Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal activity of the stem bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (mimosaceae)

The ethyl acetate (EA) extract of the stem bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) (Mimosaceae) was analysed for its anti-diarrhoeal activity. Like loperamide (3 mg/Kg body weight), a single oral dose of C.gabunensis ethyl acetate extract (CG-EA) (375, 750 mg/Kg body weight) produced a significant decrease in the severity of diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its anti-diarrhoeal activity, its effect was further evaluated on intestinal transit, castor oil induced intestinal fluid accumulation(enteropooling) and electrolyte concentration in the small intestinal fluid. CG-EA produced a decrease in intestinal transit (10.26-30.75%), and unlike atropine, it significantly inhibited castor oil induced enteropooling. However, it did not alter the electrolyte concentration in intestinal fluid as compared tocastor oil-treated rat

Piptaderol From Piptadenia africana

A new glyceryl derivative (Glyceryl-1-hexacosanoate) and a flavone derivative (methyletherapigenin) were isolated from the stem bark extract of Piptadenia africana, a western Cameroonian plant species. Common terpenes like sitosterol, β-amyrin and eicosane were also isolated. These compounds were identified using physical and spectroscopic methods including mp, IR, 1H and 13C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, EI MS, HREI MS as well as some chemical transformations. The antibacterial activity of the extract, the fractions and the pure compounds is also discussed. Keywords: Piptadenia africana, Leguminoseae, Glyceryl-1-hexacosanoate, Methyletherapigenin, Chemotaxonomy, Antibacterial activity.African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 4 (3) 2007: pp. 294-29

Traditional Medicine: Past, present and future research and development prospects and integration in the National Health System of Cameroon

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Cameroon Government has put in place a strategic platform for the practice and development of TM in Cameroon. This platform aims at harmonizing the traditional medicine practice in the country, create a synergy between TM and modern medicine and to institutionalize a more harmonized integrated TM practices by the year 2012 in Cameroon. An overview of the practice of TM past, present and future perspectives that underpins the role in sustainable poverty alleviation has been discussed. This study gives an insight into the  strategic plan and road map set up by the Government of Cameroon for the organisational framework and research platform for the practice and development of TM, and the global partnership involving the management of TM in the country.Key words: Tradttional medicine, Cameroon

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the stem bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (mimosaceae)

Ethyl acetate(EA) extract of the stem bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) was analysed phytochemically and evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against 17 pathogenic species isolated from patient: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter agglomerans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus feacalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus T, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, coumarins, triterpenes and/or sterols and reducing sugars were detected in the (EA) extract of CG. The best MIC and MBC values for the microorganisms sensitive to the extract were 0.00078 and 0.00315 mg/ml respectively. The greater and remarkable antimicrobial activity of the (EA) extract of CG was recorded with Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus cereus T. These results provide a rationalization for the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of infections diseases. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Cylicodiscus gabunensisThe African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 87-9

Triumfettosterol Id and Triumfettosaponin, a New (Fatty Acyl)-Substituted Steroid and a Triterpenoid Dimer Bis(-D-glucopyranosyl) Ester from the Leaves of Wild Triumfetta cordifolia A. Rich. (Tiliaceae)

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A new prenylated dihydrochalcone from the leaves of Artocarpus lowii

A new prenylated dihydrochalcone, 2′,4′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-3′-prenyldihydrochalcone (1), along with two known compounds, 2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-3′-prenylchalcone (2) and 2′,4-dihydroxy-3′,4′-(2,2-dimethylchromene)chalcone (3) were isolated from the leaves of Artocarpus lowii. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Compounds 1-3 showed strong free radical scavenging activity towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry

Antihepatotoxic and antioxidant activities of methanol extract and isolated compounds from Ficus chlamydocarpa

Free radicals, in particular radical oxygen species (ROS), play an important role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of various diseases. Current research in many countries focuses on the use of local medicinal plants as a promising source of liver protective agents. This paper describes the hepatoprotective effects of the methanol extract and four isolated compounds from Ficus chlamydocarpa on CCl4-induced liver damage, as well as the possible antioxidant mechanisms involved in this protection. The DPPH test, along with the beta-Carotene-Linoleic Acid Model System and Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power assays, as well as the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation were used to measure radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities. Pretreatment of rats with the methanol extract of F. chlamydocarpa before CCl4 administration, significantly prevented serum increase of hepatic enzyme markers, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), in a dose-dependent manner. The hepatoprotection was also associated with a significant enhancement in hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and a marked decrease of liver malondialdehyde (MDA). Among the four compounds 1-4, isolated from the methanol extract, alpha-amyrin acetate (1) and luteolin (4) showed a significant hepatoprotective activity, as indicated by their ability to prevent liver cell death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage during CCl4 intoxicatio