Micronutrients as therapeutic tools in the management of sickle cell disease, malaria and diabetes

The Global use of micronutrients in health care delivery has taken center stage due to the realization of their importance in disease management. Sickle cell disease, malaria and diabetes are among the diseases plaguing a good population of the developing world and the cost implication for theirmanagement is very high. Sickle cell disease and malari  have anemia as a common factor and immunological disturbances are also prevalent in these disease conditions. Free radicals are generated in sickle cell disease, malaria and diabetes so a balance between minerals and antioxidants isimperative to maintain membrane integrity and function. Protection of red cell membranes from free radical-mediated oxidative stress is crucial to their management. Minerals such as copper, iron, chromium, magnesium, selenium and vanadium as well as vitamins like A, C, E, folate and the B grouphave been found to relieve oxidative stress associated with them. Micronutrients and their importance in the management of sickle cell disease, malaria and diabetes is reviewed here, with emphasis on the need to harness the natural resources abundant in our environment

Antibacterial Activity of Culture Extracts of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501: Effects of Carbon Sources

Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 produced β-lactam antibiotics when fermented with different agro-wastes: cassava shavings, corncob, sawdust and sugarcane pulp. In vitro antibacterial activity of the culture extracts was tested against four clinical bacterial isolates, namely, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All the culture extracts and standard drug (commercial Benzyl Penicillin) inhibited the growth B. subtilis and E. coli; the potency varied with carbon source. Antibacterial activity of extracts from cultures containing cassava shavings and sugarcane pulp was comparable with that of the standard drug. The MIC against the susceptible organisms was 0.20mg/ml for the standard drug and ranged from 0.40 to 1.50mg/ml for the culture extracts. Neither the culture extracts nor the standard drug inhibited K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa; the bacterial strains produced β-lactamase enzymes. Cassava shavings and sugarcane pulp are indicated as suitable cheap carbon sources for the production of antibiotics by Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

Comparison of an African herbal formula with commercially available haematinics

The haematological changes observed with commercially available haematinics (Fagon 9® and Chemiron®) were compared with those of a local haematinic referred to as African Herbal Formula (AHF). Results showed that AHF produced effects in haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) levels, which are reasonably comparable with the reference commercial and chemically defined haematinics. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(8): 237-240

The influence of African Herbal Formula on the haematological parameters of trypanosome infected rats

A herbal mixture of herbs code named African Herbal Formula (AFH) influenced the state of anaemia in trypanosome infected rats. Observations showed that the formula has an effect on the haemopoietic system manifested by a positive increase in the levels of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell while the white blood cell and lymphocyte levels were decreased. AHF also delayed the proliferation of the parasites and improved the level of the characteristic weight loss associated with trypanosomiasis. Key words: African Herbal Formula, trypanosomiasis, anaemia. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(9) 2003: 312-31

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

Xylanase production by Aspergillus niger ANL 301 using agro - wastes

Xylanase production by wild-type Aspergillus niger ANL301, newly isolated from wood-waste, was monitored at 24 h intervals for a period 168 h in media containing different carbon sources. The carbonsources were oat-spelt xylan (Fluka) and three agro-wastes (sawdust, sugarcane pulp and wheat bran). Highest xylanase activity of 6.47 units/mL was obtained at 96 h in media containing wheat bran as solecarbon source. Maximum activity value for the media containing sugarcane pulp was 0.95 units/mL obtained also at 96 h. Sawdust and oat spelt xylan gave the peak enzyme activities of 0.65 and 0.80 units/mL respectively at 120 h. High protein yield was obtained in media containing the agro-wastes, with wheat bran giving the highest value of 1.14 mg/mL at 96 h. The maximum specific xylanase activities were 3.86, 3.37, 5.69, and 9.36 units/ mg protein for sawdust, sugarcane pulp, wheat bran and oat spelt xylan, respectively. Out of the three agro-wastes used in this study, wheat bran holds greatest promise for low cost production of the xylanase enzyme

Potentials of cellulosic wastes in media formulation

Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting theircarbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the unmodified and modified media and their growth was monitored for 120 h. Growth of the organisms on modified media containing sawdust and sugarcane pulp compared favorably with that obtained for the unmodified equivalents. Modified Czapek-Dox agar containing 2% (w/v) sawdust (Wood agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane agar) gave 78.9 – 93.3% of the maximum growth obtained on Sabouraud’s agar. The modified Sabouraud’s agar containing sawdust (Wood-Pep agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane-Pep agar) yielded 84.4 – 100% of the maximum growth on Sabouraud’s agar. Cellulose-containing media gave a lower level of growth (60.0 – 66.7%) of that obtained for the unmodified media

Effect of Water Extract Of Tetrapleura Tetraptera (Aidon) On Haematological And Biochemical Parameters in Rats infected With Trypanosoma Brucei

This study investigated whether water extract of Tetrapleura tetraptere has trypanocidal effect against T.brucei in laboratory rats. Studies also examined its effect on the weight, haematological parameters as well as the blood chemical analyses of the infected animals. Results showed that oral administration of the water extract to the infected rats significantly reduced the parasite load, also weight loss was significantly lower in the infected and treated rats than the untreated ones. These positive observations were accompanied by reduced leukocytosis, improved state of anaemia and increased packed cell volume, all of which are indices of recovery from the state of cell toxicity arising from parasitemia. The tolerance of the extract by the animal was evaluated by the determination of the blood chemistries. Results revealed that there was no significant difference in the concentrations of the blood glucose, total protein, uric acid and unconjugated bilirubin in the uninfected but treated rats compared with the "neat" rats which were neither infected nor treated. However, conjugated bilirubin and creatinine values were significantly increased. It was also observed that when the infected animals were treated with the extract, the blood levels of total protein, uric acid, creatinine and unconjugated bilirubin decreased slightly, but consistently, as against the untreated rats. These observations indicate the beneficial effects of the plant extract and suggest that the T. tetraptera may contain active substance(s) which could have therapeutic effect against trypanosome infection. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 9, No. 1 (1999) pp. 66-7