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.

Protein quality, hematological properties and nutritional status of albino rats fed complementary foods with fermented popcorn, African locust bean, and bambara groundnut flour blends

Oluwole Steve Ijarotimi,Oluremi Olufunke Keshinro 한국영양학회 2012 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.6 No.5

The objective of this study was to determine protein quality and hematological properties of infant diets formulated from local food materials. The food materials were obtained locally, fermented, and milled into flour. The flours were mixed as 70% popcorn and 30% African locust bean (FPA), 70% popcorn and 30% bambara groundnut (FPB), and 70% popcorn, 20% bambara groundnut, and 10% African locust bean (FPAB). Proximate analysis, protein quality, hematological properties, and anthropometric measurements of the animals fed with the formulations were investigated. The protein contents of the formulated diets were significantly higher than that of Cerelac (a commercial preparation) (15.75 ± 0.01 g/100 g) and ogi (traditional complementary food) (6.52 ± 0.31 g/100 g). The energy value of FPAB (464.94 ± 1.22 ㎉) was higher than those of FPA (441.41 ± 3.05 ㎉) and FPB (441.48 ± 3.05 ㎉). The biological value (BV) of FPAB (60.20%) was the highest followed by FPB (44.24%) and FPA (41.15%); however, BV of the diets was higher than that of ogi (10.03%) but lower than that of Cerelac (70.43%). Net protein utilization (NPU) of the formulations was 41.16-60.20%, whereas true protein digestibility was 41.05-60.05%. Metabolizable energy (232.98 kcal) and digestible energy (83.69 ㎉) of FPAB were the highest, whereas that of FPA had the lowest values. The protein digestibility values corrected for amino acid score of the diets (0.22-0.44) were lower than that of Cerelac (0.52), but higher than that of ogi (0.21). The growth patterns and hematological properties (packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume) of the formulated diets were higher than those of ogi, but lower than those of Cerelac. In conclusion, we established that the FPAB food sample was rated best in terms of protein quality over the other formulated diets. Therefore, a FPAB blend may be used as a substitute for ogi.

Ethanol extract of aloe vera ameliorates Artemether-Lumefantrine-induced reproductive toxicity in adult male Albino rats (Wistar Strain)

Mustapha Olamide Oluwayemisi,Fatola Olanrewaju,Ola-Davies Olufunke,Ajayi Olusola Lawrence,Oyeyemi Matthew 환경독성보건학회 2023 환경독성보건학회지 Vol.38 No.4

Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) is one of the alternative drugs used in treating malaria – an endemic scourge in Africa. AL has been reported to generate free radicals with long term use implicated in testicular pathologies. The antioxidative properties of Aloe vera (AV) has been well documented. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of ethanol extract of Aloe Vera on Artemether-Lumefantrine induced testicular toxicity. Thirty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (Control, AL-dosed, AV-dosed, AL+AV concurrently administered and AV-pretreated). Spermiogram, serum testosterone, testicular histopathology and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immunohistochemistry were carried out. AL-dosed rats had poor spermiogram indices which were greatly improved in AV-dosed and AV-pretreated rats. These also corresponded with the testicular histopathology observations and were further buttressed by oxidative stress marker (iNOS) as AL-dosed rats had higher signal intensity compared to the control and AV-pretreated rats. Authors posit that concurrent administration of AV and AL protected testicular architecture while pretreating with AV prior AL administration improved the spermiogram. AL induces testicular pathology, thus should be used with care in male subjects. AV can confer a level of protection against these defects if used prior to administration of the drug.

Effectiveness of Nutrition Education in Improving Maternal Knowledge and Attitudes towards Complementary Feeding Practices: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Ondo State, Nigeria

Akinrinmade, Remilekun,NJOGU, Eunice,OGADA, Irene Awuor,KESHINRO, Olufunke Oluremi Korea FoodHealth Convergence Association 2019 식품보건융합연구 (KJFHC) Vol.5 No.4

Significant low knowledge and poor attitudes on complementary feeding undermine the practices. This study was a cluster randomized controlled trial in which 284 study participants were assigned into two groups. One intervention group and a control group in a ratio of 1:1. Nutrition education on complementary feeding was carried out among the caregivers in the intervention group but the caregivers in the control group were not educated. To determine complementary feeding knowledge and attitudes, data was collected from caregiver at baseline, midline and at endline using researcher-administered questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. From the analysis, there was a significant difference in complementary feeding knowledge of the caregivers after the intervention. The baseline difference was -0.06, the midline difference was 3.85 the endline difference was 4.00 and the DID of the baseline and endline was 4.06 which was significant at p=0.001. There was a significant difference in the attitude of the caregivers towards complementary feeding at baseline (-0.14), midline (2.09), endline (3.82) and the DID of baseline and endline was 3.96 which was significant at p=0.001. The intervention improved the caregivers' knowledge on complementary feeding and it improved the attitudes of the caregivers towards adequate complementary feeding.

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.