Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Hard gelatin capsule filled with acetaminophen, osmotic agent (sorbitol), a release promoter (sodium dodecyl sulfate), coated with a semipermeable cellulose acetate membrane containing a hydrophobic plasticizer (castor oil) and sealed with white bees wax plug was designed. When placed in the sink water penetrates the membrane, dissolves the osmotic agent and increases the osmotic pressure inside the capsule. The increased osmotic pressure enhances the water imbibition and consequently increases the hydrostatic pressure inside the capsule and when the latter pressure is high enough it expels out the plug and the drug release commences. With cellulose acetate concentration constant in membrane forming solution, 11% (w/w), the factors affecting the onset of the drug release, i.e. the lag time (tL), were thickness of semipermeable membrane (0.033-0.112 mm) and plug thickness (2.40-3.40 mm) although the influence of semipermeable membrane thickness was more important than plug thickness in delaying the onset of release. As the statistical analysis revealed, castor oil concentrations in the range of 3-4% (w/w) did not affect the lag time. With the control of the membrane thickness, the onset of release could be adjusted from 2 to 7 h. The formulations with tL of 3.9 and 5.8 h may have practical benefits in that if such systems are administered simultaneously with conventional forms the 6 and 4 times daily drug dosage frequency would be reduced to 3 and 2 times regimens, respectively. A theoretical justification was provided for the observed nonlinear relationship between the onset and/or tL of drug release and thickness of the semipermeable membrane. After the lag time, the drug release from
the systems conformed to the USP requirements.

A quanitative structure property relationship was proposed to calculate the binary interaction terms of the Jouyban-Acree model using solubility parameter, boiling point, vapour pressure and density of solvents. The applicability of the proposed method for reproducing solubility data of anthracene in binary solvents
has been evaluated using 116 solubility data sets collected from the literature. The mean percentage deviation (MPD) of experimental and calculated solubilities has been computed as a measure of accuracy and the MPD of the proposed method was ~ 6 %. The accuracy of the method was compared with that of a previously reported method where the MPD was ~ 12 % and the mean differences between proposed and previous methods was statistically significant.

The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Peganum harmala seeds (EPS) on spontaneous rhythmic contractions of isolated rat uterine was investigated in this study. EPS was tested on the isolated uterus and endometrium free (i.e. stripped myometrium) preparations. EPS was found to exhibit significant spontaneous contractions of the uterus and stripped myometrium relative to the solvent control. After recording the pattern of uterus tissue spontaneous motility, in order to
determine mechanism of EPS pharmacological effects, atropine, indomethacin, or prazocin was added into the organ baths. Pretreatment with atropine (70 nM) in both the whole uterus and in the stripped myometrium preparations had no effects on the response to cumulative dosage of EPS. Calcium-free solution decreased the uterus contractions. In calcium dose-response curves, EPS in some concentrations produced uterotonic effect in calcium-free solution in the presence of KCl. This finding showed that EPS may increase calcium influx through voltage-dependant calcium channels.

Essential oil of the orange peel which was extracted by hydrodistillation method showed 50 different mono- and sesquiterpenes on GC-MS analysis, in which
limonene had the highest percentage (92.4%). Due to various important uses of the compound, a method was developed for isolation and purification of limonene. In this method, for extra purification, a fractional distillation on Vigreux column under 100 mm Hg vacuum was used which resulted in 96.7% purity for limonene.
Subsequent chromatography by two different packages of silica gel and active charcoal columns resulted in 99.4% and 99.9 % purity of limonene, respectively.

Cell cultures of Varthemia persica, Peganum harmala and Pycnocycla spinosa have been studied to evaluate their abilities to bioconvert exogenous hydroquinone.
Arbutin is an important substance that has several pharmaceutical applications; therefore, we have established V. persica and P. spinosa cultures which seem to be able to metabolize hydroquinone. Callus cultures of V. persica were established from seedlings, and healthy suspensions were grown using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2,4-D and kinetin. Exogenous hydroquinone was fed to cell suspension cultures and biotransformation reactions were detected over 24 h of incubation. The cultures then extracted with methanol and extracts subjected to TLC and HPLC analysis. The V. persica and P. spinosa cultured cells in this study seem to exhibit an ability in the glucosylation of hydroquinone to arbutin. No conversion was observed with P. harmala cell suspension cultures. The ability of cultured plant cells for biotransformation of substrates appears to be depended on the culture strains.

The fruit of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) was extracted with hexane, and its fatty acids methyl ester was analyzed using GC/MS. Thirteen components representing 85.1% of the total extract were identified. The major components identified were methyl palmitate (18.8%), methyl linolenate (16.1%) and methyl linoleate (9.8%). The fruits’ extract had a LC50 of 5.5 ppm against the larvae of Anophles stephensi.

The essential oils of fresh fruits and terminal branches with adherent leaves of Cupressus sempervirens L. and C. horizentalis Mill., growing in Iran, were analyzed
by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The oils were also screened for bacteriostatic and fungistatic activities. Thirteen and ten components were identified
in the essential oils of C. sempervirens and C. horizentalis, respectively. The main constituents of both fruits and leaves of C. sempervirens were a-pinene and Δ-3-
carene, while they were α-pinene and Δ-2-carene for C. horizentalis. The essential oil of C. horizentalis leaves showed no antimicrobial activity against, Bacillus
subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while the essential oil of its fruits exhibited a weak effect on Bacillus subtilis. The essential
oil of C. sempervirens leaves and fruits showed stronger antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms compared to C. horizentalis essential oils. C. sempervirens fruits were relatively rich in tannins, and the leaves and fruits of C. horizentalis were quite rich in saponins and tannins. The amounts of flavonoids and alkaloids were not very high in both parts of these plants.

This manuscript is a review of a number of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology texts and papers in order to arrive at current understanding and scope of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology. It includes either a brief definition of both fields and presenting some examples on them. Also it has a glimpse on the geographical coverage of research works throughout the world, important issue of property rights and state of these fields in Iran.