The plant, Malva neglecta wallr., is widely consumed for medicinal and nutritional purposes. The current study was carried out to assess the hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic potential of aqueous methanolic extract of M. neglecta. Chemical evaluation of the extract was performed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done in diabetic rats pre-exposed to 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg plant extract via the oral route. For hypoglycemic and biochemical study, the same therapy was administered to alloxan induced diabetic rats for 14 days. The standard control group received Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). Ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and other phenolic acids were detected and estimated in the extract. Administration of the plant extract significantly reduced blood glucose level in diabetic rats subjected to OGTT. The plant extract lowered the fasting blood glucose and alpha amylase, and prevented the damage to pancreas. It also corrected dyslipidemia in diabetic animals following 14 days therapy. Hence, this experimental study establishes the fact that M. neglecta exhibited significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Abstract The study aim was to evaluate the toxic potential of two polyherbal formulation i.e. “ PH 1 & PH 2” and scientific validation of their anti-asthmatic use. Acute oral toxicity study as per OECD 425 TG was conducted. For validation of anti-asthmatic claim, in vivo assay named Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine method in Wistar rats was used. Eosinophils and IgE antibody were quantified post-administration of low and high doses of the formulations. No mortality was observed in acute toxicity study. Elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and damaged liver structure indicating the hepatotoxicity were more pronounced in PH 2 treated rats. Congestion in kidney tissue and increased urea level were evident of the nephrotoxic nature of PH 2 in animals. Treatment with selected polyherbal products decreased the MDA level while increasing the SOD and GSH levels in lung tissue homogenates. The maximum decrease in IgE load (3.18 ± 0.08 IU/mL) was found in rats treated with 12 mg/kg dose of PH 1 followed by 100 mg/kg dose of PH 2 (3.44 ± 0.06 IU/mL). It was concluded that both polyherbal formulations had anti-asthmatic activities, however, PH 1 exhibited the liver and kidney toxicity and should be cautiously used.

The present study was aimed at preparation of transdermal patches of tizanidine HCl, evaluation of the effect of polymers on in vitro release pattern of the drug, and the effect of permeation enhancers on the penetration of the drug through the rabbit skin. Various proportions of hydrophilic (HPMC) and hydrophobic (Eudragit L-100) polymers were used with PEG 400 as film-forming agent, and Span 20 or DMSO as permeation enhancer. The formulations were assessed for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release studies using USP paddle over disc method in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) at 32.0±1°C. On the basis of in vitro studies and physicochemical evaluations, S03-A and S04-A were selected at Eudragit : HPMC ratios of 8 : 2 and 7 : 3, respectively, for further ex vivo analysis. The effects of different concentrations of Span 20 and DMSO were evaluated on excised rabbit skin using Franz diffusion cell. Cumulative drug permeation, flux, permeability coefficient, target flux, and enhancement ratio were calculated and compared with the control formulations. Kinetic models and Tukey’s multiple comparison test were applied to evaluate the drug release patterns. Formulation SB03-PE containing Eudragit L-100:HPMC (7:3) with Span 20 (15% w/w) produced the highest enhancement in drug permeation, and followed zero order kinetic model with super case-II drug release mechanism.