Superficial mycoses of the skin are among the most common dermatological infections, and causative organisms include dermatophytic, yeasts, and non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi. The treatment is limited, for many reasons, and new drugs are necessary. Numerous essential oils have been tested for both in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity and some pose much potential as antifungal agents. By using disk diffusion assay, we evaluated the antifungal activity of lemongrass oil and citral against yeasts of Candida species (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis). This study showed that lemongrass oil and citral have a potent in vitro activity against Candida spp.

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Recebido em 20/6/08; aceito em 14/1/09; publicado na web em 28/5/09 A dissolution test for telithromycin tablets was validated and developed. In order to choose the most discriminatory one, the conditions to carry out are 900 mL of sodium phosphate buffer at pH 7.5, paddles at 50 rpm stirring speed, time test set to 60 min and using USP apparatus 2 with paddles. The UV spectrophotometric method for determination of telithromycin released was developed and validated. The method presents linearity (r = 1) in the concentration range of 20-60 μg/mL. Precision and recoveries were good, 100.62 and 97.06%, respectively. The method was successfully used for the dissolution test of telithromycin tablets.

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Abstract:The aim of the present work was to verify the in vivo capacity of pantoprazole-loaded microparticles to protect the gastric mucosa against ulcer formation and to evaluate their stability under accelerated conditions. Pantoprazoleloaded microparticles were prepared by spray-drying in pilot scale, using Eudragit ® S100 as polymer. Transparent glass vials containing drug-loaded microparticles were stored for 6 months at 40°C and 75% RH. Photostability was tested under UVA light. Ulcers were induced by the oral administration of absolute ethanol to rats. Sodium bicarbonate solution, pantoprazole solution and drug-loaded microparticles were tested. Regarding the drug content during the accelerate stability study, samples showed complete encapsulation efficiency and were considered stable. The microencapsulation of pantoprazole reduced its photodegradation. The in vivo evaluation showed that the microparticles presented ulcer index lower than the solutions. Enteric microparticles had acceptable stability under accelerated conditions and were efficient in protecting the stomach against ulceration caused by ethanol.

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Cefpirome is a fourth-generation cephalosporin active against a broad spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infections. The present work describe the development and validation of a simple, sensitive and specific agar diffusion bioassay applying cylinder-plate method for quantification of cefpirome in raw material and powder for injectable preparation. The validation method yielded good results and included linearity, precision, accuracy and specificity. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of cefpirome upon the strain of Kocuria rizophila ATCC 9341 as the test microorganism. The result of assay were treated statistically by ANOVA and the response graphs for standard and sample solutions were linear (r = 0.9948) in the range of 0.3 – 1.2 µg mL-1, precise (intra-assay: RSD = 0.11; inter-assay: RSD = 0.18) and accurate (mean recovery value = 99.41%). A preliminary stability study of cefpirome showed that the microbiological assay is specific for the determination cefpirome in the presence of its degradation products. The proposed microbiological method allows the quantitation of cefpirome in pharmaceutical dosage form and raw material and can be used for the drug analysis in routine quality control.

Abstract:The aim of the present work was to verify the in vivo capacity of pantoprazole-loaded microparticles to protect the gastric mucosa against ulcer formation and to evaluate their stability under accelerated conditions. Pantoprazoleloaded microparticles were prepared by spray-drying in pilot scale, using Eudragit ® S100 as polymer. Transparent glass vials containing drug-loaded microparticles were stored for 6 months at 40°C and 75% RH. Photostability was tested under UVA light. Ulcers were induced by the oral administration of absolute ethanol to rats. Sodium bicarbonate solution, pantoprazole solution and drug-loaded microparticles were tested. Regarding the drug content during the accelerate stability study, samples showed complete encapsulation efficiency and were considered stable. The microencapsulation of pantoprazole reduced its photodegradation. The in vivo evaluation showed that the microparticles presented ulcer index lower than the solutions. Enteric microparticles had acceptable stability under accelerated conditions and were efficient in protecting the stomach against ulceration caused by ethanol.