Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Sep 2016

Onychomycosis constitutes the most common fungal infection of nail affecting finger and toe nails as well. Antifungals found to be effective in the treatment of onychomycosis. However, transport of oral antifungal agents exhibits more toxicity and requires longer treatment period. Medicated nail lacquers proved to cause lesser toxicity and required shorter treatment period. It provides not only finger/toe nail infection therapy and but also act as a protection for nails. Thus, the objective behind the present investigation was to develop nail lacquer for transungual delivery of tolnaftate. Its potency had been assessed by evaluating penetration efficiency across the bovine hoof membrane. Preliminary studies aided the optimization of thioglycolic acid as permeation enhancer (HEFmax 0.60 ± 0.377) and menthol as local anaesthetic. n-butanol:isopropyl alcohol with optimum drying time of 60 sec was selected as optimum solvent system. In total nine formulations were developed based on 32 full factorial design and characterized for drying time, non-volatile content, in vitro adhesion and permeation study. Based on highest desirability, F6 was selected as an optimized formulation and evaluated for viscosity, stability and antifungal activity. Optimized formulation exhibited optimum viscosity and stability for 1 month period. Better antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans in comparison to the control formulation. Thus, it can be concluded from the investigation that nail lacquer could proved to be a better alternative for transungual delivery of tolnaftate.

It is an increased interest in the therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa L. (marijuana) for treatment of multiple sclerosis and HIV neuropathy. Because of limitation in cultivation of this plant, an efficient hairy root induction system for Cannabis sativa L. was developed in the present study. Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation performed by two different co-cultivation mediums and four different bacterial strains including A4, ATCC15834, MSU440, and A13 (MAFF-02-10266). Genomic DNA from putative transgenic hairy root lines and the control root was extracted using a modified CTAB protocol. Molecular analysis of transformed root lines was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers of the rolB gene. The transformation frequency by Murashige and Skoog co-cultivation medium resulting in hairy root induction frequencies of 42.3%, 46.3%, 68.6% and 39.3% by A4, ATCC15834, MSU440, and A13 strains, respectively. There was no significant difference between MS or ½ MS co-cultivation mediums. This study established a reliable protocol for induction of hairy roots of C. sativa. The best A. rhisogenes strain was MSU440. It was observed no significant difference between MS and ½ MS co-cultivation mediums on transformation frequency.

Febrile convulsions (FC) are the most common neurologic disorder in children 6-60 months of age. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) play role as cofactors in more than 300 enzymatic activities significantly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship serum levels of Zn and Cu with seizure occurrence in febrile children. In this case-control study, 270 children with 6 month to 6 years were evaluated. The patients were enrolled in three groups: a) children with febrile convulsion, b) febrile children without convulsion and c) healthy ones. After recording of all patients’ characteristics, 5 mL blood was taken from peripheral vessels at the first 12 hours of hospitalization. Absorption of all samples was read by BRAIC (Rayleigh instrument) company, WFX-130 model with calibration diagram, considering samples dilution levels. The mean of serum Zn levels in children with FC were significantly lower than other two groups. Mean serum Cu levels in children with FC and non-FC patients were significantly higher than healthy children. No meaningful differences were observed in serum levels of Zn and Cu among the girl or boy cases. This study showed significant lower serum zinc level in children with febrile seizure and meaningful higher serum copper level than control group cases. There was no significant difference in level of serum zinc and copper in term of sex.

Acute venous congestion leads to blood stasis in the tissue and impaired blood perfusion. Using medicinal leech is an old method for reducing tissue congestion. There are numerous factors in leech saliva and hirudin that have important roles in the leeching beneficial effect. In this study, an animal study was performed to compare leech therapy with heparin therapy in the treatment of acute venous congestion. Thirty male rats were divided into three groups. In the first group, an acute venous congestion was induced at the thigh. Decongestion was performed through the touch of hirudo medicinalis leech. In the second group, heparin sodium was injected, after tourniquet removal. Eventually, no treatment or procedure was performed in the third group after opening of tourniquet. Histopathological and biochemical analysis were performed in these rat. Edema size in heparin therapy and control groups was significantly greater than leech therapy group. Creatine phosphokinase blood level in leech therapy group was significantly lower than the control group, but this difference was unobserved between heparin therapy and control. In contrast, the level of lactate dehydrogenase and aldolase greatly increased in the control group, which received no intervention. Also in histopathological assessment, the level of tissue damage in both heparin and leech therapy groups showed a significant decrease as compared to the control group. Leech therapy can probably be more effective in the reducing of cellular damage caused by acute tissue congestion as compare to heparin therapy.

This study quantitatively estimated heavy metals as cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel (Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni) using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in ten lipstick products sold by local markets in Sari, Mazandaran State, Iran. All the samples were digested in HNO3 and HClO4 and then evaluated for heavy metal contents. All the concentrations are mean value of triplicate experiments for each sample. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post-hoc tests were used to determine significant variations in heavy metal contents and p

Ezetimide belongs to a class of lipid lowering compounds that selectively inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol and related phytosterols. The purpose of this study is to establish a reliable and quick method for the assignment of ezetimibe in tablets form by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). A rapid and sensitive HPLC method has been developed for determination of ezetimibe in tablets formulation. Mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (10 mM, pH 3.0), 75:25 (v/v) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The eluted peaks were detected by a UV detector was set at wavelength of 240 nm. The method results in excellent separation with good resolution of analyte. Standard curves were linear (r = 0.996) over the wide ezetimibe concentration range of 10-60.0 µg mL-1 with acceptable accuracy and precision. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of the method were 5 and 10 µg/ml, respectively. The average drug recovery was 95.3% throughout the linear concentration range. Statistical assessment of various in vitro dissolution parameters and assay results was also conducted to establish if there were any significant difference among them. The validated HPLC method has been used successfully to study ezetimibe. Due to simplicity, rapidity and accuracy of the method, we believe that the method will be useful for routine quality control analysis.

The therapeutic potential of crude extracts of aerial parts (stem, leaves and flowers) of Tridax procumbens was screened for in vitro antioxidant potential and alpha amylase inhibitory action. The crude hydro-methanolic, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts were obtained by percolation-maceration method using 50% methanol, double distilled water and petroleum ether as solvents. Phytochemical screening of these extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, phenols, steroids and carbohydrate. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated for free radical scavenging by hydrogen peroxide scavenging and superoxide scavenging potential. The in vitro alpha amylase inhibition action of hydro-methanolic extract of aerial parts of the plant (HMETP) was evaluated for hypoglycemic properties using starch as substrate. Mode of inhibition of the enzyme was also determined. The results indicated that hydro-methanolic extract showed significant antioxidant potency at concentration of 25-80 μg as compared to aqueous and petroleum ether extracts and also possess alpha amylase inhibitory property. Hence it can be suggested that hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Tridax procumbens has potential as an antioxidant and probably in biological systems as a nutraceutical for hypoglycemia.