CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF SYRINGIN, A NOVEL BIOGLYCOSIDE: A REVIEW

Syringin, a phenylpropanoid glycoside belongs to eleutheroside derivative. This bioactive compound was identified in several plants including Musaparadisiaca, Jasminum mesnyi, Edgeworthia chrysantha, Acanthopanax senticosus, etc. According to Nair et al., syringin is synthesized from the precursorphenylalanine by a series of reactions. Zhao has described a rapid extraction method based on the ultrasound-assisted extraction of syringin fromthe bark of Ilex rotunda thumb using response surface methodology. Based on the findings made by Jizhong et al., the bioactive compound syringinwas separated from the n-butanol extract of the stems and barks of E. chrysantha Lindl by high-speed counter-current chromatography. Accordingto Choi et al., the enrichment and purification of syringin from A. senticosus was performed based on the adsorption and desorption properties ofcommercial macroporous resins. The pharmacological properties of syringin includes scavenging the free radicals, protection against neuronal celldamage, inhibition of apoptosis, anti-diabetic effect, anti-inflammatory potential, anti-nociceptive action, anti-allergic effect, etc.Keywords: Phenylpropanoid glycoside, Eleutheroside, Apoptosis, Nociceptive

Pharmacological Activities of Banana

Plants have been in use in traditional medicine since antiquity, and many active metabolic products with biological significance are obtained from them. Recently, pharmaceutical industries have developed great interest in utilizing these products as an alternative to the chemically synthesized drugs. This is due to the discovery of important new medicines from the plants, because of studies on how people of different background use plants as cure and treatment for many diseases, and side effects of the synthesized drugs. Banana, an eatable fruit produced by some herbaceous flowering plants of the genus Musa, is one of the valuable fruits with proven pharmacological potentials. Bananas are spread almost all over the world. Different chemical constituents like apigenin glycosides, myricetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, dopamine, and serotonin have been reported in different parts and varieties of banana. The presence of carbohydrate, proteins as well as flavonoids, makes bananas useful in both nutrition and therapeutics. Pharmacologically, bananas have been shown to possess antiulcer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. This chapter discusses the essential information on banana, including its varieties, distribution, pharmacological actions, and its relevance in pharmaceutical industries. This will be beneficial for researchers to further harness the robustness of this fruit in controlling many diseases and modification of drugs

Role of Serial Polio Seroprevalence Studies in Guiding Implementation of the Polio Eradication Initiative in Kano, Nigeria: 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND: Nigeria was one of 3 polio-endemic countries before it was de-listed in September 2015 by the World Health Organization, following interruption of transmission of the poliovirus. During 2011-2014, Nigeria conducted serial polio seroprevalence surveys (SPS) in Kano Metropolitan Area, comprising 8 local government areas (LGAs) in Kano that is considered very high risk (VHR) for polio, to monitor performance of the polio eradication program and guide the program in the adoption of innovative strategies. METHODS: Study subjects who resided in any of the 8 local government areas of Kano Metropolitan Area and satisfied age criteria were recruited from patients at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (Kano) for 3 seroprevalence surveys. The same methods were used to conduct each survey. RESULTS: The 2011 study showed seroprevalence values of 81%, 75%, and 73% for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively, among infants aged 6-9 months age. Among children aged 36-47 months, seroprevalence values were greater (91%, 87%, and 85% for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively).In 2013, the results showed that the seroprevalence was unexpectedly low among infants aged 6-9 months, remained high among children aged 36-47 months, and increased minimally among children aged 5-9 years and those aged 10-14 years. The baseline seroprevalence among infants aged 6-9 months in 2014 was better than that in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the polio seroprevalence surveys conducted in Kano Metropolitan Area in 2011, 2013, and 2014 served to assess the trends in immunity and program performance, as well as to guide the program, leading to various interventions being implemented with good effect, as evidenced by the reduction of poliovirus circulation in Kano

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SOME NATURAL PRODUCTS AND THEIR SECONDARY METABOLITES ATTRIBUTED TOWARDS DIABETIC CURE: A REVIEW

Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently more than 371 million people living with diabetes and another 28 million are at risk of developing the disease. Aside from conventional allopathic medicines, traditional/alternative therapy plays a substantial part in treating diabetes mellitus. In the final few decades eco-friendly, bio-friendly, cost effective and relatively safe plant-based medicines have gone from the periphery to the mainstream with the increased research in the area of traditional medication. Plant-based medications are preferable as mainly non-toxic, having typically fewer side effects, better compatibility with physiological flora, and availability at low-costs. However, secondary metabolites isolated from these plants (Diosmin, Tangeritin, Lycopene, Syringin etc., ) possess this antidiabetic property. The power of the herb/active compound to enhance glucose utilization and lower plasma glucose level in rats suffering from insulin deficiency suggests that these plant extracts/phytochemicals may be useful in the discussion of human diabetes.Â

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PURE SYRINGIN IN COMPARISON TO VARIOUS SOLVENTS EXTRACTS OF MUSA PARADISIACA (BANANA) (FRUIT AND FLOWER) AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENTS

Objective: The study concentrated on exploring the radical scavenging activity of various banana extracts in comparison to pure syringin and the total phenolic contents of the extracts.Methods: The banana parts were prepared and extracted by cold extraction technique and the extracts obtained were used to carry out some phytochemical screening by Trease and Evans method. The ability of the extract to scavenge free radicals was measured using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pcrylhydrazyl radical using quercetin as a reference radical scavenger by the method of Gyamfi. Further analysis of total phenolic contents present in the extracts was carried out using Singleton and Rossi method.Results: Tepal methanol extract was found to have the highest radical scavenging activity compared to others, such as tepal ethanol, tepal aqueous, skin methanol, flesh methanol and pure syringin. The IC50 value of the tepal methanol extract was found to be 22.5 µg/ml. The highest total phenolic contents (expressed as microgram of Gallic acid equivalent per gram of the extracts) were found in tepal methanol extract (8000 µg/g) and the least in Flesh methanol extract (2150 µg/g).Conclusion: The results generated from this study showed that tepal banana extracts possess very good radical scavenging activity and as well the largest amount of phenolic contents, which could introduce phenols as the main radical scavenger in banana extracts and offering effective protection from free radicals, and the antioxidant activity of pure syringin was not obvious may be due to the presence of highly anti oxidative compounds present in banana, phenolics and flavonoids.Â

Nigeria at sixty: An analysis of user participation in an online national competition amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

Activities across the world were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. Events such as sports, national celebrations, international exhibitions and conferences were cancelled or postponed due to the restrictions posed by governments to mitigate the pandemic. The Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector being loosely constrained by the restrictions, was mandated to facilitate some of these events. In this research, we made computational analysis, by leveraging an Information Technology (IT) platform (Website) to conduct pre-anniversary competitions in celebration of Nigeria’s 60th Anniversary. The aim of using the website was to gather Information regarding the pre-anniversary competitions to determine user participation in online events across Nigeria. Initially, information about the site was propagated via various media outlet to call for participation. Activities performed by participants across all states of the nation (Nigeria) were recorded, as well as the site activities for a designated period of time. An extensive analysis was conducted using the Google analytics tool. Performance show that much needed to be done to improve and engage citizens in participating in national events, which employ IT platforms as an alternative to the main event during the COVID-19 pandemic