Abida Latif

A review of the literature and latest advances in research of Piper sarmentosum

Context: Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (Piperaceae) is a traditional medicinal as well as a culinary plant in South East Asian countries, whereby aerial parts of the plant are consumed as a vegetable in various forms and the whole plant or parts are used as folk remedies, alone or in combination with other herbs, to treat various ailments. The plant has extensively been investigated in a broad range of studies to provide scientific evidence for folklore claims or to find new therapeutic uses; however, heretofore, a summary of the data are not available. Objective: In order to describe nutritional and therapeutic potential of P. sarmentosum and summarize scientific evidence that supports traditional claims, a literature review and latest advances in research of the plant are given herein. Materials and methods: The literature has been retrieved from a number of databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, Science Direct and SciFinder. The articles related to synthetic work, ecology and agriculture have been excluded. Results and discussion: The review has not only revealed a number of pharmacological activities supporting the traditional claims but indicates new prospects for the plant. Antiangiogenic activity and toxicity studies suggest the usage of the plant in treating diseases involving neo-vascularization. The available efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic and stability data urge clinical studies on extracts of the plant. Conclusion: The present review may be helpful to future researchers intending to investigate the plant and natural pharmaceutical industry for preparing evidence-based formulations.

Determination of Cyanide in Biological and Non-biological Matrices by Headspace Gas Chromatography coupled to Flame- Ionization Detector

A simple, rapid and reliable method for quantitation of cyanide was developed on a headspace gas chromatograph coupled to a flame ionization detector using a HP-Innovax (Polyethylene glycol bonded) column on an Agilent 7890A GC. Cyanide in blood or other matrices was liberated by conversion of potassium cyanide to the volatile hydrogen cyanide (HCN) through addition of 5N sulfuric acid in a headspace vial and analyzed using an Agilent G1888 headspace auto-sampler. HCN gas diffuses into the headspace above the specimen in a sealed vial based on Henry’s Law of partial pressure.

Glutathione sulfotransferase inhibition activity of a self-fermented beverage, Kanji

Abstract Context: Kanji, a liquid preparation of roots of Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang. var. vavilovii Mazk. (Apiaceae), may inhibit glutathione sulfotransferase (GST) activity due to ferulic acid content. Objectives: GST inhibition activity and characterization of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots, and oral absorption pattern of ferulic acid from Kanji in rats. Materials and methods: GST inhibition activity of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots in concentration range 0.001–100.00 mg/mL was determined using Sprague Dawley rat liver cytosolic fraction. Methanol extract upon column chromatography gave ferulic acid, which was used to characterize Kanji and determine its oral absorption pattern in Wistar rats. Results: The GST inhibition activity of Kanji (100.00 μg/mL), methanol extract of D. carota roots (100.00 μg/mL) and tannic acid (10.00 μg/mL, positive control) was found to be 0.162 ± 0.016, 0.106 ± 0.013 and 0.073 ± 0.004 μM/min/mg, respectively. Different Kanji samples and methanol extract contained ferulic acid (0.222–0.316 mg/g) and 0.77 mg/g, respectively. Ferulic acid did not appear in plasma after oral administration of Kanji. Discussion: Kanji having solid contents 80.0 μg/mL, equivalent to 0.0025 μg/mL ferulic acid, does not inhibit the activity of GST. The oral administration of Kanji, in human equivalent dose (528 mg/kg, 16.67 μg ferulic acid), to rats indicated poor absorption of ferulic acid. Conclusion: Kanji having solid contents 14–36 mg/mL does not inhibit GST activity, hence may not interfere with drugs that are the substrates of GST, if taken concomitantly.

Chemical and pharmacological comparison of modern and traditional dosage forms of Joshanda

Abstract Recently, a traditional remedy (Joshanda) has been replaced largely by modern ready-to-use dosage forms, which have not been compared to the original remedy. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare a number of modern dosage forms with traditional remedy. Seven brands, 3 batches each, were compared with a Lab-made formulation with reference to analytical (proximate analyses, spectroscopic and chromatographic metabolomes) and pharmacological profiles (anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities). Chemical and pharmacological differences were found between Lab-made Joshanda and modern dosage forms. Such variations were also found within the brands and batches of modern formulations (p < 0.05). The Lab-made Joshanda showed significantly higher pharmacological activities as compared to modern brands (p ). The results of the present study indicate that modern dosage forms are unstandardised and less effective than the traditional remedy. Characteristic profiles obtained from Lab-made Joshanda may be used as reference to produce comparable dosage forms.

Effect of cellulose acetate phthalate and polyethylene glycol on physical properties and release of theophylline from microcapsules

O presente estudo descreve o desenvolvimento de microcapsulas de teofilina pelo metodo sem adicao de solvente e o efeito da adicao de plastificante na microencapsulacao. A liberacao foi estudada em agua destilada e os dados foram analisados por varios modelos matematicos para determinacao do mecanismo de liberacao. As microcapsulas preparadas mostraram-se esfericas, livres de corrente e com mais de 80% de farmaco encapsulado. O polimero - ftalato de acetato de celulose e o plastificante - polietileno glicol - afetaram as propriedades das microcapsulas, incluindo a liberacao do farmaco (tempo para liberacao de 50% do farmaco, T50). A formulacao com a maior proporcao de polimero e sem plastificante (F3) se mostrou como a de liberacao mais lenta, com T50 = 4,3 h, enquanto as formulacoes com menor proporcao de polimero e 20% de plastificante (m/m) (F13 &14) apresentaram a liberacao mais rapida do farmaco, com T50 de 1,2 h e 1,3 h, respectivamente. A liberacao do farmaco para a maioria das formulacoes seguiu o modelo de Higuchi. Concluiu-se, dos resultados do presente estudo, que o ftalato do acetato de celulose afeta significativamente a liberacao controlada do farmaco em agua, enquanto que a adicao de polietileno glicol aumenta ligeiramente a liberacao do farmaco.