“TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS AND MALARIA”

Merlin Willcox, Gerald Bodeker and Philippe Rosoanaivo, CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York and Washinton, D.C., 2004. p. 431. Epilogue by M. L. Wilcox. Forward by D. A. Warrell. Numerous illustrations, Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times, Vol. 4, USS 99.95$/66.99£UK, ISBN 0-415-30112-2 (hardcover

Providing some pharmacopoeial standards for the leaves of two closely-related Alstonia species

Background: Alstonia boonei De Wild. and Alstonia congensis Engl. (Apocynaceae) are commonly used by the indigenes of Nigeria to treat malaria and other ailments.Objective: This study has examined the leaves of A. boonei and A. congensis with a view to providing some pharmacopoeial standards for identification and development of their individual monograph.Materials and Methods: Macroscopic and microscopic studies were carried out on the leaves of A. boonei and A. congensis with the use of light microscope, while the proximate and fluorescence analyses were carried out according to standard World Health Organization specifications.Results: The leaves of A. boonei and A. congensis were coriaceous. The quantitative microscopy of the leaves showed the upper epidermal cell lengths for A. boonei and A. congensis as 32.5 ± 0.56 (μm) and 38.5 ± 1.8 (μm), while palisade ratios were 5.2 ± 0.4 and 3.7 ± 0.2, respectively. The stomata numbers of A. boonei and A. congensis were 5.0 ± 1.2 and 1.8 ± 0.3, respectively. The stomata length and width of A. boonei, respectively, were 24.5 ± 0.5 (μm) and 22.0 ± 1.2 (μm), while those of A. congensis, respectively, were 35.0 ± 0.8 (μm) and 28.0 ± 3.0 (μm). The vascular bundle in A. boonei was arc-shaped with xylem vessels standing in isolation but assuming a U-shape in A. congensis with xylem vessels interlocking to form a crown-like connection. Vein-islet number of A. boonei (9.0± 0.7) was slightly more than that of A. congensis (8.8±1.8). Total ash values and moisture contents of the leaves of A. boonei and A. congensis were 8.5 ± 0.01 and 6.8 ± 0.03; and 9.1 ± 0.04 and 9.9 ± 0.02, respectively.Conclusion: The foliar epidermal and anatomical characters presented in this study are useful for differentiating between the two closely-related species, Alstonia boonei and Alstonia congensis. The established characters in each of the species could be incorporated into the next editions of the Nigerian and West African Herbal Pharmacopoeias.Keywords: Alstonia spp., Pharmacopoeia, Microscopy, Proximate analysis, Organoleptic evaluatio

Counterion Condensation on Spheres in the Salt-free Limit

A highly-charged spherical colloid in a salt-free environment exerts such a powerful attraction on its counterions that a certain fraction condenses onto the surface of a particle. The degree of condensation depends on the curvature of the surface. So, for instance, condensation is triggered on a highly-charged sphere only if the radius exceeds a certain critical radius \collrad^{*}. \collrad^{*} is expected to be a simple function of the volume fraction of particles. To test these predictions, we prepare spherical particles which contain a covalently-bound ionic liquid, which is engineered to dissociate efficiently in a low-dielectric medium. By varying the proportion of ionic liquid to monomer we synthesise nonpolar dispersions of highly-charged spheres which contain essentially no free co-ions. The only ions in the system are counterions generated by the dissociation of surface-bound groups. We study the electrophoretic mobility of this salt-free system as a function of the colloid volume fraction, the particle radius, and the bare charge density and find evidence for extensive counterion condensation. At low electric fields, we observe excellent agreement with Poisson-Boltzmann predictions for counterion condensation on spheres. At high electric fields however, where ion advection is dominant, the electrophoretic mobility is enhanced significantly which we attribute to hydrodynamic stripping of the condensed layer of counterions from the surface of the particle.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures and two table

REVIEW OF THE BOOK “AFRICAN HERBAL PHARMACOPOEIA” BY BRENDLER, T., ELOFF, J. N., GURIB-FAKIM, A., PHILLIPS, L. D. Published by the Association for African Medicinal Plants Standards (2010)

I would like to open this brief review by welcoming the pharmacopoeial publication into the league of earlier texts of similar nature in the field of African medicinal plant documentation. The usefulness of a herbal pharmacopoeia in a resource-limiting continent like Africa, cannot be over-emphasised. Firtsly, it would facilitate and fast-track the long awaited and most needed official recognition of African traditional medicine in the region, the evolution of herbal industry in the AFRO region, improved health care delivery among the people as well as bringing about job and wealth creation, through poverty alleviation. Furthermore, it would provide the necessary quality control and monitoring templates for the national or sub-regional Food and Drugs Administration and other relevant drug regulatory/registration authorities on safety of herbal medicines, submitted to them for human and animal health

Toxicity potentials and novelty-induced behavior effects of JEDDY decoction

JEDDY decoction, a plant medicine, is prepared by the “Village Chemist” of Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria for the treatment of hemorrhoids, pile, flatulence, abdominal distention, indigestion and colic. It is a popular OTC herbal medicine, available in Nigeria especially in the South-west. Hence, the main objective of the research was to carry out scientific studies on its toxicity potentials as well as possible central effects. Twenty four albino rats of both sexes were obtained and divided into four groups (n=6 per group) for the administration of three dose levels of JEDDY decoction and the vehicle. In sub-chronic toxicity test, JEDDY decoction was  administered orally to rats at daily doses of 334, 667 and 1334  ìl/kg/day/30 days. Generally, their behavioral, mortality, biochemical and histopathological outcomes were evaluated. Noveltyinduced behavior (NIB) was observed on both day 1 and day 30 of administration of JEDDY  decoction and the vehicle. The animals were sacrificed on day 30 after the NIB scoring and blood sample was obtained for biochemical assays for triglycerides, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate  aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) using the serum. These biochemical assays were also carried out on the liver obtained from rats treated with both JEDDY decoction and the vehicle, respectively. ANOVA, followed by Post hoc analysis using student Newman Keuls test was used in establishing significant levels for all the data obtained statistically. The sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction revealed a  dose-dependent decrease in the body weight of the treated groups but the percentage change was statistically not significant when compared with the control. The sub-chronic administration at all the three dose levels revealed no significant effect on locomotion and rearing activities when compared with the control. Acute administration of JEDDY decoction at the three dose levels (344, 667 and 1334 ìl/kg/30 days, p.o.) also revealed no significant effects on locomotion activities when compared with the control but the ANOVA revealed that there was a significant decrease in grooming activities at the dose of 667 ìl/kg only when compared with the control. Biochemical analysis showed that there was a significant decrease on triglyceride and cholesterol level due to JEDDY decoction administration when compared with the control. Furthermore, biochemical analysis showed that sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction caused no significant effect on ALT, AST and ALP in rats when compared with the control. Thus, oral acute and sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction had no significant potential toxicity effect in rats.Keywords: JEDDY decoction, herbal, toxicity, grooming, behavior

LAXATIVE ACTIVITIES OF CASSIA SIEBERIANA AND SENNA OBTUSIFOLIA

Background: The root and stem bark of Cassia sieberiana DC. (Caesalpiniaceae) and the root of Senna obtusifolia (Linn) Irwin and Barneby (Caesalpiniaceae), used for constipation in Nigeria, were assayed for laxative properties in male albino rats using the official senna leaf (Senna alexandrina Mill. family Caesalpiniaceae) as the reference standard. This is with a view to finding alternative laxative drug to official senna which is presently being imported into Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Materials and Methods: The mean percentage of wet faeces in rats, an indication of laxative activity, were obtained using established methods. The laxative activity was established at 500 mg/kg after the infusion of the drug was orally administered on male albino rats following established methods while a set of data was analyzed at 95 % confidence level. Results: At 500 mg/kg, Senna obtusifolia root gave about 45 % wet faeces while Cassia sieberiana root gave about 40 % wet faeces while at the highest dose of 700 mg/kg, they produced 60 % and 38 % wet faeces, respectively. At these two doses, the official Senna gave 50.6 % and 66 % wet faeces, respectively. Thus, S. obtusifolia and C. sieberiana roots exhibited 89 % and 80 % of the potency of S. alexandrina (the official drug), respectively. The analysis of variance revealed a significant statistical difference in the levels of wet faeces produced by rats dosed with C. sieberiana root. Conclusion: The results have shown that the roots of the two species could be developed as mild laxative drugs for children and pregnant women for whom the official senna will be contraindicated

Antimicrobial and toxicological evaluation of the leaves of Baissea axillaries Hua used in the management of HIV/AIDS patients

BACKGROUND: Persistent diarrhea is a common endemic disease with high incidence among the Africans including Nigerians. It also represents a frequent opportunistic disease in people living with HIV. Diarrhea represents one of the most distressful and persistent symptoms of HIV/AIDS, which may or may not be accompanied by an infection. The leaves decoction of Baissea axillaries Hua (Apocynaceae) is used by traditional herbalists in Edo state, Nigeria for the management of people living with HIV/AIDS. Determination of its antimicrobial activity and toxicological profile will provide supportive scientific evidence in favour of its continuous usage. METHOD: Chemical and chromatographic tests were employed in phytochemical investigations. Inhibitory activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis were compared with Togamycin (Spectinomycin). Our report includes minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the test organisms. Toxicological evaluation was determined by administering 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of extracts on male Wister rats for 14 days with normal saline as control. The kidneys, liver, heart and testis tissues were examined. RESULTS: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and cyanogenetic glycosides. The extracts inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to varying extents, but only the ethanolic extract inhibited growth in Streptococcus faecalis. The LD(50 )of the extract in mice was above 5000 mg/kg body weight when administered intraperitoneally. Toxicological evaluation showed mere ballooning degeneration of the liver at 250 mg/kg while at 500 mg/kg there was tissue necrosis. The low and high doses showed ill-defined leydig cells in the testis and no remarkable changes in the heart and kidneys. CONCLUSION: Extracts of Baissea axillaries have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against clinical strains of selected microorganisms. While there is toxicity at the dose of 500 mg/kg, the therapy shows potential for application in the treatment of diarrhoea associated with AIDS/HIV. Further studies of Baissea axillaries on diarrhoea and toxicity are necessary to evaluate its mechanism of action and to fully establish its safety profile

Potential Phytopharmacy and Food Applications of Capsicum spp.: A Comprehensive Review

Capsicum genus (Solanaceae) is native to the Americas. Today, it is an important agricultural crop cultivated around the world, not only due to its economic importance, but also for the nutritional value of the fruits. Among their phytochemical constituents, capsaicinoids are characteristic and responsible of the pungency of sharp-tasting cultivars. Moreover, Capsicum and capsaicinoids (mainly, capsaicin) have been largely studied because of their health benefits. Thus, this study reviews the scientific knowledge about Capsicum spp. and their phytochemicals against cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, pain, and metabolic syndrome, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. These bioactivities can be the basis of the formulation of functional ingredients and natural preservatives containing Capsicum extracts or isolated compounds