Kamran Ahmad Khan

Human skin, aging and antioxidants

All health care professionals should have basic information about the structure and function of human skin inorder to be able to determine any type of change in normal skin, diagnose present skin problems and prescribe possible treatment for risk factors. Skin is also called the cutaneous membrane or the integumentry system as it has several accessory organs. In adults the skin has a surface area ranging from 1.2 to 2.2 m≤ and weighs about 5 kg. The skin is about 7% of the total body weight with a thickness of 0.02 ″ to 0.16 ″ range in the average adult. This review of literature covers all the aspects of human skin. Moreover, mechanisms of skin aging are discussed as well as the role of various natural and synthetic antioxidants in protecting skin are covered in this review with sagacity of understanding.

Release pattern of three new polymers in Ketoprofen controlled-release tablets

The objective of the study was to formulate and evaluate sustained release polymeric tablets of ketoprofen for the release rate, release patterns and the mechanism involved in the release process of the drug. Formulations with three different types of newly synthesized polymers and one grade of ethyl cellulose ether derivatives (FP100 premium) in several drug-to-polymer ratios (D:P ratio 10:1, 10:2 and 10:3) were compressed into tablets using the direct compression method. They were examined for their physical properties and appearance. Tablets dimensional tests (thickness, diameter) and Q.C tests (hardness, friability, disintegration) were performed according to the USP methods. For in vitro drug release studies of Ketoprofen controlled release (CR) tablets, the USP Method-1 (Rotating Basket Method) was used with Pharma test dissolution apparatus (D-63512 Hainburg, Germany). The medium used for dissolution was phosphate buffer having a pH of 7.4 kept at constant temperature of 37±1°C. In order to analyze the drug release kinetics from each of the prepared matrices, five different mathematical models were applied to the release data including zero order kinetics, first order kinetics, Higuchi kinetics, Hixson Crowell kinetics and Korsmeyer Peppas equations were applied to the release data. The results obtained from different parameters showed that polymers: Polyglycolide, PGA-cocaprolactone, PGA-co-pentadecalactone and Ethocel FP100 premium can be used successfully in order to develop directly compressed prolonged release tablets of slightly soluble drugs such as ketoprofen. Particle size of polymer is a determining factor in controlling the release of ketoprofen from tablets. Ethocel standard FP100 polymers extend the release rates of drug more efficiently than the conventional granular form of the other three polymers. Further, the three new polymers and Ethocel FP100 could efficiently extend the release of the drugs as compared to the reference conventional formulation.

Botanical Description of Coleus forskohlii: A Review

Natural products continue to play a significant role in the detection and advancement of new pharmaceuticals as clinically useful drugs and as raw materials to produce synthetic drugs, or as lead compound from which a totally synthetic drug is designed. Coleus is a member of the mint family and native to India and grows in the subtropical temperate climates of India, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka and is a popular ornamental plant. Coleus plant have reputed medicinal uses including antiaggregant, anticancer, antidepressant, antidiuretic, antiglaucomic, antimetastatic, antispasmodic and bronchodilator. This article gives a comprehensive look on Coleus as a natural product and aims to present it in a brief manner for the researchers, botanists, pharmacognosists and herbalists to refresh their knowledge about Coleus.

Formulation and in-vitro evaluation of directly compressed controlled release matrices of Losartan Potassium using Ethocel Grade 100 as rate retarding agent

Current study was aimed to develop 200mg controlled release matrix tablets of Losartan Potassium using Ethocel 100 Premium and Ethocel 100 FP Premium as rate controlling polymer. In-vitro studies were performed according to USP Method-I in phosphate buffer (PH 6.8) using pharma test dissolution apparatus. The temperature of the dissolution medium was kept constant at 37±0.5°C at 100rpm. Flow properties, physical quality control tests, effect of polymer size and drug-to-polymers ratios were studied using different kinetics models such as 1st-order, zero-order, Hixon Crowell model, Highuchi model and Power law. Difference factor f1 and similarity factor f2 were applied for dissolution profiles against Cardaktin® tablets used as a reference formulation. The matrices with polymer ethocel 100 FP Premiums have prolonged the drug release rate as compared to polymer ethocel 100 Premiums. The n values matrices with polymer ethocel grade 100 ranged from 0.603 to 0.857 indicating that the drug release occurred by anomalous non fickian diffusion kinetics while then value of reference Cardaktin® tablet was measured as 0.125 indicating that these tablets do not follow power law. The dissolution profiles of test formulations were different than that of reference Cardaktin®. This suggests the polymer Ethocel grade 100 can be proficiently incorporated in fabrication and development of once a day controlled release matrix tablets.

Glutathione role in gallium induced toxicity

Metallo-elements have strong affinity for sulfhydryl group (-SH) of glutathione (GSH) present in tissues. It is very important and interesting to study the reaction of gallium nitrate and glutathione as biomarker of glutathione role in detoxification and conjugation in whole blood components (plasma and cytosolic fraction). The effect of gallium nitrate different concentrations was examined on GSH present in whole blood components. Decrease in GSH level was dependant on gallium nitrate concentration. The decrease in GSH level of whole blood components was more prominent with the time of incubation of gallium nitrate. Decrease in the concentration of reduced glutathione may be due to the interaction of reduce glutathione and gallium nitrate to form oxidized glutathione (GSSG) or gallium-glutathione complex. This change in GSH metabolic status provides information regarding the role of GSH in detoxification of gallium nitrate. The effect of gallium metal on glutathione in blood components was discussed in this study in in vitro condition as a model for in vivo condition. Key words: Gallium nitrate, reduced glutathione (GSH), whole blood, plasma, cytosolic fraction (CF), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), Di-thiobis- dinitro-benzoic acid (DTNB).

Formulation and In-Vitro Evaluation of Controlled Release Matrix Tablets of Diltiazem Hydrochloride Using Different Rate Controlling Polymers

In present study, directly compressed controlled released matrix tablets of Diltiazem Hydrochloride were formulated at drug-to-polymer ratios (D: P) of 10:1, 10:2, 10:3 using polymers Ethocel 45 Premium, K100 LV Methocel, K15M EP Premium Methocel as rate controlling agents. In some formulations of Diltiazem hydrochloride and Ethocel 45 Premium matrices, 30% of filler was replaced by Co-excipient like HPMC, CMC-Na and Starch. The in vitro dissolution studies were performed according to USP Method-I (rotating basket method). Phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was used as dissolution medium and the rotation speed of baskets were kept constant at 100rpm and temperature of the medium was maintained at 37 ± 0.1°C. In order to determine the drug release kinetics various models such as Ist-order, Zero-order, Hixon Crowell, Highuchi and Power Law were applied. Herbesser tablets were used as reference standard for comparison of dissolution profiles of standard and tests formulation by applying difference factor (f1) and similarity factor (f2). The rate controlling agents extended the drug release rates but Ethocel 45 Premium extended more efficiently than the K100 LV Methocel and K15M EP Premium Methocel containing matrices. These newly prepared formulations released the drug mostly by anomalous non Fickian drug diffusion. The drug release profiles of the test formulations were different from the drug release profile of reference standard formulation (Herbesser tablets). The Co-excipients increased the drug released from the matrices containing Ethocel 45 premiums. Ethocel 45 Premium, K100 LV Methocel and K15M EP Premium Methocel can be effectively used as rate controlling agents in formulation of directly controlled release matrix tablets.

STUDY OF THE CHEMICAL AND METABOLIC CHANGES IN PLASMA GLUTATHIONE (GSH) OF HUMAN BLOOD AFTER LITHIUM INTRODUCTION

Lithium remains a mainstay in the acute and prophylactic treatment of bipolar affective disorder. It is used in the augmentation of antidepressant treatment and, less frequently, in the augmentation of antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia. It is reported to have specific anti-suicidal effects. Systematic reviews by the Cochrane collaboration and others have examined the evidence base or its use in these contexts. Thus it is interesting to study the effect of Lithium on the Glutathione. The effect of Lithium on the chemical status of the glutathione in plasma has been studied using Ellman’s method. The effect of Lithium on the chemical status of glutathione was determined in plasma for concentration and time dependent effects. There was found a drastic effect on decreasing the concentration of glutathione in plasma as the concentration is increased and time has passed. The decrease in the Glutathione level was concentration and time of interaction dependent, probably due to oxidation of GSH to corresponding disulphide (GSSG).In this paper the effect of Lithium metal on thiol /GSH level was discussed in vitro, which in principal may present a model of in vivo reaction.

CONCENTRATION AND TIME DEPENDENT EFFECT OF ALUMINIUM METAL ON GLUTATHIONE LEVEL IN PLASMA OF HUMAN BLOOD

Aluminium is an important metalloelement and has many medicinal uses like use of aluminum as an antacid. Thus it is interesting to study the effect of Aluminium on the glutathione (GSH) in vivo conditions. The concentration and time dependent effect of Aluminium on glutathione level in plasma was studied by using Ellman’s method. A drastic effect on decreasing the concentration of glutathione level in plasma was found by increasing the concentration of Aluminium sulphate over the time. The reason could probably be due to oxidation of GSH to corresponding disulphide (GSSG). In this paper the effect of Aluminium metal on thiol/GSH level was discussed in vitro, which in principal may present a model of in vivo reaction