Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
A hydrotrope is an organic substance that increases the solubility of surfactants and water insoluble phyto-constituents such as esters, acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, and fats in an aqueous solution. These are amphiphilic substances composed of both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups. The hydrophobic part of the molecule is benzene substituted polar segment while hydrophilic part; polar segment is an anionic sulfonate group accompanied by a counter ion (i.e., ammonium, calcium, potassium or sodium). Hydrotropes, such as sodium alkyl benzene sulfonates and sodium butyl monoglycol sulfate, were used for the selective extraction of water insoluble phyto-constituents by cell permeabilization. Here disruption of the cellulosic cell wall and disorganization of the phospholipid bilayers by the hydrotrope molecules, then dissolution of the cellular contents, appear to be the mechanism of extraction...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2011 in |
Mutual prodrug is a form of prodrug in which two pharmacologically active agents are attached to each other in such a way that each drug acts as a promoiety/carrier for each other and vice versa. The association may be “synergistic” if the carrier shows the same biological action as that of parent drug or may provide “additional” benefit if it shows new pharmacological action which is lacking in parent drug. The mutual prodrug concept has shown its marked therapeutic gain in case of well-accepted and useful drugs with minor undesirable properties and in those active compounds that suffer from severe limitations, like lack of site specificity, poor bioavailability or lack of particular activity. Now a days Anticancer, cardiovascular, antiviral, antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory drugs are best utilizing the concept of mutual prodrug designing for their better effect. In this paper, we have reviewed mechanism of activation, contribution of mutual prodrug approach in different therapeutic areas and the development in this field during the last few decades including a list of...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2011 in |
A growing interest in usage of cosmetics has created the need for greater precision in evaluation and has stimulated research into cosmetic medicine. Ocular irritation testing represents an important step in the safety evaluation of cosmetic products. The objective of this study was to introduce a method of assessing ocular irritancy in human subjects and to illustrate the significance of a new expanded grading system, designed by Kanengiser, for the precise evaluation of ocular lesions and quantitative assessment of ocular surface responses to cosmetic products. Evaluation procedure is carried out using acute instillation method. A scoring scale for Palpebral Conjunctival Irritation, Eyelid Irritation, Lachrymation, Subjective Irritation, Bulbar Conjunctival Irritation, Corneal Abnormalities, Palpebral and Bulbar Conjunctival, Caruncular, and Corneal Fluorescein Ophthalmic Staining was designed by Kanengiser & observations are interpreted graphically. From the observations it is evident that frequency of occurrence of adverse events is minimal in the human ocular instillation studies. The area of corneal fluorescein staining was judged on a 0 to +4 scale using the same terminology...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2010 in |
For cancer therapy, microtubule network is an attractive cellular target. Main component of cell cycle is mitotic stage, particularly when the mitotic spindle separates the replicated chromosomes. The rapid microtubule dynamics also play a critical role for activities of the bipolar spindle. Microtubule targeting drugs act at binding site either by destabilizing or hyper-stabilizing microtubules. It results mitotic arrest at the prometaphase or metaphase to anaphase transition, then it leads to subsequent apoptotic cell death. Taxanes and Vinca alkaloids have been validated by the successful use for a wide variety of human cancer. Clinical development of colchicines for cancer therapy has not been successful till now because they produce toxic effect in normal tissues. Semi-synthetic analogue of taxane, docetaxal is more potent than paclitaxel against cancer cell proliferation. It is now used for the treatment of breast, prostate and non small cell lung cancer. Successful use of paclitaxel and docetaxel in cancer therapy has inspired the new microtubule targeting agents that bind to taxane site, like Epothilones, discodermolide, eleuthelobin,...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2010 in |
The hepatoprotective activity of juice of Saccharum officinarum was investigated against paracetamol (acetaminophen) induced liver damage in rats. Paracetamol (PCM) is analgesic, antipyretics drugs available as an over the counter (OTC) medication which cause hepatotoxicity as higher doses. Paracetamol at 3gm/kg induced liver damage in rats manifested by statically increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), total and direct billirubin. The antioxidant parameter malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increase and reduced glutathione (GHS), total protein (TP) level were decrease. The physical parameter of liver weight and volume also increase. Histopatholgical and in vitro (% of cell viability) studies of the experimental animals were also done. The results indicate that the juice of Saccharum officinarum protects against PCM-induced hepatotoxicity presumably via antioxidant action....
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