignostic testing are reviewed in this article.

Molecular modeling technique has been used in the preliminary screening of certain drugs and to study their Interaction with betacyclodextrln (BCD). In the cases of drugs such as norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tinidazole, methotrexate and plumbagin, the type and site of interaction between the drug and BCD leading to the formation of an inclusion complex has been established.

A rapid and sensitive method for the polarographic determination of cephalosporins is described. In presence of tungsten (VI), Cefachlor exhibited a catalytic peak at -2.3 V vs SCE in 0.9 M H2SO4 medium. Optimum conditions are established for the method developed. This analytical method is useful for determining the drug as well as the metal. The method is applied to clinical samples containing these compounds.

The objective was to compare the bioavailability of two tablet dosage forms of acyclovir in human volunteers. Serum levels of acyclovir was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated following the oral administration of a single dose (200 mg) tablet of the drug to 12 healthy volunteers. All volunteers received a single oral dose of the medication in a two period, two way cross-over design. The difference between the formulations were statistically insignificant. In all the cases the relative bioavailability of the test was found to be in the range of 83-106 %. No adverse reactions were observed during the entire study. The test formulation manufactured by Cadila Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., was found to be bioequivalent to the reference product.

An attempt was made to provide cheaper, indigenous, directly compressible lactose by thermal modification of lactose I.P. The modified lactose (Thermally modified lactose, TML) was characterised for physico-chemical properties and flow behaviour and the results compared with those of Marketed directly compressible lactose (MDL). The direct compressibility of TML and MDL was also evaluated by compression on a rotary tablet compression machine. Results indicated TML to be a promising directly compressible excipient which can replace imported directly compressible lactose.

Attempts were made in the present investigation to evolve a physico-chemically stable, elegant and palalable isopropyl antipyrine oral suspension using suspending agents like sodium carboxy methyl cellulose [Sod. CMC], veegum alone and combination of sodium CMC and microcrystalline cellulose [MCC] in varying proportions. The suspensions were subjected to evaluation and accelerated stability studies have been carried out on a few select formulations. The best formulation was found to have a shelf life of about 2.5 years and bioequivalence studies revealed comparible pharmacokinetic parameters as that of the marketed tablet.

A prodrug of lomefloxacin was synthesized by reacting the free base with aqueous formaldehyde solution in a 1:1 mixture of methylene chloride and methanol. The colourless, crystalline N-hydroxy methyl derivative, m.p. 220o showed a two-fold increase in solubility and a three fold increase in the dissolution rate over the parent drug. The degradation kinetics, pH-rate profile, antimicrobial activity, LD50 and physical characteristics such as particle size distribution, angle of repose of the prodrug were studied. The prodrug showed increased solubility and dissolution and gets easily converted to parent drug.

A rapid, sensitive and simple spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of dopamine hydrochloride (DPH) using sodium salt of N-chloro-4-methylbenzenesulphonamide (chloramine-T or CAT) and traces of Copper (II) in a buffer medium of pH 7. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of DPH concentrations of 2-20 mg/ml at the maximum absorption of 490 nm. The method is successfully employed for the determination of DPH in pharmaceutical preparations.

Seven new 4-aryl/heteroaryl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-bis-N-(2-methyl phenyl) carbamoyl-1, 4-dihydropyridines were prepared through one-pot synthesis starting from (2-methylphenyl) acetoacetamide using appropriate aromatic aldehydes and liquid ammonia. These compounds were purified and characterized by their analytical and spectral data. Pharmacological screening of the new 1,4-dihydropyridines was carried out for CNS depresant (anticonvulsant and analgesic) and cardiovascular (inotropic and blood pressure) activities by standard methods. Quite a few of them were found to be active.

A relatively simple technique of preparing Eudragit RL-100 microspheres containing 5-Fluorouracil is described. The technique described is based on a condensation process and does not involve use of any harmful organic solvent, antiadhesion agents and surfactants. Discrete microspheres were obtained in the colloidal size range (3.79 ± 2.55 microns) and were evaluated with reference to entrapment efficiency and leaching rate profile.

A polarographic catalytic method is developed for the determination of sulpha drugs in presence of chromium (VI). The drugs produced a catalytic peak at - 1.7 V vs Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE) in a buffer solution of pH 9.6. Optimum conditions are established for the analytical method. The method can be used for the determination of Cr (VI) as well as hydrolysed drug in micro quantities.

A simple and rapid simultaneous spectrophotometric method for the estimation of meclozine hydrochloride (MH) and nicotinic acid (NA) in two component tablet formulation has been reported using multicomponent mode and five mixed standards. MH and NA show absorbance maxima at 230 nm and 261 nm respectively. Beer's law is obeyed by MH in the range of 0.0 to 12.5 mcg/ml and by NA in the range of 0.0 to 50 rncg/ml. The method has been validated statistically as well as through a recovery study.

Three simple, sensitive and accurate extractive colorimetric methods for estimation on benidipine hydrochloride from tablet formulation have been developed. The developed methods involve formation of coloured chloroform extractable ion pair complexes of the drug with bromocresol green (BCG), bromophenol blue (BPB) and thymol blue (TB) in acidic medium. Extracted complexes showed absorbance maxima at 408.5 nm (BCG), 404 nm (BPB) and 570 nm (TB) and Beer's law is obeyed in concentration range of 0 - 60 mg/ml, 0 - 40 mg/ml and 0 - 30 mg/ml respectively. Results of analysis were validated statistically and were found to be reproducible.

Oil of Cymbopogon martinii leaves obtained by distillation was given orally to study its effects on the exudative phase of the inflammatory reactions, using the technique of carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Oil of Cymbopogon martinii showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of diclofenac sodium.

Three accurate and simple methods for the simultaneous estimation of tinidazole and furazolidone in tablet formulations have been developed. The methods employ first derivative spectrophotometry, simultaneous equations and the multicomponent mode of UV-160A Shimadzu spectrophotometer. Both the drugs obey Beer's law in the concentrations employed for these methods. The results of the analysis have been validated statistically and by recovery studies.