International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Role of Glycyrrhizin in Modulating Secretory Component Expression in Caco-2 Cells

Jin-long Fu^1,2, Yu-rong Wang¹, Ying Zhou¹ and Pei Liu¹*

¹Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China.
²Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China.

Accepted 14 September, 2024

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether glycyrrhizin, with steroid hormone-like effects, can upregulate expression of secretory component (SC) in human colonic epithelial Caco-2 and to explore its underlying mechanism. Cultures of Caco-2 were exposed to glycyrrhizin. Free SC in culture supernatants, SC protein, and SC mRNA expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot, real-time PCR, respectively. Cultures of Caco- 2 were exposed to RU486, a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist, combined with glycyrrhizin or dexamethasone (DEX), SC protein and SC mRNA expression were examined. Glycyrrhizin dose-dependently upregulated free SC in culture supernatants, SC mRNA and protein expression of SC (p<0.05). RU486 could inhibit DEX effects on SC expression (p<0.05), but did not inhibit glycyrrhizin effects on SC expression ( p>0.05). The present study indicates that glycyrrhizin has a glucocorticoid-like upregulated effect on SC production in Caco-2 cells. It is likely that this effect is different from the mechanism of glucocorticoids.

Key words: Licorice, glucocorticoid, polymeric Ig receptor, glucocorticoid receptor.
 

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 13 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors Influencing Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Pulmonology Patients: Age, Hospital Stay, and Polypharmacy

Mohammad Ismail1, Zafar Iqbal¹*, Muhammad Bilal Khattak², Arshad Javaid³ and Tahir Mehmood Khan⁴

¹Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan.
²Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH), Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan.
³Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI), Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan.
⁴College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 22 July, 2024

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify prevalence, types and predictors of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in pulmonology ward and to report common interactions. Medical records of 400 randomly-selected patients were reviewed for pDDIs using Micromedex Drug-Reax software. Logistic-regression was applied to determine predictors of pDDIs. We identified 126 interacting-combinations that encountered in total 558 pDDIs with median number of 01 pDDI per patient. Overall 45% patients had at least one pDDI; 24.25% were having at least one major pDDI, and 36% patients had at least one moderate pDDI. Among 558 identified pDDIs, most were of moderate (53.6%) or major severity (34%); good (74.2%) or fair (16.3%) type of scientific-evidence; and delayed onset (70%). Top 15 common pDDIs included 6 major, 7 moderate and 2 minor interactions. There was significant association of the occurrence of pDDIs with patient with age of 60 years or more (p <0.001), hospital stay of 7 days or longer (p = 0.01) and taking 7 or more drugs (p <0.001). We have recorded a high prevalence of pDDIs in pulmonology ward, most of which were of moderate severity. Patients with old age, long hospital stay and increased number of drugs were more exposed to pDDIs.

Key words: Drug-drug interactions, potential drug-drug interaction, prescriptions screening, drug related problems, clinical pharmacy.
 

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 13 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Understanding the Knowledge Gap in Antimalarial Treatments: A Study of Self-Medication Trends Among Women in Nigeria

Jombo G. T. A.¹*, Mbaawuaga E. M. ², Denen Akaa P.^3, Alao O. O.^4, Peters E. J^.5, Dauda M. A.6, Okwori E. E.¹, Akosu T. J.^7, Etukumana E. A.⁸ and Yaakugh J. B¹

¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, P. M. B.
102119, Makurdi, Nigeria.
²Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Benue State University, P. M. B. 102119, Makurdi, Nigeria.
³Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, P. M. B.
102119, Makurdi, Nigeria.
⁵Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria.
⁶Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
⁷Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
⁸Department of Family Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Uyo, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 August, 2024

Abstract

Correct knowledge of current antimalarial drugs available for malaria treatment by Nigerians has a significant impact on the overall success of the ongoing national malaria control programme. This is as a result of a large segment of the communities, who more often than not, rely on self medications or as care givers influence the choice drugs for malaria treatment for their wards. The study was therefore set up to ascertain the types of drugs used for self medication of malaria among adult women in Makurdi city. The study was cross-sectional in nature involving adult women who were selected from households using systematic sampling methods. Quantitative information such as age, educational level, marital status, occupation and knowledge of malaria were obtained using structured and semi structured questionnaires, while qualitative information was obtained using focussed and in-depth group discussions to complement quantitative data. Those aware of existence of malaria were 97% (2,013/2075) with no significant age difference (P > 0.05) while 3.0% (62/2,075) with no knowledge of malaria all had no education (P < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between low economic status, low educational level and unemployment, and self medications for malaria (RR = 1.4 - 1.55). Several drugs with no antimalarial properties were mentioned by the respondents with the factors earlier stated still playing significant roles; and little or no mention was made of the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) by the same group (P < 0.05). There should be a renewed sensitization and public awareness about the current trend in the control of malaria with special emphasis on the use of ACT; also introduction of home managers of malaria for commencement of intermittent preventive treatment should be considered a priority.

Key words: Drugs, self-medication, malaria, adult women.
 

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Properties of Mentha piperita Essential Oil: Insights from Capillary Gas Chromatography Analysis

M. Moghtader

Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.

Accepted 22 July, 2024

Abstract

The antifungal activity of Mentha piperita L. essential oil and its comparison with synthetic menthol on Aspergillus niger growth have been determined in vitro. The chemical compositions of essential oil of M. piperita provided from the aerial parts of plants grown in a village in Kerman Province in June 2012 were determined. The sample was cleaned and then dried in the shade. Essential oil was made by hydro-distillation method and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) using flame ionization (FID) and capillary gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main oil content from the plants of M. piperita was 3.26% (v/w). Twenty three (23) compounds were identified in the essential oil of M. piperita, making 96.25% of the total oil. The major components were menthol (38.33%), menthone (21.45%) and menthyl acetate (12.49%). For study of antifungal activity, the essential oil was tested against A. niger (strain PTCC = 5223) by disc diffusion method via average inhibition zone. The results showed that essential oil from M. piperita at 1 and 1/2 oil dilutions exhibited a strong antifungal activity than gentamycin (8 mg/ml) antibiotic on A. niger and exhibited a strong synthetic menthol at 10% dilution. The relative high amount of menthol and menthone in the M. piperita essential oil showed that they could display antifungal activity.

Key words: Mentha piperita L., Aspergillus niger, menthol, antifungal activity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-003, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Evaluating the Efficacy of Xylazine, Ketamine, and Atropine in Sheep for Veterinary Pharmacology Instruction

Rogelio Cruz Cruz*, Armando Cuesta Guillen and Daniel Hussien

College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P. O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia.

Accepted 19 May, 2024

Abstract

The current research was conducted with the objective of developing a practical laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology course, specifically for the purpose of evolving a practical part of the theory in the chapter of general anesthetics. The practice of the evaluation of drugs acting on the central nervous system in this discipline has difficulty with the choice of experimental model, because sometimes there are no laboratory animals such as rats, mice or rabbits; however, it is possible to use larger animals such as sheep. In this paper, we demonstrated that sheep is a suitable experimental model for demonstrating the action of drugs that produce sedation and anesthesia. The effects by the action of xylazine, ketamine and atropine can be produced in about 60 min which corresponds to time allotted in a teaching practice. Therefore, the authors recommended other sister colleges in Ethiopia and elsewhere in the world to use sheep as experimental model for demonstration of general anesthesia for their students.

Key words: Anesthetics, drugs, central nervous system, sheep.
 

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN 2326-7267 Vol. 13 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Formulation and Pharmacological Assessment of Indomethacin Tablets Using Solidified Reverse Micellar Solutions: Implications for Pain Management

Salome Amarachi Chime¹*, Ikechukwu V. Onyishi¹, Mumuni A. Momoh² and Anthony A. Attama²

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria.
²Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria.

Accepted 30 April, 2024

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vivo the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and ulcerogenic properties of indomethacin tablets based on solidified reverse micellar solution (SRMS). SRMS consisting of mixtures of phospholipid (Phospholipon® 90H) and triglyceride (Softisan® 154) were prepared in the ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. SRMS based tablets containing 75 mg of indomethacin each were prepared using validated plastic mould. The physicochemical properties of the tablet formulations were studied using both official and unofficial tests. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic/antinociceptive and ulcerogenic properties of indomethacin tablets based on SRMS were studied. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the tablet formulations were significantly affected by the composition/ratio of the lipid matrix used. The softening time in SIF ranged from 53.7 ± 0.5 to 102.6 ± 0.5 min. Results of analgesic/antinociceptive properties showed that indomethacin tablets formulated with the SRMS 1:1 had an increase in pain reaction time at 7 h significantly (p < 0.05) different from the results exhibited by tablets formulated with the lipid matrices, SRMS 1:2 and 2:1 and the reference, which showed a decrease in pain reaction time at 7 h. Indomethacin tablets based on SRMS had good anti-inflammatory properties and also inhibited the ulcerogenicity of indomethacin by 70 to 80%. Therefore, indomethacin tablets based on SRMS could be used for improved oral bioavailability of indomethacin and to enhance patient’s compliance due to inhibition of gastric irritation effect of this drug.

Key words: Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), solidified reverse micellar solutions (SRMS), tablets, ulcerogenicity, antinociception, lipids.