Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Dichrostachys cinerea

In this present study, the analgesic activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Dichrostachy cinerea was investigated in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate test, while the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in rats using the carrageenan and dextran- induced paw edema. The extract (400, 800mg/kg) exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of abdominal writhing in mice compared to control. The effects of the extract were not significantly different from that of aspirin. The extract (800mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.01) increase in pain threshold, at 60th minute post treatment in the hot plate test and the effects of the extract were lower than that of morphine (4mg/kg). The extract (800mg/kg) and indomethacin (10mg/kg) at 1st hour and 2nd - 4th hour produced inhibitions of the carrageenan-induced paw oedema versus control. The results also showed that the extract (800mg/kg) produced inhibition of dextran- induced paw edema between 2nd hour and 4th hour compared to control. Overall, our data suggest that the extract possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which may be mediated solely by peripheral mechanisms. Keywbords: Dichrostachys Cinerea; analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hot plate, dextran, carragenan, edema, pai

Sub-Acute toxicological evaluation of the aqueous stem bark extract of Brachystegia eurycoma (harms

Brachystegia eurycoma is a mainstay in the treatment of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, microbial infections and inflammatory conditions in folkloric medicine in Eastern Nigeria. Thus, the present study investigated the in vivo sub-acute toxicity of its aqueous stem bark extract. Toxicological evaluation was done using organ weight index, haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters, following daily oral administration of 100, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract to albino Wistar rats for 14 days. The extract at all doses caused no significant changes in the organ weight index of selected organs except for 100 mg/kg which caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the weight of lungs compared to control. There was significant elevation of white blood cells and lymphocytes observed at all doses of extract tested. However, B. eurycoma caused mild periportal infiltrates of chronic inflammatory cells and Kupffer cell activation in the liver, lymphoid  aggregate activation in the lungs as well as activation of lymphoid follicle and sinus histiocyte in the spleen, thus indicating activation of the immune system. Overall, the results suggest that aqueous extract of B. eurycoma stem bark is not toxic in rats, although it has a tendency to activate the immune system.Keywords: B. eurycoma, immunity, spleen, toxicity

Factors associated with delayed presentation to healthcare facilities for Lassa fever cases, Nigeria 2019: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Large outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF) occur annually in Nigeria. The case fatality rate among hospitalised cases is ~ 20%. The antiviral drug ribavirin along with supportive care and rehydration are the recommended treatments but must be administered early (within 6 days of symptom onset) for optimal results. We aimed to identify factors associated with late presentation of LF cases to a healthcare facility to inform interventions. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of all laboratory confirmed LF cases reported in Nigeria from December 2018 to April 2019. We performed descriptive epidemiology and a univariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis to investigate the effect of clinical (symptom severity), epidemiological (age, sex, education, occupation, residential State) and exposure (travel, attendance at funeral, exposure to rodents or confirmed case) factors on time to presentation. RESULTS: Of 389 cases, median presentation time was 6 days (IQR 4-10 days), with 53% attending within 6 days. There were no differences in presentation times by sex but differences were noted by age-group; 60+ year-olds had the longest delays while 13-17 year-olds had the shortest. By sex and age, there were differences seen among the younger ages, with 0-4-year-old females presenting earlier than males (4 days and 73% vs. 10 days and 30%). For 5-12 and 13-17 year-olds, males presented sooner than females (males: 5 days, 65% and 3 days, 85% vs. females: 6 days, 50% and 5 days, 61%, respectively). Presentation times differed across occupations 4.5-9 days and 20-60%, transporters (people who drive informal public transport vehicles) had the longest delays. Other data were limited (41-95% missing). However, the Cox regression showed no factors were statistically associated with longer presentation time. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst we observed important differences in presentation delays across factors, our sample size was insufficient to show any statistically significant differences that might exist. However, almost half of cases presented after 6 days of onset, highlighting the need for more accurate and complete surveillance data to determine if there is a systemic or specific cause for delays, so to inform, monitor and evaluate public health strategies and improve outcomes

Harnessing the medicinal properties of Cussonia barteri Seem. (Araliaceae) in drug development. A review

Cussonia barteri Seem (Araliaceae) is a deciduous tree growing in savannah of Africa. Ethnomedicinally, it is used in Africa as an analgesic, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-anaemic, anti-diarhoea, anti-poison, ani-pyschotic and anti-epileptic agent. This review provides a brief summary on the phytochemical screenings, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological applications of various parts of C. barteri. Leaves, stem bark and seed of C. barteri have been shown to be rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenols, sugars and alkaloids. Some of these constituents have been isolated and elucidated from C. barteri. Several compounds isolated from plant include triterpenes, saponins, polyenyne and quinic esters. Phytochemical constituents are also partly responsible for biological activities of C. barteri. Extracts and components isolated from the plant have demonstrated neuropharmacological, anti-larvicidal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Overall, the insights provided by this review reinforce the potential of C. barteri for drug development and create the need for further scientific probe of constituents of the plant with the aim of developing novel drug candidates

Reproductive indices in malaria infested mice treated with antimalarials, Phyllanthus amarus combined with vitamins

Malaria disease is caused by the plasmodium organism transmitted into humans by the female anopheles mosquito. The effect of chloroquine, artesunate or Phyllantus amarus alone or combined with vitamins A, B, C or K on male fertility indices has received no attention. Hence this study was designed to investigate the effect of chloroquine, artesunate or seed extract of Phyllanthus amarus with or without vitamins A, B, C or E on testosterone levels, sperm motility, morphology, viability and count in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Four days following inoculation of adult male mice with Plasmodium berghei, the mice were treated with artesunate, chloroquine or Phyllanthus amarus seed extract alone or in combination with vitamins A, B, C or E once daily. Thereafter the mice were sacrificed and semen was collected for the determination of sperm count, motility, morphology and viability and blood sample collected for the determination of serum testosterone level by standardized methods. Treatment with chloroquine, artesunate or Phyllanthus amarus seed extract with or without vitamins A, B, C or E caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum and semen testosterone levels in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Treatment with chloroquine, artesunate or Phyllanthus amarus seed extract also caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in sperm count, motility and viability as well as significant (p < 0.05) restoration of sperm morphology in Plasmodium berghei infected mice compared to untreated Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Results from our study suggest that vitamin supplement with antimalarial could enhance reproductive indices. Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus, Chloroquine, Artesunate, Plasmodium berghei testosterone, Sper

Preliminary assessment of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri (Araliaceae) in rodents

Introduction: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important vegetable crop in Syria. Potato tuber moth Cussonia barteri is a small tree that grows in the sub-Saharan part of Africa. Various parts of the plant are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments in ethno-medicine. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri. Material and methods: The leaves were air-dried, powdered and repeatedly extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. The resulting methanol extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated for antiinflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, xylene-induced ear oedema and formalininduced arthritis tests. Analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced mouse writhing, hot plate and tail flick tests. Results: All doses of the extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema, however the 400 mg/kg dose gave a sustained effect. The extract significantly inhibited xylene induced ear oedema at all doses. There were no significant (p>0.05) reductions in paw swellings due to formalin. In the acetic acid induced writhing test, the extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased writhing at 400 mg/kg only. Reaction times were not significantly different from the control in the hot plate and tail flick tests. Conclusion: This study has shown that the methanol extract possesses acute anti-inflammatory and peripherally mediated analgesic effects

Preliminary assessment of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri

Introduction: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important vegetable crop in Syria. Potato tuber moth Cussonia barteri is a small tree that grows in the sub-Saharan part of Africa. Various parts of the plant are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments in ethno-medicine. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri. Material and methods: The leaves were air-dried, powdered and repeatedly extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. The resulting methanol extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated for antiinflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, xylene-induced ear oedema and formalininduced arthritis tests. Analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced mouse writhing, hot plate and tail flick tests. Results: All doses of the extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema, however the 400 mg/kg dose gave a sustained effect. The extract significantly inhibited xylene induced ear oedema at all doses. There were no significant (p>0.05) reductions in paw swellings due to formalin. In the acetic acid induced writhing test, the extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased writhing at 400 mg/kg only. Reaction times were not significantly different from the control in the hot plate and tail flick tests. Conclusion: This study has shown that the methanol extract possesses acute anti-inflammatory and peripherally mediated analgesic effects