QUANTIFICATION OF XYLOPIC ACID AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC FINGERPRINT EVALUATIONS OF THE DRIED FRUITS OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA FROM FOUR AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Dunal) A. Rich, (herein called XYA), family Annonaceae, commonly known as “Guinea pepper”, “Ethiopian pepper” or “Negro pepper”, are widely used in traditional African medicines to treat a wide array of diseases including malaria, fungal infections, rheumatism, arthritis, etc. Scientific investigations have ascribed the following activities to the fruits of XYA; anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, analgesic, anti-nociceptive, anti-proliferative, spermatogenic and neuropharmacological effects. The main active principle reported is xylopic acid (XA), a kaurene diterpene. This study aimed to develop and validate a simple HPLC/UV (high performance liquid chromatography – ultraviolet detection) analytical method for the quantification of XA that can be reproduced in poor-resource settings where advanced analytical detection techniques such as HPLC-MS are unavailable. Materials and Methods: Thus in this study, a simple C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) column-pretreatment ─ HPLC/UV analytical procedure was developed for the quantification of XA in the dried fruits of XYA from four African countries, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. The samples of XYA from the four countries were assessed for similarities using chromatographic fingerprinting. Results: The HPLC method was validated for linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision and accuracy. The samples of XYA from Cameroon were found to have the highest average content of XA while those from Benin had the lowest average content of XA. Conclusion: Using the chromatographic fingerprint evaluation, the similarities of the samples from the four countries to the reference chromatogram was in the order: Benin > Cameroon > Nigeria > Ghana. Key words: Xylopia aethiopica, xylopic acid, C1

Functional diagnostic and therapeutic nanoconstructs for efficient probing of circulating tumor cells

The circulation of tumor cells in peripheral blood is mostly recognized as a prerequisite for cancer progression or systemic invasion, and it correlates with the pivotal hallmark of malignancies known as metastasis. Multiple detection schemes for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have emerged as the most discerning criteria for monitoring the outcome of anticancer therapy. Therefore, there has been a tremendous increase in the use of robust nanostructured platforms for observation of these mobile tumor cells through various simultaneous diagnosis and treatment regimens developed from conventional techniques. This review seeks to give detailed information about the nature of CTCs as well as techniques for exploiting specific biomarkers to help monitor cancer via detection, capturing, and analysis of unstable tumor cells. We will further discuss nanobased diagnostic interventions and novel platforms which have recently been developed from versatile nanomaterials such as polymer nanocomposites, metal organic frameworks, bioderived nanomaterials and other physically responsive particles with desirable intrinsic and external properties. Herein, we will also include in vivo nanotheranostic platforms which have received a lot of attention because of their enormous clinical potential. In all, this review sums up the general potential of key promising nanoinspired systems as well as other advanced strategies under research and those in clinical use

Pilot study of quality control of Artemisia annua-based herbal medicine sold in Benin

The quality control of medicines is one of the key factors which determine its efficacy. In Africa, particularly in Benin, a large population often uses traditional medicines. Therefore, controlling their quality becomes a major concern for public health. It is in this context that this study was designated to ensure an adequate system of drugs quality control, especially herbal medicines. We collected three different samples (T1, T2 and T3) of Traditional Medicines (MTA) based on Artemisia annua and we controlled their quality. The identification of artemisinin was carried out by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and the quantification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). After analyzing the organoleptic characteristic, the loss of water and the impurities, we found that only T3 was conform to all the specification as MTA. This work opens a new platform of expertise in the field for our team and further a hope for the management of public health in term of the control of MTA

Development of new dermatological formulations for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis

The inhibitory activity of the essential oils (EO) of mint and thyme on Candida albicans are well known, however, their valorization in a dosage form for the management of cutaneous candidiasis has been little explored. This study aimed to formulate innovative and cost-effective dermatological topicals based on mint and thyme essential oils for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis. Thyme essential oil was obtained commercially, while that of mint was obtained by hydrodistillation. In order to determine their antifungal activity, both essentials oils were tested alone and in combination against a reference strain of Candida albicans (strain MHMR) and clinical strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Three creams were formulated using natural (shea butter, palm oil) and chemical (cetomacrogol) excipients. The efficacies of these creams were assessed in vivo using Wistar rats infected with Candida albicans MHMR. The in vitro antimicrobial study showed that C. albicans MHMR was more sensitive to thyme essential oil with a MIC of 310 μgmL−1, which was higher than the reference fluconazole used for the in vitro study (32 μgmL−1). The antimicrobial synergy study of both essential oils using checkerboard test demonstrated an additive effect of mint and thyme essential oils on C. albicans MHMR. GC/FID and GC/MS analyses led to the identification of thymol and menthol respectively as the main components of thyme and mint essential oils. A shea butter cream base and a shea butter and palm oil cream both containing 5% of EO (mint and thyme) exhibited the best in vivo antimicrobial activities, inducing optimal wound healing in infected rats compared with ketoconazole commercial cream used for the in vivo study. These results provide a solid basis at least in part, for the use of essential oil in creams formulated with natural excipients for the management of cutaneous candidiasis