Iraqi Journal of Pharmacy

Background: One of the most common chronic diseases globally is hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones serve a significant role in maintaining the proper function and shape of the salivary gland. The aim of the study: Investigate the function of Ashwagandha roots extract in providing a protection role for salivary glands in hypothyroid rats following postnatal exposure to Propylthiouracil. Materials and Methods: Ten pregnant albino rats were obtained. Until the rat pups were detected, each pregnant rat was kept individually in clean rodent plastic. At postnatal day 3 (PND3), forty male rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A, which served as a control group, and group B, which received orally (1mg/kg) Propylthiouracil (PTU) for three weeks. At PND22, group B was divided up into three subgroups: B1, the hypothyroid group that got no therapy; B2, the hypothyroid group that received an aqueous extract of Ashwagandha roots (200 mg/kg) for 21 days; and B3, the hypothyroid group that received Levothyroxine (4g/100g/day) for 21 days. At the end of the trial, the submandibular gland was assessed using sonographic instruments in all groups. Results: the sonographic assessment of hypothyroid group’s submandibular gland showed an increase in the overall size of the gland, a heterogeneous gland with a honeycomb appearance and hypoechoic regions in group remains without treatment, while the results in hypothyroid pups fed with Ashwagandha roots extract indicated a small improvement in gland size and echotexture when compared to pups who received levothyroxine, owing to its antioxidant properties.

Background: Coumarins and their derivatives excel in chemical diversity, coupled with a wide variety of biological potentials, and tend to be beneficial to the health of the human body. One of these derivatives that has sparked the attention of medicinal chemistry specialists in recent decades is benzo-fused coumarins, which have demonstrated their potential as antioxidants, antimicrobials, antidiabetics, antithrombotics, and many more. Objective: This paper discusses the medicinal importance of benzo-fused coumarins derived from natural or synthetic sources. Conclusion: The researchers documented that benzo-fused coumarin's basic structure is a promising framework that opens up the chance of discovering innovative applicants with advanced therapeutic potentials.

The use of conventional animal testing to determine how medications affect a biological system comes with many challenges. In recent years, a variety of techniques to achieve these goals were presented, one of these is cell line creation technology that has dramatically increased in usefulness and efficiency of drug discovery researches. Cell culture is the term used to describe the removal of cells from an animal or plant and their subsequent cultivation in a lab setting. The Caco-2 model is commonly used in the early stages of drug discovery to make decisions about the permeability and/or absorption of tested chemicals. It is obvious that novel 3D cell culture models offer enormous potential for disease modeling and medication efficacy and safety assessment. However, the challenges provided by the inherent traits of Caco-2 cell variants and inter-laboratory methods have led to the development of irreducible data. These restrictions have an impact on the extrapolation of preclinical research results to clinical investigations on drug-drug and herbal-drug interactions.

Background: Antibiotics with β-Lactam rings (β-Lactams), since they were discovered, have enhanced the typical treatment for bacterial infections. Though their resistance can quickly spread on a universal scale, bacterial resistance is primarily caused by the production of β-lactamases. Hence, there is a serious demand to design and create new anti-β-lactamases or inhibitors. Nowadays, the use of β-lactamase inhibitors with β-lactams reduces this resistance. Aim and Methods: This work aimed to help in silico design and dock two new series of 7-aminocephalosporinic acid derivatives (Schiff’s bases and amides) against both the TEM-1 and the IMP-1 β-lactamases. Results: The results revolve around the possible enhanced activity of eight amides and six Schiff base compounds compared with the standard inhibitors (clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and avabactam). These compounds show promising docking interactions with an active pocket site in both enzymes. We can conclude that both the halogenated and the hydrophobic substituents, alone or when containing oxygen atoms, will potentiate the affinity and the binding ability of any compounds when they are added to their structures to act as β-lactamase inhibitors.

Objectives: To study the effect of metformin on serum glucose and some liver function tests
including serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin in type 2 diabetic patients.
Design: Case-control study.
Setting: The study was carried out in Al-Waffa centre for diabetes in Mosul, during the period
from March 2004 to December 2004.
Participants: Fifty type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin were included. In addition,
two control groups were used, 50 nontreated diabetic patients and 50 apparently healthy
subjects.
Results: Serum glucose in metformin treated diabetics -was lower (P<0.05) than the nontreated
diabetics; however, ALP and ALT were higher (P<0.05) in the treated diabetics. At the same
time, AST and bilirubin did not change by metformin by using Duncan test.
Conclusion: Metformin causes increase in some liver function tests. Therefore, patients treated
with metformin should be periodically examined for the liver function tests.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune, nonscarring, multifocal disorder of hair growth characterized by circular bald areas, which occur on any hair bearing site of the body. The exact cause of alopecia areata is unknown. Recent study reported a potential role of oxygen free radicals (OFR) in pathogenesis of alopecia areata.
This clinical study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of melatonin (3 mg every other day ) in patients with alopecia areata. This study revealed that two month treatment with melatonin antioxidant led to a decrease in the basal level of malondialdehyde (MDA) an index of lipid peroxidation, an increase in basal glutathione (GSH) content a major endogenous antioxidant in both plasma and erythrocytes and an increase in plasma total antioxidant status( TAS ) .
The most important point is the clinical significance of antioxidants in improving the hair growth response of patients with alopecia areata. This may be due to direct and/or indirect effect of melatonin on immune system. The direct effect may be through its immunoenhancing / immunostimulatory properties of melatonin.The indirect effect is the scavenging activity of this antioxidant, which in turn decrease damaging effect of oxygen free radicals (OFR) and utilization of GSH in neutralizing phagocytes- induced free radicals. So replenishment of GSH within natural killer (immune) cells strengthens the immune system and increases the rate of hair growth.

Background: WHO report of 2017 estimates that the rates of substandard and falsified medical products in low- and middle-income countries is approximately 10.5% with an estimated spend of US$ 30.5 billion.
Objective: The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of different brands of metronidazole available in Jimma town, Oromia region, South West Ethiopia.
Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from May 03 – July 30, 2018. Samples were collected using convenience sampling technique. The samples were analyzed using methods specified in British Pharmacopoeia 2013 and United States Pharmacopoeia 2015.
Results: All the seven brands of Metronidazole analyzed for quality passed identity test specification of BP 2013. The three brands of Metronidazole capsules passed weight uniformity and dissolution test specification of USP 2015. The seven brands of Metronidazole passed assay (i.e. drug content) test specification of USP 2015. The highest percentage of drug content, 107.81% and 105.56%, obtained for Metronidazole (generic)(capsule) and Nirmet(injection) respectively. However, statistical comparison of assay of respective brands of the respective
dosage forms at 95% confidence interval indicates that there exists significant difference in assay within and among the brands of the respective dosage forms (p<0.05). All the four brands of Metronidazole injections passed USP 2015 limit for Endotoxin, Endotoxin limit ˂0.35Eu/ml. Two brands of Metronidazole injection, Aldezol and Metris, failed sterility test from the four brands of Metronidazole injections included in the study and hence of poor quality.

Piroxicam is a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a long half-life that permits once daily dose. It exerts a better toleration than other NSAID's with a relatively low incidence of adverse effects. In this study many trials were made to formulate piroxicam as plain tablets with properties comparable to those of capsules and in agreement with pharmacopoeial standards. Different formulas were prepared by the application of direct compression method and wet granulation method with the addition of different excipients. The wet granulation method used in the preparation of piroxicam tablets was modified to improve the properties of the produced tablets. The characteristics of the prepared formulas were tested and the results showed that formula D prepared by wet granulation method, containing PVP as binder and lactose as diluent is the most appropriate formula with a rapid disintegration time and complete dissolution as that of piroxicam capsules.
Accordingly, formula D was chosen to be a promising formula of piroxicam plain tablet that could be manufactured as a mass product.

Objective: Drug abuse and its repercussions are of the most serious problems in society nowadays. This is because of their enormous influence on the individual, the family, and its social effects like crime, social marginalization, and death from overdose or suicide, as well as on the economy.
The latest reports that are used gave a genuine assessment of the societal problem of drug abuse, and the results of these reports have also been evaluated to see if there are any negative consequences for drug abuse on families and individual and the methods that used to remedy these problems.
Drug abuse has been shown in several studies and publications to have detrimental implications for families and individual members, particularly children. These problems clearly affect a huge number of people, not just the person with the condition; they typically put a strain on the family and its members.
Conclusion: Drug abuse is a big social problem. In most climes, drug abusers will go to any way for getting the drug or substance. The social implications are a clear indication of how drug abuse can be a social problem.

Objectives: To assess the effect of glibenclamide and metformin on serum uric acid level in
patients with type ٢ diabetes.
Study design: Case control study.
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted from March ٢٠٠٩ to January ٢٠١٠.
Fasting blood sugar and serum uric acid level were measured in patients suffering from type-
٢ diabetes mellitus who were referred to Al-Wafa Diabetic Center in Mosul City. Group ١: ٣٢
patients on glibenclamide therapy, group ٢: ٤٢ patients on metformin therapy and group ٣: ٤٢
patients on combination therapy, group ٤: ٣٢ patients on restricted diet, and ٢٣ apparently
healthy volunteers, were taken as a control group.
Results: The study showed a significant increase in the serum uric acid level of the diabetic
patients as compared with the control. Glibenclamide and/or metformin showed no significant
difference in the serum uric acid level in patients with type ٢ diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: Glibenclamide and/or metformin had no significant effect on serum uric acid
level in patients with type ٢ diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Green chemistry is the field that implies instruments and procedures, by which it offers significant environmental and financial benefits above traditional synthetic methods. The modern attention in green chemistry has pretended an additional need for organic synthesis in which different reaction environments must locate, which decreases the use of toxic organic solvents or toxic chemicals.
These green methods must enhance the selectivity, shorten reaction time, and make the products isolation simpler than the ordinary routes. In the 19th century, Hugo Schiff recorded the first synthesis of Schiff bases (imines). A Schiff base is considered as an aldehyde with a C=N group (azomethine group) in steed of the C=O group, It is normally produced by condensation of primary amines with aldehydes. Schiff bases entertain many important biologically and pharmaceutical activities and they are distinguished for their pharmacological action and wide-range applications in the food industry.
This study tries to focus on the green synthetic methods used for Schiff bases synthesis, in order to find the best technique that offers higher yields in shorter time within eco-friendly environment.
Conclusions: The review considered many green synthetics techniques, from which the microwaves irradiation method is considered to be the best followed by the ultrasonic, natural acids utilizing and grinding methods.

Piroxicam is a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a long half-life that permits once daily dose. It exerts a better toleration than other NSAID's with a relatively low incidence of adverse effects. In this study many trials were made to formulate piroxicam as plain tablets with properties comparable to those of capsules and in agreement with pharmacopoeial standards. Different formulas were prepared by the application of direct compression method and wet granulation method with the addition of different excipients. The wet granulation method used in the preparation of piroxicam tablets was modified to improve the properties of the produced tablets. The characteristics of the prepared formulas were tested and the results showed that formula D prepared by wet granulation method, containing PVP as binder and lactose as diluent is the most appropriate formula with a rapid disintegration time and complete dissolution as that of piroxicam capsules.
Accordingly, formula D was chosen to be a promising formula of piroxicam plain tablet that could be manufactured as a mass product.

Background: WHO report of 2017 estimates that the rates of substandard and falsified medical products in low- and middle-income countries is approximately 10.5% with an estimated spend of US$ 30.5 billion.
Objective: The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of different brands of metronidazole available in Jimma town, Oromia region, South West Ethiopia.
Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from May 03 – July 30, 2018. Samples were collected using convenience sampling technique. The samples were analyzed using methods specified in British Pharmacopoeia 2013 and United States Pharmacopoeia 2015.
Results: All the seven brands of Metronidazole analyzed for quality passed identity test specification of BP 2013. The three brands of Metronidazole capsules passed weight uniformity and dissolution test specification of USP 2015. The seven brands of Metronidazole passed assay (i.e. drug content) test specification of USP 2015. The highest percentage of drug content, 107.81% and 105.56%, obtained for Metronidazole (generic)(capsule) and Nirmet(injection) respectively. However, statistical comparison of assay of respective brands of the respective
dosage forms at 95% confidence interval indicates that there exists significant difference in assay within and among the brands of the respective dosage forms (p<0.05). All the four brands of Metronidazole injections passed USP 2015 limit for Endotoxin, Endotoxin limit ˂0.35Eu/ml. Two brands of Metronidazole injection, Aldezol and Metris, failed sterility test from the four brands of Metronidazole injections included in the study and hence of poor quality.

Objectives: To compare between the qualitative estimation of biochemical markers
Point-of-Care testing) with the quantitative estimation of the same markers in the
diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Design: Case-series study.
Setting: This study was carried out in coronary care unit in Ibn- Sena Teaching
Hospital in Mosul city from January to November, 2008.
Participant: Sixty five patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presented with
chest pain.
Main outcome measures: Three cardiac markers (Creatine kinase (CK-MB)
activities (marker of necrosis), myoglobin (marker of muscle injury), and troponin I
(marker of necrosis), were estimated qualitatively (near the patient= Point-of-Care
testing), and quantitatively, and the results were compared. Kappa test was used for
the association between the quantitative and qualitative test results.
Results: The case-series study showed correlation of attributes between qualitative
estimation results of troponin I, myoglobin and CK-MB and quantitative estimation
results of the same parameters in (88.9%) tests.
Conclusion: The early diagnosis of ACS might be facilitated by the use of qualitative
point-of-care testing based on CK-MB, troponin I and myoglobin tests.