Antiulcerogenic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Lasianthera africana

The effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Lasianthera africana on experimentally induced ulcer was studied in rats. The extract (1000 – 3000mg/kg) inhibited ethanol-induced, indomethacin – induced and reserpine –induced ulcer models in a dose dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (

Antidepressant activity of ethanol extract of Zea mays husk

Background and aims: Zea mays L. (Poaceae) husk extract is used traditionally in Ibibio traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as malaria, pains, inflammatory diseases and central nervous system disorders. Methods: The husk extract (187-748 mg/kg) was evaluated for antidepressant activity in mice using open field, force swimming and tail suspension tests. Determination of median lethal dose (LD50) and phytochemical screening of the husk extract were also carried out using standard methods. Results: The husk extract increased significantly the line crossing, walling and rearing activities of mice in open field test (P<0.05-0.001) and reduced significantly the immobility time in force swimming test (P<0.05-0.001). However, the immobility time in tail suspension tests was significantly increased by the extract (P<0.05-0.001). Conclusion: The husk extract of Z. mays has prominent antidepressant activity which is due to the activities of its phytochemical constituents such as phenolic compounds

Analgesic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Solanum anomalum

Background: Solanum anomalum Thonn. ex Schumach. (family Solanaceae) is a shrub with edible fruit consumed locally for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Objective: To evaluate the leaf extract of Solanum anomalum for analgesic properties in mice. Method: The ethanol leaf extract of Solanum anomalum (70-210 mg/kg) was evaluated for analgesic activity against nociception in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced hind paw licking and thermally-induced pain models. Results: The leaf extract significantly inhibited nociception in all the models tested in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: The leaf extract possesses analgesic activity which confirms its use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pains. Keywords: Solanum anomalum, analgesic, medicinal plant Published: May, 202

Marital Satisfaction, Age And Alcohol Use During Pregnancy: An Empirical Study Of Pregnant Women In Uyo Metropolis, Nigeria

A convenient sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 110 pregnant women reporting for antenatal clinical checks in both private and public medical facilities in Uyo, Nigeria to investigate marital satisfaction and age as predictors of alcohol use during pregnancy. Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale was used in dichotomizing respondents into satisfied and dissatisfied pregnant women in marriage, while an item in Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) delineated our cohorts into users and non-users of alcohol. A 2x2 factorial design was adopted as regards the plan of the study while a 2-way analysis of variance was used for the analysis of data collected. Results confirmed the first hypothesis which predicted that pregnant women who are satisfied in their marriages would report less alcohol use than their dissatisfied counterparts {F (1, 104) = 4.70; p &lt; .05}. Findings also confirmed our second hypothesis which stated that pregnant women who are younger would report more alcohol use than their elderly counterparts {F (5, 104) = 11.833; p, &lt;.05}. Discussion of findings centered on the theories of learning which formed the nucleus of this paper and it was recommended that intervention would benefit from effective and affordable psychological counseling and treatment services for women exposed to harmful and/or hazardous alcohol use predicated by marital distress, violence, depression as well as those with limited coping skills

Prioritizing public health responses in Nigerian drug control policy

Nigeria’s drug control policy, a throwback to colonial dangerous drugs control legislations, is remarkable for its reliance on severe sanctions to curb drug offences. The establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 1990 took drug control in Nigeria to a crescendo. The agency amalgamates the functions of supply control and demand reduction in a highly-centralized bureaucracy. Although it has been successful in the seizure of drugs and arrest and punishment of offenders, its impact on drug use and related problems is negligible. the success is tainted by rampant corruption and the cost of law enforcement. The development of a comprehensive drug policy which prioritizes demand reduction through public health measures such as prevention and treatment is hampered by the bureaucracy of drug law enforcement, whose direction cannot be changed without altering the structure of the organization. The devolution of functions through the creation of a new agency on drug demand reduction is a step in the right direction.Keywords: drugs, policy, public health, law enforcement, Nigeri

Antiplasmodial and analgesic activities of Clausena anisata

AbstractObjectiveAntiplasmodial and analgesic activities of the leaf extract and fractions of Clausena anisata (C. anisata) were evaluated for antimalarial and analgesic activities.MethodsThe crude leaf extract (39–117 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform and acqeous; 78 mg/kg) of C. anisata were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) infections in mice using suppressive, prophylactic and curative models and analgesic activity against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains. Artesunate, 5 mg/kg and pyrimethamine, 1.2 mg/kg were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice.ResultsThe extract and its fractions dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine-sensitive P. berghei in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (P<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 17 to 21 days relative to control (P<0.01 − 0.001). On chemically and thermally-induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion.ConclusionsThe antiplasmodial and analgesic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through its chemical constituents and it can be concluded that the C. anisata possess significant antimalarial and analgesic properties

Antimalarial and analgesic activities of root extract of Panicum maximum

Background: Panicum maximum is used as malarial remedy traditionally and the leaf extract has been found to possess antimalarial, analgesic and anticancer properties. Objective: The ethanol root extract of Panicum maximum were evaluated for antiplasmodial and analgesic activities in rodents. Methods: The crude root extract (137 – 547mg/kg) of Panicum maximum were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice. The antiplasmodial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic were investigated. Artesunate 5mg/kg and pyrimethamine 1.2mg/kg were used as positive controls. Analgesic activity of the crude extract/fractions was also evaluated against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains. Results: The extract dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 13 to 28 days relative to control (p&lt;0.001).  The activity of extract was weak compared to that of the standard drugs used (artesunate and pyrimethamine). On chemically and thermally- induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: Panicum maximum root extract has antiplasmodial and analgesic activities which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant. Key words: Panicum maximum, analgesic, antimalaria

Impact force of melon seeds during shelling

Melon seeds are shelled in a rotating impeller &ndash; a type of machine to obtain the cotyledons.&nbsp; The seeds exit the impeller and impact a cylindrical ring shelling the seeds. &nbsp;Because of the impact force, some of the seeds are broken, which would deteriorate in storage and make lower market value. &nbsp;An analytical method was used to determine the factors affecting the impact force on the ring. &nbsp;Experimental compression tests were carried out to determine the static force for breaking melon seeds.&nbsp; Some seeds were also shelled with an experimental shelling machine and the number of broken seeds was counted. Analysis results showed that the factors affecting the impact force were impeller speed, seed cross-section area at impact and mass ratio.&nbsp; The mean forces for breaking melon seeds were 13.14&times;10-3 N, 19.62&times;10-3 N and 19.55&times;10-3 N for orientations of breadthwise, lengthwise with tip up and lengthwise with tip down respectively.Keywords: impact force, melon seeds, shelling, analysis&nbsp;Citation: Okokon F. B., E. Ekpenyong, C. Nwaukwa, N. Akpan, and F. I. Abam. &nbsp;Impact force of melon seeds during shelling. &nbsp;Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 182-188.&nbsp

Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae) leaf extract

Background: Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (family Lamiaceae), a medicinal herb in West and Central Africa, is ethnomedically employed as an antidote for poison and for the treatment of different diseases and ailments. Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of S.  monostachyus leaf extract against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. Methodology: Hepato-renoprotective effects of S. monostachyus ethanol leaf extract was evaluated against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. The liver protective property of the ethanol leaf extract (75-225 mg/kg) was investigated by the assessment of liver function parameters, liver antioxidant enzymes and histopathology, while the renoprotective property was evaluated by the assessment of some kidney function parameters, kidney antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. Silymarin (100mg/kg) was used as positive control. Results : The leaf extract exerted significant (p&lt;0.05 – 0.001) dose-dependent decreases in elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP), total cholesterol, direct and total bilirubin as well as increases in serum levels of total protein, albumin and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and GSH. Histopathological study of the liver sections of extract and silymarin-treated rats revealed reductions in the pathological features compared to the paracetamol- treated animals. Leaf extract pre-treatment also resulted in significant (p&lt;0.05) dose-dependent decreases in increased levels of serum creatinine and urea without affecting the electrolytes levels. Histopathology of the kidney sections of extract and silymarin- treated rats showed decreases in the pathological features compared to the control group. The chemical pathological results in both liver and kidney agreed with histopathological observations indicating pronouced hepatoprotective and renoprotective effect of the leaf extract of S. monostachyus. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the leaf extract of S. monostachyus has the potentials to protect the liver and kidney against injury which may be due to its antioxidant activity of its constituents and this can be employed in the management of liver and kidney diseases. Keywords: Solenostemon monostachyus, medicinal plant, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antioxidant

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of root extract of Zea mays

Background: Zea mays is used in Ibibio traditional medicine in Nigeria for the treatment of various ailments such as pains, malaria and hemorrhoids. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Zea mays ethanol root root extract in mice. Methodology: The crude ethanolic extract (45 – 135 mg/kg) of Zea mays root was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in mice using various experimental models; acetic acid and thermal- induced pains and carrageenan, egg albumin and xylene – induced oedema. The activity of the extract was compared to that of standard drug, acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg). Results: The extract caused a significant (p&lt;0.05 – 0.001) dose-dependent reduction of inflammation and pains induced by different phlogistic agents used. These effects were comparable to that of the standard drugs, acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg) used in some models. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant and the results of the analgesic action suggest central and peripheral mechanisms. The findings of this work confirm the ethno medical use of this plant to treat inflammatory conditions. Key words: Zea mays, antiinflammatory, analgesi