DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY,

In recent times, there have been worry over the emergence of substandard drugs in Nigeria. Tetracycline is a common POM (prescription-only medication) drug with diverse clinical and veterinary use. It is often preferred due to its low cost, comparable efficacy and ease of access. This research seeks to improve clinical decision-making, contribute to quality assurance measures and support regulatory endeavors within Benin City. Visual inspection was performed on each brand of tetracycline capsules using the World Health Organization Visual Inspection of Medicines Template. In-vitro release study was performed as outlined in the United States Pharmacopeia, 2023. A modified method of Ahmed et al., 2018 was used with absorbance read at 384nm. Visual inspection of different brands of tetracycline capsules revealed that 90% of the brand analyzed met the required standard. All brands analyzed had dissolution rate in the range of 91.31 to 99.57%, 92.62 to 99.57% and 95.23 to 99.57% at 20, 40 and 60 minutes respectively. Result from spectrophotometric analysis showed that all the brands analyzed had tetracycline
hydrochloride content between 91.17% and 98.58% of the label claim, with sample D7 having the least amount of tetracycline hydrochloride 91.1%. From the results above, the various brands of tetracycline available in Benin City are of good quality. However, there are concerns that the brand coded D7 may soon be substandard having failed the visual inspection test. Therefore, periodic checks need to be performed to ensure drug products available for use are of the highest quality so as to safeguard lives and ensure efficacy.

Introduction: Emilia praetermissa is used traditionally for the treatment of infections, wound healing, and gastrointestinal complaints. Despite ethnomedicinal use, systematic chemical characterisation
and laboratory evaluation of the ethanolic aerial fraction remain limited. This study profiles its phytochemicals, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Method: The aerial parts were extracted with 70% ethanol from which the ethanolic fraction were obtained and analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS to identify non-volatile and volatile constituents. Antibacterial activity against six clinical isolates (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus) was assessed by agar well diffusion method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (agar dilution) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) determinations were carried out. Antioxidant
The capacity was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) assays; ascorbic acid served as the standard.
Result: HPLC detected varying non-volatile constituents of which flavonoids (notably Flavanol, epicathecin, narigenin) were present with Cumulative Flavonoid concentration of 66.083 μg/mL (21.15%) while GC-MS identified 27 volatile/semi-volatile compounds dominated by fatty acid methyl esters and terpenoids. The extract produced moderate inhibition zones (15–18 mm) against the six clinical isolates. MIC testing showed complete growth inhibition at 40 mg/mL for all organisms; at 20 mg/mL only S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus remained inhibited. MBC at 40 mg/mL was bactericidal for S. aureus, E. cloacae, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus. Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus all have MBC/MIC ratios ≤ 4 and are therefore classified as bactericidal. In antioxidant assays the extract demonstrated strong radical scavenging (high DPPH and ABTS at increasing concentrations), modest FRAP activity, and a concentration dependent increase in TAC. Conclusion: The ethanolic aerial fraction of Emilia praetermissa contains a complex mixture of
alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins and lipidic constituents that together confer measurable antibacterial and antioxidant activities in vitro.

The increasing awareness of the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation has led to a
growing demand for natural alternatives to synthetic sunscreens. Ocimum gratissimum,
commonly known as scent leaf, has demonstrated potential antioxidant and photoprotective properties, making it a viable candidate for sun protection formulations. This study aimed to evaluate the sun protective effect of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil when incorporated into a cream-based formulation. The essential oil was extracted from Ocimum gratissimum leaves using hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus. Physicochemical properties such as specific gravity, refractive index, acid value, saponification value, and iodine value were analysed to assess oil quality. The extracted oil was formulated into a cream, which was then evaluated for its physical properties, antioxidant activity, and sun protection factor (SPF) using the Mansur equation and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The essential oil yield was 0.753%, and its physicochemical properties indicated good stability. The formulated creams demonstrated improved spreadability, pH values between 6.38 and 6.8 (suitable for topical application), and skin compatibility. The essential oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 28.96 μg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. SPF analysis revealed modest photoprotective properties, with the essential oil alone showing a base SPF value of 1.766 at 0.01% concentration. The formulated creams exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in SPF values, ranging from 1.45 (1% EO) to 2.58 (3% EO + CO). The study highlights the potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil as a natural ingredient in skincare formulations, offering both antioxidant and mild photoprotective benefits. Further research is recommended to optimize the formulation and evaluate its in vivo efficacy and safety