Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Selected Nigerian Traditional Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Diarrhea

The medicinal plants, Vitellaria paradoxa, Neorautanenia mitis, Hydnora abyssinica and Senna surattensis, are used by Nigerian traditional medical practioners (TMP) to treat the symptoms of diarrhea in animals and humans. This study aims to validate claims of the traditional use of these plants in the treatment of diarrhea and provide a scientific basis for further studies. The crude aqueous extracts of these plants were evaluated for their antidiarrheal activity in a castor oil (CO) induced diarrhea model and in the gastrointestinal transit of charcoal model in albino rats, their acute toxicities were also determined in albino rats. There was no mortality recorded in the rats at the dose 2000 mg/kg, therefore the LD₅₀ in rats was considered higher than 2000 mg/kg for all the extracts. In the CO induced diarrhea model, the highest percentage inhibition of defecation was observed in the test groups treated with the extracts of H. abyssinica (82%) followed by S. surattensis (81%), N. mitis (66%), and V. paradoxa (32%). The H. abyssinica extract also decreased the intestinal transit of charcoal meal significantly compared to the other extracts. The antidiarrheal activities of the crude extracts give credence to their traditional use. Further studies on N. mitis led to the isolation of one new and 19 known natural product compounds, eight of these were isolated for the first time from N. mitis. These compounds were screened for CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) inhibitory activity and four of these compounds inhibited cAMP-induced Cl− secretion across T84 cell monolayers; dolineone (10), neodulin (2), pachyrrhizine (6) and neotenone (7) with IC₅₀ values of 0.81, 2.42, 2.87 and 4.66 µM, respectively. Compound 7 also showed reduction in defecation by 65% in CO induced diarrhea, while compound 2 showed pronounced relaxation of jejunum contraction in a concentration dependent manner, giving a complete relaxation at 194.7 µM in the isolated rabbit jejunum model

Serological Evidence of Leptospira hardjo Antibodies and The Incidence of Reproductive Disorders in Selected Smallholder Cattle and Goat Farms from Maiduguri, Nigeria

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo antibodies and their relationship to the burden of reproductive disorders associated with smallholder ruminant production systems in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. We randomly collected 376 blood samples from 11 cattle (n=188) and 10 goats (n=188) farms in Maiduguri from April to September 2019. The farmers completed structured questionnaires to furnish information regarding herd characteristics and reproductive histories of farm animals. A serum IgG/IgM antibody-capture ELISA test kit with a sensitivity of 96.91%, specificity of 90.40%, positive and negative predictive values of 88.68% and 97.41%, respectively, was used for the detection of Leptospira hardjo antibodies from blood serum. The overall seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo was 4.26% (95%CI: 2.17-8.17) in cattle and 2.13% (95%CI: 0.83-5.34) in goats, respectively. Leptospira hardjo antibodies were detected in 4 (50%) out of the 8 cattle herds and 3 out of the 7 goat flocks with a history of reproductive disorders. At the present rate of detection of Leptospira hardjo antibodies in ruminants with histories of reproductive disorders, the current burden of the disease and its consequences on the reproductive efficiencies could be highly underestimated in the smallholder ruminant production system in the northeastern part of Nigeria

Prophylactic platelets in dengue: survey responses highlight lack of an evidence base

Dengue is the most important arboviral infection of humans. Thrombocytopenia is frequently observed in the course of infection and haemorrhage may occur in severe disease. The degree of thrombocytopenia correlates with the severity of infection, and may contribute to the risk of haemorrhage. As a result of this prophylactic platelet transfusions are sometimes advocated for the prevention of haemorrhage. There is currently no evidence to support this practice, and platelet transfusions are costly and sometimes harmful. We conducted a global survey to assess the different approaches to the use of platelets in dengue. Respondents were all physicians involved with the treatment of patients with dengue. Respondents were asked that their answers reflected what they would do if they were the treating physician. We received responses from 306 physicians from 20 different countries. The heterogeneity of the responses highlights the variation in clinical practice and lack of an evidence base in this area and underscores the importance of prospective clinical trials to address this key question in the clinical management of patients with dengue