AMM 2017, Volume 63, Number 2 | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Short Period Storage Impact on Bioactive Constituents from Bilberries and Blueberries

Ruxandra Emilia Ştefănescu¹, Sigrid Eșianu², Eszter Laczkó-Zöld², Anca Mare³, Bianca Tudor³, Maria Titica Dogaru⁴

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy
3 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology
4 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2017-0010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess storage effects on anthocyanin and total polyphenol content in different bilberry and blueberry extracts and to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of these extracts.
Materials and methods: Total phenolic content, total monomeric anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity were determined in the first month and after three months storage of berries at either -20 °C or -50 °C. Two different solvents were used (methanol and 50% ethanol). Antibacterial activity was determined for the 3 months stored fruits using a microdilution method and was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration.
Results: There were significant differences between the concentration in the first month and after three months storage in both types of fruit extracts. Regarding the extracting solvent, we noticed that total phenols were better extracted with 50% ethanol, while the total monomeric anthocyanin content was higher in the methanolic extracts. No significant or slightly significant differences were observed between the fruits stored at -20 °C or -50 °C. Ethanolic extracts showed the highest scavenging activity. Good antibacterial activity was observed on gram-positive bacteria.
Conclusions: Storage conditions are an important factor that can influence chemical composition of fruits. Although freezing is a good option for preservation, our study showed a high decrease in the concentration of total phenols and anthocyanins after only three months. The fruits have shown a high antioxidant activity and a good antibacterial effect. Further studies are needed for better understanding the changes that can appear during the storage.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Matrix Type Transdermal Therapeutic Systems

Paula Antonoaea¹, Nicoleta Todoran¹, Emőke Rédai¹, Adriana Ciurba¹, Cătălina Bogdan², Mirela Moldovan², Daniela Lucia Muntean³

1 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
2 Department of Dermatopharmacy and Cosmetics, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Analytical Chemistry and Drug Analysis, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2017-0011

Objective: Transdermal therapeutic systems (TTSs) represent an intensely studied alternative to oral delivery of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of rheumatic diseases due to its ability of avoiding the side effects of the oral route. This study aims to present the evaluation of the mechanical properties of three NSAIDs (meloxicam, tenoxicam and indomethacin) individually included in four type of polymeric matrixes, as part of new formulations development process.
Methods: 12 products in form of TTS matrixes were prepared by solvent casting evaporation technique, using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC 15000, HPMC E5) and/or ethylcellulose as matrix-forming polymers. Each of the resulted products was evaluated by determining the water vapor absorption, desorption or transmission in controlled atmosphere humidity (evaluation of porosity); the elongation capacity, tensile strength and bioadhesiveness (evaluation of mechanical properties).
Results: The analysis of three groups of the experimental data expressed as averages on each group was necessary, in order to identify the parameters which statistically are critically influenced by the ingredients associated in the TTSs matrix compositions. Analysis by normality tests, variance and correlation tests (Anova, Pearson) enabled evaluation of the effect of NSAID type vs. the effect of polymer matrix type on the parameters of the NSAID TTS matrix.
Conclusions: Meloxicam incorporated in the structure of HPMC 15000 polymeric matrix favors its viscoelastic structure. Ethylcellulose functions as plasticizer and supports the matrix bioadhesiveness. HPMC E5 does not meet the requirements for TTS preparation in the used experimental conditions.