Journal of Pharmacy (JOP)
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Team Experiential Learning Through Community Services Delivery at Private Drug Rehabilitation Centres by University Students: Focus Group Discussion
Get PDFIntroduction: Substance abuse problem necessitates comprehensive community responsibility including university students to assist with the recovery of the marginalised population. This study aimed to investigate perception and experiences addressing team experiential learning as well as barriers to learning perceived by university students who provided community services at private drug rehabilitation centres.
Materials and methods: Six focus group discussions were conducted with graduated and undergraduate pharmacy students who provided community services in private drug rehabilitation centres. A guide was used to explore students’ experiences, challenges encountered, and perceived learnings. Data were extracted from interview transcripts, sorted, and coded using Atlas.ti® version 9 and subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: The themes identified according to the scope of learning experience were (1) contribution of knowledge, (2) positive interaction, (3) application of interprofessional learning, and (4) appreciation of team experiential practice. Themes emerged under the scope of gaps and barriers were (1) initial negative perception, (2) communication barriers, (3) technical problems and (4) difficulties in coping with behaviours. For perceived learnings, themes identified were (1) enhanced confidence and skills, (2) contact with reality, and (3) increased empathy.
Conclusion: Team experiential learning in community service for marginalised population provided students with opportunities to directly contribute to the community and improved their learning
Characterisation of Maclura cochinchinensis (Lour.) Corner Trunk Heartwood Extract and its Toxicity Evaluation
Get PDFIntroduction: Maclura cochinchinensis is widely used as a natural dye for clothing in Indonesia. Besides, there are some researches about its activities as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information regarding the standard characteristics and safety of use of its heartwood extract. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize M. cochinchinensis heartwood extract and to evaluate its toxicity.
Method: To obtain the extract, coarse powder of M. cochinchinensis heartwood was macerated using 70% ethanol and evaporated by vacuum rotavapor. Subsequently, phytochemical screening and thin-layer chromatography profiling were carried out, while the toxicity evaluation was conducted using brine shrimp lethality test.
Results: The phytochemical screening showed that this extract contained flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, coumarins, and essential oils. The extract exhibited a dark brown colour, distinct odour, flavourlessness, the value of water-soluble content, ethanol-soluble extract content, loss on drying, moisture content, moisture content, total ash content, acid-insoluble ash content, and water-soluble ash content of 31.44%±1.31, 50.44%±8.48, 9.51%±0.32, 1.62%±0.48, 4.93%±0.27, 1.10%±0.11, 3.81%±0.19, respectively. The residual solvent and heavy metal contamination were undetectable. Microbial contamination was minimal and dominated by a semipolar compound, and brine shrimp assay indicated low toxicity with an LC50 value of 174.40 mg/L.
Conclusion: M. cochinchinensis heartwood extract has good quality and tends to be safe for the environment. This research obtained data that could be used as a supporting evidence for more specific utilization of M. cochinchinensis heartwood and its isolated compounds
Cigarette Smoking & Electronic Cigarette Use among Malaysian Adolescents: Urgent Call for Action
Get PDFAdolescence is an important developmental period1,2 characterized by engagement in risky behaviours, including the use of tobacco products such as cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes (e-cigs)3. The use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes and e-cigs is indeed of interest to the public health community and the nation at large. E-cigs are defined as devices that deliver aerosolized or vaporised nicotine form heating of liquids (e-juice) with constituents including nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, and other flavouring agents. It has been reported that 90% of smokers start smoking before the age of 18 years4. The Tobacco & E-Cigarette Survey among Malaysian Adolescents (TECMA) 2016, a nationwide school-based survey, found 11.7% current cigarette smokers among students between 10 to 19 years old. 78.7% of ever cigarette smokers tried their first cigarette before the age of 14. In addition, 9.1% of the students were current e-cigarettes users, with 40.9% vaping once a day and 33.9% doing it 2 to 5 times per day. Alarmingly, data from the 2022 Adolescent Health Survey found a sharp increase in adolescent vaping prevalence among adolescents aged 13-17 years old, reaching a high of 14.9% in 2022.6E-cigs are heavily promoted directly to users include advertising and promotion at combustible cigarette point-of-sale (e.g., behind cashier’s counter). E-cigs are also promoted via physical and online shops, internet, social media, events, etc. According to TECMA, 10.6% of school-going adolescents aged 10-19 years were offered a free trial session of e-cigarette/vape while 7.9% were offered a free e-cigarette/ vape liquid (e-liquid)5. With proliferation of e-cig promotions via the social media, internet, and vape shops (some under the guise of selling electronic products, handphones, etc.,), using celebrities and others, the number of dual users and vapers among non-smokers, especially adolescents in Malaysia can be even higher now. In early adolescence, development of executive function and neurocognitive processes in the brain has not fully matured. Adolescence is a sensitive period for maturation of brain circuits that regulate cognition and emotion, with resulting vulnerability to the effects of nicotine and tobacco. The rapidly changing, immature adolescent brain has differing sensitivity to drugs such as nicotine and tobacco, and drug exposure during this time can lead to long-term changes in neural circuitry and behaviour6. The American Academy of Pediatrics produced a policy statement showing evidence regarding the effects of nicotine on the developing brain. Nicotine has neurotoxic effects on the developing brain, an effect on the brain as a “gateway” drug for cocaine and other illicit drugs. The gateway theory postulates that smoking, especially among adolescence, increases the risk of substance use due to effects of nicotine, shown to be a neuroteratogen that exerts long-term, maturational effects at critical stages of brain development7
Infection Prevention and Control Knowledge among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Malaysia
Get PDFIntroduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a crucial component of the healthcare system that demands adherence to standards to avoid and reduce the risk of infectious diseases spreading among patients, staff members, and visitors to healthcare institutions. The aim of this study was to assess IPC knowledge among undergraduate health sciences students and to identify the critical IPC components that need to be addressed. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 235 final-year health science students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), involving five faculties: the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health Science. A 45-item questionnaire was used to collect participants’ sociodemographics (5 items) and explore their knowledge about IPC across six aspects (40 items). A score of > 24 (62%) indicates satisfactory knowledge. Results: The majority of the participants were female (74.9%), and 34% were from the Faculty of Pharmacy. Medicine students had the highest level of IPC knowledge with a mean score of 29.3 (n = 52), which was significantly different from Allied Health Science students (M = 25.6, n =55, p < 0.001). Other faculties students had similar IPC knowledge with no significant differences (Pharmacy: M = 27.5, n = 80; Nursing: M = 27.4, n = 29; Dentistry: M = 27.2, n = 19). IPC components that need to be improved are knowledge about sharp disposals and sharp injuries, as well as respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. Conclusion: IPC knowledge was adequate among health science students at IIUM, although certain IPC components still require improvement. Additional IPC educational materials and workshops should be added to all faculties' syllabi to address this issue
Variation of bromine concentration as an essential trace element in human milk over lactation stages
Get PDFIntroduction: Bromine has been newly discovered in human milk but its importance in the growth and development of infants is unclear. Only a few studies have reported the concentration of bromine in human milk and considered it as an essential element, whereas others highlighted its toxicity of bromism in humans. This study aimed to determine the concentration of bromine as an essential trace element in human milk using a validated acid digestion method and discuss its variation over lactation stages.
Method: Human milk samples were collected from three postpartum mothers and analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration of bromine was determined over a certain postpartum period, analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016, and reported descriptively.
Results: Method validation parameters for bromine showed good linearity (R² > 0.999), limit of detection (0.003 µg/L), limit of quantification (0.01 µg/L), accuracy (96%), inter-day (3.76%RSD) and intra-day (3.35%RSD) repeatability. The median concentration of bromine in human milk decreased over six months of lactation, in µg/L: 1210, 674, 722, 671, 511 and 538. At later lactation months which were 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 21st, the median bromine concentration was in µg/L: 780, 815, 645, 846, 910, respectively.
Conclusion: The acid digestion method by ICP-MS was robust and accurate in determining bromine concentration in human milk. The consistent variation of bromine in human milk over lactation stages may indicate its importance in supporting infant development in the first two years of age. Future research should explore the role of bromine in infants’ development, its chronobiological importance, and the risk of deficiency or toxicity
Evaluation of Okra Pectin from Different Genotypes as Effective Suspending Agents in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Get PDFIntroduction: Natural suspending agents are increasingly being investigated because of their relative non-toxicity, lesser cost, availability and biocompatibility compared to the currently utilised synthetic and semi-synthetic suspending agents. Pectin, a biopolymer found naturally in plants is gaining increased application in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry following its successful functional application as gelling agents, emulsifying agents and fat substitutes in the food industry. This study aimed at evaluating the suspending properties of pectin obtained from five okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) genotypes; PL1 (Penkrumah), PL2 (Agbagoma), PL3 (Asha), PL4 (Sengavi) and PL5 (Balabi).
Materials and methods: The pectin was extracted using standard protocols and characterised by investigating properties such as degree of esterification. A 5% w/v paracetamol suspension was formulated utilising okra pectin as a suspending agent at concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2%w/v and compared to Tragacanth gum suspensions at the same concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 2%w/v).
Results: All the extracted pectins had low degrees of esterification (?50 %). The pH, redispersibility, apparent viscosity, sedimentation rate and sedimentation volume of the formulated suspensions were investigated over a 4-week period. The suspensions were stable as evidenced by no significant (p?0.05) fluctuations in pH during the period of study. Compared to when tragacanth was used as a suspending agent, the sedimentation rates, the flow rates of suspensions and redispersibility of the paracetamol suspensions utilising okra pectin were lower while the sedimentation volumes were higher at all the concentrations utilized and met standard requirements.
Conclusion: The evidence suggests that all five okra genotypes exhibit better suspending properties when compared to tragacanth gum and thus may be used as an alternative suspending agent
The Investigation of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Properties of Champereia Manillana(Blume) Merr Stem Bark
Get PDFChampereia manillana (Blume) Merr. is one of the plant species that lacks research despite many beneficial claims from consumers. Studies conducted on this species have merely discussed bioactive phytochemicals in the leaves and roots. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to screen for terpenoids, triterpenoids, diterpenoids, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, and steroids, and to evaluate the antioxidant activities of C. manillana stem bark methanolic extract. The plant material was collected from the Forest of ‘Ilm, IIUM. The stem bark powder was macerated in methanol. Phytochemical screening tests were utilized to determine the presence of the phytochemicals. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis was carried out on the samples using iodine vapor, ferric chloride solution, vanillin solution, and UV light. Next, the total phenolic and flavonoid content tests were conducted to obtain quantitative results, and the antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay. C. manillana stem bark extract tested positive for steroid and terpenoid contents and negative for carotenoids and flavonoids. For the TLC, the extract was found positive for iodine vapor, UV light, and vanillin/H2SO4 and negative for the ferric chloride test. The flavonoid content was 0.995 mg CE/g, while the phenolic content was 12.326 mg GAE/g. For the DPPH assay, the IC50 value was high (26 mg/mL) compared to the positive control, ascorbic acid, which had an IC50 value of 6.730 µg/mL. The percentage inhibition at 10 mg/mL was 23.4%. Phytochemical screening indicates the presence of steroids and terpenoids in C. manillana stem bark methanolic extract. Compared to the standard (ascorbic acid), the antioxidant activity of the extract is very weak
Antibacterial Potential of Ximenia americana L. Olacaceae: Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and ADMET Prediction
Get PDFIntroduction: The devastating effect of persistent and recurrent bacterial infections coupled with antibiotic resistance is a driving force for prospects into alternative antibacterial therapeutics to achieve treatment. This study investigates the antibacterial potential of Ximenia americana (XA) via molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and ADMET approach.
Materials and methods: The ligands and target were downloaded from respective databases and docked using PyRx software followed by molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) with iMOD and CABflex 2.0 online servers then ADMET, drug likeness, lead likeness, and medicinal chemistry predictions of the top docked ligands using pkCSM and SwissADME online servers.
Results: Stigmasterol exhibited the lowest binding affinity and inhibition constant respectively with all the targets; enoyl-acyl-carrier-protein reductase (-7.1 kcal/mol and 6.16 µM), Penicillin-binding Protein 2X (-8.8 kcal/mol and 0.35 µM), dihydrofolate reductase (-9.6 kcal/mol and 0.09 µM), dihydropteroate Synthase (-7.8 kcal/mol and 1.89 µM), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (-7.1 kcal/mol and 6.16 µM), and topoisomerase IV (-7.8 kcal/mol and 1.89 µM). The MDS showed several cluster displacements and residue fluctuations with the docked targets with higher residue fluctuations observed for enoyl-acyl-carrier-protein reductase (11.33 ?), Penicillin-binding Protein 2X (4.67 ?), dihydrofolate reductase (3.61 ?), dihydropteroate Synthase (4.97 ?), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (3.38 ?), and topoisomerase IV (4.35 ?). 4,4-Dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol exhibited superior overall ADMET properties, oral bioavailability, drug-likeness, and medicinal chemistry.
Conclusion: Conclusively, Stigmasterol and 4,4-Dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol might be responsible for the antibacterial effect of XA. Although the latter showed better interaction with the target proteins, the former showed better ADMET properties, oral bioavailability, drug-likeness, and medicinal properties. However, improvement in these properties might enhance their antibacterial activity
A Comprehensive Review of the Use of Plant-Derived Antioxidants in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Liver Toxicity
Get PDFABSTRACT
With its rising incidence, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health problem. Hepatic lipid buildup, inflammation, and oxidative stress are the results of complex interactions between metabolic, genetic, and environmental variables in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The potential significance of antioxidants generated from phytochemicals in alleviating non-alcoholic liver damage has garnered substantial interest among the many treatment methods. The goal of this thorough review is to summarize and assess the body of research on the application of antioxidants derived from phytochemicals in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A comprehensive examination of peer-reviewed research from many databases demonstrates a wide variety of phytochemicals with antioxidant characteristics and their possible effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatic lipid metabolism. Prominent phytochemicals such as curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, silymarin, and green tea catechins are among those whose antioxidative processes are included in the review. Preclinical and clinical research on these substances have revealed encouraging results, suggesting that they may be able to lessen inflammation and hepatic steatosis while also enhancing liver function. We investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying their protective benefits, including reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modification of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The study also discusses the shortcomings and difficulties in the existing research, highlighting the necessity of more clinical trials, standardized dosing schedules, and research into the possible synergistic effects of mixing several phytochemicals. To present a fair picture of the therapeutic application of phytochemical antioxidants, safety issues and possible negative effects are also included. This review emphasizes the potential use of phytochemical-derived antioxidants in the treatment of non-alcoholic hepatic damage. Including these organic substances in all-encompassing lifestyle interventions might be a good way to both prevent and cure NAFLD.
Keywords: Phytochemicals, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Anti-oxidants, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Toxicity