Raloxifene HCl is a BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification System) class-II drug with low solubility and poor bioavailability (2%). The present study was undertaken to develop a nanoparticles system using the biopolymer gellan which has not been explored well for its direct use in nanoparticulate systems. Gellan gum nanoparticles encapsulated with raloxifene HCl was prepared by emulsion cross linking method and the developed nanoparticles showed narrow particle size distribution with an average size of 472 nm, zeta potential of -40.6 mV along with 98±3% entrapment efficiency. FTIR studies demonstrated chemical interaction between the polymer and drug. In vitro release studies showed an initial burst release within 30 min followed by a continuous release for 24 hours. In vitro cytotoxicity studies performed with MCF7 cell line revealed that the raloxifene HCl-gellan gum nanoparticles exhibited higher cytotoxicity compared to free raloxifene HCl.

Inappropriate medication use in elderly population has long been an issue of healthcare quality along with over and under use of medication. Several factors like increasing age, availability of new classes of drugs, and changes in physicians prescribing habits contributed to changes in the drug use patterns among elderly. The assessment of the appropriateness of prescription in elderly is an essentially complex task and the health researchers have identified various cases of inappropriate drug use in the elderly in several countries. Different screening tools were prepared for the assessment of appropriateness of prescription and some of them are being used for assessment of appropriateness of prescription. In this perspective, the Beer’s Criteria is one of the most commonly used tools. None of the tools in its original contour is applicable to any country as there are differences in the pharmaceutical market of different countries, their prescribing patterns, diseases characteristics, physician areas and most of all, the patient’s characteristics. This review explains advantages and limitations of all available different screening tools that can significantly improve elderly pharmacotherapy. The author believes that this review will highlight the requirement of modification of tools with respect to real time practice in terms of country specific prescribing behavior to avoid inappropriate prescription.

Grapefruit juice, which is widely consumed for its positive health benefits, can have severe, sometimes fatal, interactions with drugs. The co-administration of drugs with grapefruit juice can markedly elevate drug bioavailability, and can alter pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of the drug. In some instances, the interaction may have a beneficial effect by increasing drug efficacy or diminishing potential side effects. The mechanism for this interaction is the inhibition of cytochrome P-450 3A4 in the small intestine, resulting in a significant reduction of drug pre-systemic metabolism. An additional mechanism is, presumably, the inhibition of P-glycoprotein, a transporter that carries drug from the enterocyte back to the gut lumen, resulting in a further increase in the fraction of drug absorbed. Usual grapefruit intake inhibits only gut CYP3A; not liver CYP3A. Therefore, grapefruit does not normally affect medications given intravenously. Recent review found that more than 85 drugs can be affected by grapefruit juice. One whole grapefruit or 200 mL (about seven ounces) of juice can be enough to cause a clinically important interaction. The data available so far, concerning this interaction and its clinical implications, are reviewed in this article. By reviewing this in the future it will create awareness. There by optimal drug therapy can be achieved.