Munira Momin

Taste is mainly a function of taste buds in the mouth. In the formulation for pediatric & geriatric, bed ridden &
non-cooperative patients the main challenge to the compounding pharmacist is to mask the taste of obnoxious and bitter
drugs, result is patient not receiving the optimal therapeutic value of their medication. Taste masking is the main factor
in the development of the dosage form. It opens the doors for new inventions and patents. Many techniques have been
developed which not only improve the taste of molecule but also the formulation and performance of the molecule. The
main objective of present review is to explore different method, technologies and evaluations to mask the obnoxious
taste of drugs, so that patients can use these drugs without hesitation of taste.
Key words: Bitter taste, taste buds, taste masking techniques.

Objective: There is an ever-present need for non-allergenic antibacterial and antifungal wound
dressing with a superior healing property for chronic ulcers. Among the entire modern wound
healing dressings, hydrogel has a good capacity to donate moisture or absorb exudate and thereby
providing a moist environment to facilitate wound healing process and at the same time protect the
wound too. In the present study, povidne iodine loaded acrylamide based biocompatible
biodegradable hydrogel dressings incorporating alginate, chitosan and gelatin showed good fluid
absorbance capacity. The addition of honey showed improved tensile strength and moisture
absorbance capacity of the hydrogel sponge. Apart from tensile strength, all the formulations were
evaluated and compared for thickness, % elongation, folding endurance, swelling ratio, % of drug
loading, thrombus formation, haemolysis assay and dispersion characteristics. Hydrogel containing
chitosan and alginate showed better results in terms of tensile strength 4323gm/mm2, drug loading
(27.17 %), thrombus formation (0.002 gm), drug release (97.99 %) and other parameters compared
to gelatin based hydrogel. Wound healing study using well established wistar rat model showed
complete healing of wound i.e. 98.28 % within 12 days. Povidone-Iodine and honey loaded
acrylamide hydrogel with chitosan and alginate presented a very promising wound healing dressing.
This honey hydrogel dressing can be a good alternative for infected chronic wounds and diabetic
foot ulcers.
Keywords: Chronic ulcers, wound dressing, Hydrogel, Honey, Iodine-Povidone

Lyophillized floating beads have been investigated as a possible gastro-retentive dosage forms containing Ginger (Zingiber Officinalis) extract ( ZOE) and Nigella Sativa oil (NSO). Emulsion gelation method was used in preparation of ZOE-NSO entrapped floating alginate beads. Drug content and floating properties of the beads were found to be satisfactory. The results revealed that lyophillized beads showed better floating behaviour (> 8 hrs). The formulations containing sodium alginate at 3% w/v concentration with 30 %w/v calcium chloride for cross-linking and 30 min for curing time presented with optimum drug release (8 hrs) and floating time (>24 hrs). The optimized formulation was subjected to storage at 40 and 50º C / relative humidity of 60% for a period of three months. In vitro release data of the optimized batch presented Higuchi-diffusion and Korsmeyer Peppas models with Non-Fickian release. The data proposed that the prepared lyophilized NSO and ZOE hydrogel beads delivered their active ingredients by diffusion and erosion mechanisms.

The increasing rate of maternal mortality in South Asian countries is mainly due to malnutrition. India’s maternal and infant mortality rates in rural areas are
among the highest in the world. Looking back in time it is not at all surprising that ancient scriptures of almost every religion prescribed do’s & dont’s in
pregnancy. The growth from one single cell to a complex organism with millions of cells in just 40 weeks is quite a feat. The nutritional bond between a mother
and her unborn child makes this extra-ordinary development possible. Women who start pregnancy with a long history of good nutrition are more likely to
maintain good health and to bear healthy babies. It is of great importance that pre-pregnancy nutrition counseling is imparted to the mother-to-be along with
the unique nutritional requirement each stage has. The basic nutritional requirements discussed here are, Fluids, Fibers, Sodium & Salt, Proteins, Vitamins,
Fat-soluble Vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, K), Water-soluble Vitamins (Vitamin B12, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin), Vitamin C, Folate, Minerals.

gelling behaviour of synthesized superporous hydrogel. Although a vast variety of formulations parameters could affect the hydrogel networks,
attempt was made to synthesize a natural super-disintegrant, i.e., fenugreek mucilage, based super-porous hydrogel.
Methods: A 25 factorial design was adopted to study the effect of various parameters for synthesis of superporous hydrogel using fenugreek
mucilage as a foam stabilizer. The gelation features during the synthesis process, including inhibition period, exothermic period were observed. For
this study, five formulation variables i.e, type of monomer, amount of cross-linker, redox initiator, redox activator and level of foam strengtheners
were chosen and their effects were examined within the frame of a 25 factorial design.
Results: The responses examined were inhibition period, exothermic period and gelling feature along with the physical appearance during gelation
and after drying. These responses found to be dependent on the concentration of cross-linker and redox activator (P< 0.05). The resultant hydrogel
was subjected to SEM study and it clearly showed that fenugreek mucilage at higher level could stabilise the foam during gelation process which led
to better and enhanced porous network formation.
Conclusion: The synthesized superporous hydrogels can be used in for those formulations where fast swelling and superabsorbent properties are
critical.
Keywords: Superporous hydrogel, Fenugreek mucilage, Foam strengtheners, Factorial design.

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present investigation was to achieve colon specific delivery of sennosides using the polysaccharide pectin as a compression-coating agent. In this study, pectin along with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was used for compression coating of the core tablets of calcium sennoside. Drug dissolution and erosion studies were carried out in pH 1.2 and phosphate buffer pH 7.4 using a pectinolytic enzyme. The system was designed based on the gastrointestinal transit time concept, assuming colon arrival time to be 6 h. It was found that pectin alone was not sufficient to protect the core tablets during entire gastrointestinal transit time. Addition of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was required to control the erosion of tablets. In this investigation a 3 2 factorial design was constructed to investigate the influence of two variables; the amount of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (X1) and coat weight of the tablets (X2) on the time taken for 50% erosion of tablet in presence of pectinase enzyme (TE 50 ) and average percent weight difference between tablets with and without enzyme at the 10 th hour (% WD). The results revealed that for protecting the calcium sennosides core tablets in upper gastrointestinal tract, the core tablets should be coated with lower amount of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and higher amount of coat weight. The main effects were found to be statistically significant in nature. The amount of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose exhibited predominant action as compared to coat weight. In vivo performance was assessed by X-ray roentegenography study. The pectin-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose coating was found to be a promising colon delivery system for those drugs like sennosides.

The present study was aimed at developing colon specific drug delivery system for sennosides and Triphala. These drugs are reputed Ayurvedic medicines for constipation in India. The proposed device explored the application of pectin and ethyl cellulose as a mixed film for colon specific delivery. This mixed film was prepared using non-aqueous solvents like acetone and isopropyl alcohol. A 32 factorial design was adopted to optimize the formulation variables like, ratio of ethyl cellulose to pectin (X1) and coat weight (X2). The rate and extent of drug release were found to be related to the thickness and the ratio of pectin to ethyl cellulose within the film. Statistical treatments to the drug release data revealed that the X1 variable was more important than X2. Under simulated colonic conditions, drug release was more pronounced from coating formulations containing higher proportions of pectin. The surface of the device was coated with Eudragit S100 to ensure that the device was more pH dependent and trigger the drug release only at higher pH. The final product is expected to have the advantage of being biodegradable and pH dependant. This type of a film effectively releases the drug while maintaining its integrity.

The purpose of the present investigation was to achieve successful delivery specifically to the colon using guar gum as a compression coat over a core tablet of triphala. In this study, guar gum along with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) was used as a compression-coating polymer. The drug delivery system was based on the gastrointestinal transit time concept, assuming colon arrival time to be 6 h. Rapidly disintegrating core tablets containing 100-mg triphala extract were compression coated with guar gum and HPMC. A 32 full factorial design was applied for optimization of the formulation. Both variables, the proportion of guar gum in polymer blend (X1) and coat weight of the tablet (X2), had an influence on the percent drug release after 4 h of dissolution of tablet in the presence of rat cecal content (Y240) and difference in percent drug release between 4 h and 10 h of dissolution of tablet in the presence of rat cecal content (YD).The results revealed that for protecting the rapidly disintegrating core of triphala in the physiological conditions of stomach and upper intestine, the core tablet should be coated with 50% of guar gum in coat formulation and higher coat weight. The proportion of guar gum exhibited predominant action as compared to coat weight. In vivo performance was assessed via an x-ray roentgenography study by placing barium sulfate as an x-ray opaque material instead of triphala. The guar gum–HPMC coating was found to be a promising drug delivery system for drugs such as triphala and sennosides to be delivered to the colon. Drug Dev. Res. 65:34–42, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.