Haruan (Channa striatus) is a type of fresh water fish in Malaysia that is known to promote wound healing. Haruan water extract has been formulated in an aerosol system which can produce a film for wound dressing. As topical preparation, Haruan spray needs to be evaluated in terms of the possibility to cause irritation reaction or toxic response. Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the safety of Haruan spray which are Primary Skin Irritation test, Intracutaneous test and Systemic Injection test. The result shows that Haruan spray gave no significant responses to all the above tests. The investigation of the effect of Haruan spray as wound dressing in the healing process was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats where 6-cm long full-thickness incision wound and burn wound were made on the back of the animals. Haruan spray was tested and compared with blank formula as control. Tensile strength test of treated wound was carried out at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th day after wounding and treatment. The burn wounds contraction was measured daily for 21 days. Results showed that haruan water extract spray formula is not only effective but also safe for application to both incision and burn wounds.

Secang (Caesalpinia sappan L.) secara tradisional digunakan untuk mengobati berbagai penyakit. Secang mengandung senyawa fenolik seperti asam gallat, brazilin dan brazilein. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkarakterisasi simplisia dan ekstrak etanol secang, mengevaluasi kandungan fenolik total dan menentukan aktivitas antioksidan ekstrak etanol secang. Karakterisasi simplisia secang diperoleh susut pengeringan sebesar 10,349 %, kadar sari larut air sebesar 3,293 %, kadar sari larut etanol sebesar 6,026 %, kadar abu total sebesar 0,6509 % dan kadar abu tidak larut asam simplisia adalah sebesar 0,480 %. Karakterisasi ekstrak etanol secang diperoleh kadar abu total sebesar 1,26 %, kadar abu tidak larut asam ekstrak sebesar 0,059 %, kadar air ekstrak didapatkan hasil 8,63 %. Kadar fenolik total ekstrak etanol secang adalah 71,144 g/100g. Semakin tinggi kadar fenolik total, maka semakin tinggi pula aktivitas antioksidannya. Aktivitas antioksidan ekstrak etanol secang ditentukan dengan metode FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) dan hasilnya adalah 13,99 mmol Fe(II)/100g.

A bstract Gliclazide is a second-generation hypoglycemic sulfonylurea, which is useful in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It has low bioavailability because of its limited water solubility and slow dissolution rate. In this study, solid dispersions of gliclazide were prepared by solvent method. Drug and carriers weight ratio were 1:9; 2:8; 3:7; 4:6; and 5:5. The weight ratio of carriers (polyvinyl pyrrolidone K-30 and polyethylene glycol 6000) was 1:1. The properties of solid dispersions were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and solubility and dissolution studies. SEM result showed that gliclazide was highly dispersed and was present as amorphous state in the solid dispersions. The FTIR spectroscopy showed no chemical interaction between gliclazide and carriers. DSC studies indicated melting point of gliclazide was decreased. The XRD studies indicated that crystallinity degree of gliclazide was decreased. Rate of dissolution and solubility of solid dispersions was increased than pure gliclazide ( F < 0.05).

Haruan spray (aerosol) dosage form is a new dosage form formulated for use as wound dressing and wound healing. Spray can minimize pain and emotional trauma experience during the application and removal process of conventional dressing and bandages. Haruan extract is incorporated as an active ingredient of the aerosol concentrate for its ability to enhance the healing process. The aim of this study is to evaluate the physical properties of Haruan spray using different propellant. The propellants evaluated were 1,1,1,2 -tetrafluoroethane (HFA 134a), butane and propane. Concentrate of aerosol also contain hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as polymer and glycerine as plasticizer. All ingredients of the aerosol were packaged in an aluminium container fitted with continuous-spray valves. Evaluations for the Haruan spray included delivery rate, delivery amount, pressure, minimum fill, leakage, flammability, spray patterns and particles image. Glass containers were used to study incompatibility between the concentrate and propellant due to the ease of visible inspection. HFA 134a reacted with the concentrate and produced white aggregates, while propane had a very high vapour pressure. From safety and economics point of view, butane was chosen as the propellant because it met the requirements for aerosol and produced Haruan spray with the expected characteristics.