Development of Narrow-Bore C18 Column for Fast Separation of Peptides and Proteins in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Development and Validation of Novel HPLC Methods for Quantitative Determination of Vitamin D3 in Tablet Dosage Form

In the present work, an efficient isocratic HPLC method was developed for the precise and accurate estimation of vitamin D3 in tablet form. The chromatographic conditions comprised an L3 silica column (5 µm in particle size, 4.6 mm × 250 mm) with a mobile phase n-hexane/ethyl acetate (85:15 v/v) with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 292 nm. The new methodology was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, robustness, and quantification limits according to an official monograph of USP/BP and ICH guidelines. The peak areas of the six replicates of the homogeneous sample were recorded. The mean value obtained was 67,301, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.1741. The linearity and range were in the acceptable bounds, i.e., 0.999, which was calculated using regression line analysis. The results show that the method is truly acceptable as the RSD, as the flow rate was 0.81%, while for the mobile phase composition, it was 0.72%, which lies in the acceptable range. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.0539 µg/mL and 0.1633 µg/mL, respectively. The % RSD of the intra and inter-day precision of the method was deemed acceptable according to the international commission for harmonization guidelines. The developed method has potential to be used for the detection and quantification of vitamin D3 during routine analysis for tablets in dosage form.

Isolation, Characterization and Anticancer Activity of Two Bioactive Compounds from Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) Schott

Medicinal plants play important role in the public health sector worldwide. Natural products from medicinal plants are sources of unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of their unique chemical diversity. Researchers have focused on exploring herbal products as potential sources for the treatment of cancer, cardiac and infectious diseases. Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) is an important medicinal plant found in the northwest Himalayan regions of Pakistan. It is a poisonous plant and is used as a remedy against snake bites and scorpion stings. In this study, two bioactive compounds were isolated from Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) and their anticancer activity was evaluated against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using an MTT assay. The crude extract of Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) was subjected to fractionation using different organic solvents in increasing order of polarity. The fraction indicating maximum activity was then taken for isolation of bioactive compounds using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Crude extract of Arisaema flavum (Forssk.), as well as various fractions extracted in different solvents such as n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate, were tested against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using an MTT assay. The crude extract exhibited significant dose-dependent anticancer activity with a maximum activity of 78.6% at 500 µg/mL concentration. Two compounds, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester with molecular formula C18H36O7 and molar mass 284 and 5-Oxo-19 propyl-docosanoic acid methyl ester with molecular formula C26H50O3 and molecular mass 410, were isolated from chloroform fraction. These compounds were tested against the MCF-7cell line for cytotoxic activity and exhibited a significant (p < 0.00l) decrease in cell numbers for MCF-7 cells with IC50 of 25 µM after 48 h of treatment. Results indicated that Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) possesses compounds with cytotoxic activity that can further be exploited to develop anticancer formulations.

Formulation Development of Fluconazole-Loaded Lactose Agglomerate Tablets as a Disinfectant for Candida-Associated Dentures

Denture stomatitis is induced by irritation or an inflammatory response when wearing a denture for a long time. Candida species are the leading cause of biofilm formation on the surfaces and fissures of dentures. Thus, this study aimed to formulate and evaluate fluconazole tablets for use in preparing a disinfectant mixture with anticandidal activity. For size enlargement of lactose, a tablet diluent, using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as an agglomerating agent, was developed to enhance the flowability and compactability of the tablet preparation using direct compression. Lactose agglomerates with 6% PVP were used as a diluent for the fluconazole tablets. Furthermore, other excipients were used, such as a buffering agent, disintegrant, surfactant, and lubricant. The fluconazole tablets obtained could be dispersed and dissolved within 10 min in distilled water to achieve a clear mixture, providing a neutral pH and 96% transmittance. Furthermore, the fluconazole mixtures displayed anticandidal efficiency against C. albicans with a similar effect to the standard fluconazole solution. These findings suggest that the fluconazole-loaded lactose agglomerate tablets show strong potential when prepared using direct compression. The fluconazole mixtures made by dispersing the tablets can be used as a disinfectant for Candida-associated dentures, particularly in patients with oral candidiasis.