Preliminary evaluation of dika fat, a new tablet lubricant

Irvingia gabonensis baill. (African Mango): A comprehensive review of its ethnopharmacological significance, unveiling its long-standing history and therapeutic potential

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill. (IG) is a multipurpose tree native to tropical Africa such as Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon, and Cameroon with high ethnomedicinal values.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review emphasizes the ethnopharmacological significance, phytochemical, and functional properties of African mango, focusing on its potential for human health and industrial applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature published on IG was traced by different databases, including the Egyptian Knowledge Bank database (EKB), ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholars, Research Gate, Web of Science, Elsevier, and Scopus. Numerous keywords were used to achieve an inclusive search in the databases, like 'African Mango', 'Bush Mango', 'Irvingia gabonensis', 'Wild Mango', 'Dika Nut', 'Phytochemistry', 'Traditional uses', 'Functional foods', 'Polyphenols', 'Ogbono', 'Ellagic acid and its derivatives', and 'Pharmacological activities'.

RESULTS

Different parts of IG have been employed in traditional medicine and recorded a great success. The ripe fruit pulp was consumed fresh or processed into juice and wine documented for anti-diarrheal, anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The kernels, which are widely traded and incorporated into traditional dishes, remain an integral part of culinary traditions. Seeds have folkloric uses for weight loss and are popular as blood thinners and anti-diabetics. Where the bark is reported for dysentery, colic, scabies, toothache, and various skin conditions. In Senegal, the stem bark is employed for gonorrhea, hepatic disorders, and gastrointestinal ailments. The leaves possess the potential to enhance renal and hepatic functions, safeguarding these vital organs against the detrimental effects of toxic substances. Pulp is rich in vitamin C, carbohydrates, and proteins. Oil is the major constituent of the seed, which is mainly composed of myristic and lauric acids. The defatted extracts are characterized by flavonoid glycosides and ellagic acid derivatives. Despite their widespread use, IG extracts are still inadequately characterized phytochemically and merit further investigation within the realm of scientific research. Encouragingly, toxicity studies have demonstrated the relative safety of IG extract at the administered doses.

CONCLUSION

The review extends our knowledge of the health benefits of IG, where these effects could be attributed to the phytochemicals present.

A systematic evaluation of poloxamers as tablet lubricants

Lubricants are important for both preserving the tooling of high-speed tablet presses and attaining quality tablets. Magnesium stearate (MgSt) is most commonly used due to its superior lubrication efficiency; however, it can lead to negative effects on tabletability and dissolution. In this study, we have systematically evaluated two poloxamers, P188 and P407, for their suitability as alternative tablet lubricants. For two excipients with different mechanical properties, i.e., microcrystalline cellulose and lactose, both poloxamers exhibit acceptable lubrication efficiency without negatively impacting tabletability. Compared to 1% MgSt, the performance of 2% of both poloxamers in an experimental tablet formulation of ritonavir led to better lubrication, higher tabletability, and enhanced in vitro drug release. Thus, the use of P188 and P407 as alternative tablet lubricants deserves further evaluations.

Effects of Thermal Processing on the Nutritional, Antinutrient, and In Vitro Antioxidant Profile of Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal Seeds

Proximate, minerals, and anti-nutrient content of raw Monodora myristica seed and Monodora myristica seeds boiled and roasted for 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively were assessed. In addition, the effects of boiling and roasting for 10, 20, and 30 min on the antioxidant properties of Monodora myristica seed extract were evaluated. Results showed that moisture, ash, fat, and crude protein were significantly reduced by boiling and roasting. Acid and neutral detergent fibres were significantly increased by roasting and boiling, with boiling causing a more significant increase than roasting. Processing resulted in significant decrease in magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron while calcium levels were unchanged. Total phenolics levels of raw seeds [(21.94 mg/100 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)] showed a remarkable decrease (18.64 mg/100 g GAE) when the boiling time was increased to 30 min. Free fraction phenolics increased with thermal processing whereas bound phenolics decreased. Boiling was more effective in reducing anti-nutrients than roasting. Extracts of Monodora myristica seeds possess significant 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis( 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) free radical scavenging properties in a concentration-dependent manner, and this was significantly reduced after thermal processing. Monodora myristica seed extracts could be pharmaceutically exploited for antioxidant properties, and roasting may be preferred to retain the nutrient composition and antioxidant properties of Monodora myristica seeds.

A Novel Extraction Method and Some Physicochemical Properties of Extractives of Irvingia Gabonensis seeds

The plant Irvingia gabonensis contains lipids and polymer extractives that can be a good source of excipients for oral pharmaceutical formulations. These constituents are usually extracted from the seeds with the aid of either organic solvents or enzymes. The purpose of this paper was to describe a novel, simpler, cheaper, and safer method for the simultaneous extraction of lipids and gum from I. gabonensis. A 100.0 g of seeds of I. gabonensis in 200 mL deionized water was heated at 78°C in the presence of 2.0 g sodium chloride for 1 h, and the mixture was allowed to stand for the lipids to be separated and removed by filtration. The samples were air dried at 25–30°C. The liquid fraction was centrifuged at 3445 rpm for 30 min, and the supernatant portion containing the gum was freeze dried. The samples were investigated for their true, bulk, and tapped densities as well as particle size and particle size distributions. The rheological, and near infrared absorption spectra as well as thermal behavior of the samples were also studied. The lipid and the polymeric components of I. gabonensis seeds were successfully extracted simultaneously. The true densities of the fatty and gum components were, respectively, 1.000 and 1.544 g/cm³. The melting point of the fat was 40°C and T_g of the gum was 232°C. These values were similar to those described in the literature for the components using the traditional method, demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of this simple novel method.

Cytotoxicity of some Cameroonian spices and selected medicinal plant extracts

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Several medicinal plants and spices are used traditionally to treat cancers in Cameroon.

AIM

Methanol extracts from thirty-four spices and plants, with related ethnobotanical use were investigated for their in vitro cytotoxicity on the human pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa-2, leukemia CCRF-CEM cells and their multidrug resistant (MDR) subline CEM/ADR5000, and the normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition the anti-angiogenic properties of the most active extracts were investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay was used for cytotoxic studies and the CAM-assay (chicken-chorioallantoic-membrane-assay) for anti-angiogenesis test.

RESULTS

The results of the cytotoxicity tests indicated that, when tested at 20 μg/ml, extracts from Xylopia aethiopica, Echinops giganteus, Imperata cylindrica, Dorstenia psilirus and Piper capense were able to inhibit more that 50% the proliferation of the three tested cancer cells (MiaPaCa-2, CEM/ADR5000 CCRF-CEM). The lowest IC(50) values of 6.86 μg/ml on MiaPaCa-2 and 3.91 μg/ml on CCRF-CEM cells were obtained with X. aethiopica, while the corresponding value of 6.56 μg/ml was obtained with P. capense on CEM/ADR5000 cells. Against leukemia cells, no cross-resistance was observed with I. cylindrica, P. capense and Zinziber officinalis. Extracts from D. psilirus and E. giganteus were able to inhibit angiogenesis by more than 50% in quail embryo.

CONCLUSION

The overall results of the present study provide supportive data on the use of some Cameroonian plants for cancer treatment.

A comparative study of glycerin fatty acid ester and magnesium stearate on the dissolution of acetaminophen tablets using the analysis of available surface area

To study the effect of glycerin fatty acid ester (Poem TR-FB) concentrations on the dissolution rate of acetaminophen (APAP), the dissolution and disintegration behaviors of APAP tablets formulated using various lubricants were examined. The change over time in the available surface area of APAP (S(t)), which is in direct contact with solvent, was also analyzed using these dissolution data. In the dissolution tests, a retarded dissolution of APAP was not observed with TR-FB, whereas magnesium stearate (Mg-St), which is widely used as a lubricant, retarded the dissolution. However, no significant difference in the disintegration time between the two lubricants was observed. With regard to the time course of the S(t), Mg-St at 0.1% gave a maximum surface area value at 9.19 min (peak time); however, the profiles for APAP with Mg-St at greater than 0.5% showed downward curvature indicating a gradual decrease in surface area over time. Conversely, with TR-FB, even when its concentration was increased, the S(t) profile for APAP had a maximum value that was more than twice that of APAP with that of 0.5-3.0% of Mg-St. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that the differences in the dissolution rate and S(t) patterns between Mg-St and TR-FB could be explained by differences in extensibility deriving from their morphology. Therefore, it was concluded that TR-FB does not cause retardation of drug dissolution and may prove to be a superior alternative lubricant to Mg-St.

Evaluation of Dika Nut Mucilage (Irvingia gabonensis) as Binding Agent in Metronidazole Tablet Formulations

Dika nut mucilage obtained from the nuts of Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) Bail (family Irvingiaceae) has been evaluated as a binding agent in metronidazole tablet formulations in comparison with gelatin BP. The compressional properties of metronidazole formulations were analyzed using density measurements and the Heckel equations as assessment parameters, whereas the mechanical properties of the tablets were assessed using the tensile strength (T), brittle fracture index (BFI), and the friability of the tablets. The drug release properties of the tablets were assessed using disintegration and dissolution times of the tablets. The results obtained indicate that formulations containing dika nut mucilage as binding agent show faster onset of plastic deformation under compression pressure than those containing gelatin. The tensile strength of the tablets increased with increase in concentration of the binding agents, whereas the BFI and friability values decreased. Furthermore, tablets containing dika nut mucilage generally showed lower tensile strength but higher brittleness and friability than those containing gelatin. The results also showed that tablets containing dika nut mucilage generally showed higher disintegration and dissolution times than those containing gelatin BP. The results suggest that dika nut mucilage could be useful in achieving various tablet strength and drug release properties.