ABSTRACT:Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, commonly known as Kalmegh, is widely used as antimalarial drug in herbal and traditional systems. Andrographolide is the major triterpenoid present in the plant and responsible for its therapeutic activities. The identification and quantification of andrographolide were ascertained by various spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses. The plant sample was extracted with methanol. The amorphous residue obtained from extraction was analyzed for identification of andrographolide by chemical method, TLC, UV-Vis, FT-IR and LCMS/MS analyses. The quantitative estimation of andrographolide content in plant sample was carried out by simple reversed phase HPLC method with C 18 column using a mixture of water and methanol (35:65) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min, and the estimated concentration level of andrographolide was found as 38.36±0.42 µg/mL in the solution of amorphous residue (50 µg/mL). After quantitative determination of andrographolide, standardization of its market preparations was accomplished using the same RP-HPLC method. The estimated % potencies of andrographolide compared to reference standard in six market preparations were found to be 97. 56, 98.37, 98.21, 95.60, 98.91 and 96.40.

The present investigation was focused on formulation and in-vitro evaluation of a fixed dose bilayer tablet of two prominent antihypertensive agents, atenolol and amlodipine. The tablets were designed to immediately release atenolol (ATF1-ATF5) by using different percentage of sodium starch glycolate as super-disintegrant for prompt blood pressure lowering activity and sustain release amlodipine (AMF1- AMF5) by varying the percentage of hydroxy propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for prolonged activity. After evaluation of the physical and chemical parameters of the formulations according to United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) guidelines, the best immediate release formulation was found in ATF1 in terms of dissolution (99.87% after 45 minutes) and other tablet properties like hardness, disintegration time, good flow properties etc. However, the best sustained release activity was found in AMF3 in terms of dissolution (99.98% after 24 hours with constant release) and other tablet properties. After optimization of the formulations, both atenolol and amlodipine parts were successfully compressed into bilayer tablets and post-compression parameters were evaluated. In 0.1 N HCl medium, the release of atenolol from bilayer tablet was found 98.97% after 45 minutes and in case of amlodipine it was found 98.12% in 0.1 N HCl medium followed by phosphate buffer medium after 24 hours. Drug release kinetics showed that the atenolol layer followed Case I, QasiFickian transport and amlodipine layer followed Anomalous (non-Fickian) transport. Compatibility study was conducted by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, crystalline nature of substances and extent of its conversion to amorphous form was studied using X-ray Diffractometry (X-RD). Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 22(2): 153-169, 2019

The present study evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanolic extract of aerial parts of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. and its different solvent fractions. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The analysis revealed that ethyl acetate soluble fraction had the highest DPPH radicals scavenging property with IC50 value of 1.05 μg/ml as compared to positive control ascorbic acid (IC50 = 1.34 μg/ml). In addition, ex vivo cytotoxicity assay of A. capillus-veneris L. extract and its different fractions were performed against HELA cells line where 5-Fluorouracil was used as positive control. The result demonstrated that ethyl acetate and n-hexane soluble fractions showed prominent cytotoxicity with IC50 value of 5.68 μg/ml and 17.15 μg/ml, respectively. The study affirmed that superior antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were shown by ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of aerial parts of A. capillus-veneris L. growing in Bangladesh which indicate the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents in the extractives. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 18(2): 217-222, 2019 (December)

In the present study, solid dispersions of ibuprofen were prepared to improve aqueous solubility of ibuprofen. A series of formulations were prepared where PEG 6000 with polymers named PVP K30, cross PVP, poloxamer 237, HPMC ASLF, pregelatinized starch, Na-CMC, Eudragit L100, and kollidon IR were used in different ratios. Among 41 formulations, solid dispersions of ibuprofen in PEG 6000 with each of PVP K30, poloxamer 237, and Na-CMC at ratio of 2:9:7 revealed improved solubility of 952.73 ± 1.31, 878.18 ± 0.97, and 1263.64 ± 1.58 μg/ml, respectively. The physicochemical properties of these preparations were ascertained by FTIR, SEM, DSC, and particle size analyses. FTIR spectrum showed absence of chemical interactions and physical compatibilities between ibuprofen and polymers were confirmed by DSC. Disappearance of individual surface properties in solid dispersions were revealed by SEM studies, which indicated the formation of effective preparations. On the other hand, particle size analysis showed reduction in particle size of ibuprofen from solid dispersions that demonstrated solubility enhancement of ibuprofen. The above studies suggested that solid dispersions of ibuprofen in PEG 6000 at ratios of 2:9:7 with each of PVP K30, poloxamer 237, and Na-CMC were found to be effective to improve aqueous solubility. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 17(2): 183-190, 2018 (December)

In the current study, the combination of albendazole and mebendazole was analyzed as a potential anthelmintic agent against Lumbricus terrestris (commonly known as earthworms). The in vitro analysis showed the combination of 400 mg albendazole and 300 mg mebendazole had more significant therapeutic activities (mean paralysis time 58 minutes and mean death time 97.33 minutes) than the others. Then the combinations were formulated as tablet using different ratios of excipients where formulation-D performed excellent flow properties (Carr’s index: 14.04±0.27, Hausner’s ratio: 1.19 ± 0.03, Angle of repose: 40.22 ± 0.73). The dosage form prepared from formulation-D had better hardness of 9.40 ± 0.34 kg-N and loss of weight of 0.003 mg compared to other formulations. In terms of disintegration and dissolution studies, formulation-D exhibited excellent properties. The tablet was disintegrated fully within 8.94 ± 0.37 minutes in phosphate buffer (pH 8.3) and dissolution analysis showed R2 of 0.995 for albendazole and 0.991 for mebendazole which were statistically significant. The postformulation anthelmintic study showed that the prepared tablet dosage form was therapeutically effective because it paralyzed and killed all the earthworms within 56 and 85 minutes, respectively. Finally, the tablet was subjected to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis which confirmed better surface morphology and drug-drug compatibility within the dosage form. The next stage of the work will focus on in vivo analysis for market preparation. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 21(2): 153-163, 2022 (December)