Amrita Mishra

Oleandrin: A cardiac glycosides with potent cytotoxicity

Cardiac glycosides are used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and arrhythmia. Current trend shows use of some cardiac glycosides in the treatment of proliferative diseases, which includes cancer. Nerium oleander L. is an important Chinese folk medicine having well proven cardio protective and cytotoxic effect. Oleandrin (a toxic cardiac glycoside of N. oleander L.) inhibits the activity of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B chain (NF-κB) in various cultured cell lines (U937, CaOV3, human epithelial cells and T cells) as well as it induces programmed cell death in PC3 cell line culture. The mechanism of action includes improved cellular export of fibroblast growth factor-2, induction of apoptosis through Fas gene expression in tumor cells, formation of superoxide radicals that cause tumor cell injury through mitochondrial disruption, inhibition of interleukin-8 that mediates tumorigenesis and induction of tumor cell autophagy. The present review focuses the applicability of oleandrin in cancer treatment and concerned future perspective in the area.

Development of ultraviolet spectroscopic method for the estimation of metronidazole benzoate from pharmaceutical formulation

Background: The present study was undertaken with an objective to develop a simple, accurate, cost-effective and reproducible ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for the estimation of metronidazole benzoate (MB) from pharmaceutical formulations. Materials and Methods: The analysis was performed on λmax 268 nm by using 0.1 NHCl as diluents. The proposed method was validated on International Conference Harmonization guideline including the parameters viz., accuracy, linearity, precision, specificity and reproducibility. The proposed method was also used to access the content of MB in two commercial brands of Indian market. Results: Beers law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1-10 μg/ml having regression equation y = 0.078 x-0.012. The accuracy value for 4 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml concentration of MB was found to be 99.37% and 98.9% respectively. The relative standard deviation of interday and intraday was lesser than 1%. The developed method was applied on two different marketed brands and contents of MB were found to be 98.62% and 98.59% incompliance with labeled claim. The results were under the limit of acceptance statistically. Conclusion: It was concluded that the proposed method can be used for routine analysis of MB in bulk and commercial formulations.

Assessment of physical stability and photoprotective activity of topical formulations added with calendula oil

In the present work, the changes on physical properties (pH, viscosity, flow index and tixotropy) of topical formulations were evaluated following addition of calendula oil containing flavonoids. Also the photoprotective effect of these topical formulations were evaluated against ultra violet rays (UVR) induced sunburn in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). Formulation added with sun flower oil was used to compare the physical stability and photoprotective activity. Formulations added with calendula oil exhibited an average pH 7.2 and pseudoplastic behavior. The tixotropy values for formulations F3 and F4, after addition with calendula oil were found to be statistically decreased when compared with FS and Fb. The rheological parameters were constant during the study and the rheograms exhibited no sign of instability when studied at 4°, 27° and 40°C on different days of storage. The F3 and F4 samples showed statistically higher SPF (14 and 15 respectively) when compared with Fb (without active sunscreening agent). The highest SPF value 16 was recorded for FS (control formulation added with sun flower oil) while Fb showed lowest SPF vale 5. We concluded that F3, F4 and FS showed higher SPF and physical stability. This study of physical stability and photoprotectice activity of topical formulation can help in the development of sunscreen formulation.

Screening of acute and sub-chronic dermal toxicity of Calendula officinalis L essential oil

The objective of the study is to access the safety of Calendula essential oil by studying acute and sub-chronic dermal toxicity. The dermal toxicities of Calendula essential oil were evaluated in accordance with OECD guidelines number 402 and 411 respectively. The animals were exposed to Calendula officinalis (CO) essential oil dose of 20u202fmL/kg body weight for acute dermal toxicity, whereas for dermal sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were exposed to CO oil 2.5, 5 and 10u202fmL/kg body weight, respectively, for 7 times in a week for 90 days. The parameters studies included CNS stimulation, depression, hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Hb, Lymphocyte % etc), biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, ALP, AST, etc), relative organ weight, necropsy and histopathology. In toxicity studies, all animals exhibited normal behavior without any change in hematology, blood biochemistry, necroscopical and histopathology. The no observed effect level (NOEL) and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of CO oil were 2.5 and 10u202fmg/kg/day, respectively. CO oil is under the herbal medicinal product according to the European Medicines Agency with the claim of an LD50 value of 20u202fmL/kg body weight. The result indicates that CO essential oil did not produce any significant toxic effects.

Aripiprazole: An FDA Approved Bioactive Compound to treat schizophrenia-A Mini Review

OBJECTIVEnAripiprazole,a synthetic compound, obtained by chemical modification of the structure of quinolinone is considered as an atypical antipsychotic drug. The present review is an attempt to summarize the updated information related to reported chemistry and pharmacology of Aripiprazole.nnnDEVELOPMENTnAripiprazole, under development by Otsuka Pharmaceutical, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in the end months of 2002 to with an aim to treat patients with schizophrenia. This drug got approved by European Commission in February 2013 to treat the patients having severe manic episodes in bipolar I disorder Additionally, it got approval in Japan in January 2006 and in Canada in 2014. Pharmacology: Aripiprazole shows high specificity for dopamine receptor especially D2 and D3, serotonin 5-HT1A and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, reasonable specificity for dopamine D4, serotonin 5-HT2C and 5-HT7, alpha1-adrenergic and histamine H1 receptors. It also shows moderate specificity for the serotonin reuptake. The major side effects include headache, agitation, akithesia, anxiety, tachycardia, insomnia, postural hypotension, constipation, vomiting, dizziness, nervousness and somnolence.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe present article embarks the available information on Aripiprazole with emphasis on its clinical pharmacology, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, metabolism and clinical trials.

The chemistry and pharmacology of Cleome genus: A review

BACKGROUNDnSince ancient times, species of Cleome genus are used to cure various ailments in human beings and same is stated in traditional treatises. Each part of the plant has its own significance, therefore, in background of its significance, upto date information in systematic manner is required.nnnPURPOSEnThe present review embarks on variety of naturally occurring compounds that have been isolated from various species of Cleome genus. The present study furnishes an overview of all naturally isolated compounds diterpenes, triterpenoids, trinorterpenoids, flavonol glycoside, coumarinolignoids, dipyridodiazepinone, essential oils, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, carboxylic acid derivatives, lactone derivatives, sterols and pharmacological activities of various species of Cleome genus. These plants of Cleome genus are often used as conventional drugs to treat several ailments therefore information on analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, anticancer, anti-arthritic, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, wound healing and psychopharmacological activity etc were compiled.nnnMETHODnLiterature regarding the compounds isolated and pharmacological studies performed by various researchers in the last 40 years who worked on different species belonging to genus Cleome was summarized in the present review.nnnRESULTSnOn the basis of references, this review covers the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Cleome species, describing compounds previously reported current trends and future prospects.nnnCONCLUSIONnFrom a wellbeing point of view, species belonging toCleome genus presents an excellent option for curing variety of ailments in human beings due to its isolated phytocompounds that reveal significant biological activities or for developing a variety of new pharmaceutical products.nnnFUTURE PERSPECTIVEnThe observed pharmacological activities and no toxicity profile of extracts obtained from species of Cleome genus support the statement that these extracts might be used in the formation of new formulations that can be beneficial to treat various ailments.