Theophylline 120mg / Ephedrine hydrochloride 11mg tablets

Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra), known as “MaHuang” in China, is the dried straw stem that is associated with the lung and urinary bladder meridians. At present, more than 60 species of Ephedra plants have been identified, which contain more than 100 compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, sugars, and organic phenolic acids. This herb has long been used to treat asthma, liver disease, skin disease, and other diseases, and has shown unique efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Because alkaloids are the main components causing toxicity, the safety of Ephedra must be considered. However, the nonalkaloid components of Ephedra can be effectively used to replace ephedrine extracts to treat some diseases, and reasonable use can ensure the safety of Ephedra. We reviewed the phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and alkaloid toxicity of Ephedra, and describe prospects for its future development to facilitate the development of Ephedra.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Captagon is a synthetic stimulant combining amphetamine and theophylline. Initially introduced in 1961 as a treatment for hyperactivity, depression, and narcolepsy, Captagon was later classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance due to its addictive and hallucinogenic properties. Despite its global prohibition in 1986, the trade of counterfeit products is widespread, especially in south-east Europe and far-east Asia, with its production being on the rise in Middle Eastern regions. This paper presents a quantitative data-driven bibliometric analysis of the existing literature on Captagon up to July 2024. It aims to delineate the structure and development of knowledge surrounding the substance, including key contributing countries, authors, prominent sources, and recurring thematic keywords. The quantitative and data-driven results were then used to guide the narrative discussion on Captagon. Findings indicate that current research predominantly focuses on Captagon's use and impact in conflict zones, often exploring its interaction with other substances used by civilians and militias. Results also show a growing trend in Captagon research, with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq emerging as main contributors to the literature. Despite the attention in specific regions, a considerable gap remains in understanding the mechanisms of action of Captagon (particularly regarding its metabolism, toxicology, mortality risk), and in developing protocols for its discontinuation. Additionally, the drug's inconsistent composition requires further analyses to better predict risks and establish effective management strategies. Addressing these gaps will be crucial for the development of novel interventions and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of Captagon and improve public health systems worldwide.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Athletes need to consume a significant amount of energy during prolonged training and in high-intensity competition. It is necessary for them to take nutritional foods that recharge their bodies. However, in sporting events of recent years, both domestic and international, many positive drug tests are found to be caused by the ingestion of foods that contain performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). As a result, the prevention and control of PEDs in food supply have drawn increasing attention. For better prevention and control, the first step is to understand the food contaminants -- PEDs. This study has categorized PEDs through their presence in animal-derived foods, plant-derived foods, and synthetic nutritional supplements in competitive sports. It investigates the potential risks of foodborne doping using techniques such as external addition and endogenous component analysis. This research explored the causes of PEDs in food and their negative effects on athletes and proposed measures to ensure the safety of nutritional substances in competitive sports. PEDs in animal-derived foods include β-adrenergic agonists, anabolic steroids, and glucocorticoids, which can be found in meat and ox penis, amongst other food sources. In contrast, PEDs in plant-derived foods include alkaloids, higenamine, and zeranol, which can be found in coffee, tea, Sichuan pepper, custard apple, and cereal. Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that are often added to synthetic supplements include creatine, traditional Chinese herbs, 1, 3-dimethylbutylamine (DMAA), sibutramine, ephedrine, and methylhexanamine. Targeted anti-doping training should be provided to athletes. In addition, the latest domestic and international standards and regulations regarding PEDs or prohibited and restricted ingredients in foods should be tracked in real-time. The control list for performance-enhancing drugs in food should be continually updated and refined. Research on detection methods for performance-enhancing drugs in food should also be advanced. Moreover, market surveillance and law enforcement should be strengthened to ensure that sports foods meet national safety standards before they enter the market. This paper provides workable solutions to clarify the types and scope of performance-enhancing drugs in food, aiming to improve the prevention and control of PEDs in animal-derived foods, plant-derived foods, and supplements in major sporting events.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

A cost-effective, selective, sensitive, and operational TLC-densitometric approach has been adapted for the concurrent assay of Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (HYX), Ephedrine Hydrochloride (EPH), and Theophylline (THP) in their pure powder and pharmaceutical forms. In the innovative TLC-densitometric approach, HYX, EPH, and THP were efficaciously separated and quantified on a 60F254 silica gel stationary phase with chloroform–ammonium acetate buffer (9.5:0.5, v/v) adjusted to pH 6.5 using ammonia solution as a mobile liquid system and UV detection at 220 nm. The novel TLC method validation has been performed in line with the international conference for harmonization (ICH) standards and has been effectively used for the estimation of the researched medicines in their pharmaceutical formulations without intervention from excipients. Additionally, parameters affecting the chromatographic analysis have been investigated. The new TLC approach’s functionality and greenness were appraised using three modern and automated tools, namely the Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI), the Analytical Greenness metric (AGREE), and the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) tools. In short, the greenness characteristics were not achieved as a result of using mandatory, non-ecofriendly solvents such as ammonia and chloroform. On the contrary, the applicability and usefulness of the novel TLC approach were attained via concurrent estimation for the three drugs using simple and straightforward procedures. Moreover, the novel TLC method outperforms previously published HPLC ones in terms of the short run time per sample and moderate pH value for the liquid system. According to the conclusions of comparisons with previously recorded TLC methods, our novel HPTLC method has the highest AGREE score, so it is the greenest HPTLC strategy. Moreover, its functionality and applicability are very appropriate because of the simultaneous assessment of three drugs in one TLC run. Furthermore, no tedious and complicated extraction and evaporation processes are prerequisites.

Abstract licence: CC BY

During the last decades, there has been an accelerating development of diagnostic and treatment possibilities. This paper aims to remind readers of significant milestones in the medical history of asthma. In the early 1800s, important tools for auscultation of the lungs and assessment of vital capacity were developed when Laennec invented the stethoscope and Hutchinson the spirometer. Tests of allergic sensitisation were developed later; the skin prick test in the 1920s, while immunoglobulin E, IgE, was discovered in the 1960s. Dating back to ancient times, asthma has been treated using the sympathomimetic ephedrine and the anticholinergic belladonna. Asthma cigarettes act via anticholinergic effects of Datura stramonium (common name thorn apple), which contains hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and atropine. From the 1930s, ephedrine was replaced by adrenergic agents (e.g., adrenaline) and its further developments. The first selective β2-agonist, salbutamol, was introduced in 1969, followed by long-acting β2-agonists. From the 1920s until 1990, theophylline was frequently used as a bronchodilator, while cromolyn was used as a non-corticosteroid treatment of asthma in the 1970s and 1980s. Introducing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the mid-1970s revolutionised asthma treatment. The use of ICS gathered momentum in the mid-1980s, with improved asthma morbidity and reduced need for hospital treatment. Recent introduction of ICS-formoterol in all treatment steps of asthma further contribute to improved adherence, asthma control and lower risk of exacerbations. At last, in management of severe asthma, monoclonal antibodies targeting IgE or different T2-cytokines, provide significant improvements in symptom control, exacerbation rate, and quality of life for patients.

Abstract licence: Public domain

A ternary mixture incorporating Hydroxyzine hydrochloride (HYX), Ephedrine hydrochloride (EPH) and Theophylline (THP) frequently prescribed for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Herein, two spectrophotometric methods are designated and applied to resolve these three components in their mixture. Method A is ratio-subtraction combined with derivative spectrophotometry, where THP can be determined directly at its λmax 271 nm (neither HYX or EPH interfere), then for determination of HYX and EPH, the ternary mixture was divided by 22 μg/mL of THP and after subtraction of the plateau region, HYX can be determined directly at its λmax 234.2 nm (absence of EPH intervention). Finally, the third derivative (3D) spectrophotometric approach was utilized to estimate EPH by detecting the peak amplitude at 222 nm with Δλ = 4 and a scaling factor 100. Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Squares (PLS), two multivariate calibration approaches, were applied effectively in Method B. This method effectively quantified the mixture under investigation by using the absorption spectra obtained from suitable solutions of the three components in the 210-230 nm region. The calibration models were evaluated using cross-validation with PCR and PLS, producing statistical characteristics that demonstrate the effectiveness of the calibration models. Synthetic and pharmaceutical preparations were also used to conduct external validation. In pharmaceutical formulation, these methods were successfully applied to analyze HYX, EPH, and THP without overlap from formulation's excipients. Moreover, the study's findings were statistically contrasted with those of earlier reported HPLC method. Appraisal approaches were used to determine whether the new spectrophotometric methods had an adverse environmental impact involving the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) and the AGREE (Analytical Greenness). These evaluations delivered information about the methods' eco-friendliness and sustainability, proving that they are in line with ecologically attributed practices. Furthermore, the Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI) was utilized to identify and verify the feasibility and practicality of the suggested approaches.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Estimating substance use in Japan traditionally depends on police seizure records and national self-reporting surveys, which face substantial challenges due to social stigma. This study applies wastewater-based epidemiology to overcome these challenges of monitoring illicit drug and legal stimulant use in a Japanese metropolitan area serving ∼1.8 million residents. Influent wastewater samples collected over 4 weeks in 2021 were analyzed for 29 substances. Methamphetamine was the only illicit drug consistently detected (consumption at 17.0 ± 5.1 mg/day/1000 people), reflecting its prevalence in Japan's drug scene and aligning with patterns in other East Asian countries. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, known precursors of methamphetamine were detected at high levels, suggesting their common use in legal medicines. Nicotine and methamphetamine consumption remained stable across weekdays and weekends. Higher ephedrine consumption during the lockdown period likely resulted from increased use of Kampo medicines to manage COVID-19 symptoms. This study provides the first objective evidence of population-level methamphetamine use in a large urban catchment of Japan, which is relatively low compared to other countries. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of wastewater analysis as a complementary surveillance approach to the existing system, enabling more responsive and evidence-based drug policy.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND