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Acacia nilotica Lam (Mimosaceae) indigenously known as 'Babul' or 'Kikar' is a proverbial, medium sized tree and is broadly scattered in tropical and subtropical countries. It has an inspiring range of medicinal uses with potential anti-oxidant activity. This plant contributes a number of groups among which are alkaloids, volatile essential oils, phenols and phenolic glycosides, resins, oleosins, steroids, tannins and terpenes. A. nilotica is a medicinal plant acknowledged to be rich in phenolics, consisting of condensed tannin and phlobatannin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, pyrocatechol, (+)-catechin, (-) epi-gallocatechin-7-gallate and (-) epigallocatechin-5, 7-digallate. Different parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seeds, bark, fruits, flowers, gum and immature pods act as anti-cancer, antimutagenic, spasmogenic, vasoconstrictor, anti-pyretic, anti-asthamatic, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, anti-platelet agregatory, anti-plasmodial, molluscicidal, anti-fungal, inhibitory activity against Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-I and antioxidant activities, anti-bacterial, antihypertensive and anti-spasmodic activities, and are also engaged for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. This review spotlights on the detailed phytochemical composition, medicinal uses, along with pharmacological properties of different parts of this multipurpose plant.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of a self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) to enhance the oral bioavailability of a BCS class IV drug, etoposide (VP-16). METHOD: A series of SNEDDS formulations with VP-16 were prepared consisting of medium chain triglycerides, polysorbate 80, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and propylene glycol monolaurate type-1.  Based on an obtained ternary phase diagram, an optimum formulation was selected and characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, loading, morphology and in vitro drug release. The pharmacokinetic parameters and oral bioavailability of VP-16 suspension and VP-16 in SNEDDS was assessed using 30 Male Sprague–Dawley rats and compared with the commercial product (VePesid®). RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic data showed that the mean values for AUC0-t of VP-16 in SNEDDS was 6.4 fold higher compared to a drug suspension and 2.4-folds higher than VePesid®. Similarly, the mean value for Cmax of VP-16 in SNEDDS (1.13± 0.07 µg/ml µg.h/mL) was higher than VePesid® (0.62± 0.09 µg/mL) and drug suspension (0.13± 0.07 µg/mL). CONCLUSION: The SNEDDS formulation was able to enhance the oral bioavailability of the BCS Class IV chemotherapeutic agent VP-16 by increasing the dissolution and absorption of the drug. A good in vitro in vivo correlation was found between the in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption data of VP-16 SNEDDS preparation. Therefore, SNEDDS formulations might be a very promising approach for BCS Class IV drugs.

Background: Hypertension is one of the serious global health issues that affect millions of people and leads to cardiovascular damage if remain untreated. Various antihypertensive drugs have been developed but it is difficult to achieve better control of blood pressure by using mono-therapy so in this research work, combination therapy having sustained effect for the treatment of hypertension was developed. Method: Gastroretentive floating microspheres of amlodipine besylate and losartan potassium were formulated for the purpose of increasing the time of retention of drugs in the upper gastrointestinal tract and ultimately extend drug release. Eudragit RS100 was used as release controlling agent. The method adopted to prepare microspheres was solvent extraction. Formulated microspheres after that tested for assessing flow properties, buoyancy (%), percentage yield, drug release, surface morphology, by FTIR drug and polymer compatibility, size analysis and entrapment efficiency. Release kinetics on cumulative release data were applied. Results: It was observed from the findings that all the formulation remained buoyant in 1.2 pH buffer up to 12 hrs. It was also found that release of drug from formulation was prolonged which indicates sustained effect of dosage form. All the other results were satisfactory and it was also found that entrapment efficiency of formulation increased when concentration of polymer increased. On the basis of results, formulation 1 with 1:1 drug polymer ratio was selected as optimum formulation. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that gastroretentive floating microspheres could be a one of best approach to extend the release of drug delivery system.