Sciences of Pharmacy
Volume 3 Issue 4
Showing 5 Articles
RESEARCH ARTICLE
research articleOptimization of Cream Formulation with Borneo Tallow Nut, Almond Oil, and Olive Oil Using the Simplex Lattice Design Method
Maria Elvina Tresia Butar-Butar, Muh Taufiqurrahman, Adhe Septa Ryant Agus, Dwi Retno Sari, Selvina Selvina, Santa Eufrasia Carolin Tokan
Dry skin, a common dermatological issue affecting individuals across all age groups, often disrupts the skin's protective barrier, leading to discomfort and increased sensitivity. Addressing this condition involves the use of moisturizers, which play a vital role in restoring skin hydration. In this study, a cream preparation was successfully developed using vegetable oils, including Borneo Tallow Nut, Almond Oil, and Olive Oil. The cream formula was optimized using the Design-Expert software with the Simplex Lattice Design (SLD) method to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of these oils on the cream's pH, viscosity, spreadability, and adhesion. The results demonstrated that the cream exhibited excellent thermo-physical stability, with optimum values of Borneo Tallow Nut at 1.349% w/w, Almond Oil at 3.598% w/w, and Olive Oil at 4.051% w/w. The cream achieved a pH value of 5.702, viscosity of 16.851 Cp, spreadability of 8.147 cm, and adhesion of 63.682 s, with a desirability score of 0.718. This research confirms that Borneo Tallow Nut, Olive Oil, and Almond Oil have significant potential as excipients in cream formulations.
Sciences of Pharmacy
17 Dec 20248 pages- research article
Druggability of Pharmaceutical Compounds Using Lipinski Rules with Machine Learning
Samukelisiwe Nhlapho, Musawenkosi Hope Lotriet Nyathi, Brendeline Linah Ngwenya, Thabile Dube, Arnesh Telukdarie, Inderasan Munien, Andre Vermeulen, Uche A. K Chude-Okonkwo
In the field of pharmaceutical research, identifying promising pharmaceutical compounds is a critical challenge. The observance of Lipinski's Rule of Five (RO5) is a fundamental criterion, but evaluating many compounds manually requires significant resources and time. However, the integration of computational techniques in drug discovery in its early stages has significantly transformed the pharmaceutical industry, enabling further efficient screening and selection of possible drug candidates. Therefore, this study explores RO5 using algorithms of Machine Learning (ML), offering a comprehensive method to predict the druggability of pharmaceutical compounds. The study developed, evaluated, and validated the performance metrics of multiple supervised machine learning models. The best model was used to build an application that can predict and classify potential drug candidates. The findings revealed promising capabilities across all models for drug classification. Among all the explored models, Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost), and Decision Tree (DT) classifiers demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving near-perfect accuracy of 99.94%, 99.81% and 99.87% respectively. This highlights the robustness of ensemble learning methods in classifying compounds based on RO5 adherence. The comparative analysis of these models underscores the importance of considering balanced accuracy, precision, F1-score, recall, and Receiver Operating Characteristics-Area Under the Curve (ROC-AUC) score, interpretability, and computational efficiency when choosing between ML algorithms in drug discovery. The DrugCheckMaster application was subsequently developed using the most predictive model and is now available on Render (https://capstone-project-dc7w. onrender. com/).
Sciences of Pharmacy
11 Nov 202416 pages - research article
Phytoconstituents and In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Potential of n-Hexane and Aqueous Fractions of Cucurbita maxima and Leptadenia hastata
Mubarak Muhammad Dahiru, James Danga, Abdulhasib Oluwatobi Oni, Hesper Alex Zoaka, Rejoice Daniel Peter, Usanye Zira, Patience Christopher, Hauwa Yahaya Alkasim, Muhammad Zainab
The present study explored the phytoconstituents and radical scavenging activity of the respective n-hexane and aqueous fractions of Cucurbita maxima (CMHF and CMAF) and Leptadenia hastata (LHHF and LHAF) for potential application in oxidative stress-related ailments. The phytoconstituents were qualitatively determined and characterized using Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR), while the antioxidant activity was determined in vitro. Alkaloids were present in only the aqueous fractions of C. maxima and L. hastata, while saponins, steroids, and flavonoids were detected in all the fractions. The FTIR revealed the presence of functional groups, including alcohols, sulfonates, alkenes, alkanes, amines, and aromatics in both plant fractions. The LHHF (35.53 ± 2.11 ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent µg/mL) exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) higher total reducing power (TRP) than all the other fractions. The CMHF (69.11 ±2.56 AAE µg/mL) demonstrated a significantly (p < 0.05) higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than all the other fractions. For the ferric thiocyanate (FTC) assay, the highest inhibition was exhibited by LHHF (79.78 ± 3.24%), significantly (p < 0.05) higher than AA (26.46 ± 2.12%), CMHF (69.77 ± 3.16%), and CMAF (43.80 ± 2.12%). In the thiobarbituric acid assay, the lowest MDA concentration was exhibited by the CMHF (0.07 ± 0.01 nmol/mL), significantly (p < 0.05) lower than all the other fractions and ascorbic acid. Conclusively, the n-hexane fraction of both plants presents potential sources of novel antioxidant compounds with significant free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities, applicable in ailments linked to oxidative stress.
Sciences of Pharmacy
11 Nov 202410 pages - research article
Formulation and Characterization of Resveratrol-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) with Mesua ferrea Seed Oil as Liquid Lipid
Madhuchandra Lahan
Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) are colloidal drug delivery systems composed of both solid and liquid lipids. They enhance drug loading capacity, regulate the release of poorly water-soluble drugs, and are suitable for targeted delivery. Resveratrol, a polyphenol with promising anticancer properties, faces challenges due to its low water solubility, poor bioavailability, and chemical instability, resulting in rapid metabolism and excretion. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a delivery system that safeguards resveratrol during its transit through the body. This study aimed to develop and characterize resveratrol-loaded NLCs using the nano-precipitation method followed by ultrasonication, incorporating Mesua ferrea seed oil as the liquid lipid. The NLCs were evaluated for particle size, morphology (TEM), zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and in vitro drug release. The resulting NLCs demonstrated stability and homogeneity, with a particle size of 181.6 ± 12.4 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.135 ± 0.09, drug entrapment efficiency of 82.76 ± 12.2%, and drug loading capacity of 42.94 ± 7.5%. They exhibited sustained drug release, achieving 84.56% release within 24 h. These findings suggest that the developed NLCs can effectively enhance the incorporation and controlled release of poorly water-soluble drugs like resveratrol, offering potential advantages over conventional delivery systems.
Sciences of Pharmacy
11 Dec 20249 pages 
research articleDevelopment of Chitosan-Based Antimicrobial Hydrogel Incorporating Polyvinylpyrrolidone and PHMG
Ivan Ivanov, Denis Shatalov
This study focuses on the development of a chitosan-based hydrogel incorporating polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride for the rehabilitation of damaged and contaminated skin. The thermal properties of chitosan-containing films were characterized by measuring the glass transition temperature (Tg) using differential scanning calorimetry. Due to challenges in accurately determining the Tg of chitosan from experimental and literature data, an additional method, dynamic mechanical analysis, was employed. Using the literature value for the Tg of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride, the transitions of the components were determined. The estimated sorption capacity of the developed hydrogel showed that the inclusion of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride reduced the moisture content, as expected. However, the overall behavior of the hydrogels remained similar. Vapor permeability, an important factor in wound healing, was also evaluated. Antimicrobial testing revealed no activity for the chitosan control sample despite some reports in the literature, while the samples containing polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride exhibited superior antimicrobial efficacy. These findings suggest that the incorporation of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride and polyvinylpyrrolidone significantly enhances both the mechanical strength and antimicrobial potential of chitosan-based hydrogels, positioning them as promising candidates for the treatment of contaminated wounds.
Sciences of Pharmacy
27 Dec 202410 pages
Journal Key Facts
Publishing Fee (APC)
IDR 1,100,000
Open Access License
CC BY 4.0
Language
English
Overview
Sciences of Pharmacy (SciPhar) is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal of pharmacy published by ETFLIN. We offer a platform and place for researchers and intellectuals, especially the youth, to share their insights and works. SciPhar accepts original article, reviews, mini-review, book-review, technical note, case report, case series, clinical trial, opinion/perspective, conference proceeding, and pictorial essay. Author may submit or suggest another type of scientific manuscript. Sciphar publishes 4 issues a year. Sciences of Pharmacy is affiliated with Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung.
Latest Articles
Recently published research articles, review papers, and technical notes from the current volume of the journal.
- case report
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Carboplatin-Paclitaxel, Cisplatin-Pemetrexed, and Carboplatin-Gemcitabine Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at Persahabatan Central General Hospital
Venni Melinda, Yusi Anggriani, Sondang Khairani, Fitri Nurhayati
Platinum-based chemotherapy remains an important treatment option for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in settings where reimbursement and resource allocation are major considerations. A retrospective observational cost-effectiveness study was conducted using medical records and billing data from adult patients with NSCLC who received carboplatin–paclitaxel, cisplatin–pemetrexed, or carboplatin–gemcitabine in 2023. Effectiveness outcomes included the one-year survival rate (%) and median progression-free survival (PFS). Costs were calculated based on direct medical expenses over six chemotherapy cycles. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using ACER, ICER, and dominance analysis. A total of 101 patients were included: 81 received carboplatin and paclitaxel, 14 received cisplatin and pemetrexed, and 6 received carboplatin and gemcitabine. Mean direct medical costs were IDR 27, 588, 547, IDR 41, 214, 281, and IDR 47, 471, 752, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in one-year survival rate or median PFS among the regimens, although interpretation should consider the unequal sample sizes (81 vs. 14 vs. 6), which limit statistical power. Based on one-year survival, carboplatin–paclitaxel had the lowest ACER and dominated the other regimens by providing higher observed survival at lower cost. Based on median PFS, cisplatin–pemetrexed provided longer PFS than carboplatin–paclitaxel but at a higher cost, requiring ICER-based interpretation. Carboplatin–paclitaxel was associated with the lowest direct medical cost and the most favorable cost-effectiveness profile based on one-year survival among the evaluated regimens. However, conclusions should be interpreted cautiously because of the retrospective design, small and unequal group sizes, and potential confounding by baseline clinical characteristics.
Sciences of Pharmacy
12 Jul 202610 pages - research article
Characterization of Gomphrena globosa L. Flower Extract and Anti-Acne of Formulated Cream Against Cutibacterium acnes
Stefani Alya Swasa Wuryanto, Ida Ayu Manik Damayanti, Putu Indrayoni
Cutibacterium acnes is a cause of acne. Conventional treatments often lead to side effects and bacterial resistance, necessitating natural alternatives. Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L. ) shows potential as an anti-acne agent. This study employed an in vitro experimental laboratory design to evaluate the anti-acne activity of G. globosa L. flower extract formulated cream against C. acnes using the well diffusion method. Antibacterial activity was tested using KN (base cream), KP (1% clindamycin cream), F1 (10%), F2 (15%), and F3 (20%), and the data were analyzed using SPSS statistical analysis. Results indicated that the ethanolic extract of GA flowers has an IC50 of 85.483 ppm, TPC of 60.456 ± 0.589 mg GAE/g, and TFC of 34.390 ± 0.989 mg QE/g. It exhibited antibacterial activity against C. acnes, with inhibition zone diameters of 6.693 ± 0.2 mm for the 15% formula and 7.382 ± 0.22 mm for the 20% formula. The antibacterial activity is believed to be driven by the presence of secondary metabolites, particularly phenols and flavonoids identified in the extract.
Sciences of Pharmacy
4 Jul 202611 pages - research article
Comparative Effectiveness of Sunnah Fasting Variations on Fasting Blood Glucose Monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pragmatic Pilot Study
Abdur Rosyid, Satibi Satibi, Fita Rahmawati, Lutfan Lazuardi
Intermittent fasting has increasingly been incorporated into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) strategies for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The extent to which weekly fasting frequency dictates glycemic outcomes is well-noted; however, the distinct clinical benefit of increasing Sunnah fasting adherence to two days weekly remains an unresolved question in diabetes management. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Monday-only Sunnah fasting versus combined Monday and Thursday Sunnah fasting on Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This research is a pre-experimental employing a within-subject exploratory pilot comparison with a single-group pre-post design involving 50 participants selected through purposive sampling, with data analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test (p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that most participants (84%) were between 43 and 54 years of age, and the majority were female (56%). practicing Sunnah fasting twice weekly (Monday and Thursday) resulted in significantly lower average FBG (186,67 mg/dL) compared to fasting only once a week on Mondays (202.28 mg/dL), statistically significant reduction in FBG (Z= -2.660, p= 0.008; r= 0.37, Cohen’s d= 0.79). The study suggests that practicing Sunnah fasting twice weekly offers a more favorable impact on fasting blood glucose control for T2DM patients than fasting only once a week.
Sciences of Pharmacy
28 Jun 20266 pages - research article
Ancestral Heritage Toward Health Innovation: A Study of the Antibacterial Activity of Betel Leaf (Piper betle Linn.) Extract from the Betel-Chewing Tradition Against Oral Pathogenic Bacteria
Norhidayah Norhidayah, Safira Maza, Novita Anggraeni, Taufik Qurrahman, Rizki Rahmadi Pratama, Yulistia Budianti Soemarie
Traditionally, menginang (a mixture of betel leaf, areca nut, gambir, and lime) has been used as a natural antibacterial agent. This study aimed to compare the antibacterial activity of single betel leaf extract and menginang extract against four oral pathogenic bacteria in vitro. This study compared the antibacterial activity of traditional menginang extract and single betel leaf extract against multiple oral pathogenic bacteria to evaluate their potential synergistic antibacterial effects. The experimental method used a disk diffusion technique at three concentrations (12.5%, 25%, and 50%), and the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Chlorhexidine 0.2% was used as the positive control, while distilled water was used as the negative control. The 50% menginang extract showed the strongest antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging from 22.76 ± 1.38 mm to 28.22 ± 0.14 mm, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The inhibition zones produced by the 50% menginang extract were close to those of 0.2% chlorhexidine. The superiority antibacterial activity of menginang extract may be associated with synergistic interactions among alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, triterpenoids, and steroids identified during phytochemical screening. The menginang extract has high potential to be developed as an innovative natural product for oral health.
Sciences of Pharmacy
10 Jul 202612 pages - research article
GC-MS Profiling and Literature-Based Mechanistic Prediction of Lemon Essential Oil and Mango Leaf Extract as Potential Supportive Candidates for Nicotine Addiction Management
Sulistiyaningsih Sulistiyaningsih, Tri Diana Puspita Rini, Indiana Gita Anggraeni
Nicotine addiction remains a major global health problem that necessitates the development of safe and effective supportive therapies. This study aimed to characterize the metabolite profiles of lemon essential oil (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. ) and 96% ethanol extract of mango leaves (Mangifera indica L.) using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and to explore their potential mechanisms in nicotine addiction management through a literature-based mechanism mapping approach. Compounds were identified based on retention time, mass spectrum matching, and relative peak area percentages. GC-MS analysis showed that lemon essential oil was predominantly composed of D-limonene (58.72%), followed by β-pinene (13.82%) and γ-terpinene (11.43%). Meanwhile, the 96% ethanol extract of mango leaves was dominated by methyl gallate (27.61%), along with several phenolic compounds and triterpenoids, including vitamin E and lupeol. The identified metabolites suggest distinct but potentially complementary biological activities. Lemon essential oil may exert supportive effects through neuromodulatory pathways, whereas mango leaf extract may contribute through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These findings indicate that both natural products possess potential complementary roles as supportive agents in nicotine addiction management. However, further biological and clinical studies are required to validate their efficacy and safety.
Sciences of Pharmacy
30 Jun 20266 pages