Preliminary mortality and eclosion: dose-determining factors of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa in Drosophila melanogaster

Background: This study investigated the toxicity of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract using simple end point assays (mortality and eclosion assay) in Drosophila melanogaster (Harwich strain) flies. Methods: The study was carried out in two phases (phases I and II) and in an array of concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/ml in phase I; 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000mg/ml in phase II for the period of 168 hours. Thirty (30) 4-day old flies were used in each concentration and mortality was recorded every 24 hours for the period of the study. Eclosion was scored after emergence of the adult flies. Results: There was no significant difference (p<0.05) in mortality and eclosion between the (experimental) concentrations and the control in the first phase of this study, indicating low/zero toxicity to the parent and the emerged flies. However, higher concentrations of 250 through 1000mg/ml of the second phase showed significant (p<0.05) increased mortality and decreased eclosion scores, indicating high acute toxicity to D. melanogaster. Conclusion: The LC50 of Hibiscus sabdariffa after 168 hours was 427.1mg/10g diet in Drosophila melanogaster and much eclosion was recorded at doses between 10 - 100mg/10g diet as compared with doses between 250 - 1000mg/10g diet. Eclosion can be considered a factor in the determination of LC50 in Drosophila melanogaster. Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster, Hibiscus sabdariffa, mortality, eclosion, concentratio

Assessment of cognitive and motor endurance activities in male wistar rats administered carboxymethyl cellulose

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is generally believed to be biologically inert, non-toxic and non-allergic. Due to its bio-compatibility, bio-degradability and other rheological properties, it has found various uses in different aspects of human life, bio-medically and industrially; that includes, suspension of physiological extract (as a vehicle), drug delivery system, tissue regeneration, formation of smart materials, hydrogels, bone growth, surgical, ultrasound procedures and foodstuff formulations (thickening, binding), lubricant for drilling in oil industry and as a stabilizer and binder in cosmetic industry. In this study, we investigated the physiological effect of CMC on cognition and motor endurance. Wistar rats were orally administered with CMC, at 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg doses while a control group was given normal saline. Cognitive function was evaluated using novel object recognition task while motor endurance function was assessed using forepaw grip test. The results obtained showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in both working and long-term memory in all the groups when compared to the control. Although, not significant the group receiving 5mg/ml CMC showed a lower preference score (working memory) when compared to other groups. However, at the doses 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, motor endurance was significantly improved. Findings in this study suggest that although CMC may not influence cognition in this study, it may not be completely physiologically inert since it influenced motor endurance which may not be undesirable, more studies should be carried out to ascertain its neurobehavioural activity, while caution is encouraged in its usage.Keywords: Carboxymethyl cellulose, learning, memory, motor endurance, inertAfr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (May, 2019); 195- 19

Aqueous Methanol Extracts of Cochlospermum tinctorium (A. Rich) Possess Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities

Cochlopermum tinctorium A. Rich. (Cochlospermaceae) is a commonly used medicinal plant in the West Africa sub-region for the management of various conditions including pain and inflammatory conditions. In the present study, we report the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous methanol leaf (20–80 mg/kg), root (7.5–30 mg/kg), and root bark (20–80 mg/kg) extracts of the plant. The analgesic potentials of the extracts were studied using acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests in mice while the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.The extracts significantly and dose dependently inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. However, the highest protection against writhing was produced by aqueous methanol leaf extract at the dose of 80 mg/kg (96.65%) which even was greater than that of the standard agent, ketoprofen (82.30%). The extracts did not significantly increase mean latency of response in the hot plate test. However, aqueous methanol root bark extract at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mean latency of pain response. While the extracts of the root and root bark extracts of the plant afforded non dose-dependent protection against carrageenan-induced edema, the aqueous methanol leaf extract significantly and dose-dependently inhibited carrageenan-induced hind paw edema at the end of the third hour.The present study suggests that the aqueous methanol leaf, root, and root bark extracts of Cochlopermum tinctorium possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities which lend some credence to the ethnomedical claim of the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammatory conditions

Antidepressant activity of methanol root bark extract of Securinega virosa (Ex Willd.) Baill in albino mice

Securinega virosa (S. virosa) is a commonly used medicinal plant in Africa for the management of psychiatric illnesses. Thus, the current study aimed at evaluating the antidepressant activity of the methanol extract of S. virosa in mice. The acute toxicity and phytochemical profiles were also determined. The antidepressant activity of the extract (500, 250 and 125 mg/kg) was assessed using the tail suspension test(TST), forced swim test (FST) and open field test (OFT).The median lethal dose was estimated to be ≤2000 mg/kg. Phytoconstituents like tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides were found to be present in the crude extract. The methanol root bark extract of S. virosa significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased duration of immobility and also decreased comotion and exploratory behavior in mice. Results obtained from this study showed that the root bark extract of S. virosa might possess antidepressant activity.Keywords: Securinega virosa, depression, anxiety, phytochemica

Isolation of rutin from the leaf of Ziziphus mucronata WIILD. (Rhamnaceae)

No Abstract

Effect of Pharmacist Intervention on Quality of Life of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder in Distressed North East Nigeria

Background: Quality of life is considered as an integral component and outcome indicator of mental illness and while pharmacist interventions have been proven to be effective in improving quality of life, no attention has been given to patients with depression in distressed North East Nigeria.Objectives: To explore the effect of pharmacist intervention on quality of life of patients with major depressive disorder.Materials and Methods: A longitudinal prospective randomized controlled trial approved by Ahmadu Bello University Ethics Committee on use of Human Subjects for Research (approval number: ABUCUHSR/2020/018) was conducted on 101 patients with major depressive disorder between April 2019 and March 2020 at a tertiary Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Consenting patients were randomized into Usual Care or Intervention groups using a computer-generated list. The intervention consisted of pharmacist-delivered educational counseling sessions of between 15-30 minutes. Data were collected at baseline, 3 months and 6 months using the World Health Organization Quality of life Bref scale.Results: After the intervention, significant improvements (p &lt;0.001) in mean scores of participants in the intervention group were observed in all of the quality-of-life domains including; physical health [42.49 (SD=11.48) vs 72.25 (SD=15.82], psychological health [45.15 (SD=15.24) vs 85.57 (SD=12.95)], social relationship [40.47 (SD=21.24) vs 78.20 (SD=18.23)] and environment [40.94 (SD=14.09) vs 87.74 (SD=9.78)].Significant improvements (p &lt;0.001) were also observed in the general health [38.77 (SD=27.51) vs 86.53 (SD=21.27)] and overall quality of life [52.55 (SD=19.26) vs 76.92 (SD=25.16)] in the intervention group.Conclusion: Pharmacist’s intervention significantly improved quality of life in patients with major depressive disorder in this study

Anticonvulsant studies on a traditional antiepileptic mixture used by the Hausa people of north-western Nigeria

Background and objectives: The use of herbal drugs in the treatment of many neurological disorders is gaining popularity in developing countries due to their fewer unwanted side effects, affordability and cultural acceptability. A mixture of three plants roots Calotropis procera (Asclepediaceae), Combretum micranthum (Combretaceae) and Ficus abutilifolia (Moraceae) has been reported in Hausa traditional treatment of epilepsy. We have reported the evaluation of the acute toxicity and anticonvulsant activity of the ethanol extract of this mixture. Methods: The intra-peritoneal medial lethal dose (LD50) of the aqueous ethanol extract of the mixture as well as its anticonvulsive activity against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), 4-amino pyridine (4-AMP) and maximum electric shock (MES) were evaluated. Results: The mixture at the doses of 25 to 100 mg/kg could not afford a significant protection to mice against PTZ and 4-AMP; however, it significantly delayed the mean onset and reduced the mean recovery time of the animals at the tested doses in 4-AMP test (

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of β-Sitosterol-3-O-Glucoside Isolated from Lannea Kerstingii Engl. & K. Krause (Anacardiaceae).

β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside was isolated using dry vacuum liquid chromatography. It was characterized using 1H-NMR,&nbsp;13C-NMR and 2D NMR spectra. The antimicrobial activity was determined using agar diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) were determined using broth dilution method. Antioxidant activity was determined through reaction of compound with DPPH radical. The compound was active against S. aureus, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, P. mirabilis, S. typhi, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, B. subtilis, C. albicans and C. tropicalis with zone of inhibition ranging from 22.0 ± 0.4 to 34.0 ± 0.3 mm and inactive against P. aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris and C. krusei. The MIC ranged from 25.0 to 50.0 μg/ml while the MBC/MFC ranged from 50.0 to 200.0 μg/ml. The % DPPH scavenging activity at 4.0x103 µg/ml was found to be 81.44 ± 0.41 %. This result shows the high antioxidant and wide spectrum antimicrobial activity of β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside which can be a potential lead drug for resistant bacteria such as MRSA, and a potential source of natural antioxidants