Evaluation of Pharmaceutical and Microbial Qualities of Some Herbal Medicinal Products in South Western Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharmaceutical and microbial qualities of 21 different (of various dosage forms) Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPs) sourced from some traditional medicine sales outlets and retail pharmacy outlets in south western Nigeria. Method: The pharmaceutical qualities evaluated include tablet crushing strength, friability, disintegration time; density of the solutions and suspensions; particle size and angle of repose of the powders. Phytochemical tests were carried out to assess the class of compounds present in the formulations and the microbial quality of the products was also evaluated. Results: The results show that twelve (57.1%) of the products had their manufacturing and expiry dates stated, nine (42.9%) products have been registered by NAFDAC and ten (47.6%) did not have their content stated but had their therapeutic claims indicated on the container. The tablet formulation (Product A) showed acceptable crushing strength and friability but failed the test for disintegration time. The angle of repose of the powder dosage forms were considerably high showing that the powders were highly cohesive and not free flowing. The microbial load of the products varied considerably. Ten (47.6%) of the samples were contaminated by E. coli, seven (33%) were contaminated by Salmonella, fifteen (71.4%) were contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus and twelve (57.1%) were contaminated by fungi. Conclusion: There is need for constant monitoring and control of the standards of herbal medicines available in the Nigerian market. Keywords: Herbal medicinal products, microbial quality, pharmaceutical quality. > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 661-67

EVALUATION OF ANTITRYPANOSOMAL AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF SELECTED NIGERIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MICE

The extracts of nine selected Nigerian medicinal plants were investigated on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice. The anti-inflammatory properties of hexane fraction of the most promising U. chamae extract was assessed by acute oedema of the mice paw model while the modulatory effect of the extract on Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) resp onse on in vivo leucocytes mobilization was evaluated. ‘Dose- probing acute toxicity tests’ established an oral and intraperitoneal LD50 for T. ivorensis stem bark as >1600 5000 mg/kg. Extracts of Khaya senegalensis, Harungana madagascariensis, Terminalia ivorensis, Curcuma longa, Ocimum gratissimum and Alcornea cordifolia showed weak anti-trypanosomal effect and did not exhibit significant clearance in parasitemia at the test dose administered compared with the positive control (Diminal®). However, the leaf extract of U. chamae and its hexane fraction demonstrated a significant response (P < 0.01). The fraction at 1000 mg/kg inhibited oedema by 107%. Uvaria. chamae demonstrated both anti-trypanosomal and anti-inflammatory properties by increasing the survival time of infected mice due to reduction in parasitemia caused by T. brucei brucei

MEASUREMENTS OF SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN RIVERINE SOIL SEDIMENT OF ADO-ODO OTA, SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA: PROBABILISTIC APPROACH USING MONTE CARLO

The radioactivity levels were measured using a hand-held gamma-ray survey meter and NaI (Tl) based gamma spectroscopy to evaluate the seasonal variation of radioactivity levels in the riverine area of Ado-Odo Ota. The measured iso-dose map reported higher gamma dose rate of 79 nGy/h, approximately 34% higher than the world average of 59 nGy/h. The values for U-238, Th- 232 and K-40 activity levels ranged between 29.9 and 21.6; 103.2 and 31.2; 802.2 and 233.5 with mean values of 26.1, 55.6 and 499.3 Bq/kg, respectively. According to the mean, 5th and 95th percentiles of the probabilities using theMonte Carlo simulation, the Radium equivalent activities and the absorbed dose rates are within their respective recommended limits of 370 Bq/kg and 84 nGy/h. This study could be used to monitor dose rates and radiological risks for the areas covering the small area (Ado-Odo Ota) to the larger area (West African Region) as baseline data

Prevalence of Priapism among Adult Male Sickle Cell Disease Populace seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

Priapism is a serious urological complication of sickle cell disease with adverse clinical and psychological implications. The study is aimed at determining the prevalence of priapism among adult male SCD patients seen at the university of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City; to assess their knowledge of the complications, to characterize the pattern of presentation and to assess their health behavior with regard to priapism. This is a descriptive study. Adult male SCD patient seen in the haematology unit were assessed using a semi structure questionnaire. The study was conducted over a period of 9 months (January 2012 – September 2012). The results were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Fishers' exact test was used to assess the association between Hb phenotype and priapism. P value &lt;0.05 was considered significant. A total of 49 SCD patients were recruited. The median age of the subjects was 27 years. The prevalence of priapism was found to be 44.9% with an average age at onset of 18.5 years. Twenty (40.8%) of the subjects are aware of priapism and its complication but only 11 (50.0%) those with priapism had discussed it with their physicians. There was no association between Hb phenotype and priapism. Priapism is a serious and common complication among male sickle cell patients in Benin City. However a significant proportion of these patients are ignorant of the complication and those who experience it are not freely disposed to discuss it with their physicians during their routine clinic visit. Keywords: Priapism, Sickle Cell Disease, Adult

Investigation of groundwater contamination from leachate migration: a case study of Bowen University dumpsite, Nigeria

A microstudy of soil physical properties in combination with geoelectric delineation were adopted for the evaluation of groundwater contamination prospect from leachate migration at Bowen University dumpsite location. Samples of soil were collected from five different locations, with five locations within the dumpsite and one control sample which is 200 m far away from the dumpsite locations. A core sampler which is attached to the soil auger is used to obtain each sample within 60 cm depth. Each sample is collected into a sample bag and properly labeled for laboratory analysis. Schlumberger electrode configuration was employed for the survey spread to delineate total of four (4) Vertical electrical sounding (VES) points with electrode spacing varying 60 to 100 m. This was done to obtain resistivity, thickness and depth within the dumpsite location. The results of the average value of the soil properties between the control and the dumpsite are compared such that the soil properties for control site reveal a bulk density (BD) of 1.45 g/cm3, particle density (PD) of 2.63 g/cm3 and porosity (PO) of 44.90%, respectively. Whereas, the mean soil properties of the dumpsite show that BD is 1.35 g/cm3, PD is 2.93 g/cm3, and PO is 54.07%, respectively. This signifies that the control location has high BD, low PD and low PO, while the dumpsite reveals an inverse of the control results. Also, the results from the interpreted VES data reveal the prospect of migration of contaminants from the topsoil to the alluvium, which could further percolate to the aquifer with time. It could be concluded that groundwater contamination is feasible within the study area, since an alluvium and porous soils could permit leachate migration to the aquifer

Spatial Distribution of Gamma Dose Rates in the Marine Environment of Unumherin Community in Niger Delta, South-South, Nigeria

This work investigates the radioactivity distribution of coastal polluted areas of Unumherin Community in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The measurement of the outdoor dose rate of the polluted coastlines was carried out using calibrated hand-held gamma detector, (RS-125 Gamma-Spec). The spatial distribution of gamma dose rate indicates the hotspot at location 4 with a value of 100 nGy/h. Maximum and minimum values of the absorbed dose-rate was observed in location 4 with the value of 100 nGyℎ−1 and location 15 with the value of 2 nGyℎ−1, respectively. This is an indicative that the risk of ionizing radiation exposures is much higher for location 4 than other locations. This higher value of 100 nGyℎ−1 is far more than the recommended limit of 59.00 and 84.00 nGyℎ−1 provided by UNSCEAR, 2000. The community requires much more radiological monitoring for the safety of human and ecosystem

Patient-reported benefit from oculoplastic surgery

PURPOSE: It is vital that surgeons undertaking oculoplastic procedures are able to show that the surgery they perform is of benefit to their patients. Not only is this fundamental to patient-centred medicine but it is also important in demonstrating cost effectiveness. There are several ways in which benefit can be measured, including clinical scales, functional ability scales, and global quality-of-life scales. The Glasgow benefit inventory (GBI) is an example of a patient-reported, questionnaire-based, post-interventional quality-of-life scale that can be used to compare a range of different treatments for a variety of conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken using the GBI to score patient benefit from four commonly performed oculoplastic procedures. It was completed for 66 entropion repairs, 50 ptosis repairs, 41 ectropion repairs, and 41 external dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR). The GBI generates a scale from −100 (maximal detriment) through zero (no change) to +100 (maximal benefit). RESULTS: The total GBI scores of patients undergoing surgery for entropion, ptosis, ectropion, and external DCR were: +25.25 (95% CI 20.00–30.50, P<0.001), +24.89 (95% CI 20.04–29.73, P<0.001), +17.68 (95% CI 9.46–25.91, P<0.001), and +32.25 (95% CI 21.47–43.03, P<0.001), respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant benefit from all procedures. CONCLUSION: Patients derived significant quality-of-life benefits from the four most commonly performed oculoplastic procedures

Spatial distribution of gamma radiation dose rates from natural radionuclides and its radiological hazards in sediments along river Iju, Ogun state Nigeria

This study assessed the radioactivity level of Iju River sediments and its associated radiological risks exposure to human. Gamma absorbed dose rates were measured using a portable gamma spectrometer at an interval of 50 m between each point (Model No:RS-125 manufactured by Canadian Geophysical Institute). The measured absorbed gamma dose rates range from 22 to 59 nGy/h with the highest value noted in site 13. The mean activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 from Iju river sediments were 24.1 ± 0.4 Bq/kg, 35.2 ± 1.1 Bq/kg and 501.0 ± 11.1 Bq/kg, which were lower than the world average values of 32 and 45 for U-238 and Th-232 by 25% and 21% and higher than 412 Bq/kg for K-40 by a factor of 0.22 (22%).•This highest value of K-40 found in site 6 may be due to the presence of feldspartic minerals buried in the sediments.•Consequently, the radiological hazard indices were below the permissible limits except the mean value of 28 × 10-2 for excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for the samples collected in site 6, which is higher than the average world value of 0.29 × 10- 3 by a factor of 0.03.•The regression model indicates that Th-232 attributes more radioactivity impacts on the soil sediments than the contributions of U-232 and K-40, as such, presumed to be the radionuclide parameter controlling the depositional process in the region

Dispersion of gamma dose rates and natural radionuclides in the coastal environments of the Unumherin community in Niger Delta

The outdoor gamma dose rates and the activity concentrations of potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 within the study area were carried out using calibrated hand-held gamma detector (RS-125 gamma spectrometer) and NaI(Tl) gamma spectroscopy. The in-situ measurement results of the gamma dose rate indicate that the hotspot is at location 4 with a value of 100 nGyh-1. The results from the NaI(Tl) gamma detector revealed the highest activity concentrations of potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 to be 288.09, 96.49, and 136.12 Bqkg−1 for sediments and 257.31, 66.93, and 96.57 Bqkg for water, respectively. The highest mean activity concentration of potassium-40 and uranium-238 was observed in Catfish with values of 151.87 and 38.00 Bqkg−1, whereas the highest value for the activity of thorium-232 was observed in Tilo Fish with a value of 89.02 Bqkg-1. In comparison, all the observed values are higher than the populationweighted average of 420.00, 32.00, and 45.00 Bqkg−1 for potassium-40, uranium- 238, and thorium-232 according to UNSCEAR. Geologically, this may be attributed to the marine incursion of regional tectonic subsidence during transgression. Statistically, the correlation results confirmed that the enhanced outdoor dose rates at the coastline environment were caused mainly by uranium-238, followed by thorium-232 and then potassium-40 in magnitude. The mean hazard indices calculated for the samples were also observed to be within the global average values recommended by ICRP

Health implication of anion contents in different brands of bottled water samples consumed in some parts of south west Nigeria

In recent time, many bottled water factories in Nigeria are producing water for consumption without standard operation procedures for quality water treatments. Twenty-one samples of different brands of bottled water samples were purchased in and around three densely populated states in Southwest Nigeria. The concentrations of phosphate, nitrate, chloride and nitrite anions in the bottled water samples were analyzed using ascorbic acid method, UV–visible spectrophotometry and argentometric titration. Statistically, the regression analysis indicates that nitrate correlated with nitrite and the significance F value of 1.7 × 10–3 which is lower than the critical value of 5 × 10–3 with p-value of 1.7 × 10–3 also in good agreement. The principal component analysis strongly revealed that high factor scores of nitrite may be due to Aquarite bottled water with a combined contribution of about 65% in all the nitrites found in the 21 samples. The value of 0.80 mg L–1 for nitrite in Aquarite exceeds the World Health Organization, European Economic Community and Standard Organization of Nigeria guidelines by factors of 4, 1.6 and 4, respectively. The anion contents in Nirvana bottled water were found to be lower than the International Reference Standards. The exposure dose, lifetime average daily dose and hazard quotient from the bottled waters were below the permissible limits. This study suggests the need for greater awareness of the risks of anion contents in drinking water, and the appropriate authority should consider the constant increase in production of untreated or poorly treated bottled water as well as the global growth in environmental pollution