Effect of Aqueous Extract of the Bark of Entandrophragma utile in Acute Gastric and Duodenal Ulcer Models

Purpose: The bark of E. utile is claimed in Nigerian traditional medicine to have antiulcer properties. We therefore tested its effectiveness in experimental acute gastric and duodenal ulcer models.Methods: Ulcers generated as lesions, from pin-point craters to larger eruptions, were quantified qualitatively for cold-restraint, immobilization, pylorus ligation, and aspirin induced gastric ulcers and for histamine orcysteamine induced duodenal ulcers. Ethanol or histamine induced  hemorrhagic gastric lesions were quantified by planimetry and a dose-related effectiveness of the aqueous extract of E. utile was determined. Data were compared using Student’s t-test. At 95% confidence interval, any 2-tailed p value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Using qualitative evaluation, the extract of E. utile or standard drugs (cimetidine, ranitidine, or nocloprost) did not significantly reduce gastric ulcer incidence and/or ulcer severity. E. utile was ineffectivefor duodenal ulcers. Using the quantitative methods, histamine, 5 mg kg-1 i.p. in guinea pigs produced 100% incidence of gastric ulcers with a mean ulcer index (UI) of 55.4 ± 8.38. In this model, 100 mg kg -1 cimetidinelowered the incidence to 60% and the UI to 17 ± 9.9 (p<0.0005) while 5 x 10-3g kg-1 E. utile lowered the incidence to 80% and the index to 15.88 ± 11.8 (p<0.01). Similarly 1 ml absolute ethanol given orally in rats produced 100% incidence and UI of 49.2 ± 12.69. In this model, 100 ìg kg-1 nocloprost reduced the incidence to 33% and the mean UI to 10.15 ± 0.55 (p<0.01); E. utile (50 mg kg-1) prevented ethanol induced  hemorrhagic gastric mucosal damage (p<0.005).Conclusion: E. utile protected the gastric mucosa against acute noxious assault.Keywords: Peptic ulcer, anti-ulcer, E. util

ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC ACTIONS OF ENANTIA CHLORANTHA EXTRACT IN SOME LABORATORY ANIMALS

Aqueous extract of the bark of Enantia chlorantha administered intraperitoneally (i.p) into healthy adult albino mice at does of 1.0 and 5.0g/kg resulted in elevation of pain threshold. The action of E. chlorantha was found to be about 20 times less potent than morphine. On the other hand, a dose if 15.0g/kg of the extract given orally to rabbits infected with Klebsiella sp was able to relieve the pyrogenic induced fever whereas no such effect was observed in the control group that was given ordinary water. Key Words: Enantia chlorantha, Anonaceae, malaria, fever, pain, Klesbsiella sp., mice and rabbits Nig. J. Nat. Prod. And Med. Vol.2 1998: 24-2

ANTIPYRETIC EFFECT OF RAUWOLFIA VOMITORIA IN RABBITS

The aqueous extract of the leaves of Rauwolfia vomitoria (family, Apocynaceae) in a dose of 1.2 gkg-1 given orally produced a decrease in temperature from 42.0oC to 40.0oC in about 2 hours in rabbits infected with Klebsiella aerogenes. Key Words: Rauwolfia vomitoria, Apocynaceae, antipyretic, Klebsiella aerogenes Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.3 1999: 77-7

An Investigation of Curative Effects of Entandrophragma Utile Bark Extract in Chronic Peptic Ulcers

Background: We previously reported the aqueous bark extract of Entandrophragma utile showed gastric acid reducing properties and prophylactic effects against acute ulcer formation. Here, we investigated its curative effects in established ulcers. Methods: Chronic gastric ulcers were induced with injection of 0.1 ml 10% acetic acid and chronic duodenal ulcers were induced with oral lavage of 280 mg/Kg cysteamine in rats. Diseased animals were treated with anti-ulcer drugs: 20 μg/ml nocloprost or 5 mg/ml cimetidine or test agent 0.1 g/ml E. utile extract orally ad lib for 25 days and their healing were compared. Results: The gastric ulcer incidence and index were found to be reduced by the E.utile extract to 50% and 0.8 ± 0.98 (p> 0.49) and the effect paralleled that of known cytoprotective nocloprost: 40% and 0.6 ± 0.8 (p> 0.45). Similar results were obtained for duodenal ulcer with the extract matched against cimetidine. Paraffin sections showed that cysteamine caused massive destruction and disappearance of villi and Brunner’s glands with some erosion deeper than the muscularis mucosa and pus formation. In extract treated animals with cysteamine assault, the villi and Brunner’s glands were intact. Conclusion: E. utile bark extract appears to reinforce the compromised gastrointestinal mucosa.Keywords: Entandrophragma utile, peptic ulcer, stomach, duodenum, anti-ulce

The Patterns Of Use Of Procaine Penicillin Streptomycin Combination in Two Health Centres in Lagos

The patterns of use of procaine penicillin-streptomycin was evaluated in the outpatient department of two health centres from June to September 1995. Prescriptions for 84 and 104 patients were written for the antibiotic combination out of total prescriptions of 3429 and 2272 seen at Onikan and Randle Health Centres representing 2.45% (+SE 0.004) respectively. The drug combination was observed to be more for treatment than for prophylaxis: 77.46% (+ SE 0.05) and 69.84% (+ SE 0.05) at Onikan and Randle respectively. The study showed that the use of these drugs is significant at both health centres (

Childhood asthma: the medications taken before presentation at four referral health institutions in Lagos

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol.10(2) 2000: 148-14

Chronic Toxicity Of Enantia Chlorantha in Animal Model

Enantia chiorantha (Annonaceae) bark, a traditional medicinal plant often used in the treatment of P.falciparum infections has been indiscriminately ingested by individuals especially in this part of the world. The present study was conducted to determine the cumulative effects of E. chlorantha in the body tissues. The bark after procurement was sun-dried and chopped into tiny pieces. A 150g sample was boiled in 1.5L distilled water and the resultant aqueous extract was administered ad - libitum to 5 groups of rats consisting of 10 animals each for a period of 16 weeks. The animals were thereafter sacrificed and the important body organs/tissues were excised for histopathological study. The aqueous extract of E.chlorantha was found to produce certain pathological changes in most of the animals studied. Among the parts affected were the lungs, liver, heart, tongue and pancreas. The kidney, however showed mild pathology. This therefore suggests that specific recommended regimen be ingested by users. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 9, No. 2 (June 1999) pp. 143-14

Prescribing pattern in childhood asthma at four referral health institutions in Lagos

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol.10(2) 2000: 153-15

Productive performance of rabbits as influenced by source of fibre and chemical treatment of dietary maize cob sawdust and mango leaves

An experiment was conducted using 36 growing rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes with initial liveweight of 658g to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing three different fibre sources, Maize Cob (MC); Sawdust (SD); and Mango Leaves (ML) which were subjected to three processing methods viz: untreated, NaOH and Urea treated. The fibre materials were incorporated such that the various experimental diets had approximately 12% crude fibre. The rabbits were randomly allocated to nine experimental diets such that four individually caged rabbits served as replicates for each dietary treatment. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Although a slight decline in dry matter value of all the fibre sources was observed as a result of chemical treatment, the crude protein content increased with treatment with maize cob being an exception where the crude protein value was reduced as a result of NaOH treatment. Dietary treatments had significant (