Type of Manuscripts

The Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research is an international Open Access journal devoted to the promotion of pharmaceutical sciences and related disciplines (including biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, drug utilization including adverse drug events, medical and other life sciences, and related engineering fields). It seeks particularly (but not exclusively) to encourage pharmaceutical and allied research of tropical relevance and to foster multidisciplinary research and collaboration among scientists, the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare professionals. It also provides an international forum for the communication and evaluation of data, methods and findings in pharmaceutical sciences and related disciplines. Although primarily devoted to original research papers, the journal welcomes reviews on current topics of special interest and relevance.

All manuscripts are subject to rapid peer review. Those of high quality (not previously published and not under consideration for publication in another journal) are published without delay.

The maximum length of manuscripts should be 6000 words (24 double-spaced typewritten pages) for review, 4000 words (18 pages) for research articles, 1,500 (6 pages) for technical notes, commentaries and short communications.

The following types of manuscripts will not be considered for publication:

  1. Antimicrobial studies of plant extracts and susceptibility studies of clinical isolates as well as studies on resistance of antimicrobial agents.
  2. Antioxidant studies on plant extracts excluding antioxidant studies on pure compounds isolated from plants, especially if they involve animal studies.

  3. Studies on synthesis of new compounds should only be considered if they carry out advanced identification studies on the synthesized compounds which must include elemental studies, chromatography, NMR and mass spectrometry (MS).

  4. Gas chromatography studies on essential oil extracted from plants designed just to identify the components of the essential oil are not acceptable unless studies are carried out to also investigate certain pharmacological properties, not just antimicrobial, insecticidal or aromatic properties.

  5. Studies on conventional semi-solid preparations (creams, ointments, etc) should not be considered, including skin-lightening and other physical skin properties.

  6. Studies on conventional solid dosage and liquid dosage forms, especially those merely examining routine properties such as binder, disintegrant, lubricant, glidant and other excipient properties, and using routine techniques such as tablet hardness, thickness, etc. The only exceptions are those involving advanced techniques such as DSC, TGA, x-ray diffraction, IR, etc.

  7. Manuscripts that are largely similar to already accepted/published manuscripts. For example, the only difference may be the plant material used (self-plagiarism).

  8. Green synthesis of nanoparticles especially from plant extracts and focussed on antimicrobial properties. This area is already overflogged. The only exception is if the synthesized nanoparticles are directed at significant pharmacological properties and cancer studies.

  9. Manuscript previously rejected by this journal but modified for resubmission and those outside the our journal scope. Such manuscripts include those in health/medicine (except those that address medication issues), food microbiology, pure microbiology/pure genetics, engineering, etc.

Submission of Manuscript

All manuscripts (must be in English and in MS Word format) and should be submitted via our online system. The e-mail addresses (or telephone numbers) of all authors must be provided. Illustrations (figures) should be in computer format. Images for any manuscript should not exceed 200 kilobytes unless prior authorization is received from the editor-in-chief. Authors may submit the names, affiliations and addresses (including e-mail) of expert reviewers or those they do not want to review their papers.

This journal does not accept manuscripts that are simultaneously being considered by another or other journals or already published elsewhere.Thus, authors are required to include the following statement in the Comments to the Editor:

"This manuscript submitted has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration"

TJPR subscribes to 'Standards for Authors available at http://publicationethics.org/international-standards-editors-and-authors or http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)'

Authors who wish to have their manuscripts reviewed by a company that specializes in medical editing and proofreading prior to journal submission, should send their documents to Bioscience Editors (http://www.medscienceeditors.com) BioScience Writers (www.biosciencewriters.comfor fast personalized editing services. Inquiries may be directed to:

The Editor-in-Chief,
Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research,
C/o Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin,
Benin City 300001, NIGERIA
E-mail: editor@tjpr.org or editor-reg@tjpr.org
Tel: +234-803-726-9910 or 802-336-318

Ethical Matters

Authors using experimental animals and human subjects in their investigation must seek approval from the appropriate Ethical Committee in accordance with "Principles of Laboratory Animal Care" (NIH publication no. 85-23, revised 1985) and/or the declaration of Helsinki promulgated in 1964 as amended in 1996. The method section must include a statement to prove that the investigation was approved and that informed consent was obtained.

Manuscript Format

The preferred format of all manuscript is MS Word or RTF. Illustrations (figures) and images must be inserted in the manuscript at the position they should appear when published.

Manuscript Style

The language of the journal is English. Each manuscript should be typed double-spaced on A4 (8.5" x 11") paper size with 1 inch margins. It should be arranged in the following order: Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations (Acknowledgement, Conflict of interest, Contribution of authors) and References.

First page of manuscript: This should include the title of the article, authors' names (with full first name, initial and then the last name of each author) and their affiliations. The corresponding author must provide the full corresponding address (including telephone and e-mail address) at the bottom of the page.

Second page of manuscript:  The ABSTRACT (no more than 200 words) should be presented in the second page along with title of the article and keywords in the following order:

TITLE OF ARTICLE: This should be followed by at least a line space

Abstract:
PURPOSE: 1-2 sentences of background information followed by the purpose of the investigation.
METHODS: The method adopted in the investigation. This should be very clear and precise.
      RESULTS:  The findings of the investigation (no discussion or citation).
      CONCLUSION:  Final conclusive statements on the work.
Keywords: Include between 3 and 10 keywords for indexing purposes.
 
Acknowledgements: Authors should acknowledge all those who made contribution to the work who cannot necessarily be included in the list of authors. In this section, the funding body should also be acknowledged as appropriate.

Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any conflict of interest. If there are none, the authors should indicate “No conflict of interest associated with this work”.

Contribution of Authors: The authors must declare that they did the work by beginning this section with the following statement, “I(We) declare that this work was done by the author(s) named in this article and all liabilities pertaining to claims relating to the content of this article will be borne by the authors”. In addition, a declaration of the role of each author mentioned in the manuscript should be provided. The author who conceived and designed the study, the person(s) who collected and analysed the data, the person(s) who wrote the manuscript as well as an indication that all authors read and approved the manuscript for publication must be specified. Note: It is assumed by the Publishers of this journal that authors submitted the manuscript on the ground that he/she/they did the work and did not fraudulently obtain the data being presented. 
 
References: References should be typed single-spaced and numbered consecutively in the order in which they are cited in the text.  Arabic numerals (ENCLOSED IN SQUARED BRACKETS, eg., [1], [1,3,5] or [1-4]) should be used in citing references in the text. The squared brackets MUST NOT be used anywhere else in the text to allow easy xml file coding. Index Medicus Style of abbreviations should be used for journals cited. For correct abbreviations visit http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/jbrowser.html.

Unpublished work should not be included in the list of references. References should be listed using the following order:

Journal Article: If there are more than 10 authors, only the first 10 should be listed and the others should be represented with "et al."

  • Volume without Issue: Murri R, Fantoni M, Borgo CD, Visona R, Barracco A, Zambelli A, Testa L, Orchi N, Tozzi V, Bosco O, Wu AW. Determinants of health-related quality of life in HIV-infected patients. AIDS Care 2003;15:581-590.

  • Volume with parts: Hanley C. Metaphysics and innateness: a psychoanalytic perspective. Int J Psychoanal 1988;69(Pt 3):89-99.

  • No Issue or Volume:Danoek K. Skiing in and through the history of medicine. Nord Medicinhist Arsb 1982:86-100

  • Issue but No Volume: Baumeister AA. Origins and control of stereotyped movements. Monogr Am Assoc Ment Defic 1978;(3):353-384.

  • Issue with parts: Edwards L, Meyskens F, Levine N. Effect of oral isotretinoin on dysplastic nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989 Feb;20(2 Pt 1):257-260.

Monograph: Matthews DE, Farewell VT. Using and Understanding Medical Statistics, ed 3, revised. Basel, Karger, 1996

Book:

  • Entire book: Ohlsen, Merle M.; Horne, Arthur M.; Lowe, Charles F. Group counseling. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston; 1988. 416 p.

  • Editors: Diener, Hans-Christoph; Wilkinson, Marcia, editors. Drug-induced headache. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1988. 173 p

  • Contribution to book:Anderson, Robert J.; Schrier, Robert W. Acute renal failure. In: Braunswald, Eugene; Isselbacher, Kurt J.; Petersdorf, Robert G., et al., editors. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1987. p. 1149-1155.

Web pages:

  • Hypertension, Dialysis & Clinical Nephrology [homepage on the Internet]. Hinsdale (IL): Medtext, Inc.; c1995-2001 [cited 2001 Mar 8]. Available from: http://www.medtext. com/hdcn.htm

  • Pennington J. HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, 2007 [cited 2008 Mar 8]. Available from: http://www.avert.org/aids-nigeria.htm.

    Medlineplus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2000 Apr 7; cited 2000 Apr 18]. Available from: http://medlineplus.gov

Dissertation: Bertram, Kenneth. The role of natural killer activity in resistance to herpesvirus-induced disease [dissertation]. [Rochester]: University of Minnesota; 1981 Dec. 138 p.

Tables: These should be numbered with arabic numerals using single space to separate the Table and the number (eg, Table 1, Table 2, etc) and refered to independently (do not refer to more than one Table) in text. The maximum number of Tables allowed in a paper is nine (9). Each table should be typed using a table format (ie, each variable must be typed into a separate cell in the table) with only horizontal lines above and below the table column headers and at the bottom of the table (using 1 pt for the top and bottom lines and 0.5 point for any middle line). No vertical lines should be included in any table. Each table MUST not exceed 6.5 x 7 inches (16.5 x 17.8 cm, width x height) and MUST be inserted at the appropriate position in the text just below where it was referred to the first time. The title should be typed at the top of the table in the sentence case format, i.e., only the first name should be in capital letters; names should also be in capital letters, as appropriate. Any footnote should be typed at the top and bottom of the table in italic.  

Illustrations: These should be labelled as Figures (not Schemes or Illustrations) and numbered with arabic numerals using signle space to separate the Figure and the number (eg, Figure 1, Figure 2, etc) and refered to independently (do not refer to more than one figure at the same time) in text. The maximum number of Figures allowed in a paper is nine (9). Each figure should be professionally drawn electronically and inserted in the appropriate position where it was first cited within the text. Symbols, lettering, and numbering MUST NOT be in bold print and should be clear and large enough to remain legible (be at least 9 points in size) after the figure has been reduced to 1/2 of the original size. While photographs may be produced in any color, graphs MUST be drawn only in black color unless the author is prepared to pay US$100.00 for each image in any color other than black. The legend and any footnote for each figure should be typed below the figure. If photographs of patients are used, either the subjects are not identifiable or their pictures must be accompanied by a written permission to use the images. Photographs must be clear and sharp. Labels of Tables MUST be in text form and MUST not form part of the image.

Manuscript charges

Manuscript submission: There is no charge for submitting a manuscript.

Piblication charge: Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, the author(s) will be required to pay a publication charge of US$250.00 before the accepted paper is published. Authors may opt for fast-track (accelerated) review and publication which attracts a special publication charge of US$500.00 if the manuscript is accepted for publication. Manuscripts that fall under fast-track option would be published, if accepted for publication, within 2 - 4 months from the time they are sent for review while those on normal track may take much longer period. 

Copyright

Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.

Ethical Matters

Authors using experimental animals and human subjects in their investigation must seek approval from the appropriate Ethical Committee in accordance with "Principles of Laboratory Animal Care" (NIH publication no. 85-23, revised 1985) and/or the declaration of Helsinki promulgated in 1964 as amended in 1996. The method section must include a statement to prove that the investigation was approved and that informed consent was obtained.

Galley Proofs

Unless indicated otherwise, galley proofs are sent to the address given for correspondence. It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to ensure that the galley proofs are returned without delay.

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION CHECK-LIST

Please carefully go through the following check list. Non-compliance with TJPR manuscript formatting requirements will result in the manuscript being returned to the corresponding author for reformatting or rejection.

[ ] Is my manuscript typed double-spaced on A4 (MS Word 2003 or earlier version) including the Abstract and Referencessections? Note that PDF is not acceptable.
[  ] Are the Title and Abstract each on separate pages?
[ ] Is the Abstract (except for review manuscripts) subdivided into the prescribed subsections of Purpose, Methods, Results and Conclusion, and also within the 250-word limit?
[  ] Is my manuscript within the limit of 4,000 words (approximately 18 pages typed double-spaced on A4) for research papers or 6,000 words (approximately 24 pages typed double-spaced on A4) for review papers?
[  ] Are Results and Discussion separated into two sections of Results and Discussion?
[  ] Is there a Conclusion section?
[ ] Have you provided the Declarations including (1) Acknowledgement, (2) Conflict of Interest and (3) Contribution of Authors as provided in the guidelines for contributors?
[ ] Is the reference numbering style within text co-script with square parenthesis (squared brackets) with the numbers inserted before and not after punctuations?
[  ] Did the References list adhere strictly to TJPR format, including the correct punctuations and with space after semi-colon, colon and comma?
[  ] Is the total number of Figures and Tables within the limit of 9 allowed?
[  ] Has color (other than black) been excluded from the manuscript including graphs (except photomicrographs)?
[  ] Is there a legend/caption at the bottom of each Figure and at the top of each Table?
[ ] Have you ensured that when each figure/image is reduced to occupy no more than three-quarters of half of an A4 column in a page, the font size of labels will not be smaller than 9 points?
[  ] Is the symbol key removed from within the Figure (graphs) and integrated neatly within the legend using the Symbol tool under Insert menu of MS Word ? Do not place horizontal strokes across symbols.
[  ] Have borders been removed from around the Figures?
[ ] Are Figures and Tables inserted at appropriate points in the manuscript nearest to where references were made to them?
[  ] Are Figures and Tables refered to independently, ie, you have not refered to more than one Table (eg Tables 1-3) in text?
[  ] Have you read and adhered strctly to our policy statements?


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996