D-optimal experimental approach for designing topical microemulsion of itraconazole: Characterization and evaluation of antifungal efficacy against a standardized Tinea pedis infection model in Wistar rats.

The study aims to statistically develop a microemulsion system of an antifungal agent, itraconazole for overcoming the shortcomings and adverse effects of currently used therapies. Following preformulation studies like solubility determination, component selection and pseudoternary phase diagram construction, a 3-factor D-optimal mixture design was used for optimizing a microemulsion having desirable formulation characteristics. The factors studied for sixteen experimental trials were percent contents (w/w) of water, oil and surfactant, whereas the responses investigated were globule size, transmittance, drug skin retention and drug skin permeation in 6h.

Ditosylate salt of itraconazole and dissolution enhancement using cyclodextrins.

Salt formation has been a promising approach for improving the solubility of poorly soluble acidic and basic drugs. The aim of the present study was to prepare the salt form of itraconazole (ITZ), a hydrophobic drug to improve the solubility and hence dissolution performance. Itraconazolium ditolenesulfonate salt (ITZDITOS) was synthesized from ITZ using acid addition reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid.

Preparation and cyclodextrin assisted dissolution rate enhancement of itraconazolium dinitrate salt.

The poor solubility of itraconazole (ITR) results in its variable oral absorption and bioavailability and has also proven to be a major setback in developing an efficient oral delivery system. To improve its solubility and dissolution profile, itraconazolium dinitrate salt (ITRDNT) was prepared and characterized using various spectral and thermal techniques. The morphology of the salt was studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Development and evaluation of novel microemulsion based oral formulations of 5-fluorouracil using non-everted rat intestine sac model.

Oral formulations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with enhanced bioavailability were developed using microemulsion as a drug carrier system. The formulations were evaluated for drug content, physicochemical characteristics such as globule size, zeta potential, viscosity, stability and permeation characteristics. Ex vivo permeation studies were performed using non-everted rat intestinal sac technique.

Development of taste masked oral formulation of ornidazole.

Taste masked microspheres of ornidazole were prepared using amino alkyl methacrylate copolymers (Eudragit E-100) by solvent evaporation technique. Taste assessment of these microspheres was done by both spectrophotometric taste evaluation technique and panel testing. Compressed tablets of taste masked ornidazole microspheres which rapidly disintegrated in the oral cavity were prepared using microcrystalline cellulose as directly compressible filler and sodium starch glycolate as a super-disintegrant.

Development of novel microemulsion-based topical formulations of acyclovir for the treatment of cutaneous herpetic infections.

The present investigation aims at developing microemulsion-based formulations for topical delivery of acyclovir. Various microemulsions were developed using isopropyl myristate/Captex 355/Labrafac as an oil phase, Tween 20 as surfactant, Span 20 as cosurfactant, and water/dimethylsulfoxide (1:3) as an aqueous phase. Transcutol, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil were used as permeation enhancers.

Stomach-specific drug delivery of 5-fluorouracil using floating alginate beads.

A multiple-unit-type oral floating dosage form (FDF) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was developed to prolong gastric residence time, target stomach cancer, and increase drug bioavailability. The floating bead formulations were prepared by dispersing 5-FU together with calcium carbonate into a mixture of sodium alginate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution and then dripping the dispersion into an acidified solution of calcium chloride. Calcium alginate beads were formed, as alginate undergoes ionotropic gelation by calcium ions and carbon dioxide develops from the reaction of carbonate salts with acid.

Preparation of hydrogels of griseofulvin for dermal application.

In an attempt to prepare topical formulations of griseofulvin that can deliver the drug locally in effective concentration, various hydrogel formulations were prepared using carbomer (940 NF) as base; essential oils, propylene glycol (PG), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as penetration enhancers. The in vitro skin permeation studies through Laca mouse skin were performed using vertical type cells. PG in the hydrogel formulation was found to influence drug release rate by increasing its solubility and partitioning.

Inhibition of mutagenicity of food-derived heterocyclic amines by sulforaphane--a constituent of broccoli.

Sulforaphane, a constituent of broccoli was investigated for its antimutagenic potential against different classes of cooked food mutagens (heterocyclic amines). These include imidazoazaarenes such as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP); pyridoindole derivatives such as 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2); and, dipyridoimidazole derivative such as 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1). Tests were carried out by Ames Salmonella/reversion assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 (frame shift mutation sensitive) and TA100 (base pair mutation sensitive) bacterial strains in the presence of Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver S9.

Inhibitory effect of dibenzoylmethane on mutagenicity of food-derived heterocyclic amine mutagens.

Dibenzoylmethane (DBM), a structural analogue of curcumin (a bioactive phytochemical present in a widely used spice turmeric) was screened for its inhibitory effect against seven cooked food mutagens (heterocyclic amines): 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1), in both TA98 and TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium using Ames Salmonella/reversion assay in the presence of Aroclor1254-induced rat liver S9 homogenate. DBM has been reported to antagonize the mutagenicity of several chemical carcinogens in vitro and has recently been shown to be even more effective than curcumin in suppressing the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in rats. But there are no reports regarding its antimutagenic properties against cooked food mutagens.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin and its natural analogues on genotoxicity of heterocyclic amines from cooked food.

Curcumin (C) and its natural analogues demethoxycurcumin (dmC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (bdmC), known for their potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects, were tested for their possible inhibitory effects against seven cooked food mutagens (heterocyclic amines): 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1), in both TA98 and TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium using Ames Salmonella/reversion assay in the presence of Aroclor induced rat liver S9 homogenate. In the present investigations, curcumin as well as its two natural analogues i.e.

Inhibition of mutagenicity of food-derived heterocyclic amines by sulphoraphene--an isothiocyanate isolated from radish.

The naturally derived isothiocyanate, sulphoraphene [4-isothiocyanato-(1R)-(methylsulphinyl)-1-(E)-butene], isolated from seeds of radish ( Raphanus sativus L., Cruciferae) was investigated for its antigenotoxic effects against a battery of cooked food mutagens (heterocyclic amines) in the Ames Salmonella/reversion assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 (frame-shift mutation sensitive) and TA100 (base -pair mutation sensitive) bacterial strains in the presence of Aroclor 1254 induced rat liver S9. Results of the present in vitro anti-mutagenicity studies using the base-pair mutation sensitive strain TA100, strongly suggest that sulphoraphene is a potent inhibitor of the S9-mediated mutagenicity of all the tested heterocyclic amines (60 - 75 % inhibition at a dose of 500 nmol/plate).