ANTIINFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF DICHLOROMETHANE: METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS OF CAESALPINIA VOLKENSII AND MAYTENUS OBSCURA IN ANIMAL MODELS

Objective: Inflammation is the reaction to injury of the living tissues. Conventional medication of inflammation is expensive and arguably associated with various severe adverse effects hence the need to develop herbal agents that are effective as alternative. Caesalpinia volkensii and Maytenus obscura are plants that grow in Mbeere County of Eastern region of Kenya. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of C. volkensii and M. obscura plants. Methods: Experimental animals were divided in to four groups; normal group, diseased negative control group, diseased reference group and diseased experimental groups. Inflammation was inducted into the mice using carrageenan. The experimental groups were treated with leaf extracts of the plants at concentration of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory activities in rats were compared with diclofenac (15 mg/kg) as the standard conventional drug. Results: The leaf extracts of C. volkensii reduced the paw edema by between 6.50%-13.42% while the extracts of M. obscura reduced it by between 4.94%-22.36%. Diclofenac reduced the paw edema by between 4.11%-10.47%. Conclusion: The phytochemical screening results showed that the extracts of C. volkensii had flavonoids, steroids and phenolics while the leaf extracts M. obscura had phenolics, terpenoids and saponins. Flavonoids, saponins and phenolics have been associated with anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the study has established that the DCM: methanolic leaf extracts of Caesalpinia volkensii and Maytenus obscura are effective in management of inflammation

Ecological, Socio-economic and Livelihood Differentiation of Kenya's Lembus Forest Proximate Communities: The Case of the Tugen and Lembus

The Tugen and Lembus are indigenous communities found adjacent to the Lembus igenous forests. Other than these two communities, there are several others inhabiting this area the surrounding districts. The Lembus igenous minority have been assimilated into ~ larger Tugen ethnic group so that it is difficult distinguish one from the other. The Lembus - Tugen belong to the Kalenjin group (or highland Nilotes). Over the years, the socio-economic and even cultural construction of Tugeni/Lembus community has changed in terms of its livelihood systems and the socio-economic and cultural dependence on the nearby Lembus Forests. This differentiation, both at the household and community levels, is bound to influence the use, productivity and conservation of natural resources. The differentiation and transition have influenced the nature and range of livelihoods required to sustain households. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of e socio-economic and cultural transformation of the Tugen/Lembus community together with their management of natural resources and the available livelihood systems, the current study was conducted within the area surrounding the Lembus Forests. The Tugen/Lembus were separated (differentiated) in terms of climatic and agricultural (ecological) potential of the areas occupied as well as their socio-economic status. The purpose was to permit the analysis of what these differences might portend for the communities, particularly in respect of their livelihoods and natural resource management