Tolerance and Antiplasmodial Screening of Ritchea longipedicellata in Plasmodium berghei

The tolerance and antiplasmodial activity of methanolic root extract of R. longipedicellata in P. berghei infected mice was investigated. Extract was administered to mice at 1500mg/kg for 30days and liver andkidney parameters were analysed. Mice were infected with P. berghei and administered the extract and reference drugs 2hrs and 5days post-infection for suppressive and therapeutic activities respectively. At 1500mg/kg dose, R. longipedicellata extract exhibited a significant decrease (p 0.05) in ALP, GOT, GPT and Creatinine. Bilirubin showed no significant change while PCV was increased (p 0.05). Inhibition insuppressive activity at 50 and 100mg/kg doses of the extracts were 86.8% and 65.43% while artesunate (120mg/kg) and chloroquine (8mg/kg) were 100%. Clearance rate in therapeutic activity for 50 and100mg/kg dose of R. longipedicellata extract were 36.73% and 64.60%, lower than chloroquine (80.85%) and artesunate (100%). Longest survival period was observed in 50mg/kg suppressive group than all the groups treated with R. longipedicellata methanolic root extract. This study suggests that the methanolic root extract of R. longipedicellata is well tolerated and possesses antiplasmodial activity in mice infected with P.berghei

Mitragyna ciliata and its trypanocidal activity

The trypanocidal activity of different fractions of hydroethanolic root extract of Mitragyna ciliata Aubrev and Pellegr (Rubiaceae) were evaluated in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei field isolates from acow. Oral administration of the fractions at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 5 days (10 days post-infection) indicated that only butanol fraction showed trypanocidal activity with inhibition percent of 68.68. Theactivities of oxidative stress enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the infected rats were determined. SOD activity was significantly higher than control (1.64 ± 0.026 I/U) in all fractionsexcept ethyl acetate (1.56 ± 0.031 I/U). Catalase showed a significant decrease in activity in butanol (2.05 ± 0.015 I/U) and chloroform (2.18 ± 0.061 I/U) fractions compared to control (2.30 ± 0.015 I/U). Butanolfraction might have affected the redox equilibrium of the infected animals causing oxidative stress to the parasites. This is the basis of inhibition of growth of the parasites by the butanol fraction

Antibacterial and dermal toxicological profiles of ethyl acetate extract from Crassocephalum bauchiense (Hutch.) Milne-Redh (Asteraceae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The emergence in recent years of numerous resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria to a range of formerly efficient antibiotics constitutes a serious threat to public health. <it>Crassocephalum bauchiense</it>, a medicinal herb found in the West Region of Cameroon is used to treat gastrointestinal infections as well as liver disorders. The ethyl acetate extract from the leaves of <it>C. bauchiense </it>was evaluated for its antibacterial activity as well as acute and sub-acute toxicities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The plant extract was prepared by maceration in ethyl acetate. Its phytochemical screening was done by standard methods. The broth microdilution method was used to evaluate the <it>in vitro </it>antibacterial activity. The <it>in vivo </it>antibacterial activity of a gel formulation (0.05, 1 and 2% w/v) of this extract was evaluated using a <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>-induced dermatitis in a murine model. Selected haematological and biochemical parameters were used to evaluate the dermal sub-acute toxicity of the extract in rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phytochemical screening of the <it>C. bauchiense </it>extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, tannins and sterols. <it>In vitro </it>antibacterial activities were observed against all the tested microorganisms (MIC = 0.04-6.25 mg/ml). Formulated extract-gel (2% w/v) and gentamycin (reference drug) eradicated the microbial infection after five days of treatment. A single dermal dose of this extract up to 32 g/kg body weight (bw) did not produce any visible sign of toxicity. Also, daily dermal application of the <it>C. bauchiense </it>extract gel formulation for 28 days did not show any negative effect, instead some biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT and AST), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides were significantly (p < 0.05) affected positively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that the <it>C. bauchiense </it>ethyl acetate extract can be used safely for the treatment of some bacterial infections.</p

Efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease: a pilot, double-blind randomized trial

George Uchenna Eleje,1,2 Henrietta Aritetsoma Ogbunugafor,1,3 Chiemelu Dickson Emegoakor,1,4 Ebere Innocent Okoye,1,5 Ogochukwu Ifeanyi Ezejiofor,6 Shirley Nneka Chukwurah,7 Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu,1,2 Godwin W Nchinda,8 Chidozie Godwin Ugochukwu,3 Lucy Ijeoma Nnaji-Ihedinmah,9 Festus Basden C Okoye,1,10 Frank Uchenna Eneh,3 Michael Emeka Onwukamuche,11 Charles Okechukwu Esimone1,12 1Biomedicine Research Group, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 2Effective Care Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 3Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 4Department of General Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 5Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 6Department of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 7Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria; 8Laboratory of Vaccinology/Biobanking, CIRCB BP 3077, Messa Yaounde, Cameroon; 9Department of Chemical Pathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria; 10Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 11Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 12Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria Background: To our knowledge, there is no prior randomized study on the utility of Syferol-IHP (blend of virgin coconut oil and Ocimum sanctum oil) when coadministered with a triple therapy schedule.Aim: This study determined the efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP as adjunct to conventional triple therapy for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).Methods: A pilot double-blind randomized trial was conducted in patients with confirmed diagnosis (endoscopy-guided biopsy) of PUD. Eligible patients were randomized to Pylorest (a three-in-one tablet containing rabeprazole 20&nbsp;mg, amoxicillin 1&nbsp;g, and clarithromycin 500&nbsp;mg) and Syferol-IHP for 2&nbsp;weeks, followed by rabeprazole and Syferol-IHP for 2&nbsp;weeks or Pylorest and placebo for 2&nbsp;weeks, followed by rabeprazole and placebo for 2&nbsp;weeks. Repeat endoscopy-guided biopsy and histology were done 4&nbsp;weeks posttherapy. Primary outcome measures were the healing of ulcer and eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Secondary outcome measures were the disappearance of epigastric pain, gastritis, and duodenitis. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.Results: Of the 63 patients enrolled, 60 patients had complete evaluation, with 37 patients receiving Pylorest and Syferol-IHP and 23 patients receiving Pylorest and Placebo. Healing of the PUD in favor of Pylorest and Syferol-IHP was significantly higher for gastric ulcer (RR=0.000, 95% CI=undefined, P=0.048) but not for duodenal ulcer (RR=0.400, 95% CI=0.07&ndash;2.37, P=0.241). H. pylori eradication was 100% with Syferol-IHP vs 50% with placebo (P=0.066). Epigastric pain (reduction to 16.2% vs 43.5%; P=0.021), gastritis (reduction to 13.5% vs 39.1%; P=0.024), and duodenitis (reduction to 0% vs 8.7%; P=0.327) were observed in the Syferol-IHP and Pylorest vs placebo and Pylorest groups, respectively. Adverse events (RR=0.971, 95% CI=0.46&ndash;2.04, P=0.937) and laboratory parameters were not significantly different pre- and posttherapies (P&gt;0.05, for both groups).Conclusion: Although both treatment arms were equally safe, co-administration of Syferol-IHP and triple therapy is more efficacious than triple therapy alone for treating PUD. Pan African Clinical trial registry identifier number is PACTR201606001665364. Keywords: gastritis, duodenitis, virgin coconut oil, Ocimum sanctum oil, triple therapy, Pylorest, gastric ulce