April 2011

About Author:
Divyasri Damacharla, Shruthi Gobbooru, IV.B.Pharm,
M.S.Ramaiah College Of Pharmacy

Abstract:
The use of prescription drugs in the treatment of diseases causes loss of essential nutrients from the body leading to various side effects. So Linus Pauling discovered the orthomolecular therapy which uses the essential nutrients which are found less in a particular disease condition. Here in Schizophrenia, certain negative and positive symptoms are observed with the use of certain prescription drugs. Besides, they are even ineffective sometimes. So, orthomolecular therapy has been developed and modified by various scientists like Drs Abram Hoffer and Humphrey Osmond in 1965 and treated and cured many hundreds of schizophrenic patients with their “Megavitamin formula”

About Author: DEVANG V. PATEL*, Manju Misra
M.S.(PHARM.) PHARMACEUTICS
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH (NIPER), AHMEDABAD.

Abstract
Drug targeting is the ability to direct a therapeutic agent specifically to desired site of action with little or no interaction with nontarget tissue. Niosomes are one of the best carriers for drug targeting. Niosomes (non-ionic surfactant vesicles) are microscopic lamellar structures formed on admixture of non-ionic surfactant of the alkyl or dialkyl polyglycerol ether class and cholesterol with subsequent hydration in aqueous media. Niosomes are biodegradable, relatively nontoxic, more stable and inexpensive, an alternative to liposomes. Niosomes can be SUV (Small Unilamellar Vesicles), MLV (Multilamellr Vesicles) or LUV (Large Unilamellar Vesicles). The method of preparation of niosome is the based on liposome technology. The basic process of preparation is the same i.e. hydration of the lipid phase by aqueous phase. After preparing niosomal dispersion, unentrapped drug is separated by dialysis, centrifugation or gel filtration. Niosomes are characterized by vesicle size, bilayer formation, number of lamellae, membrane rigidity and entrapment efficiency. A method of in-vitro release rate study includes the use of dialysis tubing. Niosomal drug delivery is potentially applicable to many pharmacological agents for their action against various diseases including cancer and leishmaniasis.

About Authors: Rakesh Verma
Seth G.L. Bihani S.D. college ,
sri ganganagar

1. Introduction
The discovery of a variety of pharmaceuticals in surface, ground, and drinking waters around the country is raising concerns about the potentially adverse environmental consequences of these contaminants. Minute concentrations of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, some of which are pharmaceuticals, are having detrimental effects on aquatic species and possibly on human health and development.

About Author:
ANAND GAURAV, SMITA SINGH
M.Pharm,
Assistant Professor

Abstract:
The importance of the phthalazine as a nucleus with medicinal properties is well established, since many decades. This nucleus possess potent anticonvulsant activity with high protection index value that why this property is use for the treatment that are related to mental disorder, like seizures.  Phthalazine and its derivatives possessing triazines nucleus has attracted great attention in recent years due to wide variety of biological activity particularly anticonvulsant activity keeping in view the continuing interest in phthalazine and its derivatives. The present study is aimed at synthesizing safer and effective anticonvulsant triazolo-phthalazine derivatives to evaluate them for anticonvulsant activity.

About Author: Alka Lohani
M.Pharm (Pharmaceutics)
department of pharmaceutical sciences bhimtal campus
kumaun university nainital

Abstract:
Inconvenience of administration and patient compliance are gaining significant importance in the design of dosage forms. Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is common among all age groups, especially in elderly and pediatrics. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride is an orally administered antibacterial agent. The objective of this study was to develop ciprofloxacin hydrochloride soft gel using sodium alginate as a gelling agent and sodium citrate as a source of cation. Gels are formed by aggregation of polymers with minimum two components; the gelling agent and the fluid component.  Different batches were prepared using three different concentrations of sodium alginate (0.1, 0.4, and 0.8%). The consistency of sodium alginate gel was dependent on the concentration of, sodium alginate, sodium citrate and co-solute. The results of dissolution study of soft gel F3 containing 0.4% sodium alginate and 0.3% sodium citrate revealed that Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was 85% released in 45 min. and possessed acceptable sensory characteristics when evaluated by human volunteers. Short term stability study carried out for four weeks at different temperatures (0°C and room temperature) showed no considerable changes in performance characteristics of developed optimized formulation.