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IN-VITRO METHODS :AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL TESTING METHODS IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT

1,2 Sumeet Prachand ,2Sanjay Jain,,2 Hemant Khambete,2 Bhuvnesh Kadam ,3Amit Modi
1, Suresh Gyan Vihar University
2 Indore Institute of Pharmacy
3 Mathura Devi Institute of Pharmacy

Abstract Concept of Alternatives


The origins of the concept of alternatives to In 1954, Charles Hume, founder of the Human skin equivalent tests can be used to
animal testing was setup in the 1950s, and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare replace animal-based corrosive and irritative
very wide range of various replacement and (UFAW) proposed Three Rs to the UFAW to take studies. Epi Derm from Mattek and Epi Skin
alternative methods and its progress toward their in consideration alternatives for animal testing and and Skin Ethic RHE model two subsidiaries of
integration into central and applied research, change scientific study in laboratory animal L'Oreal, are derived from human skin cells
education are discussed very alobratly. The three experiments. which have been cultured to produce a model
distinct R’s that are Replacement, Reduction, and It was at the Universities Federation for Animal of human skin5.
Refinement were defined and its implementation Welfare's 1957(UFAW1957) that the concept of A skin patch test has been designed and is
begun. Significance and advantages of the alternative to animal testing as a means of used in Canada to measure development of
alternative method to animal testing methods were removing inhumanity from animal rashes, inflammation, swelling or abnormal
also mentioned. Ethical considerations were also experimentation was first discussed in depth at a tissue growth on human volunteers. Unlike
kept in the mind on the alternative methods. It is public meeting. Laboratory animals most corrosives, substances defined as irritants
concluded that much greater effort should be put commonly are used in three main areas: cause only reversible skin damage
into overcoming the barriers to the acceptance of biomedical research, product safety testing, and Another approach has been the development
replacement alternatives which currently limit the education. Biomedical researchers use animals in of test methods that use cultured human
contributions they have to make toward greater their efforts to understand the workings of the cells. Human epidermal keratinocytes have
humanity and better biomedical science body and the processes of disease and health and been cultured to mimic the human epidermis,
to develop new vaccines and treatments for and are used to measure skin irritation and
Introduction various diseases. dermal corrosion. This method has been
Industry uses animals to test the safety and accepted by the European Union, and is
Result and discussion
Identification of novel lead compounds for various effectiveness of a wide range of consumer intended to replace the Draize rabbit skin
therapeutic targets is a long process which various products, including drugs, cosmetics, household irritation test5.
steps, it involves drug design, synthesis and its cleaning products, pesticides, industrial chemicals,
Conclusion
pharmacological screening1. Choosing of an and more Scientists also study animals to learn
Research into alternative test methods has so far
animal model is one of the most vital steps in any more about a given species, its biology and
resulted in the incorporation of a range of new cell
experimental pharmacological study. Drug behaviour. They may study animals as models of
and tissue culture systems into the repertoire of
development mainly deals with 3 stages Stage I: psychological or social behaviours. The animals
alternative methods8. Although the efforts in
Hit and lead compound development involved are kept in captivity, or they are
researching alternatives to animal testing methods
phase(Identification of lead compound amongst subjected to pain or distress that is not a natural
over the years have produced a number of
the million compounds). Stage II: Preclinical part of their environment. They will either die as a
successful results, a great deal still needs to be
studies (invitro and in vivo experiments). Stage result of the experiment or be deliberately killed
done before it will be possible to eliminate animal
III: Clinical studies (experiments in humans)2. afterwards, often for post mortem examination.
testing completely.
Welfare implies both fitness and a sense of Alternative methods fall into three broad
wellbeing. An animal’s welfare is the top most categories. These are called the 3 Rs: Bibliography
priority in view of five types of freedoms namely : Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. 1. SK Gupta. Drug screening methods. New Delhi: Jaypee
brothers medical publishers (p) ltd; 1993.
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst, Discomfort, 2. Bikash Medhi, Ajay Prakash. Practical manual of Experimental
In-vitro methods
Pain, Injury or Disease, Express Normal and clinical pharmacology. New Delhi: Jaypee brothers medical
Cell culture can be an alternative to animal. Instead publishers (p) ltd; 1996.
Behaviour, Fear and Distress3. 3.RSPCA QLD. (2008) The Five Freedoms; http://www.
of using animals, Cell and tissue culture studies are woaw.org.au/teachers/about-rspca/the-five-freedoms/
To promote a definition of alternatives as "the
used to screen for anti-cancer, anti-AIDS, and other 4.PeTA. (2012) Alternatives: Testing Without Torture;
three Rs replacement, reduction, and refinement" http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-
types of drugs, and they are also a means of forexperimentation/alternatives-testing-without-torture.aspx
which has become a pervasive theme in 5.Henkle. (2008) Alternatives to Animal Testing.
producing and testing a number of other
biomedical research today4 http://www.henkel.com/com/content_data/203340_Alternati
pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, ves_to_Animal_Testing.pdf

antibiotics, and therapeutic proteins4

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