A new, simple, and stability indicating thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method has been developed for estimation of norfloxacin. Study was performed on precoated silica gel F254 TLC plate using environmentally safe mobile phase consisting of n-butanol : methanol : ammonia (33%) (8:1:3.5 v/v). A Camag TLC Scanner 3 set at 282 nm was used for direct determination of the chromatograms in the reflectance / absorbance mode. Method was validated according to ICH guidelines. Determination coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.9962 in the range 6–150 ng/band with limit of detection and limit of quantification of 1.01 ng/band and 3.06 ng/band, respectively. Statistical comparison of the results with those of the official HPLC method showed good agreement between the official and the proposed methods with respect to accuracy and precision. Norfloxacin was subjected to forced degradation at 150°C with 2M HCl or 2M NaOH, and the degradation rate in both cases was studied. The calculated first order rate constant for the degradation were determined at 0.056 and 0.023 hour1 and the t½ were 12.28 and 30.09 hr for acid and base degradation, respectively. The method has the potential to determine norfloxacin in different dosage forms and in quality control laboratories.

This study investigated optimizing the formulation parameters for encapsulation of a model mucinolytic enzyme, -chymotrypsin (-CH), within a novel polymer; poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(glycerol adipate-co--pentadecalactone), PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) which were then applied to the formulation of DNase I. -CH or DNase I loaded microparticles were prepared via spray drying from double emulsion (w1/o/w2) utilizing chloroform (CHF) as the organic solvent, L-leucine as a dispersibility enhancer and an internal aqueous phase (w1) containing PEG4500 or Pluronic® F-68 (PLF68). -CH released from microparticles was investigated for bioactivity using the azocasein assay and the mucinolytic activity was assessed utilizing the degradation of mucin suspension assay. The chemical structure of PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) was characterized by 1H NMR and FT-IR with both analyses confirming PEG incorporated into the polymer backbone, and any unreacted units removed. Optimum formulation -CH-CHF/PLF68, 1% produced the highest bioactivity, enzyme encapsulation (20.083.91%), loading (22.314.34 µg/mg), FPF (fine particle fraction) (37.630.97%); FPD (fine particle dose) (179.889.43 µg), MMAD (mass median aerodynamic diameter) (2.951.61 µm), and the mucinolytic activity was equal to the native non-encapsulated enzyme up to 5 h. DNase I-CHF/PLF68, 1% resulted in enzyme encapsulation (17.443.11%), loading (19.313.27 µg/mg) and activity (81.92.7%). The results indicate PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) can be considered as a potential biodegradable polymer carrier for dry powder inhalation of macromolecules for treatment of local pulmonary diseases.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Sanchezia nobilis Hook. family Acanthaceae has yielded matsutake alcohol (1-octen-3-ol) (1) and four matsutake alcohol glycosides identified as 3-O--glucopyranosyl-1-octen-3-ol (2), 3-O--glucopyranosyl-(16)--glucopyranosyl-1-octen-3-ol (3), 3-O--arabino-pyranosyl-(16)--glucopyran-osyl-1-octen-3-ol (4), and 3-O--arabino-pyranosyl-(16)--glucopyranosyl-(16)--glucopyranosyl-1-octen-3-ol (5). The structures of the isolated compounds were assigned on the basis of different techniques of NMR spectral analysis. Compounds 1–4 have been isolated here for the first time from the family Acanthaceae, while compound 5 is isolated here for the first time from a natural source.

Microemulsions are promising drug delivery systems for ocular delivery of drugs, especially water insoluble drugs such as diclofenac in its acid undissociated form. Microemulsions are characterized with high surfactant content (> 10% w/w) in order to lower the interfacial tension which facilitates dispersion process during the preparation of microemulsion and provides a flexible film around the droplets. However, there are a few researches that have studied the possible irritation effect of microemulsion on the eye. Therefore, evaluation of the ocular irritancy is an important requirement in the development of ocular delivery vehicles such as microemulsions. Draize test using rabbits was used for evaluation of the ocular irritation potential of the prepared microemulsions. The efficacy of the anti-inflammatory action of the formulation showing the least Draize score was then evaluated using 3% croton oil in 2-ethoxyethanol to induce corneal inflammation in rabbits. Results showed that the tested formulations, M5 and M6, were non irritant (NI) where they showed a Draize score of 8 and 14 respectively. When M5 was studied for its anti-inflammatory action and compared with marketed eye drops, Epifenac, it showed a significantly shorter recovery time compared to Epifenac eye drops.