Community pharmacies, specialized drug stores within the neighborhood, are usually the first point of contact for treatment of common illnesses. This promotes access to medicines including antibiotics particularly fluoroquinolones sometimes without prescription. Besides making medicines accessible, this practice has also contributed to antimicrobial resistance. A six (6) months retrospective study was undertaken to determine the frequency of over-the-counter antibiotic requests and how readily pharmacists in community pharmacists in Port Harcourt metropolis dispensed antibiotics particularly fluoroquinolone without prescription. Results showed that all (100%) pharmacies dispensed antibiotics from their premises during the study period. In spite of reasonable awareness of and support for prescription-based dispensing of antibiotics, 70.3% of pharmacists still dispensed fluoroquinolones without prescriptions. Approximately 52% of pharmacists’ consultations resulted to antibiotics dispensing 62.6% of which were fluoroquinolones majorly recommended for typhoid fever due to their effectiveness and affordability by clients. The frequency of dispensing fluoroquinolone antibiotics in community pharmacies was in decreasing order of ciprofloxacin (36.1%)> ofloxacin (26.6%)> levofloxacin (17.7%)> pefloxacin (17%)> sparfloxacin (1.3%). In conclusion, a large proportion of antibiotics particularly fluoroquinolones are dispensed without prescription by community pharmacists in Port Harcourt metropolis regardless of the consequences. A review of government policies and institution of strong antibiotic stewardship programs with emphasis on regulation, monitoring and control of antibiotics use is urgently mandated. Continuing education, enlightenment and attitudinal changes with respect to antibiotics use is critical to forestall antibiotic resistance and ensure rational and cost- effective medical care.

Keywords : Antibiotics, Prescription, Resistance, Consultation, Pharmacy, Education

Author : Catherine Nonyelum Stanley and Chidozie Ngozi Endarlyn Ibezim

Title : Pattern of fluoroquinolones dispensing among community pharmacists in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 1-7

Solvent extracts of rhizome of Curcuma amada and Curcuma longa were evaluated for antifungal potential against Aspergillus flavus. Amongst all the extracts, the hexane extracts of C. longa and chloroform extracts of C.amada showed promising results at higher dose of 0.8 mg/ml by Agar well diffusion technique. In Radical growth method, hexane extracts of C. longa showed 59.3 % inhibition, whereas C. amada chloroform extracts exhibited 66.7% reduction in growth at 1000microgram/ml. Significant activity of 76 percent inhibition of biomass was obtained in chloroform extract of Curcuma amada. Leaf extracts had mild activities against all the test models. Study has provided lead for the development of antifungal agent from Curcuma amada rhizome, which is mainly used for the preparation of salads and pickles.

Keywords : Curcuma amada, Curcuma longa, Aspergillus flavus, biomass, radical growth, antifungal

Author : Rashmi Das and Sunita Bhatnagar

Title : Evaluation of Curcuma longa and Curcuma amada against aflatoxin producing fungus Aspergillus flavus

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 8-12

In the preparations of Docetaxel liposomes which are coated with p-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS),which is a good targeting agent for tumor, amphiphilic vitamin E TPGS which is a quite stable under normal condition as compared to PEG coated liposomes. Docetaxel coated liposomes were prepared by solvent hydration method and they are characterized for their entrapment efficacy, zeta potential and pharmacokinetic studies. Docetaxel coated liposomes were also observe under microscope which observed very clear, small, vascular like liquid, long circulating liposomes Vitamin ETPGS Coated liposomes were used because they directly target the tumor and protect the engulfment through Endoplasmic reticulumn and prevent the binding through protein and albumin. While performing the study preformulation studies were carried out such as spectrophotometric studies, solubility and p-ka studies were obtained. Long circulating liposomes coated with PEG, increase the stability of the liposomes in the blood & protect its engulfment through EPR protein binding. In the development of vitamin ETGPS coated liposomes various chemical were used like lipoid E80,cholesterol, methanol, chloroform were used and at the end liposomes were coated with ETPGS. Docetaxel were extracted from taxoid family of anti-neoplastic drug. TPGS coated liposomes showed great advantages in vitro than PEG coated liposomes. Study confirms that solvent hydration method is suitable for the docetaxel liposomes.

Keywords : Docetaxel (DOCE), p-alpha-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), Amphiphilic, vitamin ETPGS, spectrophotometric

Author : Shaina Kujar, Akanksha Choudhary, Manjit Kaur, Prerna Upadhyay, Nitan Bharti Gupta, Neha kumari

Title : Development and evaluation of long circulating Vitamin E TPGS coated docetaxel liposomes for I.V. administration

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 13-18

Aloe vera is very much important and effective plant with so many health applications. It acts as a natural fighter against various types of Infection, an important and effective anti-oxidant, helps in treating all digestion related problems, heartburns, arthritis, stress, kidneystone, skin burns, diabetes, rheumatism, pain, asthma, cancer, AIDS, Nutraceutical, moisturizer, Immunomodulator, protection of skin from UV-A and UV-B rays and wound healing property. Generally, topical application of Aloe vera preparations has been regarded as safe. It has been known and used from centuries for its health, beauty, medicinal and skin care properties. Aloe Vera contains 75potentially active constituents such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acid and amino acids. The plant has triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges, yellow tubular flowers and fruits that contains number of seeds. The use of Aloe vera has increased very fast in the field of cosmetology and a wide variety of products contains Aloe vera in one form or other for delivering a specific activity. Various cosmetic values of aloe are reviewed in this article.

Keywords : Aloe vera; Cosmetic use; Skincare; Moisturiser; UV radiation

Author : Chitrarekha A Jadhav, Dr. Priya Rao, Dr. R.S. Jadhav

Title : Review on Cosmetic Value of Aloe vera

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 19-23

Along with extensive research on the three-dimensional (3D) printing, 3D printing of medical field is now the latest trend to come under the spotlight. Since, there is a high demand for organ transplantations 3D printing acts as a major clinical challenge in worldwide. Thousand replacements are implanted every year and in some cases patients with specific parts have been made. 3D printers has successfully recreated body parts as complex as blood vessels with low cost, high quality, prosthetic lens for the patient who couldn’t received.

Keywords : Bioprinting, Computer-Aided Design, Selective Laser Sintering, Stereo lithography, Fused Deposition Modeling ,Inkjet printing (IJP),Laminated Object Manufacturing

Author : G. Rohitha, B. Chaitanya, A.N.V. Sunitha, J.V.C. Sharma

Title : 3D Printing Technology

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 24-30

Background: The fresh juice of Cynodondactylon (Bermuda grass) has widely been used in Indian Ayurveda medicine since ancient times for curing several human diseases. The pH of blood and Bermuda grass juice is also the same i.e. 7.4. Therefore Bermuda grass juice gets quickly absorbed in the blood and is often called as Green Blood and is used therapeutically for the treatment of various problems including anemia, thalassemia, hysteria, cough, headache, diarrhea, cramps, edema, dysentery, hemorrhage, hypertension and stones urogenital disorders. Aim: To study the effect of Bermuda grass juice on blood haemoglobin level for the treatment of anemia in women. Methodology: Sixteen Anaemic women (n= 16) [Test group (8) and Control group (8)] aged between 18-25years were selected after biochemical estimation of blood haemoglobin level using Sahli’s Method. Bermuda grass juice (100 ml per day) was given for 30 days to the test group in empty stomach and no intervention as given to control group. Biochemical estimation was repeated after 1 month for haemoglobin level for both the groups using Sahli’s method. Result: After 1 month of Intervention with Bermuda grass juice there was an average 4g/dl increase in haemoglobin level of test group than the control group. Conclusion: Bermuda grass juice has significant effect on increasing blood haemoglobin level and helps to cure anemia among women and there was no significant side effects observed.

Keywords : Bermuda grass juice; Anemia; Haemoglobin; Chlorophyll

Author : Sujithra T S, Prabu P, Mangairkarasi N

Title : Therapeutic Use of Fresh juice of Cynodondactylon for the Treatment of Anemia in Young Women

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 31-33

Nanoparticles can improve cancer diagnosis, imaging and therapy at the cellular and molecular levels. Gold as a drug and medicinal agent have been used for disease treatment since long time ago. Primitive application of gold for medicinal purposes returned to Alexandria, Egypt, Over 5000 years ago. It was used for mental, bodily and spiritual purification. Gold is a transition metal which is known to possess many intriguing properties. Its lustrous attributes has lead to avalanche of applications. Soluble and stable colored gold that appeared around 4th century B.C. in Egypt and China led to its use as a pigment for coating glasses, enamel and chinaware among others. Based on the concepts and the methodologies, various chemical methods of syntheses of GNPs evolved. The most important attributes of GNPs is their size tunability, easy absorption by body fluids and passage through the body circulation without rejection. GNPs can pass through leaky capillaries and directly reach tumor surfaces. The anticancer drugs either kill cancer cells or modify their growth. However, selectivity of majority of drugs is limited and they are one of the most toxic drugs used in therapy.

Keywords : Nanoparticles, Medicinal Purposes, Anticancer drugs

Author : Sk. Azad, Sk. Nagul Meeravali, P. Chinna Babu, Konda Ravi Kumar

Title : Gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy: Overview and perspectives

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 34-40

Coronaviruses also known as Wuhan coronavirus are the type of viruses that cause ailment in mammals, birds. The current outbreak strain of coronavirus 2019-nCoV is causing respiratory infections including common cold to severe pneumonia. In the cows and pigs, that virus causes diarrhea.in the chicken they cause upper respiratory ailments. There are no vaccines or drugs approved for the coronaviruses treatment, but some drug and herbal medicine also show the positive effect against the coronaviruses 2019Nov-Coronaviruses. Coronaviruses are founded in the family Coronaviridae and subfamily Orthocoronavarinae in the order Nidovirales. The term coronavirus is derived from the Latin corona, meaning “crown” or “halo”, because the coronaviruses look like the crown. The first coronavirus was discovered in the 1960s and named Human coronavirus 229E and human corona virusOC43. Other members of these families have been identified, including SARS-Cov in 2003, HCoV NL63 in 2004, HKU1 in 2005, MERS-CoV in 2012, and 2019-nCoV in 2019 has founded recently in the Wuhan City of China. The World Health Organization announced that "COVID-19" will be the official name of the disease on 11 February 2020.

Keywords : Coronavirus, Virus, Respiratory, COVID-19

Author : Dr. Arpita Singh, Krishna Kumar, Nidhi Gupta, Archana Tomer, Nadim Siddique, Dr. Amresh Gupta

Title : Coronavirus: An Overview

Volume/Issue : 2020;8(4)

Page No : 41-45