Orange Journal

Medicinal folklore of the species Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. (chancapiedra)

Danay Verdecia Verdecia — 2024-12-25

Traditional medicine is the total sum of health skills, practices, and knowledge based on theories, native experiences, and beliefs of different cultures, with the purpose of preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases. Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn, commonly known as "chancapiedra," is a very popular plant in our archipelago due to its diverse medicinal properties; however, there are no studies that support these claims. Objective: To characterize the medicinal use of the species Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn in the "Victoria de Girón" Popular Council, Palma Soriano municipality, Santiago de Cuba province. Method: An ethnopharmacological study of the species was carried out using the ethnopharmacological method in a community of the Palma Soriano municipality, Santiago de Cuba province, using an interview as material. Results: 30 people were interviewed, observing a predominance of the female sex (67%) and the age group between 55-64 years. 100% of the interviewees have knowledge of the species, and all know it for medicinal purposes. A total of three uses were reported, the most reported being renal or vesicular lithiasis. The aerial parts of the plant turned out to be the most used. 80.55% of the interviewees use the decoction method for the preparation of the medicinal preparation, using the plant in its fresh state. The most reported form of administration corresponded to the oral route.

Consumption of antimicrobials in Community Pharmacy U-621 of the Guantánamo municipality

Oneyda Clapé Laffita — 2024-12-25

The inappropriate use of antimicrobials leads to economic and health repercussions, making their control a priority for all community pharmacy services. While numerous studies exist in Cuba regarding antimicrobial consumption, there are no prior studies in the Guantánamo municipality evaluating this consumption. The objective of this study was to characterize antimicrobial consumption in Community Pharmacy U-621 of the Guantánamo municipality during the year 2020. A retrospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study of the drug utilization type was conducted, based on the review of prescribed prescriptions. Data related to the prescriber (prescription origin and prescriber's medical specialty), the patient (sex, age, and diagnosis for prescription), and the medication (generic name, pharmacological group and subgroup, pharmaceutical form, and route of administration) were analyzed. Antimicrobial consumption predominated in women (56.00%) and in patients over 40 years of age (32.99%). Most prescriptions originated from primary health care (58.75%) and were primarily prescribed by general practitioners (42.61%). Azithromycin was the most commonly consumed antimicrobial (24.47%), with tablets being the predominant pharmaceutical form (51.00%) and oral administration being the most common route (62.49%). The most frequently prescribed diagnosis was bronchitis (15.83%), among other respiratory diseases, consistent with the specific characteristics of the community pharmacy. Recommendations were issued to prescribers and community pharmacists regarding the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

Quality and stability of tinctures of the dried leaf of Citrus x aurantium L

María de los Angeles Vega Fonseca — 2024-12-25

In the province of Santiago de Cuba, there are significant limitations in the supply of dried fruit peel from Citrus x aurantium L. (Sour orange) for the preparation of the 20% tincture established in the National Formulary of Phytopharmaceuticals and Apipharmaceuticals of Cuba. Consequently, the production of this phlebotonic phytomedicine has been affected since 2016. In this work, the quality and physical, physicochemical, and chemical stability of two tinctures formulated from the dried leaves of this plant species were evaluated, with the aim of replacing the formulation based on the dried peel.

Tinctures at 20% and 50% were prepared, both using 70% ethanol and the percolation method. Physical, physicochemical, qualitative, and quantitative chemical quality control parameters were determined according to the Cuban National Public Health Standard 312 and other references. The stability evaluation was performed for a period of 180 days at room temperature, packaged in amber glass bottles.

Both tinctures are similar in organoleptic properties, pH, capillary analysis, qualitative chemical composition, and stability over 180 days. However, they differ statistically in refractive index, relative density, total solids, and total phenol concentration at both time zero and 180 days. The selection of the 50% tincture was determined by its greater similarity to the standard tincture made from dried fruit peel, reflected in the appearance and values of relative density, pH, presence of flavonoids, essential oils, phenols, and tannins, and mainly in total solids, which only this one meets the established limit. Furthermore, it possesses the highest concentration of total phenols.

Preliminary performance evaluation of the formulation process at "Laboratorio Farmacéutico Oriente"

Leydis Milenes Santos-Montoya — 2024-12-25

This work involved a preliminary evaluation of the formulation process within the Parenteral Solutions production line at "Laboratorio Farmacéutico Oriente" through performance qualification.

The study began with process characterization. Samples were collected over seven months, and physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of the parenteral solutions were determined. This allowed for the verification of the system's functionality, supporting its validation.

In the evaluation of Sterile Water for Injection solutions, all parameters met established quality standards during the preparation and final stages of the process: pH (5-7 units), conductivity (below 2.1 µS/cm2), and absence of oxidizable substances. Similarly, Sodium Chloride 0.9% solutions met requirements, with concentrations between 97.0% and 103.0%, and pH between 4.5 and 7.0. Both solutions were colorless, odorless, and transparent (saline taste in chloride), free of particulate matter, sterile (absence of particles), and had bacterial endotoxins of 0.005 EU/mL. These results confirm that the process is under control, demonstrating the correct functioning of the formulation system.