OBJECTIVE: To determine the in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and acute dermal irritation in rabbits of hair cream prepared from the methanolic extract of Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. et Thoms. known in the Philippines as makabuhay.

METHODS: Several concentrations of methanolic extract, an aqueous and alcoholic extract, from makabuhay were tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on methods established by earlier studies. The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract, found to be the most efficacious, was made into a hair cream and was tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy against Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The same product was evaluated for acute dermal irritation in rabbits.

RESULTS: The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract formulated into a hair cream showed in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on stringent criteria of 100%, 96.4%, 85.7%, 78.6%, 67.9%, 64.3% and 64.3% after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, and 6 hours of observation, respectively, as compared with the 100% efficacy of Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The hair cream passed the dermal irritation test on abraded and intact skin of rabbits.

CONCLUSION: The hair cream from the 60% methanolic extract of makabuhay was shown to possess some in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and was found to be non-irritating. This herbal pediculicide may be an alternative treatment for lice infestation.

Animal ; Rabbits ; Lice Infestations ; Lindane ; Permethrin ; Tinospora ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Methanol ; Philippines ; Antiparasitic Agents ; Hair ; Pediculus

COVID 19 pandemic altered how people work and study. The unfamiliarity to the sudden shift to virtual/remote platforms particularly in the teaching-learning process brought poor mental health in the academe. Constituents of the College of Pharmacy in the University of the Philippines Manila is no exception. The College promoted mental health among its constituents-students, faculty, and staff, through facilitated/supervised self-care, where the usual manner is an individual kind. The approach to the management of stress was holistic to better support the current mode of teaching-learning which uses the virtual platform. Both the initiatives of faculty members and the activities offered by the administration of the college received positive responses and favorable outcomes from the participants. Further studies on the effects of the offered programs and initiatives may result in more regular events and inclusion to the Pharmacy curriculum, respectively.
Mental Health

COVID 19 pandemic altered how people work and study. The unfamiliarity to the sudden shift to virtual/remote platforms particularly in the teaching-learning process brought poor mental health in the academe. Constituents of the College of Pharmacy in the University of the Philippines Manila is no exception. The College promoted mental health among its constituents-students, faculty, and staff, through facilitated/supervised self-care, where the usual manner is an individual kind. The approach to the management of stress was holistic to better support the current mode of teaching-learning which uses the virtual platform. Both the initiatives of faculty members and the activities offered by the administration of the college received positive responses and favorable outcomes from the participants. Further studies on the effects of the offered programs and initiatives may result in more regular events and inclusion to the Pharmacy curriculum, respectively.

Background: Pectin is a pharmaceutically relevant excipient that can be upcycled from selected Philippine fruit peel wastes. Method optimization of pectin extraction leads to maximizing yields from limited resources, while also reducing environmental wastes, and providing local alternative sources. Objectives: This study aimed to optimize the method of extracting pectin from selected Philippine fruit peel wastes using the Box-Behnken design, by varying the acid extraction solvent, treatment time, and working temperature. Methodology: The three-level (-1, 0, 1) Box-Behnken design (15 set-ups) was used to optimize the pectin extraction in each of the fruit peel samples (C. maxima; A. heterophyllus; ripe and unripe M. indica; D. zibethinus; and H. undatus). The three experimental factors were the type of 3N acid used as extracting solvent (HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and HCl); duration of treatment in minutes (60, 90, and 120); and temperature of treatment in C 60, 75, and 90). The %yield was computed in each set-up, and the projected yields were generated using multiple linear regression. The pectin samples obtained from the optimized conditions were subjected to the physicochemical characterization, with apple pectin as the standard. Degree of esterification (DE), equivalent weight (EW), methoxy content (MC), alkalinity of ash (AA), and anhydrouronic acid content (AUA) were performed. Results: Maximum yields were extracted from C. maxima (28.96%), A. heterophyllus (20.12%), ripe M. indica (26.23%), and unripe M. indica (25.89%), using 3N H₂SO₄, for a treatment duration of 60 minutes, at a working temperature of 90 C, and H. undatus (25.03%) at 60 C, for a treatment duration of 120 minutes. Conclusion Optimum conditions were identified to extract pectin in each of the fruit peel samples. The 3N H₂SO₄ produced the highest pectin yields in all of the set-ups, while the treatment time and working temperature vary per fruit peel sample. Pectin extract from C. maxima, A. heterophyllus, and M. indica was comparable to the standard.
Pectins