Formulation of floating metronidazole microspheres using cassava starch (Manihot esculenta) as polymer

Oluwatoyin A. Odeku,Aderemi A. Aderogba,Tolulope O. Ajala,Olufunke D. Akin‑Ajani,Adenike Okunlola 한국약제학회 2017 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.47 No.5

Floating gastroretentive microspheres have been used to prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration and improve the local effect of metronidazole in the stomach in the treatment of peptic ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori. In the present study, cassava starch, obtained from the tubers of Manihot esculenta has been pregelatinized and used as polymer in combination with sodium alginate for the formulation of floating gastroretentive metronidazole microspheres. Metronidazole microspheres were prepared by ionic gelation method using pregelatinized cassava starch and sodium alginate at different concentrations as polymers and calcium chloride (2% w/v) as chelating agent. Sodium bicarbonate (2% w/w) was used as gas releasing agent. Microspheres were characterized using the particle size, swelling index, floating lag time (FLT), total floating time and drug release properties. Spherical discrete microspheres with size ranging from 1.52 to 2.23 mm were obtained with FLT of less than 5 min and drug entrapment efficiency of 42–60% w/w. The microsphere maintained buoyancy for over 19 h and the microspheres provided controlled release of metronidazole for up to 18 h. Drug release from the microspheres, swelling index and buoyancy depended on the concentration of cassava starch in the polymer blend. Formulations containing high concentration of cassava starch showing shorter floating lag time and faster drug release. Thus, buoyancy and rate of drug release appeared to be modulated by the concentration of cassava starch in the polymer blend. The results showed that pregelatinized cassava could be useful in the formulation of floating gastroretentive metronidazole microspheres.

Endemic Corruption in Supply Chain and Procurement in the Local Sphere of Government in South Africa

Kola O. Odeku 한국유통과학회 2018 유통과학연구 Vol.16 No.9

Purpose - This article accentuates that there is pervasive corruption in the supply chain and procurement of goods and services in the South African public sector, particularly in the local sphere of government. Consequently, the poor and the indigents who are supposed to receive quality services are affected. Therefore, the article emphasizes the need to strengthen compliance in the supply chain and procurement processes in order to combat corruption. Research design, data, and methodology - This article extensively utilized qualitative literature review approach to address and solve the problem of endemic corruption in the supply chain and procurement being perpetrated by local government officials. Results - The synthesis shows that by strengthening compliance of supply chain and procurement strategies, measures and frameworks, the likelihood of corruption will be drastically reduced if not totally eradicated. It demonstrates that the poor and the indigents who are supposed to receive quality services are being denied due to corruption. It also shows that failure to comply should result to enforcement of punitive sanctions against perpetrators. Conclusions - This study indicates that effective and efficient implementation of supply chain and procurement strategies, measures and frameworks are panacea for curbing corruption in South Africa public sector especially at the local sphere of government.

THE POLITICS OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND RETIREMENT REFORMS AND RETIREMENT SAVINGS CULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Lufuno Nevondwe,Prof Kola Odeku,Mothlatlego Matotoka 동아시아경상학회 2013 The East Asian Journal of Business Economics Vol.1 No.3

Purpose: The South African government is determined in alleviating poverty while encouraging job creation and protecting the disposable incomes of poor households. This article looks at the challenges that are facing the South African Social Security system and argues that the provision of income security is amongst the most practical expressions of a nation s cohesion and values. Research Design, Data and Methodology: There are seven proposals in the Social Security and Retirement Reform and these proposals are based on the following two principal objectives of the government, that is, to ensure a basic standard of living and to prevent destitution in old age or in circumstances of unemployment or incapacity partly or wholly through redistributive measures, and to encourage savings to provide for the replacement of income on retirement, disablement or death through long-term insurance arrangements. Results: This article evaluates these seven proposals, state old age pension, wage subsidy, mandatory participation in a national social security system for all, mandatory participation in private occupational or individual retirement funds, Voluntary additional contributions to occupational or individual retirement funds, reform of the governance and regulation of the retirement funding industry and reform of the tax system. Conclusion: This article concludes that the population size of South Africa has increased significantly to 51, 8 million in 2011 and therefore the time is right for bold new steps in improving income security of the poor and strengthening the fabric of social solidarity that binds all South Africans together.

THE GOVERNANCE OF RETIREMENT FUNDS IN MEMBERS RIGHTS AND TRUSTEES DUTIES IN SOUTH AFRICA: A LESSON LEARNT FROM USA, UK AND MALAWI

Lufuno Nevondwe,Prof Kola Odeku,Mothlatlego Matotoka 동아시아경상학회 2013 The East Asian Journal of Business Economics Vol.1 No.3

Purpose: The article looks at the member rights and trustees duties and determines where should the emphasis be as it often happens that these two aspects often clash. Research Design, Data and Methodology: It is determined in this article whether the trustees owe fiduciary duties to both the fund and members and further determines whether the trustees should advance the interests of the members. Results: The article further looks at the governance of the retirement funds and argues that the proper governance of these funds protects the interest of the members. The duty to disclosure of information to members is of paramount importance to ensure that members are able to make well informed decisions. Conclusion: The article considers the issues of disclosure of information from other countries, United Kingdom, United States and Malawi. It is argued in this article that trustees must be persons who are trustworthy and have the best interest of the members at heart and must therefore familiarize themselves with the laws that regulate their duties.

Evaluation of natural and pregelatinized forms of three tropical starches as excipients in tramadol tablet formulation

Cecilia O. Alabi,Inderbir Singh,Oluwatoyin A. Odeku 한국약제학회 2018 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.48 No.3

In the present study, tropical starches from three botanical sources, namely millet starch obtained from the grains of Pennistum glaucum (L) R Br (family Poaceae), sorghum starch from the grains of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (family Gramineae) and cocoyam starch from the tubers of Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott (family Araceae), have been modified and evaluated as directly compressible excipients in tramadol tablet formulations. The starches were extracted from the relevant plant parts and modified by pregelatinization followed freeze drying and used as excipients in tramadol tablets and the tablet properties compared with those made with the natural forms of the starches. The results indicate that starches from the three botanical sources vary in their properties and pregelatinization led to the modification of the physicochemical and material properties of the starches. The pregelatinized starches exhibited better flowability and compressibility than the natural starches. Tramadol tablets prepared with freeze-dried pregelatinized starches generally exhibited higher crushing strength but lower friability than those prepared with the natural starches. The rankings of the crushing strength and the disintegration and dissolution times was cocoyam > millet > sorghum starches, with tramadol tablets containing freeze-dried pregelatinized starches exhibiting significantly (p < 0.01) higher disintegration and dissolution times than tablets made with the natural forms of starches. The freeze-dried pregelatinized starches were suitable as directly compressible excipients and provided controlled release of tramadol indicating their potential application in formulations where slower drug release is desired.

The physicochemical, safety and antimicrobial properties of Phyllanthus amarus herbal cream and ointment

Tolulope O. Ajala,Mbang N. Femi-Oyewo,Oluwatoyin A. Odeku,Oluwasanmi O. Aina,Adebowale B. Saba,Olayinka O. Oridupa 한국약제학회 2016 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.46 No.2

The ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus (Schum and Thonn), a plant of ethnomedicinal importance, was formulated into herbal cream and ointment and evaluated using physicochemical, safety and antimicrobial properties. The extract was obtained by maceration and the antimicrobial properties tested on clinically isolated pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans) using established methods. Cream and ointment formulations containing 1–10 % w/w extract was prepared and 4 % w/w humectant (glycerin) was incorporated into the cream while 5 % w/w surfactant (cetomacrogol 1000) was incorporated to the ointment. The results showed that the pH of the formulations was acidic and the viscosity ranged from 1250 to 4950 cP for ointments and 570–1233 cP for creams. The presence of humectant and surfactant significantly (p\0.05) reduced the viscosities of the formulations. The results of dermal irritation showed negligible irritation index while subchronic toxicity tests showed that the formulations did not cause any visible lesions in the skin of the animals after application for twenty-one days. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of formulations were concentration-dependent with the creams showing higher activity. Furthermore, the in vivo activity of the cream on S. aureus showed increased antibacterial activity with increase in extract concentration and humectant presence. The herbal cream and ointment of Phyllanthus amarus extract had acceptable physicochemical and safety profiles with significant (p\0.05) in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity. Thus, the formulations could be useful in the treatment of skin infections instead of using the extract for bathing and rubbing.

Chrysophyllum albidum mucilage as a binding agent in paracetamol tablet formulations

Tolulope O. Ajala,Olufunke D. Akin-Ajani,Chinemerem Ihuoma-Chidi,Oluwatoyin A. Odeku 한국약제학회 2016 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.46 No.6

Chrysophyllum mucilage obtained from the fruit of Chrysophyllum albidum (Family Sapotaceae) has been characterised and evaluated as a binding agent in comparison with methylcellulose in paracetamol tablet formulations. Chrysophyllum mucilage was characterised using elemental and proximate analyses as well as material properties. The Heckel and Kawakita plots were used to assess the compressional properties and the tablet properties were evaluated using tensile strength, friability, disintegration and dissolution times. The results showed the presence of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc and absence of heavy metals from the mucilage. The mucilage exhibited excellent flow and swelling properties, but poor water solubility. The viscosity of chrysophyllum mucilage increased with decrease in temperature in a similar manner with methylcellulose. C. albidum mucilage when used as a binder in paracetamol tablet formulation induced faster onset of plastic deformation and higher amount of total plastic deformation than methylcellulose. The results of the tablet properties showed that the tensile strength, disintegration and dissolution times, increased with increase in binder concentration while friability decreased. Tablets containing chrysophyllum mucilage as binder also had lower tensile strength, disintegration and dissolution times but higher friability values than those containing methylcellulose. However, tablets containing chrysophyllum mucilage at low concentrations conformed to pharmacopeial standard on disintegration indicating its potential usefulness as binder for immediate release tablets. Thus, C. albidum mucilage could be used as an alternative binding agent in pharmaceutical tablets.