Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

26-27

Authors: P. N. Sanjay Pai

Invited article

38-44

Authors: Danilae George, Y. Jyothi

The incidence of obesity around the world continues to increase and is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality through various diseases. Various animal models can be used for the study of various compounds for the discovery of a novel treatment for the obesity. It can range from food intake studies in lean rodents to studies in obese animals due to high fat diet.The use of these animals helps us to determine whether the weight loss is due to fat loss or due to changes in other parameters. Various behavioral models can be used to study the food intake pattern and the effect of the drug on that pattern. These animal models have very good predictive validity as the effect of the drug on the animal models form the basis for the effect of the drug in humans.The drug induced weight loss in humans can be predicted to an extent from the studies carried out on these animal models. The published articles from Pubmed and other standard resources are used to study, review and compile the overview on screening methods used in Anti-obesity activity. The animal models of obesity can be used to study about the effects of parameters like insulin level, resistance and leptin levels in obesity. Acute and chronic feeding studies can be carried out. While studying about anti-obesity drugs the factors that lead to weight gain has to be considered. The obesity can be genetic or may be due to some other reason. The common cause for obesity is food intake with high calories and fat.So diet induced obese animal models are an important part of the studies. The animal models for the drug induced weight gain helps in the study of the effect of antiobesity drugs on the drug induced weight gain.All these models have been found to have utility in predicting the weight loss in obesity in man.

51-55

Authors: Tintu Babu *, Rajeswari Ramasamy , Teena Nazeem , R. Chandramouli , M. Ashwin Krishna , Chinchumol Baby , A. M. Nancy

India is marked as world's highest Tuberculosis (TB) burden country in the year 2014 with an estimated incidence of 2.2 million cases.Patient adherence to the standard anti-TB therapy in developing countries has been estimated to be as low as 40%.Therefore we found our study is relevant to the situation. A prospective- Educational Interventional study was conducted among 113 patients across DOTs centers in and around Bengaluru. Patient's level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards TB were assessed by conducting structured interviews using suitable validated KAP (Knowledge Attitude and Practice) questionnaire. Of the 113 patients, 46.9 % were found to have poor KAP, 52.2 % were found to have medium KAP and 0.88% of patients were found to have high KAP during the baseline interview. A more comprehensive approach for patient education, incorporating easier access to drugs and emphasizing on motivating patients to come to the clinic to receive therapy are essential for completion of treatment course among TB patients. Hence this study assessed level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among patients with tuberculosis and revealed the need for providing more knowledge about tuberculosis and medications among patients.

1-5

Authors: M. Giri, J. Vivek, K. Mahati

ABSTRACT Purpose: Traditional and complementary medicine has helped discover several medicinally important herbs, understand their mechanism of action and use them as drugs to treat serious medical conditions. In the current review, the role of one such herbal extract, Abelmoschus mochatus (AM) in CNS disorders will be detailed. Approach: Published articles from Pubmed and other sources were used to review and compile the CNS effects of AM. Findings: AM seed extract has shown potent anti-oxidant effects leading to its protective effect in neurological disorders. In addition, it also shows antidepressant, anxiolytic, antiepileptic and sedative properties in animal models. Conclusion: AM can be used as an adjuvant therapy in neurological and psychiatric conditions. Research into the precise mechanisms underlying the CNS effects of Abelmoschus moschatus will aid its use in myriad CNS conditions.

10-14

Authors: Mahammed Raja, Arshad Bashir Khan

Purpose: The formulation and evaluation of hydrodynamically balanced tablets of ranitidine hydrochloride for gastric drug delivery was the specific aim of this research. Method: The hydrodynamically balanced tablets were prepared by direct compression technique with different ratios of polymers like hydroxyproylmethyl cellulose (HPMC K 4M), Ethyl cellulose, Xanthan gum and Guar gum. The prepared tablets were evaluated for their weight variation, hardness, drug content, friability, floating lag time, floating duration, in vitro dissolution and accelerated stability studies at 40°C± 2° C/75% RH ± 5% for eight weeks. Conclusion: The floating tablets of ranitidine hydrochloride (HCl) were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics like hardness, weight variation, friability, floating lag time and stability studies. The in vitro buoyancy studies, in vitro drug release studies and the results showed that the best formulation. F2 had sustained release up to 98% of ranitidine hydrochloride over a period of 24 h.

20-25

Authors: Rahamat Unissa, Muhammad Sudhakar, A. Sunil Kumar Reddy

Aim: The aim of our present study was to purify and characterize l-arginine deiminase isolated from marine Vibrio alginolyticus1374. Methodology: Arginine deiminase (AD), an arginine-degrading enzyme, has been used in the treatment of tumours, sensitive to arginine deprivation, such as malignant melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Proteins of microbial origin are always associated with mild to severe hypersensitivities. Moreover, proteins from terrestrial sources were found to exhibit stability problems at physiological environment. Hence considering the fact that the characteristics of the enzyme depends upon sources from which it has been isolated, we have use marine organism for the present study expecting to yield therapeutically and physiologically stable enzyme. ADI production was carried out under optimal conditions by shake flask method. The enzyme thus obtained was purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. The purity of the enzyme was further confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it was characterized to know its properties. Results: It was active at physiological pH, showed high substrate specificity towards l-arginine. It also exhibited high salt and temperature tolerance indicating good scope for its industrial and therapeutic applications. Conclusions: ADI obtained from Vibrio alginolyticus 1374 can be a good candidate for the treatment of human cancers.