Capsule Formulation Research Articles

Development and Evaluation of Polyherbal Formulations for Hepatoprotective Activity

Background: Liver is one of the most important human organs and is a sensitive target for chemicals that modulate biotransformation. The present study aimed to develop a polyherbal formulation in the form of both capsules (solid dosage form) and suspensions (liquid dosage form) with the combination of powders of Ricinus communis leaves, Allium sativum cloves, and Piper nigrum seeds and evaluated for hepatoprotective activity. Methods: Three batches of each formulation (CF1, CF2, CF3 for capsules and SF1, SF2, SF3 for suspensions) were developed by varying starch (as binder) concentration for granulation in capsules and by varying concentrations of sodium CMC (carboxy methyl cellulose) a thickening agent in suspension formulations. These were initially evaluated for in-vitro parameters. Then calculated OD (overall desirability) factor for both formulations based on good flow properties and pourable viscosity of capsules and suspensions, respectively. Results: It was found that CF2 and SF1 formulations were selected as the best. Hence, these two formulations were considered for further pharmacological evaluation by ex-vivo studies using rat liver slices with CCl4 triggered lipid peroxidation assay and reduced glutathione assay, which revealed that the CF2 and SF1 formulations effectively prevented lipid peroxidation and considerably increased the glutathione levels. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the polyherbal formulation in both dosage forms could be used for the hepatoprotective activity to treat liver toxicities for adults (capsules) and for pediatric and geriatric (Suspension) patients.

Fabrication of Encapsulated Gemini Surfactants

(1) Background: Encapsulation of surfactants is an innovative approach that allows not only protection of the active substance, but also its controlled and gradual release. This is primarily used to protect metallic surfaces against corrosion or to create biologically active surfaces. Gemini surfactants are known for their excellent anticorrosion, antimicrobial and surface properties; (2) Methods: In this study, we present an efficient methods of preparation of encapsulated gemini surfactants in form of alginate and gelatin capsules; (3) Results: The analysis of infrared spectra and images of the scanning electron microscope confirm the effectiveness of encapsulation; (4) Conclusions: Gemini surfactants in encapsulated form are promising candidates for corrosion inhibitors and antimicrobials with the possibility of protecting the active substance against environmental factors and the possibility of controlled outflow.

Segmentation of modern dosage forms at the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine

In the current conditions of the pharmaceutical industry development the segmentation of available dosage forms among 13898 medicines registered on the territory of Ukraine allows to optimize the pharmaceutical provision of the population. Aim. To comprehensively analyze medicines registered in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The study material was data of the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine in 2022. The research methods used were frequency and content analysis. Results and discussion. As a result of the content analysis, it has been found that the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine is represented by 13898 items of medicines; among them 10965 are ready-made medicinal products (78.89 %) and 2146 are substances (15.44 %), where the largest share is made up of finished dosage forms, namelysolid dosage forms: tablets (49.96 %), solutions (17.17 %), capsules (10.37 %) and powders (10.01 %) with a preference for foreign production of 66.35 %. Medicines in the form of capsules and their varieties with the advantage of foreign production of 76.01 % of trade names are also determined. Conclusions. As a result of the content analysis, the range of dosage forms registered on the territory of Ukraine amounting to 13898 trade names has been determined. Solid dosage forms (tablets, capsules) account for 6617 trade names and occupy 60.35 % of the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine. When analyzing manufacturers of modern dosage forms it has been found that the ratio of capsules of foreign and domestic production is 2:1, where Indian dosageforms make up 18.54 %.

Beyond Settler Time: Temporal Sovereignty and Indigenous Self-Determination

Beyond Settler Time: Temporal Sovereignty and Indigenous Self-Determination

Design and manufacture of a lyophilised faecal microbiota capsule formulation to GMP standards.

Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is an established and effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and has many other potential clinical applications. However, preparation and quality of FMT is poorly standardised and clinical studies are hampered by a lack of well-defined FMT formulations that meet regulatory standards for medicines. As an alternative to FMT suspensions for administration by nasojejunal tube or colonoscopy, which is invasive and disliked by many patients, this study aimed to develop a well-controlled, standardised method for manufacture of lyophilised FMT capsules and to provide stability data allowing storage for extended time periods. Faecal donations were collected from healthy, pre-screened individuals, homogenised, filtered and centrifuged to remove dietary matter. The suspension was centrifuged to pellet bacteria, which were resuspended with trehalose and lyophilised to produce a powder which was filled into 5 enteric-coated capsules (size 0). Live-dead bacterial cell quantitative PCR assay showed <10 fold viable bacterial load reduction through the manufacturing process. No significant loss of viable bacterial load was observed after storage at -80 °C for 36 weeks (p = 0.24, n = 5). Initial clinical experience demonstrated that the capsules produced clinical cure in patients with CDI with no adverse events reported (n = 7). We provide the first report of a detailed manufacturing protocol and specification for an encapsulated lyophilised formulation of FMT. As clinical trials into intestinal microbiota interventions proceed, it is important to use a well-controlled investigational medicinal product in the studies so that any beneficial results can be replicated in clinical practice.

P27 Challenging management of GI complications in Systemic Sclerosis

Introduction/BackgroundSystemic sclerosis is a chronic, progressive, multisystemic autoimmune disease in which there is excessive collagen deposition in the dermis and internal organs. It is commonly categorized into limited cutaneous or diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. In more than 80% of patients there is GI involvement. Gut complications can impair oral intake, absorption and even faecal continence, and consequently can have severe adverse effect on quality of life. With disease progression, management of GI symptoms may become more of a challenge. We present a challenging case of SSs with esophageal involvement along with severe regurgitation who eventually responded to a specific prokinetic.Description/Method70 y/o female initially presented to gastroenterology clinic in 2013 due to dysphagia to solids and was found to have benign fibrotic oesophageal stricture for which she had therapeutic dilatation, (normal biopsy result). Subsequently, she had barium swallow which showed severe regurgitation. Manometry confirmed severely hypo-contractile oesophagus thus she was referred to rheumatology for suspected connective tissue disorder.On initial review, she did not describe typical inflammatory symptoms, scleroderma, sclerodactyly, Raynaud’s phenomenon, digital ulcers, calcinosis, telangiectasia or any other connective tissue features but was diagnosed with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis due to ANA & anti-centromere antibody positivity, severe oesophageal dysmotility and diagnosis of mild pulmonary hypertension (on right heart catheter studies).Her main disabling SSs symptom was refractory belching, intermittent dysphagia and reflux disease resulting in poor oral intake and resultant malnutrition. She had 4-week trial of antibiotics to treat for presumptive small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) due to persistent belching but had no evident improvement. She had multiple endoscopies which only showed grade B oesophagitis due to which she remained on high dose PPI (Omeprazole 40mg BD) but showed no recurrent stricture. She was also given dual therapy with Ranitidine 150mg bd but derived no benefit.In Rheumatology clinic she was started on erythromycin 250 mg BD as a pro-kinetic and in liquid form for better tolerability (due to the dysphagia) with gradual but significant improvement of her upper GI symptoms. Switching liquid form to tablets/capsule form via GP resulted in worsening symptoms so was switched back to liquid form. GI symptoms worsened again in 2017 and impression was tachyphylaxis to erythromycin. She was started on trial of another pro-kinetic (metoclopramide) but symptoms continued worsening. In view of this she was started back on liquid erythromycin and her symptoms gradually improved again and has remained stable since.Discussion/ResultsSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an incurable connective tissue disorder. It is estimated that approximately 90% of patients with SSc have some form of oesophageal involvement. For first three years, this patient’s main symptoms were her upper GI tract issues with reflux and oesophageal dysmotility causing delayed gastric emptying.Considering the severity of her GI symptoms, it was of great importance for her to maintain a regular follow up with gastroenterology team for a regular review of symptoms and repeat investigations as needed such as multiple repeat UGI endoscopy to ensure no recurrence of oesophageal stricture, monitoring of GORD, and hydrogen breath testing.We recommend for patients with severe oesophageal dysmotility to be started on prokinetics early to control GI symptoms and have minimal impact of these on quality of life. Liquid preparation has shown a significant improvement in symptoms in our patient as compared to tablet or capsule form which actually worsened the symptoms.Key learning points/ConclusionDysphagia can be a presenting symptom of systemic sclerosis in some cases. Upper gastro-intestinal symptoms can be severe with significant effect on quality of life.Management of these symptoms can be challenging and may require a combination of treatments.Pro-kinetics mainly erythromycin can have a major positive impact in controlling GI symptoms,Liquid form had better outcome in this case as compared to tablet or capsule form.Poor control of GI symptoms can result in significant malnutrition which is associated with more aggressive disease progression, so GI symptoms management plays a key role in disease control.

EFFECT OF Mg, Zn, Ca, AND Fe SUPPLEMENTS ON GROWTH, PROBIOTIC POTENTIAL, AND BIOFILM-FORMING CAPACITY OF LACTOBACILLUS BACTERIA

The gut microbiome is a complete set of microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Lactobacillus spp. are beneficial bacteria that are normally found in the gut. They are used as a type of probiotic in order to create a homeostasis in the human microflora. One of the challenges for these bacteria is the ability to adapt to different environments in order to survive and function properly. The main research question of this study was to see whether specific dietary supplements (calcium citrate, iron(II)fumarate, zinc, magnesium oxide) change bacterial properties of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) (DSM 17938) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) GG (ATCC 53103). Presence of dietary supplements affected antibiotic sensitivity of tested bacteria. Results of biochemical testing minimally changed. MICs of tested supplements have been determined as well, where L. reuteri tolerated higher concentrations of supplements compared to L. rhamnosus. Probiotic efficiency was also tested through bile and acid tolerance assays. Obtained results showed that presence of dietary supplements did not alter probiotic efficiency. According to other studies L. reuteri and L. rhamnosus form biofilm structures in the human gut, however they showed very low affinity to form biofilms before and after treatment with dietary supplements when tested in vitro. Previous studies showed that L. reuteri could be used in a treatment for autistic-spectrum disorders. According to results from this study, patients with ASD should avoid zinc in the form of capsules (as dietary supplements) from their diets, since it inhibits growth of L. reuteri. In general, tested dietary supplements, except zinc, did not affect bacterial properties on a large scale.

LIPID AS AN EXCIPIENT FOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FORMULATIONS

Lipids are present abundantly in human body in several forms. Different types of lipids are available with diverse physical properties, based on which suitable lipids can be selected for development of formulations. Lipids are also available for specific purposes like lubrication, emulsification, emollientes and enhancement of bioavailability. Conventionally, many lipids are used in formulation of tablets, capsules, emulsions and cosmetics. In recent years, use of lipids for drug delivery has been extended to Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC), and Self-Micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS), which are emerging technologies designed to address challenges like solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. This paper mainly focuses on different types of formulations in which lipids are used, and parameters which are critical for selection of lipid in any dosage form development. Several examples are quoted for different uses of lipids. Finally challenges in use of lipids and regulatory aspects are discussed.

Effects of Span surfactants on the preparation and properties of fish oil-loaded sodium alginate-stabilized emulsions and calcium alginate-stabilized capsules

Encapsulation is an efficient protection method for oil in both liquid (e.g., emulsion) and solid (e.g., capsule) forms. In this work, we mainly explored the effect of different Span surfactants (Span 20, Span 40, Span 60, and Span 80) on the properties of fish oil-loaded sodium alginate/Span-stabilized emulsions and calcium alginate/Span capsules. For emulsions, different Span surfactants induced different initial droplet sizes and emulsion creaming stability. The emulsifying stability of Span surfactants for sodium alginate/Span-stabilized emulsions was: Span 40 < Span 20 < Span 80 < Span 60. For capsules, a Span addition could decrease the water content and change the particle morphologies. Compared with the calcium alginate capsule (12.2 %), the Span 60 addition increased the fish oil loading ratio (20.2 %). Moreover, the addition of Span 20, Span 60, and Span 80 decreased the production of primary lipid hydroperoxides of the capsules. Span surfactants had different effects on the free fatty acid release of calcium alginate capsules in the gastrointestinal digestion process, such that: Span 40 > Span 80 > control > Span 20 > Span 60. This work suggests that Span surfactants are capable of adjusting and optimizing the properties of emulsions and capsules for potential food applications.

Effect of ethanolic extract of rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on vital signs, kidney, and liver safety

Summary Introduction: Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L) extract is often used as immune-stimulant because it contains flavonoids, especially anthocyanin and quercetin with antioxidant activities. Objective: This study aimed to determine the safety of the rosella extract consumed in the form of capsules on the vital signs, haematologic parameters as well as kidney and liver function. Methods: This research was conducted using clinical trial pre- and post-test design in healthy participants. There were 21 healthy participants (52% male, age ranged 8–45) consuming rosella capsules for thirty days, in a dose of 500 mg extract daily. Leukocytes, lymphocytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and vital signs were consecutively evaluated on days 0, 31, and 45, respectively. The Wilcoxon and paired sample t-test were used to compare the parameters among the evaluated times. Results: The result showed that no significant difference for all parameters among the three time points (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggested that the administration of ethanolic extract of rosella is potential safe and does not negatively affect the vital signs, haemoglobin, leukocytes, lymphocytes, BUN, SGOT, and SGPT.

Voltammetric sensor for COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir on modified glassy carbon electrode with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide

• There are no published reports for electrochemical determination of Molnupiravir in any matrix. • The first electrochemical validated, sensitive, cheap, easy and fast method for determination of Molnupiravir in pharmaceutical preparations. • Reduced GO has excellent conductivity, thermal and chemical stability for sensor application. A direct, simple, and sensitive method based on electrochemical deposition of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) was developed for Molnupiravir (MOL) quantitative analysis. Here, the electrochemical oxidation of MOL was examined using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and a well-defined peak at 0.2 V was measured against the Ag/AgCl reference electrode with the rGO sensor in Britton-Robinson pH 9 buffer. Various operational parameters for MOL analysis such as pH of supporting electrolyte, instrumental parameters, electropolymerization cycles, and GO concentration were optimized. The sensor exhibited a linear range from 0.09 to 4.57 μM with a detection limit of 0.03 µM. The electrochemical response of the rGO sensor was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and CV. The character of current and reversibility of the electrode reaction, the number of electrons and protons transferred were studied by the CV method. The developed sensor was validated according to the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. Validation parameters, such as stability, linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, recovery, robustness and ruggedness were evaluated according to the ICH requirements. The developed sensor was successfully applied for the quantification of MOL in capsule formulations.

Atazanavir-Loaded Crosslinked Gamma-Cyclodextrin Nanoparticles to Improve Solubility and Dissolution Characteristics.

Atazanavir sulfate (AS), a Biosafety Cabinet (BCS) class II antiretroviral drug, shows dissolution rate-limited bioavailability, therefore, it is necessary to improve its solubility and oral bioavailability. The present investigation is intended to improve the aqueous solubility by developing AS-loaded nanoparticles (ASNPs). Additionally, the immediate release formulation of AS capsules has gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and abdominal pain, cardiovascular side effect, e.g. abnormal cardiac conduction, toxic effects on kidney and liver such as nephrolithiasis, hyperbilirubinemia, and jaundice. Therefore, ASNPs were designed to release the drug slowly for 12 h, so that these side effects could be reduced. ASNPs were prepared using gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and the crosslinker dimethyl carbonate were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to check the crystal characteristics of AS upon entrapment in NPs. Entrapment efficiency (EE), particle size, morphology, solubility, and dissolution behavior were also determined. EE%, particle size, and zeta potential varied from 14.38 ± 0.16 to 75.97 ± 0.28%, 65.4 ± 1.25 nm to 439.6 ± 2.21 nm, and 28.3 ± 0.1 mV to 41.0 ± 0.3 mV, respectively. XRD and DSC confirmed the transformation of the crystalline AS to amorphous in NPs. There was 11.717 folds rise in AS solubility in water from NPs. The formulation having AS: γ-CD, 1:1 at 10 mg/mL, depicted 88.55 ± 0.58, 91.23 ± 0.80, and 86.8 ± 0.65% drug release in water, acid buffer, and phosphate buffer, respectively, in 12 h. Solubility enhancement could be attributed to the decrease in crystallinity of atazanavir, when dispersed in NPs.

Characterization of Different Forms of Kava (Piper methysticum) Products by UPLC-MS/MS.

There are several forms of kava (Piper methysticum) products available for human consumption, and many factors are known to influence their chemical compositions and therefore their pharmacological properties. Because of the increased popularity of kava intake, a rigorous characterization of their content diversity is prerequisite, particularly due to its known potential to cause hepatotoxicity. To understand the composition diversity of kavalactones and flavokavains in commercial kava products, we developed a UPLC-MS/MS-based analytical method for the quantification of six kavalactones (kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin and desmethoxyyangonin) and two flavokavains (flavokavains A and B) and analyzed their contents in 28 different kava products in the form of capsules, tinctures, traditional aqueous suspensions and dried powders. Our results demonstrated a great variation in terms of the total and relative abundance of the analyzed kavalactones and flavokavains among the analyzed kava preparations. More importantly, the kavalactone abundance in the product label could differ up to 90% from our experimental measurements. Therefore, more rigorous and comprehensive quality control of kava products is required with respect to the content of individual kavalactones and flavokavains. Accurate content information is essential to understand the pharmacological properties and safety of different kava products.

Factors Determining Effective Probiotic Activity: Evaluation of Survival and Antibacterial Activity of Selected Probiotic Products Using an "In Vitro" Study.

There are many different probiotic products on the market. Are they all equally effective? What criteria should a probiotic formulation meet to provide the most benefit to the patient? The current research aims to evaluate the parameters that influence the effectiveness of market probiotic products. These properties are critical for restoring eubiosis in patients with drug-induced dysbiosis or other pathological conditions, which could be caused by stress, wrong eating. Methods: The disintegration time of probiotic capsules in hydrochloric acid was investigated using a disintegration testing device. The survival rate of probiotic preparations in hydrochloric acid at pH 2 and in a 0.4% bile solution was then evaluated. For this purpose, the number of bacteria before and after incubation in the respective solutions was determined using the plate method. Inhibition of gastrointestinal pathogens by the probiotic products was determined using the Strus bar graph method. The highest survival rate of probiotic bacteria at low pH is shown by preparations produced in the form of acid-resistant capsules. Conclusions: The most important factor determining the good survival of bacterial strains under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract is the type of capsule used for their production and storage. The best antimicrobial activity against most common human gastrointestinal pathogens such as Eschericha coli, Shigella, Salmonella spp., Clostridioides difficile (the largest inhibition zones) are shown by probiotic products with the greatest diversity of bacterial strains.

The strawberry-derived permeation enhancer pelargonidin enables oral protein delivery

Although patients generally prefer oral drug delivery to injections, low permeability of the gastrointestinal tract makes this method impossible for most biomacromolecules. One potential solution is codelivery of macromolecules, including therapeutic proteins or nucleic acids, with intestinal permeation enhancers; however, enhancer use has been limited clinically by modest efficacy and toxicity concerns surrounding long-term administration. Here, we hypothesized that plant-based foods, which are well tolerated by the gastrointestinal tract, may contain compounds that enable oral macromolecular absorption without causing adverse effects. Upon testing more than 100 fruits, vegetables, and herbs, we identified strawberry and its red pigment, pelargonidin, as potent, well-tolerated enhancers of intestinal permeability. In mice, an oral capsule formulation comprising pelargonidin and a 1 U/kg dose of insulin reduced blood glucose levels for over 4 h, with bioactivity exceeding 100% relative to subcutaneous injection. Effects were reversible within 2 h and associated with actin and tight junction rearrangement. Furthermore, daily dosing of mice with pelargonidin for 1 mo resulted in no detectable side effects, including weight loss, tissue damage, or inflammatory responses. These data suggest that pelargonidin is an exceptionally effective enhancer of oral protein uptake that may be safe for routine pharmaceutical use.

Review of analytical and bioanalytical techniques for the determination of first-line anticytomegalovirus drugs

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) being a major threat and fatal in immunocompromised patient can be treated with valganciclovir and Ganciclovir. • Physicochemical properties, pharmacological properties, mechanism of action of Valganciclovir and Ganciclovir are compared and conferred with their benefits in treating CMV. • Key findings and applications of different techniques for the determination of Valganciclovir and Ganciclovir are critically discussed. • This critical discussion would aid future researchers on analysing Valganciclovir and Ganciclovir. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus which infects people of all ages. It causes serious illness like mononucleosis or hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. Ganciclovir had been the first drug of choice to treat cytomegalovirus infection. At present, Valganciclovir, the prodrug, is more predominantly used because of its higher oral bioavailability. Both the drugs act by inhibiting the replication of viral DNA. Commercially, ganciclovir is available in the form of capsules, suspensions, injections, nanoparticles and microspheres while valganciclovir is available as tablets and injections. This review provides an overview of physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of ganciclovir and valganciclovir and a detailed investigation on different analytical techniques used for detection and quantification of these drugs on various matrices. Various techniques like spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemical methods and hyphenated techniques were reported to determine ganciclovir and valganciclovir, either alone or in combination with other drugs, in different kinds of matrices like in bulk, existing dosage forms and also biological samples like plasma, serum, urine and myocardial tissue. Among various techniques used, HPLC, LC-MS systems are more commonly used because of their high sensitivity. This article summarizes the research works carried out since 1985 and intents to act as a handbook for future researchers.

Synthesis of pH-Sensitive polydopamine capsules via pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals to study drug release behavior

Stimuli-responsive carriers capable of recognizing and responding to physiological changes (external stimuli such as photo, temperature, pH, etc .) play an essential role in targeting drug delivery. In this study, Hollow polydopamine (PDA) nanocapsules was developed with a considerably small mean droplet size of 397 nm templated by Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals for drug encapsulation. These PDA drug delivery systems were characterized with scanning electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, and fourier transform infrared techniques. To study the drug release behavior, the typical chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (dox), was loaded into PDA capsules, and drug loading efficiency of 76.14% and encapsulation efficiency 73.43% was obtained. The maximum release percentages of dox after 48 h were 19.01, 39.64, and 80.76% in the solution with pH 7.4, 6.8, and 5.5, respectively. To achieve controlled drug release in the acidic environment of cancer tissue, dox should be released in an acidic media and blocked in the neutral media. These PDA capsules can work as stimuli-sensitive gatekeepers to control the release of drug molecules in response to the pH stimulus. It is worth noting that this is the first work that was able to prepare and investigate drug loading and release properties in PDA capsules formed on emulsion droplets stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals with a size of less than 500 nm. • PDA capsules were developed as a pH-sensitive carrier. • Small CNCs with a uniform size distribution were prepared from waste paper. • A surfactant-free Pickering emulsion stabilized by CNCs was used to prepare capsules. • The optimal formulation of capsules was selected to study the release properties. • The drug release could be controlled in response to the pH stimulus in these systems.

New RP-HPLC Method for the Estimation of Atazanavir sulphate in Pharmaceutical Dosage form

A simple, rapid, accurate and precise RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of Atazanavir sulfate in table dosage form. Chromatographic analysis of the drug was achieved on CYBER LAB HPLC comprising of LC- 100 P pump, a variable wavelength programmable LC-UV100 UV detector and SCL system controller. Flowrosil C18 column (250mm x 4.6mm, 5μ) as stationary phase with mobile phase consisting of 1% glacial acetic acid and methanol in the ratio of 20: 80 v/v. The method showed a good linear response in the concentration range of 5-30μg/ml with correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The flow rate was maintained at 1.0 ml/min and detection was carried out at 249nm. The retention time was 5.207min. The method was statistically validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, ruggedness, robustness, solution stability, selectivity and sensitivity. The results obtained in the study were within the limits of ICH guidelines and hence this method can be used for the determination of atazanavir sulfate in capsule formulation.

Chemometric classification and discrimination of herbal dietary supplements based on ICP-MS elemental profiling

This study presents the determination of elemental profiling of representative dietary herbal supplements which were purchased on the Croatian market in the forms of capsules, powders, jams or liquids. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), twenty-four elements in eighty-seven different samples were determined. Electrothermal atomic absorption with hydride generation technique (HG-ETAAS) applied for the selenium determination in all samples gave the similar results as ICP-MS technique. Elemental profiling resulted with determination of major constituents Na, Mg, Ka and Ca with mean concentration values of 2900, 2700, 9200, and 16,600 mg kg−1, respectively. Elements of middle concentration range were: B, Al, Mn, Fe, Zn and Sr (31.8–1050 mg kg−1). Trace and ultra-trace levels comprise of Se, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Hg, Tl and Pb (21.7–11,300 µg kg−1). Using PLS-DA statistical analysis, the elements Se, Na, Fe, Co, Tl, and Zn, were established as the marker elements with the greatest discriminating power between supplement samples. Multivariate PCA analysis resulted with the successful discrimination of Se and Zn enriched supplements. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) enhanced the recognition of similarities in sub-clusters of samples. Minor discrepancies in trace and ultra-trace elemental profiles revealed Hg, As, Cd, Pb, Cr and Co as the key elements for discrimination between two groups of Ayurvedic and spirulina-based supplements. The HCA method also allowed visualization of the exceptional elemental profile of several mixed-herb supplements. There were distinctive features of herbal dietary supplements with peculiar influences of botanical, environmental and/or production conditions on their elemental profile.

Gelatin Capsules To Enhance The Efficacy Of &lt;i&gt;Lecanicillium lecanii&lt;/i&gt; Against &lt;i&gt;Myzus persicae&lt;/i&gt;

Evaluation of gelatin capsule-based formulations of indigenous isolate of Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimm.) Zare and Games was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot during 2018-19. The gelatine capsules filled with different ratios of spore and talc powder (1:0, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) were evaluated in the laboratory for their efficacy against aphid Myzus persicae. The results indicate that equal quantity of spore and talc powder showed better efficacy than other two combinations and next best to spore alone. The gelatine capsules containing the spore powder alone though proved better with maximum mortality when it was used fresh and immediately after their formulation; the efficacy decreased drastically after 30 days after storage. Evaluation of their storability, under varying storage conditions revealed that refrigerated condition is the best in maintaining the virulence of the spore after four months of storage period. The pot culture experiment revealed that significantly more mortality of aphid was obtained with gelatine capsules formulations of local isolate of L. lecanii as compared to commercial formulation.