Isolation, Partial Purification and Median Lethal Dose of Antipyretic Agent from Khaya senegalensis Leaf Extracts

This research was designed to evaluate the antipyretic activity of K. senegalensis leaf extract with the view of isolating and identifying the active components. The K. senegalensis leaf was extracted using 90% methanol and further fractionated with hexane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and distilled water.The qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods.The crude extract and the fractions were screened for antipyretic activity using 15%w/v brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia on Albino rats. The components of the most active fraction were further separated using column and thin layer chromatographic techniques on silica gel. LD50 of the most active fraction was determined using probit analysis. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, phenols, steroids and cardiac glycosides in both the crude extract and its fractions. The crude extract at 400 mg/kg b.w. showed the highest antipyretic activity compared to the other doses tested. Hexane fraction showed the highest antipyretic activity among the other fractionated extracts. The LD50 of the hexane fraction was found to be 831.76 mg/kg b.w. The column chromatographic separation of the hexane extract yielded 60 fractions (F1 to F60). After TLC separation, fractions with similar profile were pooled together yielding eleven (11) pooled fractions (PF1 to PF11). Antipyretic activities of the pooled fractions showed that PF8 exhibited the highest activity. These findings suggested that, K. senegalensis leaf has significant antipyretic activity which can be considered for the development of antipyretic agent from natural resources

In-Vitro antidiabetic potential of Piliostigma thonningii leaf column chromatographic fractions

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar that profoundly affects human health and economy. Although there are a plethora of antidiabetic drugs in the market, the efficacy shown by some medicinal plants sometimes outperforms that of synthetic drugs while being more affordable and less toxic. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of column-chromatographic fractions of Piliostigma thonningii leaf. Phytochemical screening, column, and thin layer chromatography were respectively conducted following standard laboratory protocols. The in-vitro antidiabetic activity of the extracts was assessed using alpha-glucosidase and hemoglobin glycosylation inhibitory methods. A total of 175 column fractions (CF1-CF175) were eluted respectively. Thin layer chromatography protocols employed pooled a total of 11 (A-J) fractions. The result showed significant (P>0.05) inhibition of alpha-glucosidase in only fraction J2, which was significantly greater when compared to standard drug (Voglibose) and crude extract. Also, there was no significant hemoglobin glycosylation inhibitory effect in all fractions compared with crude extract and standard drugs (Voglibose). In conclusion, P. thonningii leaf exhibited alpha-glucosidase and hemoglobin glycosylation inhibitory potentials that further support its usage as a hypoglycemic agent

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Determinants of Acceptance among Healthcare Workers, Academics and Tertiary Students in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of human deaths, prompting the rapid development and regulatory approval of several vaccines. Although Nigeria implemented a COVID-19 vaccination program on 15 March 2021, low vaccine acceptance remains a major chal-lenge. To provide insight on factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH), we conducted a national survey among healthcare workers, academics, and tertiary students, between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2021. We fitted a logistic regression model to the data and exam-ined factors associated with VH to support targeted health awareness campaigns to address public

Violent Conflicts and Civil Strife in West Africa:Causes, Challenges and Prospects

The advent of intra-state conflicts or ‘new wars’ in West Africa has brought many of its economies to the brink of collapse, creating humanitarian casualties and concerns. For decades, countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea- Bissau were crippled by conflicts and civil strife in which violence and incessant killings were prevalent. While violent conflicts are declining in the sub-region, recent insurgencies in the Sahel region affecting the West African countries of Mali, Niger and Mauritania and low intensity conflicts surging within notably stable countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal sends alarming signals of the possible re-surfacing of internal and regional violent conflicts. These conflicts are often hinged on several factors including poverty, human rights violations, bad governance and corruption, ethnic marginalization and small arms proliferation. Although many actors including the ECOWAS, civil society and international community have been making efforts, conflicts continue to persist in the sub-region and their resolution is often protracted. This paper posits that the poor understanding of the fundamental causes of West Africa’s violent conflicts and civil strife would likely cause the sub-region to continue experiencing and suffering the brunt of these violent wars

Patterns of Passage into protected areas: drivers and outcomes of Fulani immigration, settlement and integration into the Kachia Grazing Reserve, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract Increasing land use and associated competition for natural resources in the wake of high human and livestock population pressures have been major challenges confronting pastoralists of West Africa. This is especially true in Nigeria where Fulani make up 4% of the national population and prevailing national insecurity issues are impacting on pastoral livelihoods, including violent conflicts over land and ethnic, religious and political disparities. This study examined the dynamics of immigration within the Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR), an exclusively Fulani pastoralist community in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, prompted by concerns from both the farming communities and the authorities about mounting pressure on existing limited resources, particularly in regard to availability of cattle grazing resources. Drawing from a household census conducted in 2011 and employing a range of qualitative methods (focus group discussions and key informant interviews), this study explored the drivers and consequences of immigration and subsequent integration within the KGR community. The study revealed two types of immigration: a steady trickle of pastoralists migrating to the reserve to settle and acquire land, secure from the stresses of competition from cultivators, and the sudden influx of internally displaced persons fleeing violent clashes in their areas of origin. Population pressure within the reserve has risen steadily over the past three decades, such that it is severely overgrazed (as evidenced by reports from the KGR community that the animals run short of pasture even during the wet season due to desertification and the spread of non-edible weeds). The newer immigrants, fleeing conflict, tended to arrive in the reserve with significantly larger herds than those kept by established residents. Pastoralists in the reserve have been forced back into the practice of seasonal transhumance in both wet and dry seasons to support their herds, with all the attendant risks of theft, clashes with cultivators and increased disease transmission

Shifting livelihood strategies in northern Nigeria - extensified production and livelihood diversification amongst Fulani pastoralists

Abstract This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the livelihood strategies of Fulani pastoralists in north central Nigeria. Results show a diversified crop-livestock system aimed at spreading risk and reducing cattle offtake, adapted to natural resource competition and insecurity by extensification, with further diversification into off-farm activities to spread risk, increase livelihood security and capture opportunities. However, significant costs were associated with extensification, and integration of crop and livestock enterprises was limited. Mean total income per capita in the study area was $554 or$1.52/person/day with 42% of households earning less than 1.25/person/day. Income levels were positively correlated with income diversity and price received per animal sold, rather than herd size. The outcomes of this livelihood strategy were favourable across the whole community, but when individual households are considered, there was evidence of moderate economic inequality in total income, cash income and herd size (Gini coefficient 0.32, 0.35 and 0.43 respectively). The poorest households were quite vulnerable, with low assets, income and income diversity. Implications for sustainability are discussed given the likelihood that the negative trends of reduced access to natural resources and insecurity will continue

The Role of Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) in Post-Conflict Rehabilitation: Lessons from Liberia

In the aftermath of the violent conflict in Liberia, the issue of post- conflict rehabilitation took center stage, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deeply involved in an elaborate post-conflict rehabilitation program in the country. Through the use of content analysis, this paper explores the involvement of ECOWAS in post-conflict rehabilitation in Liberia in the context of the devastating consequences of violent conflicts that the country experienced. In specific terms, it highlights key lessons learnt from the ECOWAS intervention in Liberia, as part of its mandate for peace, security and stability in the region

CHALLENGES OF REGIONAL PEACEBUILDING IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN AREA

The Lake Chad Basin Area is witnessing one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. This humanitarian crisis, which manifests in the form of deaths, displacements and other forms of human rights violations, provided the basis for regional efforts towards containment. The Jama’atul Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad (JAS), popularly known as Boko Haram is principally responsible for this act of terrorism. Originally established as vehicles for achieving economic development, the spate of violent conflicts witnessed in Africa in the early 1990a, saw a major shift in the focus of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) from economic issues to security and stability. This shift is premised on the notion that the realization of economic development is highly dependent on security and stability. This paper examines the challenge of regional peacebuilding in the Lake Chad Basin Area, with specific reference to regional efforts against Boko Haram. The paper argues that regional peacebuilding initiatives constitute the building blocks of regional security in Africa