Piyush Mehta

Cupping therapy: A prudent remedy for a plethora of medical ailments

Since ancient times, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM; 補充與替代醫學 bǔ chōng yǔ tì dài yī xué) have played an important role in human health and welfare. Many therapeutic approaches in healthcare outside the realm of conventional medicine persist in various parts of the world. There is considerable scientific and commercial potential in CAM, which needs to be explored precisely. Cupping therapy (拔罐療法 bá guàn liáo fǎ), one of the CAM, is practiced across the world. This therapy is believed to act by correcting imbalances in the internal bio field, such as by restoring the flow of “Qi (氣qì)”. Cupping involves applying a heated cup to generate a partial vacuum that mobilizes the blood flow and promotes effective healing. This review outlines various tools and techniques of cupping therapy.

Pharmacokinetic profile of phytoconstituent(s) isolated from medicinal plants—A comprehensive review

Herbal medicine, the backbone of traditional medicine, has played an important role in human health and welfare for a long period. Traditional therapeutic approaches of regional significance are found in Africa, South and Central America, China, India, Tibet, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. The considerable scientific significance and commercial potential of traditional medicines have resulted in increased international attention and global market demands for herbal medicines, especially Chinese herbal medicines. Herbal medicines currently are the primary form of health care for the poor in the developing countries, and also are widely used as a supplement or substitute for conventional drugs in developed countries. These traditional medicines have a pivotal role in the treatment of various ailments and more than 50% of drugs used in Western pharmacopoeia are isolated from herbs or derived from modifications of chemicals found in plants. Herbal medicines usually contain a complex mixture of various bioactive molecules, which make its standardization complicated, and there is little information about all compounds responsible for pharmacological activity. Several research papers have been published that claim pharmacological activity of herbal medicines but few are discussing the role of the exact phytoconstituent. Understanding the pharmacokinetic profile of such phytoconstituents is essential. Although there are research papers that deal with pharmacokinetic properties of phytoconstituents, there are a number of phytoconstituents yet to be explored for their kinetic properties. This article reviews the pharmacokinetic profile of 50 different therapeutically effective traditional medicinal plants from the year 2003 onward.

Efavirenz Self-Nano-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) is the isotropic and thermodynamically stable mixture of oil, surfactant, co‐solvent/surfactant, and drug. It emulsifies spontaneously when introduced into an aqueous phase under a mild agitation. The current study was aimed to prepare SNEDDS to augment solubility, release rate, and oral bioavailability of BCS class II drug, efavirenz (EFV). A series of oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant was screened out by a ternary phase diagram to locate a better homogenous mixture. The prepared SNEDDS was evaluated regarding its appearance, mean droplet size, phase separation, in vitro drug release, and oral bioavailability. Among the screened oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant, Labrafil M 2125 CS, Tween 80, and Transcutol®P mixture exhibited superior solubilizing capacity, respectively. Optimized SNEDDS exhibits 98.39% drug release. SNEDDS dissolution behavior was attributed to oil/surfactant ratios and properties of the surfactant phase. It also demonstrates threefold increments in the area under curve (AUC) in comparison to neat EFV. Furthermore, the optimized SNEDDS does not show any vitrification during its 3-month storage. In the present study, better performance of SNEDDS is explained by various factors like (i) improved surface area of droplets, (ii) superior solubilization potential for hydrophobic drugs due to Labrafil M 2125 CS, and (iii) result of surfactant on mucosal permeability. This study demonstrated that SNEDDS may be an alternative approach for the poorly soluble drugs to improve their solubility and oral bioavailability.

Pharmacokinetic behaviour of clinically important TCM prescriptions

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has played a vital role in human health and welfare for a long period. Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription is the prime application scheme of TCM. Combination of two or more medicinal herbs is one of the most important and fundamental characteristic of TCM prescription. In light of their simplicity and the basic qualities of complex prescription, multi herb formulations (extract, decoction and etc) are of great significance in the considerations of herb compatibility, standardization, safety evaluation, therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of multi herb formulations. Several research papers have been published that state therapeutic activity of multi herb formulations but few are discussing the exact role of herbal combinations. To provide satisfactory data about rationality and compatibility of these TCM prescription and for pharmacokinetic profile, we reviewed the pharmacokinetic profile of 30 different clinically important TCM prescriptions.

Contemporary acupressure therapy: Adroit cure for painless recovery of therapeutic ailments

Since time immemorial, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have played a significant role in human health care. CAM is known to have a strong reputation and reliability within every culture to provide basic health care treatment for patients. CAM acts as a better therapeutic option in human being for treating various diseases and improving quality of life with apt consideration to the economic aspects. Acupressure, one of the known CAM, originated in ancient China is based on the principal of acupoints activation across the meridians which correct the imbalance between Qi. Activation of specific points on the meridians is known to facilitate reduction of pain at the local sites. It also reduces the pain from other body parts. This review outlines various types, devices and mechanisms involved in the acupressure treatment.

Norfloxacin mixed solvency based solid dispersions: An in-vitro and in-vivo investigation

Abstract Norfloxacin (NF) is a synthetic fluoro-quinolone molecule that is used for the treatment of urinary tract infections. However, due to its poor aqueous solubility, it has low oral bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to improve the aqueous solubility and dissolution profile of NF by formulating its mixed-solvency based solid dispersions (SDs). The NF-loaded SDs were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique using urea, sodium benzoate and a niacinamide hydrotropic mixture. The prepared SDs were evaluated regarding their solubility, mean particle size, in-vitro drug release and oral bioavailability. The optimized batch showed a high percentage yield of 99.04% , with a mean particle size of 132.91 μm. Optimized SDs Exhibit 96.48% drug release. The oral bioavailabilities of NF from the optimized SDs, drug alone and marketed formulation were evaluated in Wistar rats at a dose of 20.0 mg/kg. In comparison to the drug alone, approximately 6.90- and 5.0-fold increases in AUC and Cmax, respectively, were observed for NF from mixed-solvency based SDs. The superior dissolution rate due to its reduced particle size may have contributed to the increased oral bioavailability. This study demonstrated that mixed-solvency may be an alternative approach for poorly soluble drugs to improve their solubility and oral bioavailability.

A Comprehensive Review on Pharmacokinetic Profile of Some Traditional Chinese Medicines

Herbal medicines are the oldest and most widely used form of treatment for welfare of mankind. Herbal medicines possess strong reputation as complementary treatment across the globe due to their easy accessibility and safety. Particularly traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are very popular due to their desirable therapeutic effects. They already have been proven for their remarkable potential in treatment of wide range of disease ailments. The major drawback in using herbal medicines is lack of standardisation aspects due to the complexity of chemical constituents. Pharmacokinetics study of such medicines helps forecast a range of events related to efficacy, safety, and toxicity profile of them. Apart from this, pharmacokinetics studies also recommended by various regulatory agencies during diverse stages of herbal drug development. Thus it is highly essential to have knowledge about the pharmacokinetic properties of any herbal drug. Thus it was thought that it will be worthwhile to compile the pharmacokinetic data of TCM which will be helpful for the researchers involved in further research on TCM. To portray entire picture about absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of some TCM, this well-designed scientific review covers the pharmacokinetic profile of 50 TCM available from 2003 and onwards.

Development and validation of HPTLC method for simultaneous estimation of curcumin and galangin in polyherbal capsule dosage form

Abstract Simple and precise HPTLC methods were developed for the simultaneous estimation of two anti-inflammatory drugs (curcumin and galangin). The method was tailored to analyze both drugs in their commercial dosage form (capsules) with no interference from ingredients. Chromatographic separation was performed over precoated TLC plates (60 F254, 20 cm × 10 cm, 250 μm thickness, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) via a linear ascending technique using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and methanol as the mobile phase. Detection and quantification was achieved at 404 nm through spectro-densitometric analysis. Analytical performance of the proposed HPTLC method was validated according to the ICH guidelines with respect to the linearity, accuracy, precision, detection and quantitation limits, robustness and specificity. The calibration curves were linear with the limits of 80–450 and 200–1200 ng/spot for CU and GA, respectively, with correlation coefficients (r2) >0.9998. The limits of detection were 18.31 and 40.50 ng/spot for CU and GA, respectively. The validated HPTLC method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of CU and GA in the commercial polyherbal formulation.

Phytoconstituent based dry powder inhalers as biomedicine for the management of pulmonary diseases

Pulmonary disease represents a major global health issue. They are commonly treated by various synthetic molecules. But, frequent high-dose of oral and injectable drugs may lead to severe side effects and this juncture demands inhaled formulations that facilitate effective drug delivery to the lower airways with negligible side effects. Natural phytoconstituents or phytoalexin (i.e. plant antibiotics) have showed an unique treatment array with minimum side effects and great capability to treat intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases compared to synthetic drugs. Moreover, the progress of disciplines such as nanotechnology, material science and particle engineering allows further improvement of the treatment capability and efficiency. This article review and analyze literatures on inhaled phytoconstituents which were published in the last 10 years. Additionally, it will also offer the researcher with some basic background information for phytoconstituents profile, formulation requirements and drug delivery systems.