Pharmacy students’ proclivity towards entrepreneurship – a sign of future innovation in pharmaceutical care service delivery

Background: Entrepreneurial inclination is linked with improved pharmaceutical care service innovations and improvements.Objective: This study examined the propensity of pharmacy students towards entrepreneurship and factors influencing this.Material and Methods: Two hundred and eighty-one pharmacy students at the University of Ibadan participated in a two-year prospective study using a self–administered validated Pharmacy Students Entrepreneurial Orientation summated scale questionnaire with five subscales in seven-points Likert scale type graded responses. Mean and percentage mean scores were determined with a high mean score indicative of entrepreneurial tendency.Results: Percentage mean score for PSEO were 88.5% and 88.8% for the first and second year of the survey, respectively. Post-graduation business ownership intentions were high (83.0%) in both years. These intentions had significantly higher mean scores on PSEO scale (p<0.001), empathic super salesperson subscale (p=0.007), innovativeness subscale (p<0.001), and risk taking subscale (p=0.024), in the first year of survey. Pharmacy students who had taken business courses had higher PSEO mean scores than those who had not taken business courses (p=0.003). Male pharmacy students were more likely to take risks more than their female counterparts in the first year of the study (p=0.035).Conclusion: Pharmacy students maintained a high level of entrepreneurial tendency in both years of the study with most students aspiring to become business owners. Male pharmacy students were more inclined to take risk and hope to be innovative in pharmaceutical care services. To further strengthen entrepreneurial inclination, pharmacy schools curricula should include entrepreneurial courses.Keywords: Entrepreneur, Pharmacy students, Pharmacy Students Entrepreneurial Orientation summated scale, Nigeri

Safety Evaluation of Two Nigerian Polyherbal Formulations (Fidson Bitter® And Daily Living Bitter®) In Male Wistar Rats

Background: Herbal bitters are used for diverse diseases based on the manufacturers’ assertions. However, little is known about their toxicity profile.Objective: The safety profile of two commonly used herbal bitters in Nigeria (Fidson bitter® and Daily living bitter®)was evaluated in rats.Materials and Methods: Single oral dose, 2 g/kg, of each reconstituted bitter extract was administered to male and female rats in acute toxicity test. Animals were observed for 14 days for behavioral changes and mortality. In sub-acute oral toxicity experiment, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of each bitter was separately administered daily to different groups of male Wistar rats for 30 days. Safety profile of concurrent administration of these bitters was also assessed. Histopathological, hematological, and clinical chemistry indices were evaluated.Results: The LD50 was found to be >2 g/kg. Daily living bitter® (DLB) had no significant effect on any of the indices evaluated (P>0.05). However, Fidson bitter® caused significant reductions in white blood cells count (WBC) compared with the control. Concomitant administration of the bitters resulted in significant (P<0.05) weight gain (up to 33 %), reduction in WBC and congestion of the liver without corresponding increase in liver biomarkers.Conclusion: Daily living bitter® was safe in sub-acute administration while Fidson bitter®and combination of the two bitters reduced white blood cell count. Hence, caution should be exercised in using Fidson bitter® or combination of the two bitters in humans as findings suggest possibility of immune suppression.Keywords: Toxicity profile, Polyherbal, Herbal bitters, Hematology, Wistar rats