Analysis of pharmaceutical and natural compounds and newer drugs is commonly used in all the stages of drug discovery and development process. High-performance thin layer chromatography is one of the sophisticated instrumental techniques based on the full capabilities of thin layer chromatography. The advantages of automation, scanning, full optimization, selective detection principle, minimum sample preparation, hyphenation, and so on enable it to be a powerful analytical tool for chromatographic information of complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals, natural products, clinical samples, food stuffs, and so on.

J Pharmacol Pharmacother, Official publication of InPharm Association, India

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, wherein a progressive loss of cholinergic synapses occurs in hippocampus and neocortex. Decreased concentration of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), appears to be critical element in the development of dementia, and the most appropriate therapeutic approach to treat AD and other form of dementia is to restore acetylcholine levels by inhibiting both major form of cholinesterase: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Consequently, researches have focused their attention towards finding cholinesterase inhibitors from natural products. A large number of such inhibitors have been isolated from medicinal plants. This review presents a comprehensive account of the advances in field of cholinesterase inhibitor phytoconstituents. The structures of some important phytoconstituents (collected through www.Chemspider.com) are also presented and the scope for future research is discussed.

The therapeutic potential of acyclovir is limited by the low oral bioavailability owing to its limited aqueous solubility and low permeability. The present study was a systematic investigation on the development and evaluation of inclusion complex using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin for the enhancement of oral bioavailability of acyclovir. The inclusion complex of acyclovir was prepared by kneading method using drug: hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (1:1 mole). The prepared inclusion complex was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, NMR spectroscopy and evaluated in vitro by dissolution studies. In vivo bioavailability of acyclovir was compared for inclusion complex and physical mixture in rat model. Phase solubility studies indicate the formation of acyclovir-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complex with higher stability constant and linear enhancement in drug solubility with increase in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin concentration. Characterization of the prepared formulation confirms the formation of acyclovir-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex. Dissolution profile of inclusion complex demonstrated rapid and complete release of acyclovir in 30 min with greater dissolution efficiency (90.05 ± 2.94%). In vivo pharmacokinetic data signify increased rate and extent of acyclovir absorption (relative bioavailability ∼160%; p < 0.0001) from inclusion complex, compared to physical mixture. Given the promising results in the in vivo studies, it can be concluded that the inclusion complex of acyclovir could be an effective and promising approach for successful oral therapy of acyclovir in the treatment of herpes viruses.

In traditional medicine, different parts of Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) are used as analgesic, antiarthritic, diuretic, wound healing, antiparasitic, vermifuge, abortifacient, ecbolics and for treating hemorrhoids and venereal diseases. The plant parts are also used as animal fodder. The present review is aimed to comprehend the fragmented information available on the botany, traditional uses, pharmacology and toxicology of F. exasperata to explore its therapeutic potential and find potential research opportunities in the near future. Among different parts of F. exasperata, leaves are of particular importance from the traditional medicinal point of view. Major ethno-medicinal usage has been reported throughout Africa; Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone being the folkloric hubs. The extracts used are mostly remains uncharacterized and no detailed informations are available on the active components except for the class of compounds such as phenolics and tannins being major components. Crude extracts have been reported to exhibit a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities like, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, antiulcer, anxiolytic and hypotensive. Conflicting results on the toxicity F. exasperata has also been reported. Experimental studies have validated a number of traditional claims, however reports suggests some degree toxicity involved. Additionally, not much scientific information is available on the bioactive compounds. Thus, an in-depth research on the standardization and characterization of the extracts and their toxicological evaluation is the need of the hour for its safe and better therapeutic utilization.