Obesity is becoming a substantial health problem in the world, especially the industrialized countries. It is associated with serious medical, psychological, economical and social implications, virtually affecting all age groups. In this review, we focus on the definition of obesity, its classification, causes, current status and management. The causes of obesity are given in a short review of the pathophysiology of obesity including hypertrophic versus hyper-cellular obesity, hormonal influences on appetite, odour detection threshold and leptin. The main problems associated with obesity are co morbidities including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnoea, reflux oeshpahgitis, cancer and osteoarthritis. Obesity management methods reviewed are medical (non-surgical) treatment including weight-loss programs, pharmacologic therapy where conventional and herbal medicines are used. Examples of the herbal medicines including, Guarana (Paullinia cupana), Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), Ginger, Green tea and glucomannan were discussed.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Chamomile oil as absorption enhancers for cutaneously administered Silver Sulfadiazine by comparing it with a penetration enhancer Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Silver sulfadiazine is used in burn infection. Gel was selected as the vehicle for Silver Rat’ skin samples were placed in a continuous flow diffusion cell, with Silver Sulfadiazine gel on top. Receptor fluid samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The quantity of gel remaining on the skin surface after completion of each test was weighed and the amount of drug in the skin was analyzed. Addition of chamomile oil or Dimethyl Sulfoxide to the gel increased the percutaneous absorption of the drug. 5 % Chamomile oil was found to be the most efficient absorption enhancer in this comparison

The aim of the present study was to characterize some compounds resulting from storing codeine aqueous solutions under different conditions in search of an impurity observed in some codeine preparations and in the urine of their users. Acidic, neutral and basic aqueous solutions of codeine were stored in the dark or exposed to sunlight for one month. Aliquots of the solutions were withdrawn at 3-day intervals, extracted with organic solvent at basic pH and analyzed by GC-MS before and after trimethylsilylderivatization; where applicable separated compounds were identified by database mass spectral libraries. Other compounds were tentatively characterized from GC-MS data and reaction mechanistic interpretations. At neutral pH, codeine was partially oxidized to norcodeine and codeinone while at basic pH only the former compound was formed. In both cases, light had no effect. In the acidic solutions exposed to light, codeine was autoxidized to two products which were tentatively characterized as epimeric forms of 10-hydroxycodeine. None of the three products was detected in pharmaceutical preparations of codeine or in opium. The nature of the oxidation products of codeine in aqueous solution is determined by the state of protonation of the molecule as well as by the presence or absence of photo effects. The results indicated that codeine aqueous pharmaceutical preparations should always be protected from light. On the other hand the stability of codeine in opium is most probably due to the co-presence of compounds with antioxidant properties.