Can the Monetary Integration of ECOWAS Improve Intra-Regional Trade?

A gravity model is used to evaluate the effects of currency union on intra-regional trade of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) member states. The panel data used includes bilateral observations for fourteen years spanning 1994 through 2006 for 16 countries. Controlling for determinants and deterrents of trade, I find the presence of a currency union three times as likely to increase intra-regional trade between ECOWAS member countries. In addition, I find that the effect on trade creation has been steadily falling since 1994

The Bioload and Aflatoxin Content of Herbal Medicines from Selected States in Nigeria

Background: There is increased reliance on traditional herbal medicines by several millions of people worldwide, especially in West Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to escalating cost of good quality drugs and consequent proliferation of faked cheaper drugs. However, non standardization of production and handling methods have resulted in herbal medicines with varying quality and safety indices, thus resulting in possible public health concerns. This work investigated the microbial load and aflatoxin levels in herbal medicines from selected states in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A total of 210 samples obtained from various renowned herbal medicine practitioners from some selected states in Nigeria, based on their medicinal uses, were analyzed to determine the microbial load by the plate count method and aflatoxin contamination levels using thin layer chromatography with aflatoxin standards.Results: At least six bacterial genera (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, EPEC, EHEC, Streptococcus and other coliforms) and 6 fungal genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Cladosporium, Geotricum and Candida) were isolated. Aflatoxin B1, B2 and G1 were detected in varying concentrations in the samples analyzed, with an average occurrence of 18.6%. Some of these herbal concoctions were found to contain unacceptably high bioload, according to WHO standards.Conclusion: Microbial contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in herbal medicines appear to be an endemic problem in Nigeria, as observed in this work, probably due to poor observation of basic hygiene during preparations and poor storage conditions. The findings in this work may serve in developing and instituting public health standards for the production and safety of herbal remedies in Nigeria.Key words: herbal medicines, microbial, bioload, aflatoxin, public health

Effects of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Pterocarpus mildbraedii on renal and heart functions of albino rats

Pterocarpus mildbraedii leaf is among the commonly consumed leafy vegetables in Nigeria. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves had been found to exert anti-diabetic effect in rats. This study was designed to investigate the possible toxicological effects of the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of this plant on renal and heart functions in Wistar albino rats. Both extracts were administered  intraperitoneally to four groups of rats at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. The renal and heart function indices were analyzed using standard methods. Histopathological evaluation of the kidney was also carried out. Results showed no remarkable alterations of serum levels of renal and heart function indices estimated. No significant differences (p>0.05) in sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), bicarbonate (HCO3), urea and creatinine (CRSC) levels used to assess renal functions were observed at the end of the 28 days-treatment when compared with control group that received saline. Also, serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were insignificantly (p>0.05) affected. Furthermore, histopathological examination of the kidney  samples revealed normal cellular architecture in both control and treated groups. These results suggest non-toxic effects of leaf extracts of P. mildbraedii on the kidney and heart in rats. Hence, the plant can be considered safe for use as leafy vegetable, pharmaceutical and or neutraceutical formulations.Keywords: Pterocarpus mildbraedii, Renal function, Lactate dehydrogenase, Kidney function, Heart, Toxicolog

Herbal Medicines in African Traditional Medicine

African traditional medicine is a form of holistic health care system organized into three levels of specialty, namely divination, spiritualism, and herbalism. The traditional healer provides health care services based on culture, religious background, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that are prevalent in his community. Illness is regarded as having both natural and supernatural causes and thus must be treated by both physical and spiritual means, using divination, incantations, animal sacrifice, exorcism, and herbs. Herbal medicine is the cornerstone of traditional medicine but may include minerals and animal parts. The adjustment is ok, but may be replaced with –‘ Herbal medicine was once termed primitive by western medicine but through scientific investigations there is a better understanding of its therapeutic activities such that many pharmaceuticals have been modeled on phytochemicals derived from it. Major obstacles to the use of African medicinal plants are their poor quality control and safety. Traditional medical practices are still shrouded with much secrecy, with few reports or documentations of adverse reactions. However, the future of African traditional medicine is bright if viewed in the context of service provision, increase of health care coverage, economic potential, and poverty reduction. Formal recognition and integration of traditional medicine into conventional medicine will hold much promise for the future

Investigation of the chemical composition and biological activity of Xylopia aethiopica Dunal (Annonacae)

The phytochemical composition and physicochemical properties of oil extractable from the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were determined. Extracts’ effects on cell membrane stability and prostaglandin synthetase activity were also evaluated. X. aethiopica oil extracted with chloroform: methanol (2:1, v/v) mixture contained carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phytosterols. The characteristic volatile and sweet smelling nature of X. aethiopica was predominantly inherent in this fraction. The sterol content was 64.30 mg/100 ml; with a high degree of unsaturatedness as evident in its high iodine value (85.76). High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the lipid extract revealed a fatty acid profile of palmitic acid (19.21%), palmitoleic acid (0.81%), stearic acid (4.54%), oleic acid (39.12%), linoleic acid (25.98%) and linolenic acid (1.10%). Investigation of the effect of the extract on hypotonicity- induced haemolysis of human red blood cells produced by water showed that the methanol extract of X. aethiopica (XAME) stabilized the red blood cells against the haemolytic action of distilled water. The lipid extract, on the other hand did not show any protective action against the osmotic shock. Xylopia aethiopica fruits may therefore be helpful in the maintenance of the integrity of the cellular membranes. The lipid extract also, in vitro, exhibited a prostaglandin synthetase substrate activity, whereas the methanol extract enhanced the synthesis of prostaglandins using X. aethiopica oil as  substrate. The presence of appreciable quantity of unsaturated fatty acids, stabilization of the cellular membrane integrity, promotion of the  biosynthesis of the hormone-like substances, prostaglandins, may be responsible for the usefulness of X. aethiopica fruits in the healing of wounds, inflammatory disorders and treatment of post-natal pains.Key words: Xylopia, linoleic acid, membranes, haemolysis, pains

A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Agricultural Export on Economic Growth of ECOWAS Countries

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mechanism of antidiarrhoeal effect of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava leaves

The mechanisms by which the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Psidium guajava exerts its antidiarrhoeal effect were investigated. Antimicrobial analyses of the extracts were carried out using standard cultures of Escherichia coli (ATCC 15597) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538). There was a concentration dependent inhibition of growth that was less significant for S. aureus (p < 001). Zones of inhibition remained clear without bacterial regrowth even after 72 hours. Diarrhea was induced with castor oil (10ml/kg body weight) in different groups of Wister albino rats (A -E) and treated per os with normal saline for the positive control (1ml/kg body weight); extract (40 mg/kg body weight); extract (80 mg/kg body weight), loperamide as standard drug (10 mg/kg body weight); gum acacia (10 mg/kg body weight) respectively. Group F which received no treatment served as the negative control. Results showed that the inhibition of diarrhea, measured as percentage faecal output relative to the positive control, was dose -dependent and comparable to the standard drug. The plant extract also showed a reduction in gastrointestinal motility, measured as the distance traveled by the charcoal plug in the small intestine. This was non - significantly different from the standard drug, loperamide (p < 0.05). The leaf of P. guajava therefore exerted its antidiarrhoeal effect by a dual action of its antimicrobial effect and reduction in gastrointestinal motility

THE BIOLOAD AND AFLATOXIN CONTENT OF HERBAL MEDICINES FROM SELECTED STATES IN NIGERIA

Background: There is increased reliance on traditional herbal medicines by several millions of people worldwide, especially in West Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to escalating cost of good quality drugs and consequent proliferation of faked cheaper drugs. However, non standardization of production and handling methods have resulted in herbal medicines with varying quality and safety indices, thus resulting in possible public health concerns. This work investigated the microbial load and aflatoxin levels in herbal medicines from selected states in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 210 samples obtained from various renowned herbal medicine practitioners from some selected states in Nigeria, based on their medicinal uses, were analyzed to determine the microbial load by the plate count method and aflatoxin contamination levels using thin layer chromatography with aflatoxin standards. Results: At least six bacterial genera (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, EPEC, EHEC, Streptococcus and other coliforms) and 6 fungal genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Cladosporium, Geotricum and Candida) were isolated. Aflatoxin B1, B2 and G1 were detected in varying concentrations in the samples analyzed, with an average occurrence of 18.6%. Some of these herbal concoctions were found to contain unacceptably high bioload, according to WHO standards. Conclusion: Microbial contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in herbal medicines appear to be an endemic problem in Nigeria, as observed in this work, probably due to poor observation of basic hygiene during preparations and poor storage conditions. The findings in this work may serve in developing and instituting public health standards for the production and safety of herbal remedies in Nigeria

Health Effects of Psidium guajava L. Leaves: An Overview of the Last Decade

Today, there is increasing interest in discovering new bioactive compounds derived from ethnomedicine. Preparations of guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaves have traditionally been used to manage several diseases. The pharmacological research in vitro as well as in vivo has been widely used to demonstrate the potential of the extracts from the leaves for the co-treatment of different ailments with high prevalence worldwide, upholding the traditional medicine in cases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and parasitic infections. Moreover, the biological activity has been attributed to the bioactive composition of the leaves, to some specific phytochemical subclasses, or even to individual compounds. Phenolic compounds in guava leaves have been credited with regulating blood-glucose levels. Thus, the aim of the present review was to compile results from in vitro and in vivo studies carried out with guava leaves over the last decade, relating the effects to their clinical applications in order to focus further research for finding individual bioactive compounds. Some food applications (guava tea and supplementary feed for aquaculture) and some clinical, in vitro, and in vivo outcomes are also included.The author Vito Verardo thanks the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) for “Ramón y Cajal” post-doctoral contract