International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Stability- indicating HPLC method for the determination of efavirenz in bulk drug and in pharmaceutical dosage form

B. Udaykumar Rao and Anna Pratima Nikalje*

Y.B. Chavan College of Pharmacy, Dr. Rafiq Zakaria Campus, Rauza Bagh, Aurangabad, M.S. India.

Accepted 09 December, 2012

Abstract

A rapid and accurate isocratic HPLC method was developed and validated for the assay of Efavirenz (EFA) in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms. The chromatographic conditions comprise of a Novapak phenyl column. A mixture of phosphate buffer and Acetonitrile was used as mobile phase. Quantitation was achieved by UV detection at 247 nm. A linear response (r² 0.999) was observed in the range of 0.05 - 0.15 mg/mL. The method was validated for accuracy and precision. The proposed method can be used for quality control assay of EFA in bulk and in finished dosage form and for the stability studies as the method separates EFA from its degradation products and excipients.

Key words: Efavirenz, stability indicating HPLC, dosage form, UV detection.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of indigenous medicinal plants of Bangladesh on blood glucose level and neuropathic pain in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Kazi Rafiq^{1, 3}*, Shamshad J. Sherajee^{2, 3}, Akira Nishiyama³, M. A. Sufiun² and Mahbub Mostofa¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh.

²VTI, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

³Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Japan.

Accepted 21 December, 2012

Abstract

We investigated the effect of freshly prepared aqueous extracts of Psidium guajava, Momordica charantia, Coccinia indica leaves and their combination on blood glucose level and neuropathic pain in hyperglycemic rats. Streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg, Iv) was injected to albino rats to induce diabetes. Oral administration of freshly prepared aqueous extracts of each of the leaves and their combination were given to STZ-induced diabetic rats until 8 weeks after the STZ injection at a dosage of 500 mg/kg bwt/day. Oral glucose tolerance test to follow the changes in blood glucose and von Frey test to evaluate the tactile allodynia were performed to investigate the antidiabetic effects. Treatment with these freshly prepared leaf aqueous extracts significantly reduced blood glucose in diabetic rats (p < 0.001). Blood glucose lowering effect of the combination treatment was significantly greater than individual treatments (p < 0.01). Oral glucose tolerance test also showed the improvement of glucose tolerance by each extracts (p < 0.001). These effects were significantly greater in the combination treatment group over the individual treatment groups (p < 0.01) . STZ- induced loss of body weight was attenuated by the individual and their combination treatment (p < 0.02). Diabetic rats developed stable tactile allodynia measured by von Frey test. Treatment with these freshly prepared leaf aqueous extracts significantly improved tactile allodynia in diabetic rats (p < 0.01) . Effect of the combination treatment on tactile allodynia was also significantly greater than individual treatments (p < 0.05). These data suggest beneficial effect of freshly prepared aqueous extracts of P. guajava, M. charantia and C. indica leaves on hyperglycemic and neuropathic pain. Their combination therapy works better against hyperglycemia and neuropathy of STZ-induced diabetes rats. Therefore, the use of these plants as antidiabetics in folkloric medicine is justified.

Key words: Psidium guajava, Momordica charantia, Coccinia indica, hyperglycemia, neuropathic pain, STZ-induced diabetic rats.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rapid and sensitive fluorometric analysis of novel galactosylated cationic liposome interaction with siRNA

Shantal Dorasamy, Moganavelli Singh and Mario Ariatti*

Department of Biochemistry, Westville campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Accepted 17 November, 2012

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is being harnessed for application in the gene knockdown approach to the treatment of disease conditions. Targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is however an important consideration for application of this technology. We report here on the preparation of two new hepatocyte-directed liposomes designed for this purpose, containing the cholesteryl cytofectins 3 [N-(N’, N’-dimethylaminopropane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol (Chol-T) and 3 [N-(N’, N’, N’-trimethylammonium propane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol iodide (Chol-Q). Further we describe a simple yet sensitive fluorometric assay based on the displacement of siRNA-bound SYBR Green, to monitor the association of the duplex RNA with cationic liposomes under the conditions of high dilution encountered in transfection experiments.

Key words: siRNA, cationic liposomes, SYBR green, displacement assay.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro antiviral activities under cytotoxic doses against herpes simples type-1 and parainfluensa-3 viruses of Cicer arietinum L. (Chickpea)

Asuman Kan¹, Berrin Özçelik²* and Murat Kartal³

¹Programme for Food Technologies, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, University of Selçuk, Konya, Turkey.

²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.

³Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.

Accepted 18 November, 2012

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluation antiviral activities of the extracts from the seed, fruit skin and aerial parts of ten registered varieties Cicer arietinum (Chickpea) against Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and Parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) viruses. Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney and Vero cell lines were employed for antiviral assessment of the Cicer arientinum L. extracts, in which acyclovir for HSV-1 and oseltamivir for PI-3 were tested as reference drugs. This is the first report showing that C. arietinum seed extracts of Cse-5 possesses significant antiviral activity both of DNA (32 - 4 µg ml^-1) and RNA (32 - 16 µg ml^-1) viruses compared to the fruit skin and aerial part extracts as well as the controls. Besides, the extracts of fruit skin (Cfs-4) and aerial parts (Cap-5) showed remarkable activity against DNA viruses at 32 - 1 µg ml^-1.

Key words: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral activity, Cicer arietinum, chickpea.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Acute and sub-acute toxicological evaluation of the methanolic stem bark extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga in rats

O. A. Salawu¹, B. A. Chindo¹, A. Y. Tijani¹*, I. C. Obidike¹, T. A. Salawu² and A. James Akingbasote¹

¹Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

²Departments of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P.M.B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

Accepted 19 October, 2012

Abstract

Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel.) Benth. (Rubiaceae) widely used in Northern Nigeria for management of trypanosomiasis, malaria and pain, has been previously shown to possess analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-plasmodial effects. In the present study, acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of the methanolic stem bark extract of C. febrifuga were carried out in rats. Using modified lorkes (1983) method. In the sub acute toxicity study, 4 groups of 5 rats per group were used. Group 1 rats (control) received normal 10 ml normal saline/kg body weight while rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given daily doses of 250,500 and 1000 mg extract/kg body weight for 28 days. The effect of the extracts on feed intake, water intake and body weight changes, haematological and biochemical parameters as well as histological studies of vital organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, spleen and gonads) were assessed. Treatment related mortality was observed in the rats at a dose of 4000 mg/kg orally and 600 mg/kg intraperitoneally in the acute toxicity study. The oral and the intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD₅₀) values of the extract were calculated to be 2828.48 and 471.17 mg/kg body weight respectively. The extract at 500 and 1000 mg extractkg body weight doses produced significant (P < 0.05) decrease in fluid and feed intake, as well as body weight. The haematological parameters were normal except a significant (P < 0.05) increase in platelet counts observed at all dose levels used. At 1000 mg extract/ kg body weight dose, the extract exerted a significant (P < 0.05) decrease that lies within the normal range values of serum aspartate, alanine transaminase and creatinine levels for this animal species. Histological findings indicated possible toxicity in the Liver, Lungs, Kidney, Testes and Uterus At 1000 mg/kg. These results suggest that oral administration of C. Febrifuga may not produce severe toxic effects at doses lower than 500mg extract/kg body weight.

Key words: Crossopteryx febrifuga, sub-acute toxicity, haematology, biochemical and histopathology.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of anti arthritic potential of Hybanthus enneaspermus

S. Tripathy*, S. P. Sahoo, D. Pradhan, S. Sahoo and D. K. Satapathy

Department of pharmacology, University department of pharmacology, Utkal University, Orissa, India.

Accepted 19 October, 2012

Abstract

The effect of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the whole plant of Hybanthus enneaspermus Muell (Violaceae) on freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis was evaluated. The percentage of yield was found to be 12.8 and 10.6% for alcoholic and aqueous extracts respectively. Both the extracts significantly (p < 0.001) decrease the paw thickness at the end of 30 days treatment. Though in acute phase inflammation both of them show the same potency in chronic phase alcoholic extract exhibit more potency than the aqueous extracts. At the end of the studies the alcoholic extract shows more pronounce effect (59.4%) as comparable to aqueous extract (57.4%). The phytochemical analysis revels the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, carbohydrates and tannins in the extracts. The increase in body weight was observed in tested animals as comparable to the control. This result support the folkore use of this plant against the inflammmatory conditions like arthritis.

Key words: Hybanthus enneaspermus, adjuvant induced arthritis, whole plant, acute and chronic phase inflammation, body weight.