In vivo activity of stem bark aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis against Trypanosoma brucei

Aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis A. Juss (Meliaceae) stem bark was used to treat trypanosomiasis in rats in vivo and changes in levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)were studied. The treatment involved oral infusion of the crude extract at 60 mg/kg body weight (b.w) simultaneously with Trypanosoma brucei infection, and 60 and 100 mg/kg b.w infusion of the extract 3days post infection (p.i). In all the rats treated with the extract, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in parasitemia was recorded on day 6 p.i and there was also significant (P < 0.05) increase in the levels ofAST and ALT when compared with rats that were neither infected nor given the infusion of the extract. It was concluded that orally infused K. senegalensis extract possessed in vivo activity against T. brucei butcould not prevent the disease-induced liver damage

Role of sialic acids in the midguts of Trypanosoma congolense infected Culex pipense pipiense mosquitoes

Free and total sialic acid concentrations were determined in the midgut extract of Culex pipiense pipiense mosquitoes infected with Trypanosoma congolense. The mean total sialic acid concentrations were found to be 1.5 to 2 fold higher than the mean free sialic acid concentrations in the midgut extracts of all the groups of the T. congolense infected C.p. pipiense. Infusion of 10 mg/ml galactose and 10 mg/ml lactose did not change the pattern of this difference but resulted to 1.3 to 1.4 fold decrease in the total sialic acid concentration. The relevance of these findings to the role of sialic acids in the midgut of T. congolense infected C.p. pipiense mosquitoes is discussed in this paper. Key Words: Trypanosoma congolense, Culex pipiense pipiense, sialic acid, midgut. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(8) 2004: 405-40

Chemical Composition of Kapok (Ceibapentandra) Seed and Physicochemical Properties of its Oil

Determination of the chemical composition of Kapok (Ceibapentandra) seeds and physicochemical properties of its oil were carried out using standard methods. Mature dried fruits of Kapok from which seeds wereobtained were collected from in and around Basawa village, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Results of proximate analysis show crude fat (23.10%) and crude protein, (36.70%) while calcium (1212mg/kg) was most abundant among minerals analysed. Kapok seed oil had clear bright yellowish colour with offensive odour with iodine value, (76.80g I/100 g oil) and saponification value, (179.77mg KOH/g oil). Lignin content of the kapok fiber was 5.54%. We concluded that the kapok seeds, which are under-utilized and often discarded as an agrowaste in our environment, is rich in oil and protein therefore, has a reasonable economic potential which can be harnessed.Keywords: Kapok, Ceibapentandra, physicochemical properties, oil, iodine value, saponification valu

Inhibitory Effect of Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiacea) Seed Extracts on Some Key Enzymes Linked to Diabetes Mellitus

Enzymes linked with diabetes mellitus and Phytochemical characterization of its bioactive constituents. Crude n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were prepared successively in a soxhlet apparatus at 50ºC. Subsequently, extraction of crude enzymes from porcine pancreas and rat intestine, thin layer chromatographic analysis (TLC), and inhibitory effects of the extracts on b-amylase and b-glucosidase were determined in vitro. The results reveal that G. kola seed extracts inhibited b-amylase (IC50=  4.89 mg/ml, 3.44 mg/ml, 0.78 mg/ml) and b-glucosidase (IC50= 10.29 mg/ml, 1.68 mg/ml, 2.67 mg/ ml) corresponding to n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol gradient extracts. n-hexane extract had the highest inhibitory effect on b-amylase, while methanol extract was highest on b-glucosidase. Characterization of the bioactive constituents of the extracts using TLC analysis revealed the presence of steroids/triterpenes and phenolic compounds with phenolic compounds appearing in all extracts irrespective of the solvent polarity used for extraction. Anthraquinone and alkaloids were confirmed absent on TLC. This enzyme inhibition could be one of the possible pathways by which G. kola elicits its antidiabetic properties. Furthermore, the enzyme inhibitory properties of the extracts can be attributed to the presence of steroids/triterpenes, phenolic compounds in the seeds of G. kola.Keywords: Garcinia kola, b-amylase, b-glucosidase, TLC, Inhibitory Effec

The World Health Organization ACTION-I (Antenatal CorTicosteroids for Improving Outcomes in preterm Newborns) Trial: a multi-country, multi-centre, two-arm, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled, individually randomized trial of antenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of imminent birth in the early preterm period in hospitals in low-resource countries

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) have long been regarded as a cornerstone intervention in mitigating the adverse effects of a preterm birth. However, the safety and efficacy of ACS in hospitals in low-resource countries has not been established in an efficacy trial despite their widespread use. Findings of a large cluster-randomized trial in six low- and middle-income countries showed that efforts to scale up ACS use in low-resource settings can lead to harm. There is equipoise regarding the benefits and harms of ACS use in hospitals in low-resource countries. This randomized controlled trial aims to determine whether ACS are safe and efficacious when given to women at risk of imminent birth in the early preterm period, in hospitals in low-resource countries. METHODS/DESIGN: The trial design is a parallel, two-arm, double-blind, individually randomized, placebo-controlled trial of ACS (dexamethasone) for women at risk of imminent preterm birth. The trial will recruit 6018 women in participating hospitals across five low-resource countries (Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan). The primary objectives are to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone with placebo on survival of the baby and maternal infectious morbidity. The primary outcomes are: 1) neonatal death (to 28 completed days of life); 2) any baby death (any stillbirth postrandomization or neonatal death); and 3) a composite outcome to assess possible maternal bacterial infections. The trial will recruit eligible, consenting pregnant women from 26 weeks 0 days to 33 weeks 6 days gestation with confirmed live fetuses, in whom birth is planned or expected within 48 h. The intervention comprises a regimen of intramuscular dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The comparison is an identical placebo regimen (normal saline). A total of 6018 women will be recruited to detect a reduction of 15% or more in neonatal deaths in a two-sided 5% significance test with 90% power (including 10% loss to follow-up). DISCUSSION: Findings of this trial will guide clinicians, programme managers and policymakers on the safety and efficacy of ACS in hospitals in low-resource countries. The trial findings will inform updating of the World Health Organization's global recommendations on ACS use. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12617000476336 . Registered on 31 March 2017