Preparation, physicochemical and pharmacological study of curcumin solid dispersion with an arabinogalactan complexation agent.

Pharmaceutical solid dispersions (SD) of curcumin (Cur) with macromolecule polysaccharide arabinogalactan (AG) from wood of Larix sibirica were prepared by mechanical ball milling. The physical properties of the dispersed curcumin mixture in solid state were characterized by scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction studies. These methods showed a strong decrease in the degree of crystallinity of Cur and its transformation to amorphization state, accompanied by the formation of the guest-host type complexes.

Physicochemical Properties and Anti-Opisthorchosis Effect of Mechanochemically Synthesized Solid Compositions of Praziquantel with Glycyrrhizic Acid Disodium Salt.

The mechanochemical preparation of solid compositions of praziquantel with plant saponin (glycyrrhizic acid disodium salt) is described. The study of a number of physicochemical parameters showed that dissolving solid compositions in water is accompanied by the inclusion of praziquantel molecules into micelles, which are formed in the solution of the glycyrrhizic acid disodium salt. Using the opisthorchiasis model caused by Opisthorchis felineus, we found a 4- to 11-fold increase in the anthelmintic activity of praziquantel in the composition as compared to the official praziquantel.

Physicochemical and Toxic Properties of Novel Genipin Drug Delivery Systems Prepared by Mechanochemistry.

Background: Complexes of Genipin and different water-soluble adjuvant polysaccharides, such as arabinogalactane, hydroxyethyl starch, fibergum, and oligosaccharides β-CD and HP-β-CD, were synthesized as drug delivery system using mechanochemical technology.

Method: We have investigated physicochemical properties, stability, and hepatotoxicity of the synthesized complexes in solid state and aqueous solution. The formation of the complexes was evidenced by different physical and spectroscopy assays, and the stability constants of our synthesized Genipin-based complexes were also calculated.

Enhanced solubility and bioavailability of simvastatin by mechanochemically obtained complexes.

In the present work, complexes of simvastatin (SIM) with polysaccharide arabinogalactan (AG) or disodium salt of glycyrrhizin acid (NaGA) have been prepared using mechanochemical technique to improve the solubility of SIM and enhance its oral bioavailability. The interactions of SIM with AG or NaGA were investigated by FTIR, DSC, XRD and SEM. Self-association of SIM in various solvents was investigated by UV/Vis and NMR techniques.

Retinal accumulation of zeaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene in mice deficient in carotenoid cleavage enzymes.

Carotenoid supplementation can prevent and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other ocular disease, but until now, there has been no validated and well-characterized mouse model which can be employed to investigate the protective mechanism and relevant metabolism of retinal carotenoids. β-Carotene oxygenases 1 and 2 (BCO1 and BCO2) are the only two carotenoid cleavage enzymes found in animals. Mutations of the bco2 gene may cause accumulation of xanthophyll carotenoids in animal tissues, and BCO1 is involved in regulation of the intestinal absorption of carotenoids.