Some behavioural studies on methanol root bark extract of Burkea africana (fabaceae) in mice

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. The research was conducted to evaluate some central nervous system properties of the root bark methanol extractof B. africana in mice. It involved the following animal models: diazepam-induced sleep, hole-board and walking beam assay. Results: The methanol extract showed a significant decrease in the onset of sleep at doses of 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg (p<0.05); as well as produced significant increase in the duration of sleep (40 and 80 mg/kg) at p<0.05, p<0.005 respectively. The number of head dips significantly increased at 20 and 80 mg/kg (p<0.05 and 0.005 respectively). From the beam walking test for motor deficits, the result showed a significant increase in the number of foot slips at doses of 20 mg/kg (p<0.05); 40 and 80 mg/kg (p<0.005), where as there was no significant difference in the time taken to cross the two ends of the beam (time taken to complete the task). The median lethal dose (LD50) value of B. africana extract was found to be 288.5 mg/kg (i.p) in mice. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoid, aglycones, tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, unsaturated steroids and triterpenes. Our results suggest that the B. africana extract contains biologically active compounds with potential sedative and anxiolytic properties.Key Words: Sedation, B. Africana, Diazepam, ethnomedicin

Polypharmacy among anabolic-androgenic steroid users: A descriptive metasynthesis

Background: As far as we are aware, no previous systematic review and synthesis of the qualitative/descriptive literature on polypharmacy in anabolic-androgenic steroid(s) (AAS) users has been published. Method: We systematically reviewed and synthesized qualitative/descriptive literature gathered from searches in electronic databases and by inspecting reference lists of relevant literature to investigate AAS users' polypharmacy. We adhered to the recommendations of the UK Economic and Social Research Council's qualitative research synthesis manual and the PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 50 studies published between 1985 and 2014 were included in the analysis. Studies originated from 10 countries although most originated from United States (n = 22), followed by Sweden (n = 7), England only (n = 5), and the United Kingdom (n = 4). It was evident that prior to their debut, AAS users often used other licit and illicit substances. The main ancillary/supplementary substances used were alcohol, and cannabis/cannabinoids followed by cocaine, growth hormone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), amphetamine/meth, clenbuterol, ephedra/ephedrine, insulin, and thyroxine. Other popular substance classes were analgesics/opioids, dietary/nutritional supplements, and diuretics. Our classification of the various substances used by AAS users resulted in 13 main groups. These non-AAS substances were used mainly to enhance the effects of AAS, combat the side effects of AAS, and for recreational or relaxation purposes, as well as sexual enhancement. Conclusions: Our findings corroborate previous suggestions of associations between AAS use and the use of other licit and illicit substances. Efforts must be intensified to combat the debilitating effects of AAS-associated polypharmacy