Ethanolic extract of Carica papayaL. root bark powder (Family: Caricaceae) was evaluated for its antihypertensive activity in renal artery occluded hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats (180-200g) were pretreated with ethanolic extract of Carica papayaL. root barkfor 6 weeks. Hypertension was induced in animals by clamping the renal artery with renal bulldog clamp for 4 h. Ischemia of the kidneys causes elevation of blood pressure by activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Elevated blood pressure of the animals was significantly (P<0.001) decreased by the ethanolic extract of CaricapapayaL. Root bark at the dose levels of 25 , 50 and 100mg/kg, i.v .Also Captopril, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) at the dose of 1 mg/kg,i.v. resulted significant (P<0.001) reduction in the elevated blood pressure, in different time intervals. Among all the doses of extract, 100mg/kg was comparable and equipotent as that of the Captopril. The antihypertensive activity of ethanolic extract of Carica papayaL. root bark may be due to the action on rennin – angiotensin system.

Pharmacokinetics of gatifloxacin (Gatiquin® – Cipla Ltd. Ahmedabad., India) in six cross bred cow calves following intravenous (IV) administration (4 mg/kg body weight). Estimation of gatifloxacin in plasma samples was analyzed by microbiological assay technique by using E. coli as test organism. Kinetic parameters of gatifloxacin were calculated by using two-compartment open model. Therapeutic concentration of gatifloxacin (0.2 µg/ml) was maintained up to 16 h and the drug was detectable up to 24 h. Distribution half life (t1/2 α), elimination half life (t1/2 β), mean residential time (MRT), Volume of distribution during area under curve (Vdarea) and total body clearance (ClB) of 0.125 ± 0.01 h, 13.17 ± 0.16 h, 18.54 ± 0.26 h, 1.81 ± 0.02 L/kg and 0.076 ± 0.01 L/kg/h, respectively were obtained for gatifloxacin. For maintaining therapeutic concentration of 0.2 µg/mL, a loading dose (D*) of around 0.8 mg/kg and maintenance dose (D0) of 0.4 mg/kg may be used at the dosage interval (τ) of 16 h for treating systemic infections.

The aim of the present study was to develop “Pharmacokinetic boosting model of Zidovudine for HIV treatment”.Zidovudine was combined with Ketoconazole as once daily sustained release matrix tablets for pharmacokinetic boosting of Zidovudine, Ketoconazole inhibits CYP 3A4 enzyme responsible for metabolising Zidovudine hence boosts its plasma concentration , facilitate treatment of fungal infection which are prevalent during AIDS. Further this formulation increase therapeutic efficacy, reduce frequency of administration and improve patient compliance. The sustained release tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. By using different drug: polymer ratios, formulations F1 to F8 were prepared. Hydrophilic polymers like hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC K4M), ethyl cellulose, PVPK-30 were used. Compatibility of the drug with various excipients was studied. The compressed tablets were evaluated and showed compliance with pharmacopoeial standards. Formulation containing 30% polymer mixture of HPMCK4M and Ethyl cellulose in ratio 1:1, with hardness 7.11±0.324 kg/cm2 showed the desired release profile which matched the theoretical release profile. In- vitro drug release characteristics were studied for a period of 12 hr using USP Type 2 dissolution apparatus. In Vivo studies of formulation F7 were performed on Rabbit.Plasma samples were analysed using HPLC. It was found that on administering single tablet of 300 mg AUC at tp was found to be 237795 as in HPLC chromatogram and on administering F7 formulation containing Zidovudine and Ketoconazole in ratio 3:2, AUC at tp was found to be 329095 . This shows significant pharmacokinetic boosting.