Felipe Hugo Alencar Fernandes

Gallic Acid: Review of the Methods of Determination and Quantification

ABSTRACT Gallic acid (3,4,5 trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a secondary metabolite present in most plants. This metabolite is known to exhibit a range of bioactivities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. There are various methods to analyze gallic acid including spectrometry, chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis, among others. They have been developed to identify and quantify this active ingredient in most biological matrices. The aim of this article is to review the available information on analytical methods for gallic acid, as well as presenting the advantages and limitations of each technique.

Evaluation of compatibility between Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler extract and pharmaceutical excipients using analytical techniques associated with chemometric tools

Compatibility studies comprise an important step in pre-formulation since they allow the identification of the excipients most compatible with herbal extracts from different analytical techniques. The objective of this work is to evaluate the compatibility between the nebulized extract of S. brasiliensis Engler with pharmaceutical excipients using analytical techniques associated with chemometric tools. The extract was nebulized through aspersion and produced from the hydroalcoholic extract of the bark of S. brasiliensis Engler. Binary mixtures were produced in various proportions using the following pharmaceutical excipients: starch, microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel® 101 and 102), lactose, magnesium stearate, PVP K-30 and talc. The samples were analyzed by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction (XRD). With the data obtained from DSC curves, matrices for hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were made. Using microscopy, an amorphous formation and/or crystalline components could be seen. In DSC curves, as well as in PCA and HCA analyses, possible interactions were identified with starch, lactose and magnesium stearate. This was confirmed by XRD. The starch showed the greatest interaction. The results indicate that the DSC technique associated with chemometric tools contributed to a better interpretation of compatibility studies and that microcrystalline cellulose, PVP K-30 and talc were the most compatible excipients in relation to the extract.

Compatibility study of dry extract of Ximenia americana L. and pharmaceutical excipients used in solid state

Ximenia americana L. is a plant of the Olacaceae family, used in the treatment of infectious diseases. Dry extracts are API’s of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry and have been used as final and intermediate products, resulting in different pharmaceutical forms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the compatibility of dry extract of X. americana with pharmaceutical excipients used in the solid forms. The extract was obtained by spray dryer, and binary mixtures of the dry extract and pharmaceutical excipients were analyzed. The studies were obtained using thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and optical microscopy. With the data obtained from DSC curves, matrices for hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were made. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed changes in the mixtures’ profile with corn starch, lactose and magnesium stearate. Thermal behavior of the mixtures showed incompatibilities between the extract and lactose, corn starch and magnesium stearate. This study shows the importance of using instrumental analytical techniques in the early stages of development of herbal medicine to ensure the effectiveness, safety and quality of the final product.

An eco-friendly and low-cost method for the quantification of cefazolin sodium in powder for injectable solution using thin-layer chromatography assisted by digital images

Cefazolin sodium (CFZ) is a semi-synthetic first-generation cephalosporin used for the treatment of infections caused by Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative microorganisms. Although it is a drug used worldwide, there are only a few green analytical methods described in the literature for its quantification. This work proposes an eco-friendly, low-cost, and rapid analytical method to analyze CFZ in lyophilized powder for injectable solution based on digital images, using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). For the TLC method, the mobile phase was comprised of ethanol and water, and the spots revelation was performed using iodine vapors. The TLC spots were analyzed through digital images, obtained by flatbed scanner, and evaluated using the free software “The Gimp” (GNU Image Manipulation Program), by quantification of pixels in pictures. This method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and presented adequate linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. It also showed its selectivity and stability-indicating capability (under acid, alkaline, aqueous, oxidative, and photolytic stress conditions). This is an innovative, easy, and low-cost method that can be used for the analysis of cefazolin sodium in lyophilized powder. Considering that this method does not use toxic organic solvents for the environment and operators, it contributes to the development of green chemistry.