Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
Volume:12 Issue: 2, May 2017

Context: Biological plasma-derived medicines play an important role in the treatment and also prevention of many diseases. The technique implemented to produce such medicines should ensure to minimize the risk of pathogen infection. A very crucial step is the removal or inactivation of highly pathogenic plasma viruses, and only achieving the highly pure product is not adequate.
Evidence Acquisition: In the current study, a wide range of physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods of virus inactivation and virus removal were studied to minimize the virus contamination risk in plasma-derived medicines.
The virus removal or virus inactivation procedures showed that they were the quite effective techniques in pathogen reduction. But, some of these methods such as solvent/detergent were only effective on lipid-enveloped viruses, while other techniques can be effective both for lipid-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
To inactivate or remove the most range of viruses, at least 2 different virus inactivation or virus removal techniques should be implemented. But, still emerging new pathogens cause a serious challenge in terms of blood safety, and consequently, safety of human plasma-derived medicines.

Context: Oral administration of drugs remains the most common and preferred route for many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, solid oral dosage forms may be limited for patients who have swallowing problems or fear of choking. Furthermore in the case of solid dosage forms, disintegration and dissolution of dosage forms are rate limiting steps mostly for hydrophobic drug's absorption and bioavailability. Liquid oral dosage forms such as syrups, emulsions or suspensions may be used to overcome these disadvantages but higher costs of their production and larger volume and dimensions of their packaging along with the lower precision in dose intake make the liquid oral dosage form less acceptable for patients and pharmaceutical industries.
Evidence Acquisition: In order to merge the advantages of both solid and liquid oral dosage forms, fast dissolving drug delivery systems have been developed over the years. The current review aimed to discuss the pros and cons of different preparations of oral fast dissolving dosage forms including tablets, films and nanofibers.
Fast dissolving dosage forms rapidly dissolve in mouth without the need for additional liquid or chewing, providing ease of use for consumers, a fast absorption of drug, quick onset of action, and improved bioavailability. Various technologies to fabricate these dosage forms such as lyophilization, spray drying, solvent casting, hot melt extrusion, compaction and electrospinning are also addressed.
Fast dissolving drug delivery systems are the promising approach in oral drug delivery systems, which can provide patient compliance especially in case of pediatrics and geriatrics. They can also lead to quick action of drugs and enhanced bioavailability.

The poor bioavailability of ophthalmic drops is mainly due to the rapid nasolacrimal drainage of the drug and very low permeability of corneal epithelium. Hence, there is an interest to find an effective system to improve drug permeability and bioavailability.
The aim of the present study was to design and characterize a novel microemulsion system as an ocular delivery system for Azithromycin and evaluate its physicochemical characteristics and rabbit corneal permeability in order to enhance the penetration of the drug.
The prepared microemulsions (MEs) were assessed for their viscosity, pH, particle size, surface tension, DSC, stability, in vitro drug release, and corneal rabbit permeability. In this study, a full factorial design was employed with 3 variables at 2 levels for preparing 8 formulations and data analysis.
The results showed that the average droplet size of ME formulations was in the range of 6.78 to 26.65 nm while pH values were 5.1 to 5.7 and viscosity range was 115 - 361 cps. Drug release profile revealed that 79.066% of the drug released in 24 hours of the experiment. The maximum and minimum percentages of drug permeated through rabbit cornea were observed in MEA-7 (12.87%) and MEA-2 (0.909%), respectively. All ME formulations with different compositions and properties significantly increased partitioning, flux, and permeability coefficient from rabbit cornea. Dapp and Papp parameters in MEA-1 and MEA-7 formulations were 0.00882 cm2h-1 and 2.391 cmh-1, which were 17.65, 35.17 times higher than those of control (AZ suspension, 1%), respectively. The flux (Jss) of Azithromycin in MEA-7 was 11.958 mg cm-2h-1, which was 39.86 times higher than that of control.
The present study showed that any change in the content and composition of ME could change physicochemical properties and permeability parameters during drug permeation of ME formulations. The phenomenon may be due to the cornea structural changes in presence of ME components.

This study aimed to screen Thais savignyi whole body extracts for antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of some human pathogenic bacteria and analyze its biochemical compounds, including carbohydrate, proteins, alkaloids, cholesterol, unsaturated fatty acids, as well as functional groups and elements.
Well agar diffusion was used for screening of acetone and methanol extracts against clinical isolates of E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Biuret and SDS-PAGE methods were applied for quantitative and qualitative protein evaluation. Anthrone method was used for quantitative and qualitative analysis of carbohydrates. Wagner and Mayer's reagents were employed for alkaloid screening. The Liebermann-Burchard test was performed for the detection of cholesterol, infrared for identifying functional groups, and Dumas method for elemental analysis.
Acetone and methanol crude extracts at 0.2 mg/mL concentration inhibited the growth of all the test bacteria; however, the methanol extract was more effective than the acetone extract. The maximum zone of inhibition of the methanol extract was observed against B. cereus (16 mm). Minimal inhibitory concentration of the most effective fraction ranged between 12.5 and 100 µg/mL. Elemental analysis of the bioactive fraction showed 41.55% carbon, 9.49% hydrogen, 6.13% nitrogen, and 1.64% sulfur. IR spectra confirmed the presence of aliphatic, alkenes, secondary amines, and disulfide groups in the most effective fraction of methanol extract of Thais savignyi. Carbohydrate and protein analysis revealed 4.5% carbohydrate and 9% protein. SDS-PAGE disclosed 5 separate bands with 70, 53, 41, 30, and 22 kilodaltons. Wagner and Mayer test showed the presence of alkaloids; mercuric and iodine solutions indicated the presence of unsaturated fatty acids; cholesterol was detected by Liebermann-Burchard reaction and Salkowski test.
The findings of this study suggest that Thais savignyi has antibacterial potential and can be recommended as a source of bioactive compounds of medicinal value.

Analgesics such as opioids are commonly used for pain control in emergency departments. correlated respiratory side effects and central nervous system depression confine opioids application as analgesic medication. New pain control choices such as Nitric oxide and Ketamine may be alternatives. This study evaluates efficacy of Nitric Oxide versus Ketamine in purpose of pain reduction in limbs fractures.
In a randomized clinical study, 75 patients that were referred to the emergency department with pain, which has been caused by bone fractures, were randomly assigned into 2 groups: receiving ketamine with an intravenous bolus dose of 0.3 mg/kg versus mixture of 50% nitrous oxide/50% Oxygen. The pain score in the groups were measured and compared by the Visual Analog Scale consecutively at arrival and 5, 10, 15 minutes after intervention.
Fifteen minutes after the intervention, the score of pain in patients receiving ketamine, reached 2.5 from 8.86 at the baseline. This is while in the second group, 15 minutes after the treatment, reached to 5.02 from 9.52 at the baseline. The amount of pain reduction in both groups was statistically significant. A point-by-point comparison of the amount of the pain did not show significant differences in both groups.
The findings of this study showed that both ketamine and Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen mixture are effective in alleviating the pain of patients with limb’s fracture, however, there is no precedence between these medications as a pain killer.

Crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, has been found to possess hypotensive effects.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of vasodilatory effects induced by crocin on isolated rat aorta.
To study the vasodilatory effects of crocin (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 M), isolated rat thoracic aorta rings were contracted by 10-6 M Phenylephrine (PE) or 80 mM of KCl. To assess the role of nitric oxide in mechanism of relaxation, induced by crocin, aortic rings were incubated by L-NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME: 10-6 M) for 20 minutes. Furthermore, the relaxant effect of crocin was evaluated both in intact and denuded endothelium aortic rings.
Crocin induced relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with PE in a concentration dependent manner yet not in KCl precontracted aortic rings. The relaxant activity of crocin was abolished by incubation of aortic rings with L-NAME. In addition, the endothelium removal inhibited the relaxant activity of crocin.
This study indicated that relaxant activity of crocin is mainly mediated through an endothelium-dependent mechanism.

The medicinal herb Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) has been used for a long time to treat various kinds of diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer activity of hydroalcoholic extract of T. terrestris fruit on prostate and colon cancerous cell lines.
The activity of the extract was studied at seven different concentrations on three cell lines, human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), prostate carcinoma (LNCap-FGC-10) and fibroblast-like cells (HSkMC). MTT, bromo-2’-deoxyuridine(BrdU) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were used for measuring cytotoxicity, cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death, respectively.
The IC50 index of the extract of T. terrestris was obtained as 0.3 µg/mL, 7.1 µg/mL and 8.7 µg/mL for prostate, colon and fibroblast-like cell lines, respectively. Tribulus terrestris L. was significantly more toxic on prostate cancer cell line than on colon cancer cell and fibroblast-like cells (P value These data indicate that T. terrestris extract has cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities. It was less toxic against normal human fibroblast-like cells in comparison to cancer cell lines. Further in vivo research would help explore and interpret the potential properties of T. terrestris extract and its components as an anticancer supplement.

It is shown that the premenstrual syndrome is related to a plethora of problems due to its direct and indirect effects on work, school, home, and productivity or inefficiency of relationships with others.
A double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial (RCTs) was conducted in gynecology clinic of Zeinabieh Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Two hundred and thirty eight patients with premenstrual syndrome participated in the study. The prospective menstrual daily (MD) were filled by patients two months prior to the intervention. Then, they were randomly allocated into three groups: one group received two Hypericum perforutum tablets containing 330 µg hypericin; the second group received two vitamin B6 tablets containing 40 mg of vitamin B6, and the third group took two placebo tablets daily from the first to 30th day of menstrual cycle for two cycles.
The mean total score decreased from 34.47 ± 6.82 to 20.68 ± 5.72 (40%) in the perforan group, from 33.93 ± 6.95 to 20.92 ± 5.26 (38%) in the vitamin B6 and from 33.86 ± 6.16 to 23.90 ± 6 (29%) in the control group. The mean total score demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the three arms compared to the baseline (P Hypericum perforutum and vitamin B6 are safe, well tolerated and effective drugs to treat females with moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome in Iran.

Albendazole (ABZ) and albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) have a basic role in the treatment of hydatid cysts. However, their poor solubility and limited intestinal permeability are the main problems in their formulation.
The preparation and characterization of ABZ and ABZSO-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to increase the hydatid cyst membrane permeation by loading into SLNs.
First, ABZ and ABZSO-loaded SLNs were prepared by micro emulsification and high shear homogenization. Physicochemical characterization of the formulations for particle size, polydispersity index, drug entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL), zeta potential, particle shape, drug stability, and in vitro drug release studies were evaluated. Next, the permeability of conventional and prepared formulations on hydatid cysts was evaluated by quantifying the drug concentrations in cyst fluid using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
The prepared formulations showed particle sizes ABZ and ABZSO achieved good physicochemical characterizations, controlled release, higher permeability and efficacy by loading into SLNs, and are promising for the treatment of this disease.

Epilepsy is a group of disorders associated with the abnormal electrical activity of different regions of the brain. The use of anticonvulsant drugs is limited because of their low efficacy, side effects, and toxicity. Therefore, research on new drugs for epilepsy is required. Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with several biological effects, such as antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory.
Earlier studies gave conflicting reports on the effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on seizures. Accordingly, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of meloxicam on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) models of convulsions
For each model of convulsion, 48 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 animals. Group I in two models of convulsions were considered as the control group and the intraperitoneally (i.p.) received vehicle (10 mL/kg). Group II in the PTZ model received the reference anticonvulsant drug, diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and group II in the MES model was treated with phenytoin (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Groups III - VI in two models of convulsions received four different doses of meloxicam (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Thirty minutes later, convulsion was induced by PTZ (85 mg/kg, i.p.) in PTZ model and by using ear-clip electrodes in the MES model of convulsion.
In the PTZ model, meloxicam showed a significant delayed onset of seizures, Straub’s tail, and myoclonic seizure. Different doses of meloxicam reduced the mortality of animals in the PTZ model. In the MES model, meloxicam did not change the duration of hindlimb tonic extension and caused the death of animals unlike the PTZ model.
According to the results, meloxicam has differential effects on two PTZ and MES models of seizure. The anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of meloxicam on the PTZ model may be mediated by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In the MES model, meloxicam did not show any beneficial effect and aggravated convulsive behavior. In the PTZ model, prostaglandins could be involved in the induction of convulsion. Conversely, in the MES model, prostaglandins may attenuate the severity of seizure at the basal level and prevent the development of convulsions. Nevertheless, more studies must be conducted to clarify the mechanisms of action of prostaglandins and meloxicam in the two PTZ and MES models of seizure.

Objectives and This study was conducted to investigate in vitro, methanolic extract and methanol/water fractions obtained from the arial parts of Artemisia spicigera C. Koch (Asteraceae family) and for evaluation of their antiproliferative effects against HT-29, L-929 and A 549 cell lines by MTT assay at different concentrations (1, 10, 100, 1000 µg/mL). Furthermore, this study aimed to detect antimicrobial activities of the mentioned samples: two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and a fungi (Candida albicanse), using agar well diffusion method.
The IC50 values for antiproliferative activity of the methanolic extract, 20%, 40% and 60% SPE (solid phase extraction) fractions, found to be 345.91 ± 28.77, 442.44 ± 83.22, 220.19 ± 43.13 and 579.90 ± 153.19 μg/mL, respectively; in this case, the maximum inhibition percentage belonged to 40% SPE fraction (220.19 ± 43.13 μg/mL). The total methanolic extract of A. spicigera indicated inhibitory activity against Gram- positive strains, S. epidermidis and S. aureus, with MIC values of 150 mg/mL for both bacteria. Among SPE fractions, 20% was the only active one against Gram possitive species with MIC values of 35 mg/mL for both strains.
This study revealed that methanolic extract of A. spicigera and its SPE fractions might be regarded as bioactive natural products, which deserves to be further identification and isolation of cytotoxic and antibacterial phytochemicals from them.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Several native Iranian herbs used in traditional medicine are proven to have cytotoxic effects.
The present study was designed to compare the anticancer effects of three medicinal herbs, Peganum harmala L., Curcuma longa L., and Boswellia serrata, on a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa).
HeLa cells were exposed to different doses of hydroalcoholic extracts of the three plants (12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. After the incubation period, the modified colorimetric MTT assay was used to determine cytotoxicity.
The highest percentage of cell death for P. harmala was observed after 72 hours of incubation, and 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 24 hours was 12.5 μg/mL. For B. serrata, the highest percentage of cell death was observed after 72 hours of incubation; IC50 at 24 and 48 hours were 50 μg/mL and 12.5 μg/mL, respectively. C. longa L. had an IC50 of 12.5 μg/mL after 72 hours of incubation.
The results of the MTT assay showed that B. serrata and P. harmala L. extracts had time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic effects. However, C. longa L. extracts induced apoptosis only in a time-dependent manner. A higher cytotoxic effect was observed on HeLa cells with P. harmala and B. serrata extracts compared to C. longa extract at all applied concentrations.

There are verities of none-prescribed slimming products available in the markets which are not approved by the FDA. Hence, different kind of problem has accrued and many complications are unresolved, and an individual healthy is exposed to risks. In this case, although all measures were taken to treat the patient but recovery was extremely slow and it lasted several weeks.