Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae) is a small, branched, annual herb found in Europe, Asia, and Africa and in many parts of the world including Middle East and South Asia. Its aerial parts are used to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disorders like diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, indigestion and asthma. Phytochemical investigation of its aerial parts led to the isolation of three new chemical compounds characterized as n-propyl-3,4-dioxymethylene benzene, 5ß, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10ß-hexahydrocoumarin and 2,6- dimethyl dodecan-10-oyl-12,15-olide along with n-tetradecanyl n-octadec-9-enoate, propanyl triol- 3, 2- n-dioctadecanoyl-1-n-octadeca-9',12'-dienoate, and n-tetradecanyl n-octadec-9,12-dienoate. The structures of these phytoconstituents have been established on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical reactions.

Secoiridoid glycosides are a group of phytoconstituents present in Gentianaceae family and are known for their antidiabetic and hypolipedimic activities. Swertiamarin is the major physiologically active secoiridoid glycoside reported in Enicostemma littorale Blume (Gentianaceae). This study is designed for development and validation of an HPLC-UV method for estimation of swertiamarin. The developed HPLC-UV method was found accurate and reproducible for the detection and quantification of swertiamarin. A well-resolved peak of swertiamarin appeared at Rt 3.51±0.07 min with methanol-water (80:20) as mobile phase. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration curve showed good linearity in the concentration range of 100-1000 µg/ml with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9994. The linear regression equation was y=6310.5x+869205. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were found to be about ?19 and ?58 µg/ml, respectively. The method was found to be accurate (98.09-100.70 % recovery), precise (< 2 % R.S. 1.5 % R.S.D.). The proposed method was employed for the estimation of swertiamarin in E. littorale. Statistical analysis proved that the method was precise, selective and accurate for the estimation of swertiamarin.

Dried blood spots (DBS) refers to a blood sampling technique where small volumes of blood are spotted on filter paper, dried and analyzed. The DBS sampling technique was first developed to screen newborn babies for the genetic metabolic disorder phenylketonuria. Recently, this technique has been applied to pharmacokinetic, therapeutic drug monitoring and toxico-kinetic studies to reduce expenses during drug development. The DBS sampling technique has several advantages over conventional blood or plasma sampling in that it is less invasive, relatively painless, less blood volumes, utilizes simple storage methods depending on analyte stability, minimizes shipping expenses, offers convenient sampling and the reduces risk of blood borne pathogens. DBS reported for biological molecule measurement and detection of various drugs like Acetaminophen, Fluconazole, Metformin and Valsartan. This method of blood collection is particularly suited for developing countries where cost cutting is important. DBS method requires a hole-punch from a core sample, extraction with a solvent and subsequent liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), Laser absorption electrospray ionization (LAESI)-MS or immunoassay analysis. Disadvantages include requirements for assay development and validation as well as the relatively small volumes of sample. Present work describes the analytical concepts of DBS techniques along with DBS sample collection, processing and storage

Aseptic filling is an aseptic process that requires the close coordination and complex interaction between personnel, sterilized product, the fill/finish equipment system, clean room and support facilities and sterilized filling components. Aseptic manufacturing means drug substance and excipients were sterilized appropriately and all materials, equipment and container closure systems were used only after sterilization. Regulatory GMP for the aseptic manufacture of human and veterinary products mandate that an incidence involving product sterility failure or media fill contamination is fully investigated and also manufacturer establishes an environmental monitoring program that is properly validated to ensure that environmental contaminates are detected. The stability of the aseptic filled drugs will be affected by steam (autoclave), dry heat (depyrogenation tunnel) and rubber stopper. Hence there is a need to utilize an aseptic process to fill certain biological, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology drugs.

The objectives of this study were identification and characterization of pectinase producing fungi for pectinase production using economical sources. Production of pectinases was carried out under solid state fermentation (SSF) of the cheaper substrates like fruit peel of orange, banana and pineapple. Three fungal species such as Aspergillus niger, Pencillium chrysogenum and Fusarium graminearum were selected for the SSF. The pectinases activity was measured by using enzymes assays such as Pectin Methyl Esterase (PME), Poly Methyl Galactouronase (PMG) and Pectin lyase (PL).The maximum pectinases production was produced by Aspergillus niger followed by F. Graminearum and P. Chrysogenum. Among the three enzymes assayed, PME was found to be higher than PMG and PL in all treatments. Thus the present study showed that the fungal strains Aspergillus niger is highly potential and useful for the production of pectinase.