Particle Size Distribution Equivalency as Novel Predictors for Bioequivalence

Valorization of Grape Pomace and Berries as a New and Sustainable Dietary Supplement: Development, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity Testing

Grape pomace and berries represent natural sources of phytochemicals that can increase the quality of life of consumers by contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases; thus, the development of a dietary supplement was necessary. The raw material (r.m.) used for the development of the dietary supplement consisted of dried and powdered bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), red currants (Ribes rubrum L.), and red fermented pomaces (Vitis vinifera L.) from Feteasca Neagra and Cabernet Sauvignon cultivars. The particle size distribution, powder flow, total phenolic content (TPC), HPLC-DAD phenolic profile assessment, and radical scavenging assay (RSA) were employed for the analysis of the raw material. After encapsulation, the average mass and uniformity of mass, the disintegration, and the uniformity of content for the obtained capsules were performed to obtain a high-quality dietary supplement. All the assays performed complied to the compendial requirements and the TPC was determined at 9.07 ± 0.25 mg gallic acid equivalents/g r.m. and RSA at 48.32 ± 0.74%. The highest quantities of phenolic compounds determined were 333.7 ± 0.50 µg/g r.m. for chlorogenic acid, followed by rutin, ferulic acid, and (+)-catechin with 198.9 ± 1.60 µg/g r.m., 179.8 ± 0.90 µg/g r.m. and 118.7 ± 0.75 µg/g r.m., respectively. The results of this study can be used for the manufacturing and assessing of pilot scale-up capsule batches and thinking of quality assurance, we recommend that the industrial batch extracts should be standardized in polyphenols, and the manufacturing process should be validated.

Pharmacokinetics, Bioequivalence, and Safety Studies of Pantoprazole Sodium Enteric-Coated Tablets in Healthy Subjects

This study aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence of 2 pantoprazole sodium enteric-coated tablet formulations, a generic formulation and a branded formulation, and to investigate their pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. The study was designed as a single-center, randomized, open-label, single-dose, dual-period, and 2-sequence crossover trial, and was divided into fasting and postprandial human bioequivalence trials. In the first trial, 36 subjects were fasted overnight before they were given generic or branded tablets (during 2 separate administration periods). Separately, 42 subjects were provided a high-fat meal 1 hour before the drugs were administered. Blood specimens of each subject were obtained up to 24 hours after drug administration. No significant differences were observed between the pharmacokinetic profiles of the generic and branded pantoprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets. Bioequivalence was evaluated using 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of test/reference log area under the concentration-time curve over 24 hours, log area under the concentration-time curve to infinity (AUC_0-∞ ), and log peak concentration (C_max ). The 90% confidence intervals of the least squares geometric mean ratio of C_max , area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measurable concentration (AUC_0-t ), and AUC_0-∞ of 36 subjects in the fasting trial and of 40 of 41 subjects in the postprandial trial (C_max [41], AUC_0-t [41], and AUC_0-∞ [40]) were in accordance with the bioequivalence criteria. No severe adverse effects were detected. The generic and branded pantoprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets were considered bioequivalent with similar safety profiles.