Gelatin encapsulation of chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene as fumigants for soilborne diseases in the greenhouse cultivation of cucumber and tomato

Combined use of chloropicrin （Pic） and 1,3-dicloropropene （1,3-D） is as effective as methyl bromide （MB） at controlling soilborne diseases in many trials and commercial uses. However, Pic and 1,3-D are both highly volatile and may pose strong exposure risks to humans and the environment. A gelatin capsule formulation containing Pic and 1,3-D has been developed to reduce exposure risks to workers and bystanders and improved application safety. We conducted two experiments in tomato and cucumber greenhouses located in Beijing and Qingdao, China, to study the efficacy of Pic plus 1,3-D gelatin capsules applied at different dosages and soil depths. Results indicated that both injection and gelatin capsules of Pic plus 1,3-D provided good control of soil nematodes and reduced disease index of Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematode. Plant yield of tomato and cucumber treated with gelatin capsules was similar to MB treatment. Based on our results, gelatin capsules applied at a soil depth of 15 cm provided better control of soilborne diseases and led to higher fruit yield compared to an application depth of 5 cm. In conclusion, a gelatin capsule of Pic plus 1,3-D is a promising and novel formulation, which not only shows good efficacy in controlling soilborne diseases, but also reduces potential exposure risks of fumigants.

Effects of alga polysaccharide capsule shells on in-vivo bioavailability and disintegration

Gelatin has been used in hard capsule shells for more than a century, and some shortcomings have appeared, such as high moisture content and risk of transmitting diseases of animal origin to people. Based on available studies regarding gelatin and vegetable shells, we developed a new type of algal polysaccharide capsule (APPC) shells. To test whether our products can replace commercial gelatin shells, we measured in-vivo plasma concentration of 12 selected volunteers with a model drug, ibuprofen, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), by calculating the relative bioavailability of APPC and Qualicaps referenced to gelatin capsules and assessing bioequivalence of the three types of shells, and calculated pharmacokinetic parameters with the software DAS 2.0 (China). The results show that APPC shells possess bioequivalence with Qualicaps and gelatin shells. Moreover, the disintegration behavior of four types of shells (APPC, Vegcaps , Qualicaps and gelatin shells) with the content of lactose and radioactive element (99mTc) was observed via gamma-scintigraphic images. The bioavailability and gamma-scintigraphic studies showed that APPC was not statistically different from other vegetable and gelatin capsule shells with respect to in-vivo behavior. Hence, it can be concluded that APPCs are exchangeable with other vegetable and gelatin shells.

Development of Granule Composition Based on the Total Evaporated Extract of Bidens Tripartita, Solidago Canadensis and Agrimonia Eupatoria Herbs

The aim of the study is the development and standardization of granules in hard gelatin capsules based on the composition of dry extracts of Bidens tripartita L.,Solidago canadensis L.and Agrimonia eupatoria L.Herbs,possessing nephroprotective activity and antifibrotics in toxic nephropathies.Developed the structure and defined the quality indicators of the pellets with dry extracts of Bidens tripartita L.,Solidago canadensis L.and Agrimonia eupatoria L.herbs.The quality specification for the drug-granules of the composition of dry extracts in solid gelatin capsules is developed.