EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY OF THE HYDROETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ALCHORNEA CORDIFOLIA IN RATS

Background: Different decoctions of Alchornea cordifolia leaves are used by Yoruba herbalists (Southwest Nigeria) for the local treatment of ulcers, rheumatic pains, febrile convulsions, and for enhancing physical performance. Materials and methods: In this study, the anti-arthritic effect of 100 – 400 mg/kg/day of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia (HEAC) was investigated in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rats as a way of evaluating its efficacy in the local management of arthritis. In addition, the effects of HEAC on liver and renal function parameters as well as its effect on the antioxidant enzyme system were investigated. Arthritis was induced using 0.1 ml of 10 mg/ml of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) following 1 h oral pretreatment and 8th day post-arthritic induction with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day of HEAC and 3 mg/kg/day of celecoxib as the reference drug. The anti-arthritic activity of HEAC was assessed based on the ability of HEAC to alter the paw edema diameter, body weight, full blood count, renal and liver function markers, glycoprotein, lysosomal enzymes and possible antioxidant potential in the arthritic rats. Results: Oral pretreatment with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day of HEAC produced significant (

Potential drug-drug interactions in paediatric outpatient prescriptions in Nigeria and implications for the future

BACKGROUND: Information regarding the incidence of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and adverse drug events (ADEs) among paediatric patients in Nigeria is limited. METHODS: Prospective clinical audit among paediatric outpatients in four general hospitals in Nigeria over a 3-month period. Details of ADEs documented in case files was extracted. RESULTS: Among 1233 eligible patients, 208 (16.9%) received prescriptions with at least one potential DDI. Seven drug classes were implicated with antimalarial combination therapies predominating. Exposure mostly to a single potential DDI, commonly involved promethazine, artemether/lumefantrine, ciprofloxacin and artemether/lumefantrine. Exposure mostly to major and serious, and moderate and clinically significant, potential DDIs. Overall exposure similar across all age groups and across genders. A significant association was seen between severity of potential DDIs and age. Only 48 (23.1%) of these patients presented at follow-up clinics with only 15 reporting ADEs. CONCLUSION: There was exposure to potential DDIs in this population. However, potential DDIs were associated with only a few reported ADEs

Antidiabetic Effects of the Ethanolic Root Extract of Uvaria chamae P. Beauv (Annonaceae) in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats: A Potential Alternative Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus has been a menace to mankind from time immemorial. However, a natural product such as U. chamae P. Beauv (Annonaceae) offers alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus. The study aimed at evaluating antidiabetic activity of the ethanolic root extract of U. chamae in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats after overnight fast with 150 mg/kg alloxan intraperitoneally. After 72 h, those with plasma glucose levels >200 mg/dl were classified as diabetic. Five diabetic rats in each group were treated daily for 14 days orally with 100, 250, and 400 mg/kg of the extract, glibenclamide (71 µg/kg) and pioglitazone (429 µg/kg), respectively, while another group was untreated. Control received 0.5 ml of Acacia senegal. Effects of extract on glucose, other biochemical, and hematological parameters were evaluated. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of extract and its fractions were also evaluated. Percentage inhibition and IC50 values were determined. Diabetic control was achieved on the 7th day of the study with 100, 250, and 400 mg/kg of the extract showing glucose reduction of 72.14%, 78.75%, and 87.71%, respectively. The HDL-cholesterol levels of diabetic rats treated with extracts were significantly increased. Extract and its fractions caused α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. Histologically, pancreas of diabetic rats treated with extract showed regenerated islet cells which were not seen in rats treated with glibenclamide and pioglitazone. This study showed that U. chamae has antidiabetic activity which may be through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition and regeneration of pancreatic beta cells. Also, it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing HDL-cholesterol levels

Preliminary phytochemical screening and evaluation of hypoglycemic properties of the root extract of Uveria chamae

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hypoglycaemic properties and preliminary phytochemical screening of Uveria chamae. The hypoglycaemic properties of Uveria chamae was assessed on normoglycaemic rat that received single dose of the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight and blood glucose levels estimated at 2, 4, and 6 hours (single dose study). The hypoglycaemic property of the extract was also evaluated in normoglycemic rats by oral glucose tolerance test. Phytochemical screening of the extract for the presence of secondary metabolites was performed with standard methods. The extract showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels at 2h and 6h compared to control.  The oral glucose tolerance test  result also showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels . The study showed that the extract, Uveria chamae has hypoglycaemic properties which may be accounted for by the presence of the phytochemicals

Trends in Adverse Event Reporting Before and After the Introduction of the Medsafety App in Nigeria

This is the accepted manuscript version of the work that will be published in its final form as Elemuwa, U. G., Bitrus, F., Oreagba, I. A., Osakwe, A. I., et al. Trends in Adverse Event Reporting Before and After the Introduction of the Medsafety App in Nigeria. Journal of Pharmaceutical Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-023-00494-8. Deposited by shareyourpaper.org and openaccessbutton.org. We've taken reasonable steps to ensure this content doesn't violate copyright. However, if you think it does, you can request a takedown by emailing [email protected]