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Background and purpose: Solubility behavior of a drug is one of the key determinants of its oral bioavailability. The bioavailability may be enhanced by increasing the solubility and dissolution rate of drug by combining the drug with a hydrophilic carrier. Naproxen is a poor water non-soluble analgesic and anti- inflammatory drug. A possible way of overcoming the naproxen low aqueous solubility is to alter the physical properties of the drug by preparing a solid dispersion. In this study, Gelucire 50/13 and PEG 4000 were employed to produce solid dispersions with naproxen. Material and methods: Naproxen solid dispersions were prepared in various amounts of drug and polymer (PEG4000) using hot melting method. The influence of several amounts of gelucire 50/13 was also studied. Dissolution studies, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier–transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) were used to evaluate any interaction between the drug and other components in solid dispersions. Results: According to dissolution study, drug release from solid dispersions and physical mixture were higher than that of the pure drug. Also, dissolution rate of solid dispersions and physical mixtures enhanced by increasing the concentration of polyetilen glycol. The result of DSC and FTIR showed that there was no chemical interaction between the drug and the polymer. XRD patterns showed the change of Naproxen Crystalline Material into Amorphous Materials. Conclusion: The increased dissolution rate of naproxen by solid dispersion technique could be due to increase wettability and hydrophilic nature of carrier and surfactants.

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Background and purpose: Gentiana olivieri Griseb is a famous species in Gentianaceae family. G. olivieri is native to Iran, and grows mainly in the western regions of the Zagros Mountains. Thinking over the importance of proper nutrition in child’s growth and lack of proper appetizer in pharmaceutical market, preparing an effective herbal product was considered to increase appetite in children suffering from growth failure and malnutrition.

Materials and methods: A case control study was performed in which the plant’s root extract was used to prepare hydroalcoholic product (2.5%) and its appetizing effect was evaluated in children. Fifty children with anorexia were randomly divided into two groups to receive either the hydroalcoholic extract of the Gentiana olivieri or a placbo at the dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day for two months. Variables such as weight, height, waist, consumed calories, and hunger VAS score, liver enzymes fluctuations and some blood biochemistry tests were also monitored.

Results: The average age of cases and controls was 56.12 and 56.64 months, respectively. Before treatment, the mean weight in both case and control groups was 13.130±1.56 kg and 13.010±1.27 kg, respectively that changed to 14.275 ± 1.69 kg and 12.962± 1.16 kg after a month and 14.550±1.54 kg and 12.814±1.22 kg, respectively two months after the intervention. Significant effects were seen on received calories and VAS score.

Conclusion: The product was found to have significant effect on weight, food intake and VAS score compared with placebo.