This study was designed to determine the contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols, flavanols, and anthocyanins of purple corn (Zea mays L.) extracts obtained with different methanol:water concentrations, acidified with 1% HCl (1 N). Another objective was to determine the antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2 0 -azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and deoxyribose assay, individual phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and endogenous antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and total peroxidase [TPX]) activity and lipid peroxidation activity (thiobarbituric acidreactive substances [TBARS] assay) in isolated mouse organs. Overall, the highest total content of polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, flavonols, and flavanols was obtained with the 80:20 methanol:water extract, acidified with 1% HCl (1 N). The 50% inhibitory concentration values obtained by the DPPH and ABTS assays with this extract were 66.3 lg/mL and 250 lg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant activity by the FRAP assay was 26.1 lM Trolox equivalents/g, whereas the deoxyribose assay presented 93.6% inhibition. Because of these results, the 80:20 methanol:water extract, acidified with 1% HCl (1 N), was used for the remaining tests. Eight phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, ferulic acid, morin, quercetin, naringenin, and kaempferol. Furthermore, it was observed that the purple corn extract was capable of significantly reducing lipid peroxidation (lower malondialdehyde [MDA] concentrations by the TBARS assay) and at the same time increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme (CAT, TPX, and SOD) activities in isolated mouse kidney, liver, and brain. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that the purple corn extract contained various bioactive phenolic compounds that exhibited considerable in vitro antioxidant activity, which correlated well with the decreased MDA formation and increase in activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes observed in the isolated mouse organs. This warrants further in vivo studies with purple corn extracts to assess its antioxidant activity and other bioactivities.KEY WORDS: antioxidant activity endogenous antioxidant enzymes isolated mouse organs oxidative stress phenolic compounds purple corn Zea mays L.

This in vitro study evaluated the therapeutic equivalence of two multisource (generic) formulations of 100-mg phenytoin as immediate-release tablets available in the Peruvian pharmaceutical market, compared with the reference medicine, to establish interchangeability. The mean weight, hardness, and content of active substance were evaluated, prior to analyzing the dissolution profile. USP dissolution apparatus 2 (paddle) was used at 75 rpm with 900 mL of dissolution medium at 37 ± 0.5 °C at pH levels of 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8. The generic and reference formulations had similar weight or drug content, but hardness values were significantly different (p = 0.029). At pH 1.2, the generic products were considered therapeutically equivalent to the reference product based on similarity factor (f 2 ) and dissolution efficiency values; however, at pH 4.5 and 6.8, there were differences in dissolution performance based on f 2 values below the acceptable range.

This research evaluated the biopharmaceutical equivalence in vitro of three brands of glibenclamide 5-mg tablets (reference, brand name, and generic drugs) from Lima, Peru following the guidelines of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS). Glibenclamide is a BCS class 2 drug. Quality control parameters were evaluated including hardness, weight, friability, and drug content (hardness: 2.6-2.8 kg-f; weight [mean ± SD]: 103.3-109.8 mg ± 0.27-0.53; friability: 0.19-0.55%; content: 100.65-103.3%). To assess dissolution, apparatus 2 was used at 75 rpm, 900 mL of dissolution medium (37 ± 0.5 °C) at pH 6.8; simulated intestinal fluid without enzymes was used as the dissolution medium.

Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic iminostilbene that is dispensed from multiple sources in Peru without bioequivalence studies. The biopharmaceutical equivalence of two generic (A and B) and one commercial brand (C) of carbamazepine sodium as compared to the innovator drug was determined by an in vitro study of commercial 200-mg tablets, following the guidelines of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System. Hardness, weight, friability, and content were evaluated for compliance with official specifications. A United States Pharmacopeia (USP) dissolution apparatus 2 (paddle) was used at with 900 mL of medium (pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8) at 75 rpm and 37 ± 0.5 °C. Samples (5 mL) were withdrawn at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes and analyzed in a UV spectrophotometer at 288 nm. The studied drugs did not release 85% of the active pharmaceutical ingredient within 30 minutes in any media. When compared to the innovator brand using the similarity factor (f2), product A was < 50 at all three pH levels; B was < 50 at pH 4.5, and C was < 50 at pH 1.2 and 4.5. For all products, dissolution efficiency was 56.1-84.3% and mean dissolution time was 18.0-47.5 min. Despite meeting the official specifications for quality control tests, the evaluated samples are not in vitro biopharmaceutical equivalents with the innovator brand based on the dissolution profiles (f2 < 50).

Over the past decades, several studies have shown that tumor-related somatic and germline alterations predicts tumor prognosis, drug response and toxicity. Latin American populations present a vast geno-phenotypic diversity due to the great interethnic and interracial mixing. This genetic flow leads to the appearance of complex characteristics that allow individuals to adapt to endemic environments, such as high altitude or extreme tropical weather. These genetic changes, most of them subtle and unexplored, could establish a mutational profile to develop new pharmacogenomic therapies specific for Latin American populations. In this review, we present the current status of research on somatic and germline alterations in Latin America compared to those found in Caucasian and Asian populations.