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Hydro-distilled essential oil obtained from fruits of Amomum subulatum was characterized by a high proportion of monoterpenes (ca 90 %). The main monoterpenes were 1,8cineole (77.4 %), β-myrcene (5.0 %), α-terpineol (4.9 %) and terpinen-4-ol (2.3 %). Sesquiterpenic constituents amounting to only 2.7 % were represented by t-caryophyllene (2.3 %) and its oxide (0.4 %). A high proportion 1,8-cineole present in the oil lends it a harsh eucalyptol smell and warrants its use as substitute of true cardamon.

Introduction:Management of ocular surface disease by conventional formulation is limited by poor residence of drug at cul-de-sac of eye. To overcome this limitation, prolonged released mucoadhesive chitosan (CS)–dextran sulfate (DS) nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated for the prolonged topical ophthalmic delivery of moxifloxacin (Mox).Methods:Formulation was optimized by 3-factors (CS, DS, and Mox concentration), 3-levels (−1, 0, +1) Box-Behnken design. Optimized formulation was characterized for various in-vitro attributes, including particles size, zeta potential, shape and morphology, in-vitro release profile, corneal permeation, corneal retention, ocular tolerance test as well as antimicrobial activity.Results:Average hydrodynamic particle size of statistically optimized formulation was found to be 279.18 ± 15.63 nm with good polydispersity index, 0.367 ± 0.016 and positive zeta potential, +31.23 ± 1.32. NPs showed entrapment efficiency, 72.82 ± 3.6% and transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a spherical shape of particles. Formulation exhibited biphasic release profile with an initial fast release (≈25% in 1st h) followed by sustained release (≈95% in next 24 h) following Korsmeyer–Peppas model with a nonFickian diffusion process. Mox loaded CS-DS NPs exhibited a significantly higher (P < 0.01), approximately 1.8-fold transcorneal permeation as well as significantly higher corneal retention (P < 0.01), around 4-5-fold when compared to free solution. Developed formulation exhibited safety profile comparable to normal saline, which was revealed by ocular tolerance test (Hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane). Mox-CS-DS NPs exhibited significantly high (P < 0.01) antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusion:In-vitro and ex-vivo studies revealed that developed formulation could be a potential substitute for prolonged topical ocular delivery.

A steam distilled essential oil obtained from fruits of Eletteria cardamomum was characterized by a high proportion of monoterpenes (87.6%). The main monoterpenes was 1,8-cineole (35.6%) followed by α-terpenyl acetate (27.1%), α-terpineol (4.9%), linalool (4.1%) and thujyl alcohol.Sesquiterpenic constituents amounting to only 1.8 % were represented by t-caryophyllene (0.8 %) and valencene (1%). Other important volatile constituents identified in the oil were α-phellandrene (2.5 %), cis-ocimene (2.4 %) and neryl acetate (1.7 %).