Screening Diospyros mespiliformis extract for antimalarial potency

Diospyros mespiliformis is used in ethnomedical practice for treating malaria attack. The aqueous extract of the plant’s stem bark was investigated for in vivo antiplasmodial potency in mice. Curative effect against established infection, suppressive activity against early infection and prophylactic effect in residual infection were tested against Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Result shows that the extract (50-200 mg/kg, p.o.) has significant (

Studies on the use of Zizyphus spina-christi against pain in rats and mice

Zizyphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) grows wild in tropical Africa and Asia and can be domesticated. It has folkloric usage in pain related ailments throughout these regions. In view of the claimed therapeuticpotentials, investigation of the plant’s root bark was initiated in our laboratory. The plant material was first sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol, and in this report, afraction (numbered) ZS-4D from the methanol extract eluted with 70:30% (chloroform : methanol) using flash column chromatography was apparently traced to be responsible for its main analgesic, and inaddition, anti-inflammatory activities. The fraction (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) was tested on chemical (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin), mechanical (analgesy-meter) and thermal (tail-flick) analgesic tests with the aim of elucidating both central and peripherally mediated action in rats and mice. Its antiinflammatory action against egg albumin-induced hind paw oedema was also tested in rats. Resultsshow that the fraction has some levels of dose related effect on all the models except the tail-flick test in which the activity was not statistically significant

CNS activity of ZS-1A: a phytoceutical from Zizyphus spina-christi root bark

Zizyphus spina-christi (ZS) Willd is reputed to have medicinal values. Studies on the phytochemistry, and some pharmacological activity of the plant\'s rootbark were initiated in our laboratories. The present study is a report on sedative effect of a fraction obtained from the hexane extract (numbered ZS-1A) of the plant material. The fraction (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) were tested against pentobarbital sleeping time, motor coordination (rota-rod performance) test and exploratory behaviour in mice. Results show that ZS-1A prolonged pentobarbital induced hypnosis and decrease the head-dip responses in the exploratory behaviour tests dose dependently. It however failed to give a positive test on the motor coordination test. The results demonstrate potent central depressant effect by ZS-1A. Keywords: Phytomedicine, sedation, mice.International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2008: pp. 456-46

Anti-diarrhoeal activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus

The methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus was investigated for anti-diarrhoeal activity. The anti-diarrhoeal activities were investigated using the castor oil-induced diarrhoea, magnesium sulphateinduced diarrhoea, small intestinal and distal colonic propulsion, isolated rabbit jejunum and castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation. The results revealed that the methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus significantly (p < 0.05) and dose-dependently inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhoea, magnesium sulphateinduced diarrhoea, and also inhibited small intestinal propulsion and distal colonic propulsion. The extract inhibited the spontaneous movement of the isolated rabbit jejunum and reduced castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the extract in mice was found to be 547.7 mg/kg and preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, carbohydrates, free anthraquinones and flavonoids. The results of this study indicate the presence of biologically active substance(s) which may be beneficial in the management of diarrhoea.© 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Key words: Phyllanthus muellerianus, Euphobiaceae, Herbal medicine, Anti-diarrhoea

Protective effects of the aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus L. (Nymphaeaceae) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers

Effects of the aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus were investigated on ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats. The extract (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg) significantly (P &lt; 0.05), dose dependently, protected the rat gastricmucosa against the necrotising effects of ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes, and had an oral LD50 of &gt;5000 mg/kg. These resultsshows that aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus contains active ingredients with a therapeutic potential against gastric ulcers, and thus authenticate the use of Nymphaea lotus as an antiulcer agent in traditional medicine.Keywords: Nymphaeae lotus, ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, gastroprotection

Anti-nociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Methanol Extract of \u3cem\u3eAnnona senegalensis\u3c/em\u3e Root Bark

Objective: To investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Annona senegalensis in mice and rats. Materials and Methods: The analgesic effects of the methanolic extract were studied using acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test and formalin test, while the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the egg-albumin induced hind paw oedema in rats. Results: The methanolic extract exhibited antinociceptive activity against the acetic acid writhing test, hot plate test and the late phase of formaline induced nociception and significant anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the methanolic extract might be through peripheral mechanisms and thus justifying its folkloric use in the treatement of rheumatic pain

In vitro screening of NIPRD-AH1 on CYP3A4 activity for plausible herb-drug interaction

NIPRD-AH1 is being developed from freeze-dried aqueous extract of Andrographis paniculata at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja Nigeria as immunestimulant for HIV infected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NIPRD-AH1 on human cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) drug metabolising enzyme in order to generate clinically significant data for its safe and efficacious use. Activity on CYP3A4 was measured with and without the addition of NIPRD-AH1 in a reaction medium with testosterone (70 μM) as CYP3A4 substrate, and ketoconazole (2.5 μM) as positive inhibitor. The metabolites formed after the enzymatic reactions were quantified by validated HPLC techniques. Results showed NIPRD-AH1 exhibiting low IC50 value of 0.03 mg/ml, indicating that its metabolic processes are likely to inhibit CYP3A4. This suggests possibility of herb-drug interaction, with potential implication on concomitant administration of NIPRD-AH1 with CYP3A4 substrates. We therefore suggested that this effect be examined in vivo in order to draw a definitive conclusion.Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, NIPRD-AH1, CYP3A4, herb-drug interaction

Evaluation of efficacious activities of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri against acetaminophen-induced hepatitis in rats

The efficacy of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri against acetaminophen-induced hepatitis in rats was evaluated. The hepatic injury was induced with 200 mg/kg, p.o. of acetaminophen, which led to rise in serum levels of the biochemical parameters observed. These are the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) which were elevated by 22% compared to respective negative control. Treatment with the plant extract (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, p.o.) lowered the biochemical parameters of the respective serum AST 31 to 38%, ALT 20 to 31%, Bilirubin -2 to 4%, protein 5 to 15%, cholesterol 0.2 to 0.5%, and albumin 5 to 12%. The histopathological results indicated that, the effect of the extracts on the condition of the liver as compared to the normal control ranges from mild to moderate. The biochemical variations were as a result of the different treatment involved in the study. The result therefore, shows lowering of the elevated parameters in the serum and possible reversal of hepatic cell damage with aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri. The trend of the study shows that, the longer the period of treatment at lower doses, the better the efficacy of the plant extract.Keywords: Phyllanthus niruri, hepatitis, acetaminophen, biochemical, histopathology, rat

Acute toxicity, antipyretic and antinociceptive study of the crude saponin from an edible vegetable: Vernonia amygdalina leaf

Vernonia amygdalina is commonly used for food and health purposes. Processing of the leaf for food is aimed at removing bitter tasting antinutritional principles like saponins. This study was designed to determine the antipyretic and antinociceptive property of the crude saponin from Vernonia amygdalina leaf. Standard procedure for antipyretic study using Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced pyrexia in rats; and acetic acid induced writhe, hot plate and cold tail flick tests for antinociceptive study in mice were used. Data for the crude saponin showed significant (P &#8804; 0.05) dose dependent anal temperature decrease. The antinociceptive data in mice was significant (P &#8804; 0.05) in the writhing test contrary to the cold tail flick test. In acute toxicity study, an LD50 of 5.1523 g/kg using oral route indicated it was practically non-toxic. Finding suggests that Vernonia amygdalina leaf prepared as diet could be of potential benefit to ailing persons with fever and/or pains, if processing technique adopts minimal loss of principles like saponins.Keywords: Mice, oral, pain, pyrexia, ra