THE ORGANOLEPTIC AND MICROBIAL QUALITY OF SOME HERBAL MEDICINAL PRODUCTS MARKETED IN FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE.

The WHO has advocated for the integration of herbal medicinal products into the primary health care system of developing countries. Safety, however, is a concern to the drug regulatory bodies. This study was carried out to determine the organoleptic properties and the microbial quality of herbal products available to consumers in the Freetown metropolis of Sierra Leone. Twenty herbal preparations purchased within the Freetown metropolis were assessed for taste, colour, odour, and pH. The microbial load and the presence of pathogens were determined. The residual antibacterial activity of two preparations that showed no microbial contamination was determined using the cup plate method. The ability of a combination of methyl- and propyl-parabens to prevent growth in some of the herbal products was studied. The study showed that 80% of the samples contained mean bacterial and fungal counts ranging from 1.47 x 108 to 9.375 x 108cfu/ml and 3.45x108 to 1.6x109cells/ml, respectively. The bacterial contaminants were predominantly Gram-positive organisms of the genera Bacillus and Staphylococcus. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. were among the isolated pathogens. The moulds, Aspergillus spp. and Trichoderma harzianum, and the yeasts, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, were predominant fungal contaminants. The apparently non-contaminated herbal samples inhibited test organisms while the preservative system completely inhibited growth in the tested samples. The results suggest that many of the herbal medicinal preparations marketed in Freetown are likely to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The quality of these herbal products may however be improved by the incorporation of appropriate preservatives

VASCULAR PERMEABILITY- INCREASING EFFECT OF THE LEAF ESSENTIAL OIL OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM LINN AS A MECHANISM FOR ITS WOUND HEALING PROPERTY.

Persistent microvascular hyperpermeability to plasma proteins is a characteristic feature of normal wound healing. Does the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum heal wounds by promoting this feature? Evan’s blue dye (20mg/kg body weight) in normal saline was administered intravenously through marginal ear vein of experimental rabbits (n=5). Each animal served as its own control. One hour after Evan’s blue dye administration, 0.1ml each of Ocimum oil, histamine dihydrochloride (30µg/ml) and normal saline were randomly administered by intra-dermal injection at the prepared sites on each of the animals. Increase in vascular permeability was assessed by dye effusion test. Analysis of the differences in vascular permeability between treatment groups showed that, Ocimum oil, in intensity and duration, was significantly (

Vascular permeability-increasing effect of the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum Linn as a mechanism for its wound healing property

Persistent microvascular hyperpermeability to plasma proteins is a characteristic feature of normal wound healing. Does the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum heal wounds by promoting this feature? Evan\'s blue dye (20mg/kg body weight) in normal saline was administered intravenously through marginal ear vein of experimental rabbits (n = 5). Each animal served as its own control. One hour after Evan\'s blue dye administration, 0.1ml each of Ocimum oil, histamine dihydrochloride (30µg/ml) and normal saline were randomly administered by intra-dermal injection at the prepared sites on each of the animals. Increase in vascular permeability was assessed by dye effusion test. Analysis of the differences in vascular permeability between treatment groups showed that, Ocimum oil, in intensity and duration, was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective in increasing cutaneous capillary permeability over a 24h period after treatment. The ability of Ocimum oil in increasing vascular permeability may be one of the factors that contribute to its wound healing property. Key words: Ocimum gratissimum, vascular permeability, mechanism of action Afr. J. Trad. Comp. Alt. Med. Vol.2(3) 2005: 253 - 25

Research Paper - VASCULAR PERMEABILITY- INCREASING EFFECT OF THE LEAF ESSENTIAL OIL OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM LINN AS A MECHANISM FOR ITS WOUND HEALING PROPERTY.

Persistent microvascular hyperpermeability to plasma proteins is a characteristic feature of normal wound healing. Does the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum heal wounds by promoting this feature? Evan's blue dye (20mg/kg body weight) in normal saline was administered intravenously through marginal ear vein of experimental rabbits (n=5). Each animal served as its own control. One hour after Evan's blue dye administration, 0.1ml each of Ocimum oil, histamine dihydrochloride (30μg/ml) and normal saline were randomly administered by intra-dermal injection at the prepared sites on each of the animals. Increase in vascular permeability was assessed by dye effusion test. Analysis of the differences in vascular permeability between treatment groups showed that, Ocimum oil, in intensity and duration, was significantly (p<.05) more effective in increasing cutaneous capillary permeability over a 24h period after treatment. The ability of Ocimum oil in increasing vascular permeability may be one of the factors that contribute to its wound healing property