Current Issues

Arijit Chaudhuri, Shalini Sharma 

Department of Pharmacy, Manav Bharti University, Solan- 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of polyherbal formulation containing varied concentration of Phyllanthus emblica andAnnona squamosa leaves extract in streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats. The polyherbal formulation (HF1 and HF2) were administered orally in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. After the administration of polyherbal formulation, blood glucose levels were monitored at specific intervals and it was found that they were significant lowered. The effect of polyherbal formualtion on induced hyperlipidemia was analyzed where the fraction significantly lowered the elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides (TGL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) level while increased the High density lipoprotein (HDL). Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug at a dose of 0.50 mg/kg body weight. The outcomes of results exhibited that HF2 has significant antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced rats compared to HF1.

Milvee K. Vyas, Kailash Patel, Kunjal V. Soni^*

Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Udhna Magdalla Road, Surat, 395007, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Barleria prionitis (Acanthaceae)is an important medicinal plant distributed throughout the various regions of India and useful in urinary and paralytic affection, stomach disorders, catarrh, cough and anasaraca and lacerated sole. In the present investigation an attempt was made to study the anatomy of root, stem, lamina, midrib, petiole, stomata and trichomes as well as histochemical localization of various substances viz., calcium oxalate, lignin, suberin, lipids in the organs of Barleria prionitis.The present study revealed that the plant distinguishing microcharacters viz., bicollateral vascular bundles, internal phloem, uni - biseriate xylem rays, inverted omega shape vascular bundle, diacytic stomata and eglandular as well as glandular trichomes which are useful in solving taxonomic problems and pharmacognosy. They have significance in identification of crude drugs from this taxon.

Ritesh Kumar^1*, Surbhi Kamboj²,Amrish Chandra³, Pawan Kumar Gautam⁴, Vijay Kumar Sharma²

¹ IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102, Uttar Pradesh, India

² Dr. K. N. Modi Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Modinagar,201204, Uttar Pradesh, India

³ Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, 201313, Uttar Pradesh, India

⁴ Department of Pharmacy, S. N. Medical College, Agra, 282002,Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The purpose of writing this review on microballoons is to accumulate the recent literature with a special focus on the novel technological advancements in floating drug delivery system to achieve gastric retention. Microballoons (Hollow microsphere) promises to be a potential approach for gastric retention. Microballoons drug-delivery systems are based on non-effervescent system containing empty particles of spherical shape without core ideally having a size less than 200 micrometer. Microballoons drug delivery systems have shown to be of better significance in controlling release rate for drugs having site specific absorption. The floating microballoons showed gastroretentive controlled release delivery with efficient means of enhancing the bioavailability and promises to be a potential approach for gastric retention. Optimized hollow microspheres will find the central place in novel drug delivery, particularly in safe, targeted and effective in vivo delivery promises to be a potential approach for gastric retention. They are gastroretentive drug-delivery systems, which provide controlled release properties. The advantages, limitation, methods of preparation of hollow microsphere, applications, polymers used in hollow microspheres, characterizations of microballoons and formulation aspects with various evaluation techniques and marketed products are covered in detail. 

Ezejindu DN¹*,Akingboye AJ², Chukwujekwu IE¹, Ihim AC³, Ndukwe GU⁴

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

³Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

⁴Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Symphytum officinale was historically used to treat a wide variety of ailments ranging from bronchial problems, broken bones, sprains, arthritis, gastric and varicose ulcers, severe burns, acne and other skin conditions. It has been documented that the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Symphytum officinale provokedtoxic effect on the topical application or ingestion of the extract. We planned to study the effect of the aqueous extract of leaves of Symphytum officinale on male fertility in Wistar rats. The twenty four rats used for this study were randomized into groups A, B, C and D. Group A served as control and were orally administered 0.3 ml of distilled water; groups B, C and D received orally 0.2 ml, 0.4 ml and 0.6 ml of aqueous leaves extract of Symphytum officinale respectively for twenty eight days. The finding indicates that there was a significant (P<0.001) decreased in the body weight of group C and D compared to control group. The weight of the testes of groups C and D animals increased significantly (P<0.001) compared to control group A. The histological findings of the testes showed the presence of necrotic changes in the intestinal cells of the testes; they were massive multinucleated giant cells in groups C and D and loss of spermatides. The outcomes imply that aqueous extract of leaves of Symphytum officinale produced toxic effects in testicular morphology of the rats.