New direct compression excipient from tigernut starch: physicochemical and functional properties.

Tigernut starch has been isolated and modified by forced retrogradation of the acidic gel by freezing and thawing processes. Relevant physicochemical and functional properties of the new excipient (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation and accelerated (forced) retrogradation (ST(AM))) were evaluated as a direct compression excipient in relation to the native tigernut starch (ST(NA)), intermediate product (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation (ST(A))), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The particle morphology, swelling capacity, moisture sorption, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermographs and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns, flow, dilution capacity, and tablet disintegration efficiency were evaluated.

Isolation, fractionation and evaluation of the antiplasmodial properties of Phyllanthus niruri resident in its chloroform fraction.

Objective: To investigate the antiplasmodial activity of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) methanol extract (ME) and its fractions in mice.

Methods: P.

Impact of Eighteen-Year Varied Compliance to Onchocerciasis Treatment with Ivermectin in Sentinel Savannah Agrarian Communities in Kaduna State of Nigeria.

Baseline and impact assessment data were generated in 1994 (n = 532) and 2011 (n = 593) from 6 sentinel villages with generalized onchocerciasis. Only volunteers and a cohort (n = 445, 75%) were screened at both visits. Each village had received 11 (64.

Traditional herbal management of sickle cell anemia: lessons from Nigeria.

Background. Patients in West Africa where sickle cell anemia (SCA) is endemic have for ages been treated with natural products, especially herbs, as, is still the case in rural communities. Objective.

Neuro-pharmacological effects of Crinum zeylanicum in mice.

Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate some effects of Crinum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) on central nervous system.

Materials And Methods: C.

Ketamine-enhanced immobility in forced swim test: a possible animal model for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and highly complex psychiatric disorder characterised by cognitive dysfunctions, negative and positive symptoms. The major challenge in schizophrenia research is lack of suitable animal models that mimic the core behavioural aspects and symptoms of this devastating psychiatric disorder. In this study, we used classical and atypical antipsychotic drugs to examine the predictive validity of ketamine-enhanced immobility in forced swim test (FST) as a possible animal model for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Eudraginated polymer blends: a potential oral controlled drug delivery system for theophylline.

Sustained release (SR) dosage forms enable prolonged and continuous deposition of the drug in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and improve the bioavailability of medications characterized by a narrow absorption window. In this study, a new strategy is proposed for the development of SR dosage forms for theophylline (TPH). Design of the delivery system was based on a sustained release formulation, with a modified coating technique and swelling features aimed to extend the release time of the drug.

Natural antidiabetic compound for the therapeutic management of diabetes mellitus and its drug delivery system.

A single tablet dosage form containing the freeze-dried aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (AD1), suitable for use in the therapeutic management of diabetes mellitus, has been developed. The compaction characteristics of the extract were studied using the Heckel equation. The mechanical properties as well as disintegration and dissolution profile of the compacts were also assessed.

Microbiological and mucociliary properties of the ethanol extract of Hymenocardia acida on selected respiratory clinical isolates.

The antimicrobial property of the ethanol leaf extract of Hymenocardia acida (H. acida) on some opportunistic respiratory pathogens was evaluated in this study. We also assessed the activity of the extract on tracheal mucociliary activity using murine tracheal mucus exudation and mucociliary motility in pigeons as experimental models.

In vivo antiplasmodial activities of aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice.

Context: Bridelia ferruginea Benth (Euphorbiaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant in Nigeria. It is usually a gnarled shrub which sometimes reaches the size of a tree in suitable condition. Decoctions of parts of this plant have been employed in ethno medicine in many parts of Africa for treatment of many ailments including malaria fever.

Microencapsulation enhances the anti-ulcerogenic properties of Entada africana leaf extract.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The antiulcer potentials of most plants still remain largely unexplored, despite their prospects evidenced by their use as ethnomedicine. Entada africana (Mimosaceae) has been widely used in Africa for the treatment of skin infections, wounds, tonic for stomach troubles and against diphtheria-like throat complaints. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-ulcer properties of Entada africana (EA) ethanol leaf extract and to obtain a novel multiparticulate pharmaceutical formulation (ACE) with it.

An ultraviolet-spectrophotometric method for the determination of glimepiride in solid dosage forms.

Background: Considering the cost of acquiring a liquid chromatographic instrument in underdeveloped economies, the rising incidence of diabetes mellitus, the need to evaluate the quality performance of glimepiride generics, and the need for less toxic processes, this research is an imperative.

Methods: The method was validated for linearity, recovery accuracy, intra- and inter-day precision, specificity in the presence of excipients, and inter-day stability under laboratory conditions. Student's t test at the 95% confidence limit was used for statistics.

Extraction and physicochemical characterization of a new polysaccharide obtained from the fresh fruits of abelmoschus esculentus.

This paper is the first multi-scale characterization of the fluidize-dried gum extracted from the fresh fruits of the plant Abelmoschus esculentus. It describes the physical, thermal, sorptional and functional properties of this natural gum. Elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XPRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transmittance infra red (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the gum sample.

Non-wood Fibre Production of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Sorghum caudatum: Characterisation and Tableting Properties.

The microcrystalline cellulose is an important ingredient in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. In this study, the microcrystalline cellulose, obtained from the stalk of Sorghum caudatum was evaluated for its physical and tableting characteristics with a view to assessing its usefulness in pharmaceutical tableting. The microcrystalline cellulose, obtained from the stalk of Sorghum caudatum, obtained by sodium hydroxide delignification followed by sodium hypochlorite bleaching and acid hydrolysis was examined for its physicochemical and tableting properties in comparison with those of the well-known commercial microcrystalline cellulose grade, Avicel PH 101.

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the chloroform fraction from Phyllanthus niruri plant is mediated via the peripheral nervous system.

Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae) is used folklorically for the treatment of diabetes, malaria, fever, diarrhea, liver disease, and urolithiasis. As an initial step toward isolating compounds effective against inflammation and pain, this study is aimed at providing scientific evidence for the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic properties of the chloroform soluble fraction (PNF1) of Phyllanthus niruri methanol extract in rats and mice. Three doses of PNF1 [25, 50, 100 mg/kg body weight (bw)] were used.

Oral sustained release tablets of zidovudine using binary blends of natural and synthetic polymers.

Oral sustained release matrix tablets of zidovudine (ZDV) were prepared using different types, proportions and blends of carbopol 71G (C71) and a plant gum obtained from Abelmoschus esculentus (AEG). The effect of various formulation factors like polymer proportion, polymer type and pH of the dissolution medium on the in vitro release of the drug was studied, using the half change technique, in 900 ml of dissolution medium, at 100 rpm. Release kinetics were analyzed using Zero-order, Higuchi's square-root and Ritger-Peppas' empirical equations.

A normative study of the components of niprisan--an herbal medicine for sickle cell anemia.

Niprisan® is an herbal medicine for sickle cell anemia developed in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD). It is prepared from pepper seeds [Piper guineense Schum. & Thonn.

Effect of phytomedicines, AM-1, niprisan and nifadin on the pharmacokinetics of chloroquine in rats.

The single oral dose pharmacokinetics of chloroquine was studied alone and after coadministration with phytomedicines NIPRID\92\001\1-1 (AM-1), Niprisan, and Nifadin in rats. Plasma chloroquine concentrations were measured using High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method developed earlier in our laboratory. The data were fitted into a WinNonlin standard non-compartmental programme.

Preparation and standardization of a herbal agent for the therapeutic management of asthma.

This study aims to develop a suitable single tablet dosage form containing a mixture of hot water stem back extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Prosopis africana (AA1), suitable for use in the therapeutic management of asthma. The compaction characteristics of the oven-dried hot water extract (HWE) were studied using the Heckel equation. The mechanical properties as well as disintegration and dissolution profile of the compacts were also assessed.

Novel multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients derived from microcrystalline cellulose-starch microparticulate composites prepared by compatibilized reactive polymer blending.

The choice of excipients remains a critical factor in pharmaceutical formulations. Microcrystalline cellulose-maize starch composites (MCC-Mst) have been prepared by mixing colloidal dispersions of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with 10% (w/w) of chemically gelatinized maize starch (Mst) at controlled temperature conditions for use as multifunctional excipients with direct compression and enhanced disintegration abilities. The novel excipient was evaluated for its direct compression and enhanced disintegrant properties and the result compared with the properties of the individual components.

Preparation and evaluation of colon targeted drug delivery systems for albendazole using kneading, extrusion and compaction technology.

Albendazole is an orally administered broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against helminthiasis, hydatid cyst disease and neurocysticercosis. The objectives of this investigation are to develop a sustained release drug delivery system for albendazole, and to target its delivery to colon. Albendazole matrix tablets containing varying proportions of single and binary blends of four polymers; polyacrylic acid (carbopol 971), ethylcellulose (Etcell), eudragit L100-55 (EUD), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were prepared by a modified wet granulation technique of kneading, extrusion and compaction.

Establishment of reference values of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets in healthy Nigerian adults.

A total of 2,570 apparently healthy human immunodeficiency virus-negative adults from the six geopolitical zones in the country were enrolled in our study in 2006. The samples were assayed using the Cyflow technique. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS).

Preparation and characterization of mucinated cellulose microparticles for therapeutic and drug delivery purposes.

Mucinated cellulose microparticles were generated by mixing equal concentrations of colloidal dispersions of porcine mucin (Mc) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The hybrid polymer was recovered by precipitating at controlled temperature and pH conditions using acetone. Some physicochemical, functional and thermal properties of the hybrid polymer were determined and compared with those of Mc and MCC.

Anticonvulsant properties of saponins from Ficus platyphylla stem bark.

Preparations of Ficus platyphylla have been used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of epilepsy for many years and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of northern Nigeria. The anticonvulsant properties of the saponin rich fraction (SFG) obtained from the methanol extract of F. platyphylla stem bark were studied on pentylenetetrazole-, strychnine- and maximal electroshock seizures in mice.

Preparation and evaluation of mucinated sodium alginate microparticles for oral delivery of insulin.

Effective oral insulin delivery remains a challenge to the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, insulin-loaded microparticles for oral delivery were prepared with mucin and sodium alginate combined at different ratios using a novel method based on polymer coacervation and diffusion filling. Some physical characteristics of the various insulin-loaded microparticles such as particle size, morphology and compressibility indices were determined.