Probiotics are living microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits on the host through a beneficial influence on the intestinal microbiota related to competition and to antagonistic and immunological effects. Thus, the objective of this study was the development of effervescent products (tablets and powder) supplemented with the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces boulardii, and the identification of the best formulation in terms of viability of these microorganisms. The physical properties of the tablets (compressive force applied, mean weight, hardness, and friability) were assessed, and the viability of the microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract and their stability during storage were also determined. The results show that the microorganisms remained stable and viable during the 60-day storage period in the effervescent powder. However, the results indicated that the effect of compression force affected the viability of the microorganisms during the production of the effervescent tablets.

A UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated and a chromatographic method was adapted from the American Pharmacopeia for the analysis of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsules. Ethanol was used as solvent for the spectrophotometric method, with detection and determination at 276 nm. The separation for the chromatographic method was carried out using the reversed-phase column LC-8, triethylamine buffer, stabilizer free tetrahydrofuran and methanol (5:3.5:1.5), pH 6.0 as mobile phase and detection at 227 nm. The results obtained for both methods showed to be accurate, precise, robust and linear over the concentration range 100.00 - 300.00 µg/mL and 40.00 - 80.00 µg/mL of fluoxetine hydrochloride for the spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods, respectively. The accuracy of the methods was evaluated by a recovery test and showed results between 98.89 and 101.10%.

Três formulações contendo albendazol foram preparadas e armazenadas por 6 meses nas temperaturas de 4± 1, 26±1, 37, 50 e 65 °C. Para avaliação sensorial aplicou-se o teste de diferença do controle, com a participação de 24 provadores treinados. Determinou-se o teor de albendazol por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência utilizando como fase móvel etanol -tampão fosfato 0,05 M (70:30; v/v). Os resultados encontrados nesta pesquisa indicaram que a avaliação sensorial é importante no controle de qualidade de medicamentos além dos testes químicos, físico-químicos e microbiológicos. Este fato é evidente principalmente para preparações farmacêuticas de administração oral, uma vez que os aspectos sensoriais dos medicamentos podem influenciar o efeito terapêutico. O paciente pode não ingerir medicamentos que não apresentem atributos sensoriais agradáveis.

Sensory analysis was used in the albendazole suspension stability study. Three formulations were prepared and stored for 1, 3, and 6 months at 4 ±1, 26 ±1, 37, 50 and 65 ºC. Samples were evaluated through the difference from control sensory test using 24 trained judges in individual cabins. Although albendazole content was not altered in the conditions studied, sensory test showed differences between control and stored samples, except for one of the formulations stored under refrigeration for one month. These results have shown that the sensory evaluation is an important tool for quality control of pharmaceutical preparations, in association with chemical, physicochemical and microbiological tests.