Water soluble polysaccharides are currently finding increasing use as a basis material for plasma volume expander. In clinical setting it is desirable to have a precise knowledge of steric and chemical structure, since these affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of plasma volume expander. Branch component of starch amylopectin is very similar in structure to glycogen, the reserve polysaccharide of animal and therefore is liable to be compatible with body tissue. The knowledge of weight average molecular mass, degree of branching, osmotic pressure and coil dimension are essential, since low molecular mass do not have desirable effect and large molar mass have undesirable effect. Assam Bora rice starch was characterized by polymer analysis for use as plasma volume expander. Characterization involves the determination of FTIR spectra, degree of branching by H1 NMR, osmotic pressure by internal measurement technique, establishment of Mark-Houwink relationship and determination of Molecular weight - viscosity relationship.

Nature has offered us diverse curative herbs having with powerful antioxidant phytochemicals. Ocimum (Lamiaceae) is a notable source of volatile oils and flavouring agents in general and primarily of eugenol, methyl eugenol, linalool, methyl chavicol, etc. Karpoora Thulasi is a member of this genus; nevertheless, not much literature has been reported on its safety and antioxidant potential. In this investigation, we did a pre-clinical safety assessment of concentrate of O. kilimandscharicum on Sprague Dawley rodents. Toxicological concordat of the O. kilimandscharicum concentrate was carried out following OECD guidelines 423. Further, to verify the traditional efficacy and elucidate the mechanism, the present study compared in-vitro antioxidant activity of the plant by DPPH, ABTS and Hydroxyl radical scavenging method using ascorbic acid as the standard. In acute oral toxicity, no treatment-related death or toxic signs were observed. Moreover, the study revealed that the O. kilimandscharicum extract could be well tolerated up to the dose 2000 mg/kg body weight and could be classified as Category 5. Moreover, ABTS free radical activity of the extract was 79.2148 while that of DDPH Inhibition potential was found to be 70.72758. Our findings present substantiation that the crude extracts of O. kilimandscharicum is a likely source of natural antioxidants, and this justified its long-established uses.  Keywords: Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Acute Toxicity, In-vitro Antioxidant Activity DPPH, ABTS

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T he aim of this study was to develop a controlled release system targeting antibiotic delivery to the stomach. The hydrogels were synthesized by using chitosan, poly (acrylic acid) and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) polymers crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide. Interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared by varying the concentration of crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde). The amount of chitosan, poly (acrylic acid), poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide were kept constant in all formulations. The effect of glutaraldehyde concentration on the swelling and release characteristics were evaluated. Modalities used to assess the most optimal hydrogel formulation included high liquid chromatography, FTIR analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, swelling studies, in vitro drug release study, mucoadhesive study and scanning electron microscopy. The result showed that IPN hydrogels were greater in swelling, more mucoadhesive and released more drug at lower pH values. Thus, it is believed that the antibiotic concentration in the stomach might be sustained through this formulation.

Recent years have shown considerable efforts to identify new chemopreventive agents that could be of clinical value. In the current study, modulatory effect of Nardostachys jatamansi (Jones) DC on benzoyl peroxide-induced oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema is investigated. Pretreatment with jatamansi at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg=kg body weight in acetone prior to the application of benzoyl peroxide (20 mg=animal per 0.2 ml acetone) resulted in significant inhibition of benzoyl peroxide-induced cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema in a dose-dependent manner. The cutaneous microsomal membrane lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase activities were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Moreover, the depleted levels of phase II metabolizing enzymes and glutathione were recovered significantly (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that N. jatamansi is an effective chemopreventive agent in mouse skin with potential of ameliorating benzoyl peroxide-induced cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema.