Priyanka

Cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases are currently responsible for two thirds of global mortality. Hypertension is a consistent and independent risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases and stroke. The prevalence of hypertension has increased in urban communities as well as in rural people. There is a strong correlation between changing lifestyle factors and increase in hypertension. Accurate and decisive data about hypertension prevalence and its risk factors is essential for scheming strategies for its effective regulation and prevention. A Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural community to monitor prevalence, risk factors, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in rural population. A total of 627 subjects (males n=369 and females n=258) participated in the study (age > 18 years). The participant’s blood pressure was measured and they were asked to answer a pretested questionnaire. As per the JNC VII report, hypertension was defined. Analysis of data was done using chi square test. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 49.12% (males: 57.18% and female: 37.50%). About 1/4th of the hypertensive population did not knew about their health status. 60-79 year age group had the highest prevalence of hypertension (49.02%). Bivariate analysis of data was indicative of significant relationship between hypertension with that of age, gender, literacy, body mass index (BMI), physical inactivity, and smoking and alcohol consumption. Hence the prevalence of hypertension was found to be highly prevalent in rural community. We also realized the importance of clinical pharmacist and other health care professional’s involvement in monitoring of health problems reporting possible drug related problems, measuring therapeutic compliance and counselling on lifestyle modification in rural populations.

In the present review on Tulsi, efforts has been done to  congregate the  botanical, and in vitro tissue culture techniques in Ocimum sanctum Linn., a medicinal herb used in the indigenous system of medicine. Tulsi has been adored in almost all ayurvedic literature for its adorable medicinal properties. It is pungent-bitter in taste. Its leaves are hot, light and dry while seeds are considered to be cold in effect. Several medicinal properties of Tulsi are present in the roots, leaves and seeds. It has a wide range of action on the human body mainly ain curing cough, inducer of sweat  and prevents the indigestion and anorexia. Medicinal properties of Tulsi are very well known for thousand years to various parts of the world. In the Indian subcontinent, Hindus considered this medicinal herb as sacred plant.  Exploration the scientific studies of traditional belief of medicinal properties of Tulsi have got acceleration after the middle of the 20th century. Most of the evidences are based upon in-vitro, experimental and a very few are of human studies. Till now, no review present on the in vitro studies of Tulsi, therefore, the present review would discuss the in vitro studies along with its botanical description. This review will definitely help the researchers who deals with Tulsi studies to know its use in proper way, herb appears to be highly valuable due to many pharmacological / medicinal properties.

Among the different routes of drug administration the oral route is most successful and popular. Dosage forms with a prolonged gastric residence and controlled drug delivery are called as Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System. Thus, these dosage forms significantly extend the period of time over which the drugs may be released in comparison to other Controlled Release Drug Delivery System. Different objectives that are to be achieved during development of gastro retentive drug delivery system are as it should increase bioavailability of drug, increase residence time of dosage form in stomach, achieve greater patient compliance by reducing frequency of dosing, better safety profile, achieve the improved economy of dosage form.This review covers major aspects of stomach anatomy and physiology, factors, rational, objectives, approaches, evaluation of gastroretentive drug delivery system.

Ebola virus is responsible for several major commotion of hemorrhagic fever which results in high mortality which creats elevation in great public threat. However, the structural similarity of Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) to retrovirus envelops has been recently allotted.[6] The development of pseudo type recombinant retroviral particle that can be used to define the various aspects related to Ebola virus biology. There is no any particular treatment for Ebola virus syndrome but it can be prevented. The FDA has permitted two medications, Zmapp and a RNA interference medication called TKM-Ebola18 to be utilized as a part of individuals tainted with Ebola under these projects amid the 2014 episode. This review article is emphasis on life cycle of Ebola, pathophysiology, sign & symptoms, test & diagnosis, risk factor, treatment & precautions.

The study aims at developing novel extended release pellets of venlafaxine. The main objective of the work was to develop robust extended release formulations of Venlafaxine (test formulation) for regulated markets having comparable in-vitro dissolution profile with Innovator product - Effexor® XR (Reference Product). Venlafaxine spheroids were made using extrusion spheronization technique. The release of the drug from the spheroids was controlled by applying a coating comprising ethyl cellulose as rate controlling polymer. The coated pellets were then encapsulated in the hard gelatin capsules. The in-vitro dissolution studies were conducted to evaluate the release of the drug venlafaxine from the coated spheroids contained in capsule at pH 6.8 using phosphate buffer. The in-vitro dissolution profile of the test compositions was compared with Reference Product Effexor XR. The results obtained showed that the test formulations had higher percentage release of venlafaxine in initial time period. Therefore, a better control on the release was desired. During the manufacturing of spheroids, it was observed that more fines were generated during the extrusion spheronization, which is not suitable for large scale production of the formulation. Accordingly batches were optimized using different types of binder and coating composition. Effect of the binder and percentage coating was studied. The drug release of venlafaxine using Povidone K30 as binder, Ethyl cellulose and Acryl-EZE MP 93018508 white as release control polymers was compared with innovator’s drug release and was found to be equivalent. From the results, it was concluded that use Povidone K30 as binder during extrusion spheronization process results on generation of less fines, thus increases the yield of the product. Also, the formulation containing dual coating of Ethyl cellulose and Acryl-EZE MP 93018508 on the spheroids containing Povidone K30 as binder showed the dissolution profile similar to that of the Reference Product Effexor XR.

Over the past decade, numerous limitations of conventional dosage forms had attracted researchers to find a rational and appropriate drug delivery system. Microsponges were developed and studied as a novel programmable delivery system which is intended to deliver drug in controlled release pattern. It also aims epidermal localization of topical drug therapy to reduce their side effects by limiting systemic absorption through skin. Drug loaded microsponges are microporous beads, typically 10-25 µm in diameter which can entrap a wide variety of actives and can be formulated as creams, lotions, gels, ointments, powders, soaps. Microsponge formulations can increase product stability, enhance aesthetic qualities, and provide formulation flexibility and stability. Moreover, their non-antigenicity, non-toxicity, non-mutagenicity and non-biodegradability make them favourable candidates. Microsponge approach has also been applied in oral therapy, bone, tissue & cartilage engineering and showed remarkable results. This article provides description about the nature of microsponges, their characteristics, preparation, applications and commercial market status globally.

An efficient and cost effective micropropagation protocol using MS medium developed for Catharanthus roseus, a commercially important medicinal plant. Shootlets were regenerated from nodal explants of stem through axillary shoot proliferation. The induction of multiple shoots from nodal segments were premier in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BAP ± 1mg/l NAA. For rooting, different concentration of IBA were used and maximum rooting was recorded on MS medium with 5 mg/l IBA. The rooted plantlets were hardened initially in culture room conditions and then transferred to misthouse.

Liquisoild technique is a novel concept for delivery of drugs through oral route. This approach of delivering drugs is suitable mostly for lipophilic drugs and poorly or water insoluble drugs. With this approach sustained release formulation of hydrophilic drugs or freely water soluble drug can also be prepare. Release enhancement of poorly soluble drugs is achieved by choosing nonvolatile solvent with maximum drug solubility, Unlike this, in retardation of drug release nonvolatile solvent with lowest drug solubility is choosen. It was found from the study that if nonvolatile solvent alone is not sufficient for prolonging the drug release then various release retarding agent is used. The release retarding or sustained release agent used, may be of natural or synthetic origin.

Clotrimazole (CLTZ) is a local imidazolic antifungal agent. A major problem associated with the successful formulation of effective dosage forms containing CLTZ is its poor aqueous solubility, which presents a hindrance for the local availability of CLTZ and limits the effective antifungal therapy. In the present study, the effects of various concentrations of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers generation 3.5 (G3.5) and generation 4 (G4) with carboxylate (DCC), amine (DCN) and hydroxyl surface groups (DCO) on aqueous solubility, in vitro drug release studies, and for stability studies of CLTZ drug. The obtained results showed that all tested PAMAM dendrimers improved the solubility of CLTZ and the more potent were (DCC) dendrimers. The increase in solubility of CLTZ was highest at dendrimer concentration of 10 mg/ml. These observations indicate that PAMAM dendrimers enhance the solubility of CLTZ, The drug dendrimers complexes displayed the controlled release action during in vitro release studies. Formulation with amine and carboxylate were subjected to accelerated stability studies. Key words: poly(amidoamine) dendrimers; clotrimazole; aqueous solubility; surface groups

  Examination of nature’s favorite molecules revealed that nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides are condensation polymers of small subunits stitched together by carbon ± heteroatom bonds. Taking clue from the natures approach, a set of powerful, highly reliable and selective reactions were developed for the rapid synthesis of useful new compounds, an approach called as “click reactions”.  Thus click chemistry is a modular synthetic approach that utilizes the most practical and reliable chemical transformations. Its applications are increasingly found in all aspects of drug discovery, ranging from lead finding through combinatorial chemistry and target-template in situ chemistry, to proteomics and DNA research, using bioconjugation reactions. One of the reactions of click chemistry i.e. copper (I)-catalyzed 1, 2, 3-triazole forming reaction has become the gold standard of click chemistry due to its reliability, specificity and biocompatibility of the reactants. The triazole products are more than just passive linkers; they readily associate with biological targets, through hydrogen bonding and dipole interactions. This review gives a brief overview about some of the advances and applications of these click reactions.