Pharmacognostic and Acute Toxicity Study of Burkea Africana Root

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in  ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. Despite the fact that roots of Burkea africana have several medicinal properties, no standardization parameter has been  assessed. Due to lack of standard parameters, proper identification and ascertaining quality and purity in the events of adulteration has been thwarted. The objective of the study was to establish some important pharmacognostic profile and safety margin of Burkea africana root with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. Elemental analysis was carried out using acid digestion method and phytochemical composition of the plants was evaluated using standard method. Acute toxicity was achieved using Lorke method to determine the LD50. Chemomicroscopical evaluation revealed the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, calcium oxalate, suberin, aleurone grain and mucilage with the exception of calcium carbonate. The average moisture contents, total ash, acid insoluble, water soluble ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values in the powdered plant material were 3.8%, 7.5%, 4.43%, 8.07%, 25.0% and 20.33% respectively. In addition, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cu were found to be within the safety limit. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The LD50 of Burkea africana was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption. Keywords: Elemental analysis, Burkea africana, Pharmacognostic, Phytochemica

An Unusual Case of Severe Varicella Zoster Infection Complicated by Acute Renal Failure in an 8-year-old Nigerian Boy

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is highly contagious and has a worldwide distribution. It is predominantly a childhood disease and frequently runs a benign course. However, serious complications such as target organ damage could occur in older immunocompetent children. Acute kidney injury (AKI) arising from varicella infection is one of the rare complications in children. Case Report: The patient presented with body rash typical of varicella, fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, vomiting and dark urine. He had contact with his two siblings with similar rashes. He was febrile, centrally cyanosed with generalised lymphadenopathy and body rashes at different stages of development. He had tachypnoea, dyspnoea and widespread coarse crepitations. Kidneys were enlarged and urinalysis revealed microscopic haematuria of 4+ and proteinuria 1+. Initial assessment of chickenpox with pneumonia and nephritis was made. He received oral acyclovir among other interventions. His estimated glomerular filtration rate dropped from 120 to 8.71mls/min/1.73m2. He had 3 sessions of haemodialysis, his biochemical parameters normalised and has been on follow-up for one year with normal renal function. Conclusion: Acute varicella infection can lead to clinically significant kidney failure in otherwise healthy children. Prompt renal replacement therapy could result in complete recovery of kidney function