Pharmacist Blog about what I encounter and find useful/interesting

Anti-dandruff  Dandruff What is dandruff? Also called "roos" in dutch, are dead skin cells of the scalp, which are formed by a pathological process, caused by an acceleration of keratinization (also known as hyperkeratosis). These dead cells will stick to eachother, together with tallow these compounds of cells will form to the dandruff as we know it. In some cases, due to the tallow, these 'flakes' can look yellowy, vivacious. Most common cause is just a dry skin type, and by a yeast, living on the human skin, named Pityrosporum ovale (now known as  Malassezia globosa ). The exact mechanism how the yeast produces more dandruff is not fully known, but probably it's caused by a metabolisation of triglycerides into oleic acid. Fact is, reduce the yeast in population and dandruff will reduce significantly. N.B.: it has been proven that the colonization of the yeast is almost the double of normal population on people with more dandruff than other people. ...

Silverfingers  A week ago, we were working in the laboratory with bromhexine hydrochloride. Identification test on chlorides was performed according to the European Pharmacopoeia. This test includes the use of silver nitrate (AgNO3). Silver nitrate will form a white precipitation with chlorides if chlorides are present in the molecule (here: under the form of hydrochloride, HCl). AgNO3 + Cl- ---> AgCl  ↓  As a side note: the test is then proceeded washing the precipitation with water, and then adding ammonia. Ammonia will dissolve AgCl. Luckily for us, the test was positive. But, after the laboratory was finished, the next day I noticed grey / black small stains on my fingers. In the theory lessons, we've always seen that silver ions oxidize very easily forming a black/grey precipitation, metallic silver. Thus working with silver ions should be done in absence of light, which could catalyze the oxidation reaction. Ag+ --> Ag ↓ What happened was ...

These are the last pictures. Part 1:  HERE Part 2:  HERE Part 3:  HERE

Part 1:  HERE Part 2:  HERE

Part 2 of the series, looking at a meadowsweet powder under the microscope. Part 1:  HERE

We acquired some meadowsweet powder and put it under a microscope, following the standard procedure of the European Pharmacopeia (using some droplets of a chloralhydrate solution (80 g in 20 mL)), heating followed by cooling, to minimize the crystallization process of chloralhydrate. Namely a phase contrast microscope.  What we saw was a lot of irrecognisable structures, cells, celldebris, trichoma's (hairs), stoma, ..., but fascinating nonetheless.

Structure of meprobamate (source: Wikipedia) Meprobamate is an amide derived from carbamic acid. More specifically, from a dicarbamate of a diol in this case. Carbamic acid: NH2COOH. It does not exist on its own, it automatically splits into NH3 and CO2. The two clear amide bonds are indicated with the red circles. Full name of meprobamate is: 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediolcarbamate. Properties It is a white crystalic powder or forms colourless crystals. It tastes quite bitter, acrid even. It is sparingly soluble in water at a temperature of 25 °C, a little but more soluble at a higher temperature of 50 °C and it's good soluble in alcohol. How to identify meprobamate - Specific melting point of 104-108 °C - Can look at the IR (infrared) spectrum - Adding acetic acid anhydride and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) will form a precipitate with a very characteristic melting point of 124-128 °C = N,N-diacetylderivate is formed out of the acid reaction. - Adding an alcoholi...

Structure of Benzalkonium chloride, source: Wikipedia Properties White to white-yellow powder or gelatinous yellowwhite fragments, the compound is hygroscopic, which means it easily attracts water (from f.e. the air). When the compound gets heated, it will form a clear molten mass. It is soluble in water and alcohol. When it is resolved in water, the H2O solution will form excessive foam. How to identify the compound It - UV spectrophotometry: maxima at 257 nm, 263 nm and 269 nm. - Using liquid chromatography - Adding Na-tetraphenylborate and acetic acid will form a sediment of benzalkoniumtetraphenylborate. Which has a characteristic melting point of 127-133 °C. - Bringing the compound in a NaOH solution together with BFB (bromephenol blue) and dimethylchloride will form a blue colour in the CH2Cl2 layer. This is caused by the ionpair forming with the anionic pigment (BFB) and extraction of the ionpair in the organic layer. - Identification of Cl- ions: + AgNO3 will f...

Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Filipendula ulmaria in nature General info: NL: Moerasspirea Ger.: Mädesüss FR: Reine-des-prés Family: Rosaceae ("the rose family") Most common distribution: Northern Europe, Northern America and northern Asia. Parts of the plant used for medicinal use: Flos (flowers), herba (herbs). The traditional use of this plant is: - Diaphoretic - Diuretic - Anti-gout - Anti-rheumatism - Anti Bladder and kidney inflammation - Anti ulcerations in the stomach - Anti burning stomachacid - Anti diarrhea Often prescribed by professionals against a cold. Chemical components of the plant: - Flavonoids - Tannins (up to 12,5% of the total of all components) - Etheric oil (mainly salicylcomponents, primarily salicylaldehyde together with gaultherin, methylsalicylate, salicin, spirein, etc.) The main effects of the plant are caused by these salicylates. In the body, these salicylates inhibit the COX enzymes. (COX1 and COX2) C...

Definition: EPO: = erythropoietin   A glycoprotein hormon-like structure, a sialoglycoprotein, which is an important factor in the survival, growth and proliferation of erythroid precursor cells (EPC) and it improves the de novo creation, differentation and growth of red blood cells (RBC). Thus, EPO controls the erythropoiesis = production of RBC. EPC: these are cells that are located in the bone marrow, will eventually form the RBC. RBC: cells responsible for the transport and distribution of oxygen throughout the body. Structure: Built out of 165 aminoacids (AA). They are all connected and form 1 polypeptide chain.  Although, within the chain, there are 2 disulfide bonds.  Respectively on positions: Cys7-161 and Cys29-33  Cys = cystein and the numbers indicate the positions these AA are located. Cystein structure. Available  sulfide  group for bonding There are also 4 positions where there is a possibility for glycosylation  Namel...

Very basic explanation of a virus: Virus consists of a  - Head - Tail - Legs/Fibres The head contains the DNA/RNA, nucleic acids (genetic material, GM). It depends on what kind of virus we speak of, there are a lot of different kind of viruses. It is protected from the outside with a protein coat, that consists of hemagglutinin and neuraminidases, hence names given for viruses (f.e. H1N1, Influenza virus). The tail connects the head with the legs/fibres. Those legs will make sure the virus can bind on its host, for example a bacterial cell or a human cell. Viruses that bind on bacteria are often called bacteriophages. When connected to a host, the virus will inject its DNA/RNA into the cell via the tail. Once its GM is injected, the virus will normally eject from the cell and fall apart/gets secreted out of the organism. The GM will be implemented into the hosts genome often via reverse transciptases. Now this GM will code for proteins that induce transcription of th...

Behold, a picture taken through a lightmicroscope of two bacteria tribes, cultivated on a petri dish; it was simply taken with the camera of my phone. Shown are two tribes of bacteria, and they can be visualized using the Gram staining.  For the theory behind it and the protocol I'd like to reference to  HERE . Basically on my picture: Red rod-shaped bacteria are bacilli: these are Gram NEGATIVE. Purple spherical bacteria are cocci: these are Gram POSITIVE. You can further visualize the bacteria in terms of how they group up, with how many they group up, their specific form, do they attach to eachother, etc. and thus determine using references and literature what species they are from and what type of bacteria they are.

"Coca-Cola Life" Recently the Coca-Cola company released a new beverage: the Coca-Cola Life drink. It should contain less sugar than the normal Coca-Cola drink; a part of the sugar is replaced with the recently approved sweetener from the Stevia plant (stevioglycosides). It's being sold as a 'natural' drink, but those stevioglycosides are as natural as the chemical sweetener aspartame found in Light and Zero drinks. However it is true that the amount of sugar is much lower (being reported as 33%, some say it's around 20%); yet approximately still 3-4 sugar cubes / 33 cl can (5-6 in a normal can). I bought it myself and found that the flavor has not really changed from the original Coca-Cola, however it does taste more "flat" - but definitely true it yourself. The outside of the can has the colour green. I personally do not associate this "healthy - natural" colour with Coca-Cola, but it's growing on me. In sum...