Cromolyn sodium ocular films were prepared by solvent casting technique using polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate with glycerin and polyethylene glycol 400 as plasticizers. The physicochemical parameters like thickness, percent elongation at break, tensile strength and drug content uniformity of the ocular films were evaluated. In vitro drug release from the formulations was studied and the formulation that shows better release behavior was subjected to in vivo studies on rabbits. The results of formulations F3 (1% polyvinyl alcohol) and F4 (1.5% sodium alginate) indicated a strong positive correlation of in vitro and in vivo drug release, which follow zero order kinetics and non-fickian in nature. It was also concluded that sodium alginate and poly vinyl alcohol are good film forming agents and in the presence of plasticizer (PEG 400) they are promising controlled release ocular delivery systems for cromolyn sodium.

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A simple and sensitive, HPTLC method has been developed for the quantitative estimation of gatifloxacin in its single component tablet formulations (400 mg). Gatifloxacin was chromatographed on silica Gel 60 F254 TLC plate using n-butanol: methanol: ammonia (6 M) (5:1:2 v/v) as mobile phase. Gatifloxacin showed Rf value 0.47±0.03 and scanned at 292 nm using a Camag TLC Scanner 3. The method was validated in terms of linearity (400-1200 ng/spot), precision (intra-day variation 1.3 to 3.2%, inter-day variation 3.9 to 5.0%), accuracy (93.3 to 99.4%) and specificity. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for gatifloxacin were found to be 10 ng/spot and 50 ng/spot, respectively. The developed method was successfully used for the assay of gatifloxacin tablet formulations. The method is simple, sensitive and precise; it can be used for the routine quality control testing of marketed formulations.

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Recently many drugs are formulated as floating drug delivery systems with an objective to sustain release and restrict the region of drug release to stomach. The intensive research of recent past has resulted in the development of five commercial floating drug delivery systems. Ciprofloxacin, which is better absorbed in stomach and upper small intestine was formulated as floating matrix tablet using gas generating agent (sodium bicarbonate) and hydrophilic polymer (hydroxypropylmethycellulose). Formulation was optimized on the basis of floating time and in vitro drug release. Two batches of fabricated tablets containing ciprofloxacin (580 mg), sodium bicarbonate (200 mg), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose-K100M (100 mg), lactose between 9.7-12% and polyvinyl pyrrolidone 4.8% with hardness between 14-14.6 kg/cm2 showed desired duration of floating (8 h or more). In vitro drug release study of these tablets indicated controlled sustained release for ciprofloxacin and 80-89% release at the end of 8 h. Hence, it is evident from this investigation that gas powered floating matrix tablet could be promising delivery system for ciprofloxacin with sustained release action and improved drug availability.

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Metoclopramide microspheres containing a mucoadhesive polymer chitosan were prepared and investigated with a view to develop mucoadhesive microspheres. The chitosan microspheres were prepared by simple emulsification phase separation technique using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. Results of preliminary trials indicate that volume of crosslinking agent, time for crosslinking and speed of rotation affected characteristics of microspheres. Microspheres were discrete, spherical and free flowing. The microspheres exhibited good mucoadhesive property in the in vitro wash off test. Metoclopramide release from these mucoadhesive microspheres was slow, extended and depended on the polymer to drug ratio. Drug release was diffusion controlled and followed non-Fickian diffusion. Microspheres prepared using polymer to drug ratio of 4:1 were found suitable for oral controlled release with good mucoadhesion up to 8 h. The microspheres exhibited good swelling index and 72 % drug entrapment efficiency.

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A simple, precise, accurate and rapid high performance thin layer chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the determination of cefuroxime axetil and probenecid simultaneously in combined dosage form. The stationary phase used was precoated silica gel 60F254. The mobile phase used was a mixture of chloroform: acetonitrile: toluene: acetate buffer of pH 6 (5:4:1:0.3 v/v). Detection of spots was carried out at 266 nm. The method was validated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision and specificity. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification for the drug combination were found to be 50 ng/spot and 100 ng/spot, respectively. The proposed method can be successfully used to determine the drug content of marketed formulation.

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Quinine sulphate is an antimalarial drug and is very much effective against resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, where other antimalarials like chloroquine, sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine are ineffective. But, it is a very bitter drug and taste should be masked to formulate it in a palatable form. So in the work undertaken, an attempt was made to mask the taste, by complexation technique using ion-exchange resins and to formulate into a suspension. The products were evaluated for bitterness, drug content, particle size, viscosity, sedimentation time and volume, redispersibility and drug release and also subjected to stability studies. Of the different resins, lndion 234 was found to be the most suitable one. The release studies showed complete drug release within 20 min. Stability studies indicated no appreciable changes in the above mentioned parameters for 3 months.

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Simple UV and third derivative spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of valdecoxib in bulk drug and its tablets. In simple UV spectrum of valdecoxib in 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, it exhibits absorption maxima (λmax) at 243 nm where as in third derivative spectrum it shows maxima at 221.2 nm and minima at 213.6 nm. Both the methods were found to be simple, economical, accurate, reproducible and can be adopted in routine analysis of valdecoxib in bulk drug and its tablets.

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Two analytical methods for the estimation of lamotrigine and nicorandil in bulk drug and in their tablet formulations are described. These methods are based upon difference spectroscopy and are quite, simple, rapid, sensitive and selective. The Beer's law range was followed in the concentration range of 5-35 μg/ml and 10-40 μg/ml. The molar absorptivities were 9.731x103 I/mol.cm and 2.407x103 I/mol.cm for lamotrigine and nicorandil respectively

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Inclusion complex of rofecoxib, an NSAlD with β-cyclodextrin using ball milling technique has been prepared and evaluated using DSC. The fast dissolving tablet composition with 25 mg equivalent rofecoxib showed complete release of rofecoxib in 12 min as compared to 20% drug release from the conventional release marketed tablets during the same period. The stability studies conducted as per ICH guidelines at 40° and 75% RH showed insignificant loss in drug content at the end of six months.

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Two simple, precise and accurate methods for simultaneous estimation of tizanidine hydrochloride and diclofenac sodium in combined dosage form have been described. Method 1 involves formation of Q-absorbance equation at 296 nm (isoabsorptive point) and at 281.3 nm while method 2 involves formation of simultaneous equation at 281.3 and 317.1 nm using methanol as solvent. Both the methods were validated and the results were compared statistically. They were found to be precise, accurate, and specific. The proposed methods were successfully applied to estimation of tizanidine and diclofenac in combined tablet formulation.

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A simple, specific and precise high performance thin-layer chromatography method has been developed for estimation of lamotrigine in its tablet dosage form. In this method, standard solution and sample solution of lamotrigine were applied on precoated silica gel G60 F254 TLC plate and developed using a mixture of acetone: toluene: ammonia (70:30:5.0 v/v) as mobile phase. The quantification was done by densitometry at 312 nm. The method was quantitatively evaluated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability and specificity to prove its utility in the analysis of tablet dosage form.

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In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop polystyrene microspheres for controlled drug delivery. The microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique with different polystyrene-ibuprofen ratio (1:1, 1:2 and 2:1). The microspheres were characterised by loading efficiency, percentage of entrapment, percentage of encapsulation, particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro release studies. Depending upon drug polymer ratio, the loading, entrapment, and encapsulation was found to be 30-52 %, 84-90 % and 70-80 % respectively. The spheres were spherical, discrete, compact and free flowing. The particle size of microspheres was found to be in the range of 4-25 μm. Drug loaded spheres were found to be larger than unloaded one. Infrared spectrum and thermogram revealed the stability of ibuprofen in microspheres. The microspheres released ibuprofen more than 24 h. Depending on drug polymer ratio, polystyrene microspheres are able to deliver 30 to 80% of the loaded drug by the end of 24 h. The microspheres prepared with 1:2 polymer drug ratio shows better release pattern and control the drug release over a period of 24 h. The release followed Higuchi kinetics rather than first order kinetics, indicating diffusion controlled drug release.

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A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method in ultraviolet region has been developed for the determination of phyllanthin in different parts of Phyllanthus niruri. Phyllanthin shows maximum absorbance at 280 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 5-50 μg/ml. The proposed method is precise, accurate and reproducible.

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A variety of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives were synthesized by esterifying substituted aryl carboxylic acid separately. It was then treated with hydrazine hydrate to yield corresponding aromatic acid hydrazides. When these hydrazides were treated with KOH and CS2, oxadiazoles were obtained. Thus obtained oxadiazoles on further treatment with different acid hydrazides afforded three different series of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities and 1,2,4-triazoles of anthranilic acid series were found to be very active than the other two series of compounds.

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Ethanol extract of Trikatu Churna an Ayurvedic formulation was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats by inducing liver damage with carbon tetrachloride. The ethanol extract at an oral dose of 150 mg/kg exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Liv 52 syrup was used as positive control.

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An improved, simple, specific and more sensitive method for quantitative determination of rofecoxib from the human plasma is described. The method consists of pre-column photoactivation of rofecoxib in acetonitrile by exposure to UV light at 366 nm. The drug probably undergoes a stilbene-phenanthrene like photocyclization reaction with resulting formation of a highly fluorescent species. Subsequent injection on C18e column in HPLC with fluorescent detector at 260 nm excitation and emission at 381 nm with a mobile phase consisting of water:acetonitrile (55:45 v/v) could determine rofecoxib quantitatively in the concentration range of 10 to 350 ng/ml using 20 μl of samples. The assay has been validated and has been successfully utilized in clinical studies.

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A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefadroxil anhydrous and its dosage forms is described. The method is based on the reaction of the drug with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent in presence of sodium hydroxide and stannous chloride to form a blue coloured chromogen having λmax at 970 nm. The absorbance was found to be linear with the concentration in the range of 5-25 μg/10 ml. The colour developed was stable up to 5 h.

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Mass spectrometry is now an indispensable tool for rapid protein and peptide structural analysis, and the widespread use of mass spectrometry is a reflection of its ability to solve structural problems that are not readily or conclusively determined with conventional techniques. High detection sensitivity and fully automated analysis of many samples in short time has paved way for current proteome research projects. The article gives overview of various mass spectrometry techniques, different methods of sample preparation along with their advantages and disadvantages. The applications based on compatible analytical techniques like liquid chromatography; electrophoresis and surface plasmon resonance coupled to mass spectrometer indicates the wide scope of mass spectrometry.

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Rats were provided with 32% w/v sucrose solution as a supplement to their normal diet for 125 days to induce obesity. The parameters studied include body weight analysis on day 1, 30, 60, 90 and 125; daily food intake and serum lipid levels at the end of treatment. The hydroalcoholic extract of Zizjphus jujuba leaves at the doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg, p.o. given daily for 125 days caused reduction in body weight, daily food intake and serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides along with an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels. The results obtained with 400 and 600 mg/kg dose of Ziziphus jujuba extract were significant when compared to sucrose control group. These results suggest that Ziziphus jujuba leaf extract possesses significant weight reducing, hypophagic and hypolipidemic properties in sucrose-induced obese rats.

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A simple and precise reversed phase HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine maleate, dextromethorphan hydrobromide and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in tablet on a μ Bondpak phenyl bonded (30 cm x 3.9 mm) column using methanol:buffer (50:42.5, adjusted to pH 3.6 using orthophosphoric acid) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and detection at 214 nm. The retention times of acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, chlorpheniramine maleate and dextromethorphan hydrobromide have been found to be 2.39, 4.01, 10.15 and 13.72 min, respectively and the recoveries from tablets were between 99-101%. Validation of the proposed method also been done. The method can be used for estimation of combination of these drugs in tablet.

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Three simple spectrophotometric methods for the analysis of lacidipine in pure form or in tablets have been developed based on the formation of chloroform soluble ion associates under specific experimental conditions. Three acidic dyes, tropaeolin 000 (method A), bromocresol green (method B) and azocarmine G (method C) were utilized. The extracts of ion associates exhibited absorption maxima at 420, 500 and 540 nm for methods A, B and C, respectively. Good agreement with Beer's law was found in the range of 10-60 μg/ml (method A), 10-60 μg/ml (method B) and 10-70 μg/ml (method C). These methods are simple, precise and accurate with excellent recovery of 98-102% and also do not require any separation of soluble excipients in tablets. The results obtained are reproducible with coefficient of variation of less than 1.0%.

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Two simple spectrophotometric methods for the analysis of nateglinide in pure form or pharmaceutical formulations have been developed based on the reaction of the drug with aromatic aldehydes, vanillin and paradimethyl amino cinnamaldehyde in acidic medium producing coloured Schiff's bases having λmax at 580 nm and 420 nm, respectively. Good agreement with Beer's law was found in the range of 25-150 μg/ml for method A and 20-140 μg/ml for method B. The methods are simple, precise and accurate with excellent recovery of 98-102% and also do not require any separation of soluble excipients in pharmaceutical preparations. The results obtained are reproducible with coefficient of variation of less than 1.0%.

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Guar is used in millions of tones annually by various industries and is employed medicinally as well. The galactomannan portion of the guar seed is found to be active and responsible for its numerous industrial and medicinal applications. Guar galactomannan has a galactose-mannose ratio (G:M) of 1:2 and possesses a very high viscosity. The objective of this study was to explore some other source of galactomannan having different G:M ratio and to study its effect on medicinal applications. Fenugreek is one such promising source that offers a galactomannan having a G:M ratio of 1:1 The extracted galactomannan from fenugreek was compared with guar galactomannan on the basis of FTIR-spectra. The peaks and their accompanying shoulders, in the FTIR-spectra of the two compounds, were found to overlap closely.

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This article introduces the reader to a number of ventures incorporated in the field of non-viral gene delivery and also the applications of these vectors in the field of gene therapy. The near completion of human genome project has led scientists to search for novel techniques to deliver the newly found genes, which in turn are responsible for a disease. Vehicles for gene delivery in vivo can be divided into viral and non-viral vectors. Non-viral gene delivery involving the use of cationic lipids and polymers still continues to enjoy a high profile due to the safety and advantages offered by these systems when compared to viruses. The clinical use of non-viral gene delivery systems in cystic fibrosis or cancer has involved their direct application to the site of pathology due to targeting difficulties experienced.

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Getting onto the other side of the blood brain barrier presents the most formidable obstacle for agents intended to treat central nervous system disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, Schizophrenia, Parkinsonism and multiple sclerosis. The blood brain barrier impedes drug delivery at potential target sites. Current strategies to aid drug delivery to the central nervous system are lipidisation, chemical modification and molecular antibody technology. The future directs towards development of strategies that harness receptors, vesicles and viral genes to deliver therapeutic agents to the central nervous system.

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The present investigation was aimed at the synthesis of 3-(2-aroyl aryloxy) methyl-5-mercapto- 4H-1,2,4-triazole analogues 3a-j, by intramolecular cyclization of (2-aroyl aryloxy) acetates 2a-j with thiosemicarbazide. The title compounds were screened for antibacterial, antifungal, anticonvulsant, diuretic and antiinflammatory activities and some of the compounds were found to be active.

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Resting cell experiments with washed mycelia of Saccharopolyspora erythraea were performed to study the effects of amino acids and vitamins on the biosynthesis of erythromycin and alkaline phosphatase at two pH optima. It was found that amino acids (glycine and L-leucine), and vitamins (pantothenic acid and ascorbic acid), each increased alkaline phosphatase as well as erythromycin formation by S. erythraea. A combination of the vitamins and the amino acids was found to give additive effect. The amino acids with the help of the vitamins exerted such additional effect on the enzyme and erythromycin biosynthesis.

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Conventional treatment requires frequent administration of drugs to maintain effective concentration at the site of action. In the present work an implantable delivery system has been developed which when comes in contact with biological fluid, solidifies immediately and release the drug in a controlled manner for prolonged period of time. Polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and copolymers of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid were synthesized and characterized for various physicochemical attributes. IR spectra of the synthesized polymers was determined and it was found to be identical to that reported in the literature. Molecular weight of the polymers was determined with the help of viscosity measurement. Solubility and hydrolysis of the polymers was determined. Drug delivery systems were fabricated using synthesized polymers and characterized in vitro for various parameters. Drug content was estimated by direct measurement of absorbance whilst viscosity was determined using Ostwald viscometer. In vitro release for the formulations was determined for 10 d using dialysis tube diffusion technique, which revealed slow release of drug from formulation. On the basis of in vitro characterization studies, selected formulations were subjected to in vivo performance where drug plasma level was monitored after intradermal administration. In vivo studies revealed sustained release of the entrapped drug from formulations, which is reflected from the persistence of drug in blood for longer period of time.

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