Annie Shirwaikar

Alcoholic Stem Extract of Coscinium fenestratum Regulates Carbohydrate Metabolism and Improves Antioxidant Status in Streptozotocin–Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats

Alcoholic extract of the stems of Coscinium fenestratum, a medicinal plant indigenous to India and Sri Lanka used in ayurveda and siddha medicine for treating diabetes, was studied for its carbohydrate metabolism effect and antioxidant status in streptozotocin–nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetic rats. Oral administration of C. fenestratum stem extract in graded doses caused a significant increase in enzymatic antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione synthetase, peroxidase, and glutathione peroxidase and in the nonenzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid, ceruloplasmin and tocopherol. Effects of alcoholic extract on glycolytic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and hexokinase showed a significant increase in their levels, whereas a significant decrease was observed in the levels of gluconeogenic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase in treated diabetic rats. Serum creatinine and urea levels also declined significantly. This investigation demonstrates significant antidiabetic activity of C. fenestratum.

Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. (white turmeric): a review of its chemical, pharmacological and ethnomedicinal properties.

OBJECTIVES Curcuma zedoaria Rosc is a perennial herb found in tropical countries, such as India, Japan and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as diarrhoea, cancer, flatulence and dyspepsia. This study is an attempt to compile an up-to-date and comprehensive review of C. zedoaria that covers its traditional and folk medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. KEY FINDINGS Research carried out using different in-vitro and in-vivo techniques of biological evaluation supports most of the claims. SUMMARY This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological data of the plant.

Novel Co-Processed Excipients of Mannitol and Microcrystalline Cellulose for Preparing Fast Dissolving Tablets of Glipizide

Co-processed particles of microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol were fabricated by spray drying technique to be used as a direct compression excipient in fast dissolving tablet formulation. Microcrystalline cellulose passed through sieve no.80, having a volumetric mean diameter (d 50 ) of 28.35 µm, was used to form composite particles with powdered mannitol which was previously passed through sieve no. 80, in various mixing ratios. The composite particles were evaluated for their powder and compression properties. An increase in the microcrystalline cellulose proportion imparted greater compressibility to the composite particles, but the flowability of these mixtures was decreased. Although microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol have been extensively used in the formulation of fast dissolving tablets, the non-wetting property of the hard compact central core may delay the disintegration time. Optimized co-processed formulation containing mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose in the ratio of 1.25:1 was found to have optimized powder and compressibility characteristics with fast disintegrating property (<15 s). Photomicrographs have shown that the mannitol crystals are fine and uniformly distributed in the microcrystalline matrix in spray dried form compared to physical mixture of the same combination. The fast disintegration may be due to the partial amorphization and formation of submicron particles of mannitol. These results indicated that improved fast dissolving tablets could be prepared by the co-processed mixture of microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol. Finally fast dissolving tablets of glipizide were prepared by blending with other excipients and compressed into tablets. Sensory study on disintegration time and mouth feel attributes ranked the present formulation based on grittiness, chalkiness and overall preference as the best.

Hepatoprotective potential of Fumaria indica Pugsley whole plant extracts, fractions and an isolated alkaloid protopine

The present investigation demonstrates the hepatoprotective potential of 50% ethanolic water extract of whole plant of Fumaria indica and its three fractions viz., hexane, chloroform and butanol against d-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The hepatoprotection was assessed in terms reduction in histological damage, changes in serum enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, ALP) and metabolites bilirubin, reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA content). Among fractions more than 90% protection was found with butanol fraction in which alkaloid protopine was quantified as highest i.e. about 0.2mg/g by HPTLC. The isolated protopine in doses of 10-20mg p.o. also proved equally effective hepatoprotectants as standard drug silymarine (single dose 25mg p.o.). In general all treatments excluding hexane fraction proved hepatoprotective at par with silymarine (p<or=0.01).

Herbal excipients in novel drug delivery systems

The use of natural excipients to deliver the bioactive agents has been hampered by the synthetic materials. However advantages offered by these natural excipients are their being non-toxic, less expensive and freely available. The performance of the excipients partly determines the quality of the medicines. The traditional concept of the excipients as any component other than the active substance has undergone a substantial evolution from an inert and cheap vehicle to an essential constituent of the formulation. Excipients are any component other than the active substance(s) intentionally added to formulation of a dosage form. This article gives an overview of herbal excipients which are used in conventional dosage forms as well as novel drug delivery systems.

Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Ageratum conyzoides Linn. extract in mice exposed to different doses of gamma radiation

The effect of various doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 300, 600 and 900 mg kg−1) of the alcoholic extract of the plant Ageratum conyzoides Linn. (ACE), on the alteration of radiation‐induced mortality in mice exposed to 10 Gy of gamma radiation was studied. The acute toxicity studies showed that the drug was non‐toxic up to a dose of 3000 mg kg−1, the highest dose that could be tested for acute toxicity. Administration of ACE resulted in a dose‐dependent decline in radiation‐induced mortality up to a dose of 75 mg kg−1, the dose at which the highest number of survivors (70.83%) was observed. Thereafter, the number of survivors declined with increasing doses of ACE and a nadir was reached at 900 mg kg−1 ACE. Since the number of survivors was highest for 75 mg kg−1 ACE, this was considered the optimum dose for radioprotection and used in further studies in which mice were treated with 75 mg kg−1 ACE before exposure to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 Gy of gamma radiation. The treatment of mice with 75 mg kg−1 ACE reduced the severity of symptoms of radiation sickness and mortality at all exposure doses, and a significant increase in survival was observed compared with the non‐treated irradiated group. The ACE treatment effectively protected mice against the gastrointestinal as well as bone marrow related death, as revealed by the increased number of survivors at all irradiation doses. The dose reduction factor was found to be 1.3. To understand the mechanism of action, various doses of ACE were evaluated for their in‐vitro scavenging action on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a chemically stable free radical. ACE was found to scavenge DPPH radicals in a concentration‐dependent manner, indicating that the radioprotection afforded by ACE may be in part due to the scavenging of reactive oxygen species induced by ionizing radiation.

Oral Antidiabetic Activity of Annona squamosa Leaf Alcohol Extract in NIDDM Rats

The leaf alcohol extract of the plant Annona squamosa was investigated for its antidiabetic activity. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced with standardised doses of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Graded doses of the leaf alcohol extract suspended in gum acacia were administered to normal and experimental diabetic rats for 12 days. Fasting plasma glucose levels, serum insulin levels, serum lipid profiles and changes in body weight were evaluated in normal rats while liver glycogen levels and pancreatic TBARS levels were evaluated additionally in diabetic rats. The diabetic groups treated with the leaf alcohol extract were compared with standard glibenclamide. The findings showed the significant antidiabetic potential of the extract in ameliorating the diabetic conditions in diabetic rats. No significant effects were found in the normal rats.

Antidiabetic properties of the alcoholic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus in streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats.

We have investigated the possible antihyperglycaemic effects of Sphaeranthus indicus extract in rats rendered diabetic by nicotinamide (120 mgkg−1 i.p.) and streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mgkg−1 i.p). Fasting plasma glucose levels, serum insulin levels, serum lipid profiles, magnesium levels, glycosylated haemoglobin, changes in body weight and liver glycogen levels were evaluated in normal and diabetic rats. Oral administration of S. indicus for 15 days resulted in significant decrease in blood glucose levels and increases in hepatic glycogen and plasma insulin levels. Fasting normal rats treated with the alcoholic extract of S. indicus showed significant improvement in oral glucose tolerance test. Glibenclamide was used as a reference standard. The findings demonstrate that the alcoholic S. indicus extract may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Simultaneous UV spectrophotometric estimation of ambroxol hydrochloride and levocetirizine dihydrochloride

A novel, simple, sensitive and rapid spectrophotometric method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of ambroxol hydrochloride and levocetirizine dihydrochloride. The method involved solving simultaneous equations based on measurement of absorbance at two wavelengths 242 nm and 231 nm, the γ max of ambroxol hydrochloride and levocetirizine dihydrochloride, respectively. Beers law was obeyed in the concentration range 10–50 μg/ml and 8–24 μg/ml for ambroxol hydrochloride and levocetirizine dihydrochloride respectively. Results of the method were validated statistically and by recovery studies.

Simultaneous Estimation of Esomeprazole and Domperidone by UV Spectrophotometric Method.

A novel, simple, sensitive and rapid spectrophotometric method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of esomeprazole and domperidone. The method involved solving simultaneous equations based on measurement of absorbance at two wavelengths, 301 nm and 284 nm, λ max of esomeprazole and domperidone respectively. Beers law was obeyed in the concentration range of 5-20 μg/ml and 8-30 μg/ml for esomeprazole and domperidone respectively. The method was found to be precise, accurate, and specific. The proposed method was successfully applied to estimation of esomeprazole and domperidone in combined solid dosage form.