Plan: Development and Validation of a method for the UV simultaneous determination of curcumin and Gefitinib. Preface: U.V Spectrophotometric method has been widely employed in the determination of individual components in a mixture or fixed dose combination.For the ternary mixture containing Curcumin and Gefitinib, no spectrophotometric method for simultaneous evaluation has been reported so far.Thus our aim is to develop simultaneous equation method for estimation of the ternary mixture using U.V spectrophotometry. Methodology: The method was validated as per ICHguidelines. The recovery studies confirmed the accuracy and precision of the method. Outcome: It was successfully applied for the analysis of the drug in bulk and could be effectively used for the routine analysis

Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India that has been practised since ancient times. According to the modest estimates made by European scholars, it has a track record of 20 centuries. However, protagonists of the system claim that it is more ancient. Ayurveda texts give clear instructions on the type of land from which medicinal plants are to be collected. For example, Caraka Samhita states that herbs should not be collected from polluted places, burial grounds, pits, parks, ant hills and salty terrain. Similar views are expressed in A??a?gah?daya and Sar?gadhara Samhita. It is quite logical to presume that adherence to these conditions must have helped in maintaining the quality of herbs collected in those days. Manufacture of ayurvedic medicines has become an industrial activity in modern times. This has given rise to a brisk trade in medicinal herbs. Consequently, herbs are collected indiscriminately from all kinds of environment and this raises the problem of chemical contamination. ..

Plan: The study was aimed to develop a tri-layered pulsatile tablet of salbutamol sulphate for Chronotherapeutic delivery in bronchial asthma. The incidence of asthma is greatest in the early morning hours referred as “morning dip”. Preface: A formulation which could deliver the drug in the right concentration just prior to the attack could effectively control the condition and staining drug release thereafter will further enable the dosage as once a day unit. Methodology: This formulation consists of three layers with the first layer for sustain release and the second for the burst release after a predetermined lag time and the third layer determines the lag time. A novel two-stage coating was employed to achieve the burst followed by sustained release.The bottom and the sides of the tablets were coated with an insoluble polymer, ethyl cellulose which acted as a cage for the dosage form all sides except the top. The caged unit was finally dip coated with pH sensitive polymer eudragitL. Outcome: The formulation was optimised by Box-Behnken design and the composition suggested by the design expert successfully achieved the lag time of 5 hrs and cumulative drug release of 32% and 95% respectively at 6th and 24thhours Keywords:

Plan: To verify the protective effects of the ethanolic extract of Asteracantha longifolia seeds in Amlodipine induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Preface: The widely used Dihydropyridine type calcium channel blockers like Amlodipine have reported to be causing some reproductive toxicity in males. But no studies have been made so far to nullify the toxicity of this widely prescribed group of drugs. So, an attempt is done here to nullify the reproductive toxicity of Amlodipine. Methodology: Biochemical and histological parameters of testes and different sperm parameters were analysed in ten different groups of young Wister albino rats treated with Amlodipine alone, and Amlodipine along with two different doses of ethanolic extract of Asteracantha longifolia seeds for three different periods of drug administration. Outcome: Co-administration of the ethanolic extract of Asteracantha longifolia seeds was found to be providing a significant protection (P<0.05) against Amlodipine induced testicular dysfunction in rats.

Plan: A systematic review on the synthesis and biological activity of hydrazides and their derivatives. Preface: The chemistry of hydrazide and its derivatives has obtained a great interest in both organic chemistry and biological science with remarkable impact. The development of novel organic compounds with antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tubercular, antibacterial, antifungal activities has been of great interest and pharmaceutical importance. Hydrazides and hydrazones are possessing an NHNH2 and NHN=CH- groups respectively. The availability of proton in hydrazides constitutes them as an important class of compound for new drug discovery. Therefore, researchers have shown great interest in developing these compounds as target structures for evaluating new biological activities. Outcome: This review emphasises on various methods of synthesis and several biological activities possessed by hydrazide and hydrazone derivatives, which may help the researchers for the design and development of novel hydrazides as a potential candidate in pharmaceutical science.

Plan: Hemin is a critical component of haemoglobin and induces heme oxygenase (HO), an enzyme which degrades heme in a rate limiting manner and has an important role in cellular protection against oxidative stress. This HO inducer like Hemin may be of potential therapeutic value in the wound healing and inflammation. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of hemin on experimentally induced excision wounds in rats. Preface: A multitude of cellular and biochemical processes are set in motion upon the occurrence of the wound. The sequential influx of inflammatory cells production of an extracellular matrix is essential for efficient healing. Wound healing is a burning problem and constitutes an important aspect of rehabilitation medicine. The acute induction of HO has been shown to have beneficial effects including wound healing process. Methodology: To identify the beneficial activity of HO, vis a vis wound healing, hemin was used as an inducer of HO in rats using a full-thickness cutaneous excision wound model. A 400 mm2 excision wound was created under normal conditions. The route of hemin ointment administration was topical in a normal wound model. The topical Povidone Iodine ointment was used as a standard drug of treatment for wound healing. The assessment of healing process was ascertained by physical (contraction measurements) and chemical (hydroxyproline and glucosamine content of granulation tissue) studies. Outcome: Heme oxygenase-1 pathway when activated can modulate wound healing process for early and fast healing. Hemin showed a strong pro-healing potential as it induces HO-1 and therefore, triggers the pro-healing convergence pathway. Histopathological studies indicated the process of angiogenesis has occurred in granulation tissue of the treated groups.

Plan: The study involves the antibacterial screening the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia and its preliminary phytochemical analysis. Preface: Bacterial infections have become increasingly difficult to treat because of multi-drug resistance. Although bacteria have over 200 specific protein targets for therapy, only three are most successfully exploited now. Bacterial cell division proteins are attractive targets for drug development. The "Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) protein is a major protein of the bacterial cell division machinery and is a potential target for therapy. Inhibition of FtsZ protein results in the inability of bacteria to divide and hence they die. Plant secondary metabolites have been shown to have antibacterial activities. However, their mechanism of action is not thoroughly investigated. Methodology: In this study, we have used the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia plant and tested its anti-microbial action by zone inhibition method. Outcome: Although the T.cordifolia extract did not show high anti-bacterial activity by disc diffusion assay, the E.coli showed elongated structures in the presence of T.cordifolia extract suggesting that the extract is interfering with the bacterial cell division. HPLC analysis of the extract showed the presence of Berberin, which may be the active molecule in inhibiting FtsZ protein and subsequent cell division.

Plan: Biological prospective of 4-thiazolidinone Prologue: 4-Thiazolidinones are derivatives of thiazolidine with a carbonyl group in the 4th position. Substitution on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th positions may be varied, but the greatest difference in the structure and properties is exerted by the group attached to the carbon atom on the 2nd position. Methodology: 4-Thiazolidinones exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activities viz: anticancer, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, antiviral, anti-HIV, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antimalarial, anti-hypertension, antiarrhythmic, antiprotozoal, hypolipidemic, etc. Outcome: This study is an attempt to address the various biological potential of 4-thiazolidinone. Information provided in this manuscript may be useful for further investigations on this scaffold.

Plan: RP-HPLC method development and validation for the simultaneous estimation of curcumin and Gefitinib in bulk. Preface: RP-HPLC chromatographic methods have been widely employed in the determination of individual components in a mixture or fixed dose combination. For the ternary mixture containing Curcumin and Gefitinib, no chromatographic method for simultaneous evaluation has been reported so far. Thus our aim is to develop a simultaneous estimation method for curcumin and gefitinib by using an RP-HPLC method using a PDA detector. Methodology: The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The recovery studies confirmed the accuracy and precision of the method. Outcome: The proposed method was found to be accurate, repeatability and consistent. It was successfully applied for the analysis of the drug in the marketed formulation and could be effectively used for the routine analysis of formulation containing the drug without any alteration in the chromatography conditions. Keywords: Isocratic, Curcumin, RP-HPLC, Gefitinib, Validation, Simultaneous estimation.

Trees are known to live for many years. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating underneath a peepal tree (Ficus religiosa). A branch of the original tree was rooted in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 288 B.C. and is known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. It is the oldest plant in the world. Long-living plants are found in many parts of the world. The Baobab tree is one among them. Baobab is the common name of a genus of trees (Adansonia) distributed in Madagascar, Africa, Australia, and India. The Baobab is the national tree of Madagascar. The Baobab is also known as “bottle tree”, “the tree of life”, “upside-down tree”, and “monkey bread tree”. The trees reach heights of 16 to 98 feet and trunk diameters of 23 to 36 feet. Its trunk can hold up to 120,000 liters of water! The baobab tree is supposed to live many hundred years; the trunk of the full-grown tree is hollow and usually provides shelter to birds, animals and even human beings of savannah regions of Africa. Sometimes the tree trunk is housed as wine and beer parlors! .......

Plan: RP-HPLC method development and validation for the simultaneous estimation of curcumin and Gefitinib in bulk. Preface: RP-HPLC chromatographic methods have been widely employed in the determination of individual components in a mixture or fixed dose combination. For the ternary mixture containing Curcumin and Gefitinib, no chromatographic method for simultaneous evaluation has been reported so far. Thus our aim is to develop a simultaneous estimation method for curcumin and gefitinib by using an RP-HPLC method using a PDA detector. Methodology: The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The recovery studies confirmed the accuracy and precision of the method. Outcome: The proposed method was found to be accurate, repeatability and consistent. It was successfully applied for the analysis of the drug in the marketed formulation and could be effectively used for the routine analysis of formulation containing the drug without any alteration in the chromatography conditions.