Shivakumar B

The different solvent extracts of Scleroderma bermudense belongs to the family Sclerodermataceae collected from semi evergreen forest region (13˚51'56.30"N, 75˚03'12.50"E) which is located in Haniya, Hosanagar taluk, Shimoga district, Karnataka was subjected to phytochemical analysis for secondary metabolites and antifungal screening by agar well diffusion method against plant and human pathogenic fungi viz., A. alternate, A. flavus, A. solani, A. tomentosa, C. capsici, C. dematium, C. lindemuthianum, F. oxysporum, F. solani, M. gypseum, T. equinum, T. kanei, C. albicans, C. indicum, C. krusei, C. merdarium, C. zonatum, E. floccosum and T. rubrum. Extracts were found to contain steroids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids and phenols. The extract also showed significant antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. indicum, C. merdarium, F. oxysporum, C. dematium, T. equinum, A. flavus C. capsici, F. solani, C. kruesi and C. lindemuthianum, whereas least activity showed against A. solani, M. gypseum and does not showed inhibition zone against A. alternate, A. tomentosa. T. kanei, C. zonatum, E. floccosum and T. rubrum. However, the activity was less than the standard Clotrimazole, Fleuconazole, Mancozeb and Captan. The extract shows increasing inhibitory activity with increase in concentration (12.5%-100%).While comparing the solvent studied, petroleum ether and methanol extracts showed highest response in resisting microbial growth than chloroform.

Barlaria buxifolia Linn is one of the medicinal plants well documented traditionally in Ayurveda system of medicine and is highly valued in modern medicine owing to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, steroids. The plant is reported to contain phenol, flavonoid and tannin; phenolic and flavonoids compounds are reported to possess antioxidant and hence the plant may be used as organ protective. Keeping this in view, the plant was analysed for total phenol, flavonoid and tannin content. Catechol, quercetin and tannic acid reagents were used as standards for calibration of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins respectively. The quantification of total polyphenol, falvonoid and tannin content showed 14.65mg/gm catechol, 26.80mg/gm quercetin and 11.32mg/gm tannic acid equivalent respectively, the study indicates that the leaves of Barlaria buxifolia Linn exhibits the highest flavonoid, phenolic and tannin content. It can be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidant. Key words: Catechol, Phenol, Flavonoid, Quercetin and Tannin, Barlaria buxifolia Linn

  ODTS are solid unit dosage form which dissolve or disintegrate rapidly in mouth without water. So, acceptability of this dosage form mainly depends on its taste i.e. mouth feel. So it becomes necessary to develop such an ODT for that must be acceptable in taste to patient many techniques are available to mask the taste of drugs. These techniques not only serve as to mask the taste of drug but also to enhance the bioavailability of drug. Taste masking technology involves the development of a system that prevents the active substance interacting with the taste buds, thereby eliminating or reducing the bitter taste. This review describes the commonly used techniques that are adopted for masking the taste of bitter drugs and dosage form palatable. The common methods include addition of sweeteners, coating of drugs adjusting the pH values, granulation, freeze drying, forming complex with ion exchange resins etc. Key words: orodispersible tablets (ODTs), taste masking.