Sabuj Kumar Saha, A.H.M. Nazmul Hasan, Ramisa Anjum, Shariun Nahar Rimun, Nujhat Zayma Rahman, Md. Khokon Miah Akanda, Mohiuddin Ahmed Buhiyan, SM Ashraful Islam

Prevalence of colonic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, angiodysplasia, salmonellosis, etc, are increasing daily and are reducing the quality of life of the patients. These diseases can be difficult to treat due to their ability to alter the normal environment of the colon such as the pH, microbiota, enzymes, and more. Anatomy and physiology of the colon also pose difficulty in case of targeted drug administration. Additionally, there are variations in how each colonic disease influences the colon, making it essential to design a Colon-Specific-Drug-Delivery System (CSDDS) that would ensure proper targeting and delivery of the drugs. To reduce systemic side effects and achieve desired therapeutic effects, the dosage form should be designed in such a way that allows for direct and precise targeting of drugs into the colon, while also preventing premature gastrointestinal drug release. In this review, we discuss the conventional (for example, prodrug, CODES, pulsatile drug delivery) and novel (OPTICORE, Phloral, MMX technology, 3D bicompartmental device) approaches aimed at ensuring drug release and absorption within the colon, as well as examine the factors that affect drug delivery targeted at the colon. Despite considerable progress, significant challenges and gaps remain, including the need for a deeper understanding of colonic environmental variability, the development of advanced biocompatible materials, and the implementation of personalized treatment strategies are highly required.

Sciences of Pharmacy

John Edjophe Arute, Monday Ikponmwosa Osarenmwinda, Omotejohwo Emily Okolosi-Patani

The strategy for improving patient safety in hospitals heavily relies on safety culture. The study aimed to evaluate patient safety cultures amongst pharmacy staffs of selected health facilities in Delta North, Delya State, Nigeria. Data on patient safety amongst 70 pharmacy personnel in two major secondary and 5 general health facilities across Delta North senatorial district, Delta State, were collected using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) tool. Information on communication openness, the frequency of documenting different types of mistakes, as well as the overall patient safety culture rating, was collected. Composite scores were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Measurement data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and compared using a student t-test. The results were considered significant at p<0.05. The mean scores of all the various composite item responses were calculated and grouped into positive and negative responses with a mean score of ≥4 and <4, respectively. The safety cultures of physical space and environment, staff training and skills, and communication openness had a good composite score of 4.0 – 4.1. The safety culture of procedures for communicating prescriptions across shifts was poorly rated, with composite scores of 3.8. The safety culture of patient counselling had the highest composite score of 4.3. The safety composites for documenting various shades of mistakes had a mean score of 3.5. Overall, 68.1% of the healthcare facilities were rated excellent, although there were some loopholes (documenting mistakes and poor communication across shifts) in the safety composite scores requiring areas for improvement.

Sciences of Pharmacy

Emmanuel Eimiomodebheki Odion, Daniel Akpe-Efiak Ambe, Kidochukwu Naomi Ifejika, Eravweroso Congrat Odiete, Chinyelu Clementina Osigwe

Solenostemon monostachyus (S. monostachyus) is a widely distributed and important herb in central and west Africa, traditionally used in treating various ailments, including tumors. This study aims to identify the phytoconstituents in the methanol leaf extract of S. monostachyus and evaluate the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative potentials of the methanol extract and its fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate). Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted to determine different classes of phytochemical constituents in the powdered leaf. Phytoconstituents were identified from the methanol extract by chromatographic analysis (HPLC and GC-MS). The extract and fractions of S. monostachyus were tested against Raniceps raninus tadpoles and Sorghum bicolor radicles to evaluate their cytotoxic and growth suppression potentials. HPLC analysis revealed catechin, cyanogenic glycosides, flavanone, sparteine, sapogenin, and phytate. GC-MS analysis displayed (Z)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl 9-octadecenoic acid ester, 2-dodecyl-1,3-propanediol, 1-nitro-bicyclo[6.1.0]nonan-2-one, and furazano[3,4-b]pyrazine-5,6-diamine, N, N’-di(propynyl) as the prominent compounds. A cytotoxic effect was observed at 160 µg/mL, with a recorded 56.67 ± 3.33% mortality within 0.5 h, increasing to 100.00 ± 0.00% mortality of the tadpoles within 1 h of treatment. A concentration of 16 mg/mL of S. monostachyus extract significantly (p<0.05) exerted 56.15% (0.82 ± 0.08) suppression of the emerging radicles in 24 h, which later increased to 94.55% (1.10 ± 0.07) after 96 h. This indicates that S. monostachyus leaf extract contains phytochemicals with cytotoxic and growth-suppression potentials.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Jimmy J Daka, Temwani Nyimbili, Grace Mwaba, Gladys Dowati, Albert Mwanza, Munsaka Siankuku, Derrick Banda, Zebron N Tembo, Francis Kayamba, Danny Banda, Arunachalam Kalirajan, Hyden Simwatachela

One species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family is Tithonia diversifolia A. Gray (T. diversifolia), which grows as a shrub or weed. Significant anti-infective therapeutic characteristics, such as anti-mycobacterial, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, and anthelmintic effects, have been discovered in the plant's extracts. Ethnic communities have been using the plant extract to cure wounds. They appear to prefer it above conventional treatments in many circumstances, to the point where their aqueous solution may be smuggled into medical institutions in order to augment the care provided. The purpose of this study was to compare T. diversifolia with silver sulphadiazine's capacity for wound healing. For 72 hours, a 70% ethanol alone and water alone was used to extract the plant. After the extracts dried out, the powder was measured and 10 mL of reconstituted volume was assessed at various concentrations for the purpose of treating wounds. Silver sulphadiazine was used as the positive control and distilled water as the negative control. According to the findings, the aqueous extract had a 48.0% healing rate after 14 days of treatment, ethanol had a 20.0% healing rate, and silver sulphadiazine had a 22.0% healing rate. It is possible to draw the conclusion that the aqueous extract concentration of 0.6 mg/10 mL demonstrated a higher healing percentage than silver sulphadiazine and the ethanol extract.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Putri Anugerah

This study aimed to determine the abundance, diversity, and periphyton dominance in the pond using Lapindo mud that cultivated catfish of different sizes. The method used was descriptive quantitative, describing the relationship between the pool using Lapindo mud and fish cultivation of different sizes on the growth of periphyton on the walls of the pond. In this research, there were three different treatments: treatment A (100% Lapindo mud), treatment B (75% Lapindo mud), and treatment C (50% Lapindo mud). There were also three groups of catfish sizes: 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm. The simple linear regression test showed that the age of the fish did not affect the growth of periphyton, while different concentrations of Lapindo mud influenced the growth of periphyton. In all ponds, the Cultivation Diversity Index was still relatively low. The results of periphyton diversity research in the polluted waters of Lapindo mud indicated the dominance index value and the highest abundance of Bacillariophyceae. The most common types of Bacillariophyceae were Amphora and Diatoma. The abundance of the genus indicate that they are easy to adapt to contaminated water areas.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Noorsheha Noorsheha

Medan Belawan, especially Sicanang Village, is a coastal area suitable for ponds. To replace pond water, the existing water must be drained first, so it's important to assess the land's drainage capability when selecting pond locations. This study aims to predict drainage ability by measuring the drainage depth (D) in pond channels at five observation stations. Using field surveys and both primary and secondary data, the study compares the results with criteria for aquaculture ponds. The findings show that Stations I (D = 55 cm), II (D = 46 cm), IV (D = 51 cm), and V (D = 39 cm) fall under Class 2 (D 30-60 cm), indicating they can be used for ponds since they can drain water by gravity, though not completely dry. Station III (D = 26 cm), classified as Class 3 (D < 30 cm), is unsuitable for ponds due to poor drainage and is better used as conservation land.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Agus Tri Yulianto, Ade Yamindago

Bacteria are microscopic organisms, and a small portion of them are pathogenic or harmful to living organisms. One example is bacteria that cause damage and decay in captured Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.) off the coast of Kondang Merak, Malang. Therefore, to determine the genus of bacteria found in Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.), bacterial morphology identification was conducted. Bacterial morphology identification was performed using methods involving the identification of colony and cell morphology, as well as bacterial respiration tests to enhance genus prediction accuracy. Bacterial morphology identification involved several testing stages, including Gram-staining, cell observation and measurement, motility testing, and bacterial respiration testing. The bacterial isolation samples from Tuna fish (Thunnus sp.) on TSA media consisted of 8 samples, namely 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3, 4a, 4b, and 5, which were differentiated based on bacterial colony morphology. Based on the results of colony morphology identification, cell morphology, and respiratory testing, all 8 bacterial samples were manually identified with reference to identification books. The identification results showed that several samples had similar morphological characteristics. The bacterial morphology identification results for samples 2a and 2b were identified as belonging to the genus Aeromonas; samples 4a and 4b were classified into the genus Mesophilobacter; sample 1a was categorized into the genus Carnobacterium; and samples 1b, 3, and 5 belonged to the genus Vibrio.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Agus Tri Yulianto

Bacterial Resistance is defined as the inability of antibiotics to inhibit bacterial growth systemically, mainly caused by synthetic chemical antibiotics. Therefore, research on pharmacological alternatives to synthetic antibiotics with natural antibacterial agents is needed, one of which is the crude extract of mangrove snail (T. sulcata) tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. This study conducted phytochemical screening and antibacterial potential testing of T. sulcata meat extract. T. sulcata was extracted with a polar solution of Methanol pa 1:4. Antibacterial testing against E. coli was performed at different extract concentration levels (5,000 ppm - 20,000 ppm). The results showed antibacterial activity with the formation of inhibition zones in the E. coli bacterial suspension medium. ANOVA analysis indicated that the mangrove T. sulcate extract at various concentrations influenced the growth of E. coli bacteria. Differences in treatment demonstrated an increase in extract concentration, which was directly proportional to the diameter of the inhibition zone. Observations of changes in the inhibition zone indicated that T. sulcata extract exhibited bacteriostatic properties against E. coli, characterized by a reduction in the diameter of the inhibition zone at each treatment concentration level. The formation of inhibition zones is believed to be due to the activity of active compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, and terpenoids.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Fajrian Hardiana

Based on the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) of Surabaya for the period 2010-2030, Mulyorejo Subdistrict is designated as a mangrove preservation area that integrates ponds and marshes ecosystems. However, the limited available land and diverse societal conditions have led to economic development focused on natural resources, such as shrimp ponds. In order to ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries and marine utilization, this research aims to analyze the land suitability of L. vannamei ponds in the Mulyorejo Subdistrict using a Geographic Information System (GIS), considering water quality, land use, and geophysics. The methodology employed a land suitability matrix based on scoring and weighting data for each parameter, processed using ArcGIS 10.2 software. Spatial analysis was conducted by overlaying the spatial data of all parameters. Attribute analysis involved summing the scores of all parameters and classifying them into three categories: good (score 81-100), medium (score 63-80), and bad (score 45-62). The obtained data included pH levels ranging from 6.78 to 8.86, salinity levels of 0-25 ppt, nitrate levels of 0.05-0.26 ppt, phosphate levels of 0.04-1.71, soil C/N ratio ranging from 1 to 16, soil types identified as typic epiaquepts and typic endoaquepts, temperature at 28.8°C, evaporation rate of 2.84-4.50 mm/day, annual rainfall of 1,776-2,201 mm, and land use categories comprising settlements, ponds, mangrove forests, and vacant land. Based on the research findings, the land suitability for white shrimp ponds in Mulyorejo Subdistrict covers an area of 425.18 hectares, with the largest portion located in Kalisari Village.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Amelia Soyata, Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa, Sabda Wahab

Larvae are the initial carriers of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and culex, making them significant in disease transmission. Excessive chemical larvicides pose serious risks to human health, thus driving the development of biological alternatives like red betel leaf extract. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of red betel leaf extract in larval control. Using 300 larvae, concentrations of 5%, 6%, and 7% were tested with three replicates over 24 h. The bioassay involved placing the larvae into a plastic container filled with the extract. It was found that ethanol extract from Piper ornatum leaves contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. After 24 h, results revealed 83% mortality at 5%, 98% at 6%, and 100% at 7% of extract concentration. Consequently, the 7% concentration showed the fastest efficacy in killing mosquito larvae (100% in 50 min). The LC50 value, representing the concentration at which 50% of larvae are killed, was determined to be 0.04%. Additionally, the LT50 value, indicating the time required to kill 50% of larvae (based on the LC50 value), was found to be 3.34 hours. In conclusion, red betel leaf extract demonstrated promising larvicidal activity against mosquito larvae. Future research is anticipated to prove its safety via in vitro and in vivo test.

Sciences of Pharmacy