No abstract

Purpose: To develop a niosomal formulation for the delivery of isoniazid to achieve effective treatment of tuberculosis. Methods: Niosomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation method and given a charge with a charge-inducing agent, dicetyl phosphate. Drug entrapment efficiency in the niosomes was determined spectrophotometrically. The niosomes were further characterized for their particle size, polydispersity index (PI) and zeta potential as well as by scanning electron microscopy and stability studies. Furthermore, in vitro drug release and cellular uptake studies on the niosomes by macrophage J744 A were undertaken. Results: Suitable isoniazid niosomes were obtained. The niosomes demonstrated a potential to remain in the treated site for prolonged periods and were also capable of maintaining steady drug concentrations for up to 30 h. Cellular uptake of the drug-loaded niosomes by macrophage cells was as high as 61.8 %, a level that is capable of achieving effective treatment of tuberculosis. Conclusion: The isoniazid niosomes developed are capable of reducing drug dose and toxicity as well as dosing frequency which should bring about improved patient compliance. More importantly, macrophage targeting should be feasible at sites where tuberculosis bacteria are harbored.

The limitations in absorption of drugs with narrow absorption window, or those unstable in the intestinal pH or those exhibiting low solubility at high pH are primary candidates for gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS). The delivery system has been widely explored for its commercial potential for a wide variety of therapeutic agents. GRDDS offer clinical therapeutics for acute and chronic management. Hypertension is a chronic disease that requires long term treatment and its management by patient compliant dosage forms would be clinically useful. Antihypertensives belonging to different classes have proved good candidates for the formulation of GRDDS. The review aims to discuss various GRDDS researched for antihypertensive drugs to increase the gastric residing time, bioavailability, henceforth to reduce the dose of the drug, dosing frequency and increase patient compliance. It also explores various marketed products and the patents filed/granted for GRRDS of antihypertensives. The GRDDS investigated include effervescent and non-effervescent floating drug delivery systems, swelling and expanding systems and bio/mucoadhesive systems. Many other systems that provided research platforms include high density systems, raft forming systems and osmotic delivery systems. In clinical context, wherein combination of antihypertensives is indicated, dual release delivery systems may also be explored.

Saraca asoca is a medium sized handsome evergreen tree of Caesalpiniaceae family. It is distributed in the central and eastern Himalayas and Kashi, Garo and Lushai hills. It is used in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases. Bark is useful in menorrhagia, leaves have blood purifying properties and seeds are used for treating bone fractures and vesical calculi. Flowers of S. asoca are considered to be uterine tonic and used in dysentery and dried flowers are used in diabetes. The aim of present study was to investigate pharmacognostical and phytochemical profile of S. asoca flower. Powder microscopy of flower showed covering trichomes, spiral xylem vessels, oval-spherical pollen grains, oil gland, prismatic crystals and minute starch grains. β-sitosterol, a phytosterol was identified at Rf 0.80 and quantified to 0.06 % in the flower. Phytochemically the plant was found to contain flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, phenolics and tannins.

Owing to the excellent solubility enhancement potential of ternary mixtures in enhancing MN solubility from 110.4 μg/ml to 57640.0 μg/ml, ternary mixture approach could prove to be promising in the development of oral/mucoadhesive formulations.