In vivo anti-plasmodial activities and toxic impacts of lime extract of a combination of Picralima nitida, Alstonia boonei and Gongronema latifolium in mice infected with Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei.

Background: Lime extracts of powdered combination of seeds of Picralima nitida, stem bark of Alstonia boonei and leaves of Gongronema latifolium is a common remedy used in the treatment of malaria in South Western Nigeria.Objective: To determine the antiplasmodial activities of the combined herbal extracts and its impact on the haematological, hepatological and renological parameters in mice.Methods: The 4-day suppressive and curative tests were used to assess the antiplasmodial activities of the extract in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei at concentration of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weight. The haematological parameters including red blood cells, white blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin count were analysed with an auto analyser. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined, while urea, protein and creatinine were analysed by standard procedural methods.Results: The 4-day suppressive test revealed that the test extract achieved percentage suppression of 39.0%, 41.6% and 54.68% for the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. Additionally, the curative test achieved a high percentage suppression of 80.97%, 83.84% and 86.16% at the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. The extracts did not induce significant change on haematological parameters (P>0.05), while significant elevation in the values of the ALT and AST (P<0.05) was observed and elevation of creatinine (P<0.05) at 800mg/kg.Conclusions: The results support the traditional use of the herbal combination in the treatment of malaria, however the liver cells were impacted by the extracts in bioassay conducted with mice.Keywords: In vivo anti-plasmodial lime extract, Picralima nitida, Alstonia boonei, Gongronema latifolium, mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive plasmodium berghei

High cases of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in a suburban population of Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic malaria parasites are significant sources of infections for onward malaria transmission. Conventional tools for malaria diagnosis such as microscopy and rapid diagnostic test kits (RDT) have relatively low sensitivity, hence the need for alternative tools for active screening of such low-density infections. METHODS: This study tested var acidic terminal sequence-based (varATS) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for screening asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections among dwellers of a sub-urban community in Lagos, Nigeria. Clinically healthy participants were screened for malaria using microscopy, RDT and varATS qPCR techniques. Participants were stratified into three age groups: 1-5, 6-14 and > 14 years old. RESULTS: Of the 316 participants screened for asymptomatic malaria infection, 78 (24.68%) were positive by microscopy, 99 (31.33%) were positive by RDT and 112 (35.44%) by varATS qPCR. Participants aged 6-14 years had the highest prevalence of asymptomatic malaria, with geometric means of ~ 116 parasites/µL and ~ 6689 parasites/µL as detected by microscopy and varATS, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the study population, with varATS detecting additional sub-microscopic infections. The highest concentration of asymptomatic malaria was observed among school-age children between 6 and 14 years old. A large-scale screening to identify other potential hotspots of asymptomatic parasites in the country is recommended

In vivo anti-plasmodial activities and toxic impacts of lime extract of a combination of Picralima nitida , Alstonia boonei and Gongronema latifolium in mice infected with Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei.

Background: Lime extracts of powdered combination of seeds of Picralima nitida , stem bark of Alstonia boonei and leaves of Gongronema latifolium is a common remedy used in the treatment of malaria in South Western Nigeria. Objective: To determine the antiplasmodial activities of the combined herbal extracts and its impact on the haematological, hepatological and renological parameters in mice. Methods: The 4-day suppressive and curative tests were used to assess the antiplasmodial activities of the extract in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei at concentration of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weight. The haematological parameters including red blood cells, white blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin count were analysed with an auto analyser. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined, while urea, protein and creatinine were analysed by standard procedural methods. Results: The 4-day suppressive test revealed that the test extract achieved percentage suppression of 39.0%, 41.6% and 54.68% for the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. Additionally, the curative test achieved a high percentage suppression of 80.97%, 83.84% and 86.16% at the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. The extracts did not induce significant change on haematological parameters (P>0.05), while significant elevation in the values of the ALT and AST (P<0.05) was observed and elevation of creatinine (P<0.05) at 800mg/kg. Conclusions: The results support the traditional use of the herbal combination in the treatment of malaria, however the liver cells were impacted by the extracts in bioassay conducted with mice

The Corporate Heritage Brand Development Process: A New Institutional Theory Approach

The paper examines how the concept of corporate heritage brand management develops, based on a comprehensive review of academic literature on the meaning, components and models of corporate heritage brand management. Specifically, the study unearths the developmental processes from a new institutionalism theory perspective. Two important findings emerged. The first finding introduced new mandatory components of corporate brand heritage, namely, craftsmanship, date of inception and product ingredients. The second finding-a new institutional-driven model was advanced to give insight into the corporate heritage brand development process. The findings of this study are useful in guiding managers responsible for corporate branding and corporate communication. It also contributes knowledge by expanding the mandatory components of corporate heritage brand

Radiological and related chemical health impact assessments of uranium in pipe borne water from some waterworks in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria

The common purifying technique of water for public (human) consumption in Nigeria is by chlorination which only eliminates the microbial contaminants, but the radioactive contaminants remain unaffected. There had been no serious radiological and related chemical health impact assessments of pipe borne water in the country. Water samples were collected from five waterworks across Lagos Metropolis and a single crystal NaI (Tl) detector was used to determine the activity concentration of 238U radionuclide in the water. The radiological health impact assessment determined includes annual effective dose rates and risk of incurring cancer. Using activity concentrations obtained and the relation from United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the chemical health impact such as life average daily dose (LADD) and hazard quotient (HQ) due to ingestion of 238U in water were determined and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The mean 238U activity concentrations were 15.3±4.1 Bql-1, 14.6±5.2 Bql-1, 9.7±2.0 Bql-1, 11.0±2.9 Bql-1 and 11.3±1.8 Bql-1 for Agege, Shomolu, Iju, Saka and Amuwo respectively. The least mean effective dose, 0.3±0.1 mSvy-1 was obtained in Iju while the highest, 0.5±0.2 mSvy-1 was obtained in Agege and Shomolu. The least mass concentration of 174.2±35.7μgl-1 was obtained in Iju and the highest of 274.9±73.3 μgl-1 was obtained in Agege. The highest mean cancer mortality and morbidity risks, (0.6±0.2) x10-3 and (0.9±0.2) x10-3 respectively were obtained in Agege. The activity concentrations of radionuclide in the water were low hence the morbidity and mortality risks in the study were low when compared to the world average value of 1.0x10-3. The result showed high radioactivity and chemical levels therefore caution and control should be taken to avoid any health crisis later in future.Keywords: uranium impact assessment, pipe born water, water works, Lagos metropolis, Nigeri

Helminth Parasites of Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) in Lekki Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

A total of 360 randomly selected specimens of Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) recovered from Lekki Lagoon were examined for intestinal helminth parasites. Parasite prevalence and worm burden were low; 17 (4.72%) of the specimens examined were infected with gastrointestinal helminths. The helminth worms recovered include, three cestodes Polyonchobothrium clarias, S tocksia pujehuni and Wenyonia acuminata and a nematode, Paracamallanus cyathopharynx. There was no statistically significant difference in the infection of the male and female Clarias gariepinus; the infection rates in male and female samples were 5.75% and 3.76% respectively. Parasite prevalence was related to the length and weight of the specimens. The fish samples were observed to show negative allometric growth and smaller samples recorded higher helminth infection. Rev.Biol. Trop. 54(1): 93-99. Epub 2006 Mar 31

A Comparison of the Use of Height to Weight in Ivermectin Delivery in Mass Treatment of Onchocerciasis

Current efforts at controlling parasitic disease entail prior rapid diagnosis of the infection communities and individuals before intervention. Onchocerciasis is a major public health problem in Nigeria that is receiving quality attention through mass annual treatment with ivermectin. The fact that most affected communities are difficult to reach necessitated a search for the most appropriate approach at reaching them. It is in this respect that the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Community Directed Treatment approach in mass treatment of the disease. This had enabled previously neglected by highly needy communities to benefits from control programme irrespective of literacy level and health infrastructure. According to drug manufactures, weight is usually the means to determine dosage but given the difficulty associated with the use and availability of weighting scales in most onchocerciasis affected communities in a Community Director approach to treatment, the use of height, which is far easier to comprehended and use have been adopted in onchocerciasis control. The aim of the present study is to compare the height with the use of height with the use of weight for dose determination in ivermectin delivery. 55.1 individuals of Ipogun community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, comprising 269 males (49%) and 282 females (51%), who received ivermectin based on height measurement using calibrated measuring sticks were weighed. The weights were used to calculate the number of ivermectin tablets the individuals would have received if the dose had been based on eight. A person statistical test was carried out to measure the relationship. A correlation coefficient of r=0.89 was obtained for height and weight schedule. A total of 893 tablets were used in the treatment exercise based on the dosage by height whereas 744 tablets would have been needed if weight had been to determine dosage. The implications of these are discussed. NQJHM Vol. 13 (3-4) 2003: pp. 69-7