Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume:18 Issue: 1, 2012

Clarithromycin is a semi synthetic antibiotic from macrolid group that bind to 50 S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria and inhibit essential bacterial protein synthesis. The purpose of this study is to prepare Clarithromycin-PLGA nanoparticles and to evaluate their antibacterial properties. Modified Quasi Emulsion Solvent Diffusion (MQESD) method was applied to prepare the Clarithromycin nanoparticles. Clarithromycin and PLGA were dissolved in acetone as a water miscible solvent and added to aqueous phase containing PVA2% as emulsifier and stabilizer agent, under homogenization. This led to formation of a quasi emulsion that contains Clarithromycin and PLGA and acetone in the inner phase. The microbial culture method was used to compare the effectiveness of nanosuspensions with untreated drug. Staphylococcus aureus PTCC 1112 and Salmonella typhi PTCC 1609 were used in this method. Minimum inhibitory concentration of clarithromycin nanosuspension was compared to those of clarithromycin solution. Minimum inhibitory concentration of nanosuspensions in comparison with those of drug solution was significantly higher. This increased potency of formulated nanosuspensions is perhaps related to increased drug adsorption as well as lower drug degradation and modified surface characteristics. Our results indicate that clarithromycin in the form of nanosuspension has better antibacterial effect in comparison with untreated drug in the same drug concentration.

Based on theoretical principles and experimental observations, Health expenditure and real GDP in each country has a reciprocal relationship and the effect of each of these variables on other variables regardless of their interactions in terms of econometric methods would not be very reliable. Accordingly, this study investigated the relationship between pharmaceutical expenditures, health care expenditures and GDP in Iran. The study was analytical and ecological correlation type and Partial Correlation and regression tests have been used. The variables in this study consisted of gross domestic product, total pharmaceutical expenditures, Per capita drug consumption and total health expenditures. Data needed from different sources has been collected and wereanalyzed by SPSS software. In the significance level (P <0.01), variables, GDP per capita, total health expenditure and total pharmaceutical expenditures with per capita drug consumption had a statistically significant relationship. Based on study results, the variables of GDP, total health expenditure and total pharmaceutical expenditures 99.3 percent of the variance in per capita drug consumption and 99.8 percent change in total pharmaceutical expenditures can be explained. According to the results of the regression, the variable per capita health expenditures with a beta standard (=0.759 and =0.987) better than variable of economic growth predicted the per capita drug consumption and total pharmaceutical expenditures variables. In the years studied, per capita drug consumption with total health expenditure, total pharmaceutical expenditures and per capita gross domestic production was statisticaly correlated.

The medicinal plant of Ornithogalum cuspidatum (Liliaceae) uses widely in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of respiratory and inflammatory disease. Previous study on methanolic extract of Ornithogalum cuspidatum showed that it has cytotoxic effect. Therefore we aimed to study the cytotoxic effect of methanolic extract fractions of Ornithogalum cuspidatum on WEHI-164, fibrosarcoma cancer cell line. Fractions of methanolic extract of Ornithogalum Cuspidatum was prepared using SPE (Solid Phase Extraction).WEHI-164 cancer cell line were treated with different concentrations of 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% fractions of methanolic extract of Ornithogalum cuspidatum for 12 and 24 hours. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were measured by MTT assay. ELISA was performed to determine apoptosis after 24 hours in different concentrations of methanolic fractions. 10% and 20% fractions of methanolic extract had not cytotoxic effect but 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% fractions induced a significant growth inhibition in WEHI-164 cancer cell line with LC50 of 200, 96, 76 and 73 μg/ml respectively. Morphological changes of cell death in treated WEHI-164 cells were mediated via apoptosis. Apoptosis in WEHI-164 cells after 24 hours treatment with 200 μg/ml of 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% fractions were 36, 41, 42 and 49% respectively. The results of this study suggest that 80% and 100% fractions of methanolic extract of Ornithogalum cuspidatum contain higher cytotoxic and apoptotic compounds on WEHI-164 cancer cells and can be candidate for identifying and purifying of cytotoxic bioactive compounds.

Thalassemic patients are seriously at risk of serum dislipidemia, zinc deficiency and tissue damage due to oxidative stress induced by iron storage. In biologic systems, zinc may interact with iron and inhibit oxidative and reductive reactions resulted by iron and other chimiooxidative agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on serum Malondealdehyde (MDA) and lipid profiles in beta thalassemia major patients. In this clinical trial, 60 beta thalassemia major patients (male & female) older than 18 years old were assigned randomly in two groups as intervention and control groups(30 per group). The intervention group ingested zinc supplement as 220 mg zinc sulfate capsule contented 50 mg elemental zinc daily for 3 months. The control group did not receive any supplement in that time. Information about general characteristics, weight, height and dietary intake were gathered before and after the end of study. Blood samples were obtained from each subject prior and after the study and serum zinc, MDA, triglyceride, LDL-C and HDL-C levels were measured. Data analyzed with paired t-test, independent t-test and ANOVA. Zinc supplementation caused significant increasing in daily caloric intake, body mass index, serum zinc and HDL-C levels and significant reduction in LDL-C levels in intervention group. No significant variations were observed for other variables in both of groups. Zinc supplementation had beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles in studied beta thalassemic patients and might have suitable role in delaying cardiovascular disease risks in these patients.

Desmopressin is a synthetic analog of vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone affecting renal water conservation. The main purpose of this study was production of desmopressin with changes in raw materials and synthesis methods. Assaying the effect of ASP and GlU blocking in production yield, studying the disulfide bond formation in dissolved linear peptide and resin linked linear peptide and establishing one step purification method by RP-HPLC, are other purposes. Linear peptide was prepared by using solid phase peptide synthesis utilizing blocked amino acids with FMOC and cleaved from resin by TFA. To form disulfide bond in free peptide, Iodine solution in 50% acetic acid was used. In other case that peptide was attached to resin, disulfide bond was formed using Iodine solution in DMF. The presence of desmopressin in sample was confirmed by analytical chromatography column, and the yield was then purified by larg column and lyophilized. structural conformity and product purity were determined by HPLC and amino acid analysis tests. Desmopressin acetate was produced by both two methods of oxidation of free peptide in solution and oxidation on resin. Meanwhile, desmopressin was synthesized with unblocked protecting side chain of GLU and ASP amino acids. To synthesize desmopressin, there is no need to side chain blocking of amino acids GLU and ASP. However, the method of oxidation on resin has low yield but is a facilitative method.

Milk and its products have an important role in nutrition and health. Kefir, a probiotic product of milk, may have a modulator effect in memory potentially. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of kefir on the spatial learning and memory of male rat. Forty two Wistar male rats weighting 275-300gr were used in this study. Animals were trained in Morris Water Maze task with 4 trails for 4 consecutive days and the retention of spatial training was evaluated 24h after the last training session. Kefir (25, 50, 75 and 100) % or saline was administrated orally in volume 10 ml/kg for four weeks by a gavage. The control group was intact (n=7). Comparing of the total distance and time of reaching to the hidden platform in MWM in the acquisition days has been showed a significant decrease between kefir administration and control groups (p<0.05). On the retrieval day, administration of kefir (25, 75 and 100) % increased the time of swimming in the trigger zone to find the platform, significantly (p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively). Oral administration of kefir can improve spatial learning and consolidation of memory in rat.

Cephalosporin acylases are highly specialized peptidases, which are capable for cleaving the amide bond between a cephalosporin nucleus and its side chain. This enzyme is used in the enzymatic conversion of cephalosporin C to the cephem nucleus (7-ACA). 7-ACA is a key intermediate for manufacturing of semi synthetic cephalosporins in the pharmaceutical industries. Thus, achieving an efficient, safe and economical production routes is of great economical and bio-environmental importance. The aim of this study was to screen soil bacteria for identification of cephalosporin acylase producing pseudomonas strains with spectrophotometric method. In spectrophotometric method, the enzyme activity, production of 7-ACA and formation of imine group with DAB are determined by a colorimetric reaction. After isolation and identification of enzyme producing strain, the effect of incubation time, temperature, culture medium pH and glutaric acid concentration on production of enzyme were studied. In this research, out of 215 soil-isolated strains, only one strain showed noticeable cephalosporin acylase activity. Selected strain showed optimized activity by incubation at 35°C for 48 hours in a pH=8 and in the presence of 2 gram/liter glutaric acid. Findings of this study indicates that spectrophotometric method is an effective and rapid method for identification and isolation of cephalosporin acylase producing microorganisms.

Convulsion is a common disorder of nervous system and many studies have been done about it. Anticonvulsant effects of progesterone and morphine have been shown by some studies. In present study, the interaction between progesterone and morphine has been investigated in strychnine- induced convulsion. To ensure the elimination of sex hormones cyclic changes effect in the body mice were ovariectomized. After two weeks of recovery, they were divided into nine groups (6-8 mouse in each group). Convulsion model was induced by subcutaneously injection of strychnine. All drugs were intraperitoneally injected except strychnine. The studied groups included: groups receiving 1- normal saline (5ml/kg) 2- Morphine (1mg/kg) 3- Morphine (2mg/kg) 4- Morphine (3mg/kg) 5– almond oil (5ml/kg) 6 - progesterone (25mg/kg) 7 - progesterone (50mg/kg) 8- morphine (3mg/kg)+ progesterone (25mg/kg) 9- morphine (3mg/kg)+ progesterone (50mg/kg). Onset of convulsion and time of death were determined. The results showed that the morphine has no effect on anticonvulsant effect of high dose of progesterone but it reduced the anticonvulsant effect of low dose progesterone. reduced anticonvulsant effect of low dose progesterone by morphine seems to be a result of interaction of the morphine with neurotransmitters system such as GABAregic system.

' The goal of this study was to evaluate in vitro anti turmeric properties of extracted cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. boulardii as probiotic and comparative their effect on chronic myeloid leukemia (K562) cell line. S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii were cultured in a medium containing yeast extract and disrupted with sonicator and centrifuged for separation the cell wall from cytoplasmic fraction. Then different concentrations of cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction were prepared and their anti tumeric properties assayed with MTT technique by using Doxorubicin as positive control. Our result showed both cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction that obtained from S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii have anti turmeric effect on K562. Statistical analysis indicated that Yeast cell wall could inhibit the growth of K562 than cytoplasmic fraction at level of p<0.05. Also, we found that, prepared compounds from S. boulardii have high anti turmeric properties than S. cerevisiae, but there was not seen any differences (p<0.05). Based on obtained results we conclude that the extraction of cell wall from both microorganisms has suitable application for inhibiting chronic myeloid leukemia, but these anti tumeric properties would warrant further study on the clinical application of yeast cell wall.

This study was designed to investigate the correlation between thermodynamic parameters, ideal solubility and some pharmacokinetic parameters of the compounds. For thermodynamics analysis, 5 mg of pure drug was weighed in a aluminum pan. Thermodynamic parameters were used for determination of ideal solubility. Correlation between ideal solubility and physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters was investigated. The results indicated that there is a linear correlation between ideal solubility and permeability with R=0.8. There are also meaningful correlation between ideal solubility and other physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters. This investigation revealed that the ideal solubility could be an appropriate parameter for prediction of drugs pharmacokinetics.