Posted by admin on May 1, 2013 in |
Incorporation of drugs into non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) during their manufacture affords a possible method of achieving controlled release. The aim of this study is to formulate niosomes as carriers for delivery of diclofenac sodium (DCS). Niosomes are prepared with a series of sorbitan monoesters (Span 20, 40, 60, and 80) and sorbitan tri-oleate (Span 85) and co-surfactants of polyoxyethelene fatty acid esters (Tween 20, 40, 60, and 80), with or without cholesterol and charged lipids like stearylamine or dicetylphosphate. The prepared niosomes were evaluated for the entrapment efficiency (EE %) and in-vitro release rate of DCS. Niosomes formed of Span 60 gave the highest EE %, followed by Span 40, 20, 80 and 85. It was also found that increasing the total lipid concentration resulted in an increase in the EE %. However, the amount of encapsulated DCS (mg) per mmole lipid decreased. Increasing the concentration of DCS was accompanied by a slight increase in the EE % and a great increase in the entrapment efficiency expressed as...
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Posted by admin on May 1, 2013 in |
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disorder of the liver that may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis. In the present study, we examined the possible preventive effect of an extract of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae), a plant with high flavonoid content and antioxidant activity, on experimental NASH. To induce NASH, a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet was given to N-Mary rats for 8 weeks. Rats were given normal diet (control, n=5), normal diet plus crude extract of T. polium (TPC) (0.5 g/kg body weight/day by gavages) (C+TPC, n=5), MCD diet (MCD, n=5) and MCD diet+ TPC (0.5 g powder/kg body weight/day by gavages). Histopathological evaluation of the liver samples revealed that treatment with TPC has abated the severity of NASH among the MCD–fed rats. In addition, the hepatic malondialdehyde, caspases–3 and TNF-α levels were decreased among the same group of rats. The activities of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and the level of hepatic glutathione were also enhanced among MCD+TPC group relative to MCD group. Moreover, the crude...
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Posted by admin on May 1, 2013 in |
Natural products have been closely linked through the use of traditional medicines and natural poisons. Mushrooms have an established history of use in traditional oriental medicine, where most medicinal mushroom preparations are regarded as a tonic, that is, they have beneficial health effects without known negative side-effects and can be moderately used on a regular basis without harm. Mushrooms comprise a vast and yet largely untapped source of powerful new pharmaceutical products. In particular, and most importantly for modern medicine, they represent an unlimited source of compounds which are modulators of tumour cell growth. Furthermore, they may have potential as functional foods and sources of novel molecules. In the present study, we have reviewed the compounds with anti-tumor potential in some of the new wild varieties of mushroom of Rajouri Dist. of Jammu and Kashmir region. The main anti-tumor compounds prominent in such species comprises low-molecular-weight compounds viz. quinones, cerebrosides, isoflavones, catechols, amines, triacylglycerols, sesquiterpenes, steroids, organic germanium and selenium) and high-molecular-weight compounds viz. homo and heteroglucans, glycans, glycoproteins,...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2013 in |
Camellia sinensis and Citrus sinensis are treasuries of medicinal properties. The compounds present in these plants can deliver potential therapeutic drug. Most of the drugs in clinical development fail to commercialize because of poor ADME and toxicity properties. The main aim of the study is pharmacokinetic investigation and toxicity property, the most causes of high attrition rates in drug development and it should be considered as early as possible in the drug discovery...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2013 in |
Plants rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals especially phenolic groups play a protective role in health and disease conditions, like cancer, diabetes, heart disease hypertension etc. by counteracting reactive oxygen species and inhibiting the lipid oxidation. Morus indica is non-toxic natural therapeutic plant used as herbal medicine as hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and diuretic properties. In the present study proximate, phytochemical and antioxidant profile in dehydrated leaves powder of Morus indica varieties, M5, V1 and S36 were estimated. The 100% methanol, 80% methanol (methanol & water, 8: 2), dechlorophyllised, aqueous cold and hot extracts were prepared and their polyphenol content, antioxidant activity of inhibiting oxidation in oil emulsion and liver microsomes was evaluated at 300 to 500µg. There was no significant (P<0.05) difference in the moisture, fat and ash content. All the three samples were found to be good sources of major minerals viz. Iron, Calcium phosphorus and also of trace elements like manganese, zinc, copper, potassium.S36 found to be rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants. The polyphenol content was in the order...
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