Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity of Dichloromethane-Methanol Root Bark Extract of Teclea trichocarpa Engl. (Rutaceae) in Rats

The in vivo toxicity profile of dichloromethane-methanol (50:50 % v/v) extract of Teclea trichocarpa Engl. (Rutaceae) root bark using Wister rats is reported. No death occurred in the oral acute and sub-acute toxicity studies. In the acute intraperitoneal test, all the animals at 2000 mg/kg developed convulsions followed by death within 3 min; at 300 mg/kg, death occurred within 4-48 h, but there was no death at 50 mg/kg. In the acute oral, subacute oral and 50 mg/kg acute intraperitoneal tests, all haematological and biochemistry parameters fluctuated but remained within normal limits, suggesting that T. trichocarpa root bark extract is practically non-toxic and supports the safety of this plant as a traditional herbal remedy. However, toxicity of the extract on intraperitoneal administration requires further study.Key words: Teclea trichocarpa, root bark extract, acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicit

Liquid chromatographic analysis of phenobarbitone, ethosuximide, phenytoin and carbamazepine on a polystyrene-divinyl benzene column

A liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous assay of four anticonvulsant drugs, phenobarbitone, ethosuximide, phenytoin and carbamazepine on a polystyrene-divinyl benzene column is described. The method was developed by the systematic study of different types of co-polymer materials, type and concentration of organic modifiers, buffer pH and concentration and column temperature. A PLRP-S 100 Å 8 µm column maintained at 60 oC and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-tert-butanol-phosphate buffer (pH 7.6, 0.2 M)-water (25:5:10:60, v/v) were used. The flow rate was 1 ml/min with ultraviolet detection at 220 nm. The method has been validated and used for the analysis of raw materials, finished products and dissolution studies of the drugs. Keywords: Liquid chromatography, co-polymer column, phenobarbitone, ethosuximide, phenytoin, carbamazepine. The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 8 (3) 2005: pp 19-2

Evidence review of hydroxyurea for the prevention of sickle cell complications in low-income countries.

Hydroxyurea is widely used in high-income countries for the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in children. In Kenyan clinical guidelines, hydroxyurea is only recommended for adults with SCD. Yet many deaths from SCD occur in early childhood, deaths that might be prevented by an effective, disease modifying intervention. The aim of this review was to summarise the available evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of hydroxyurea in the management of SCD in children below 5 years of age to support guideline development in Kenya. We undertook a systematic review and used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to appraise the quality of identified evidence. Overall, available evidence from 1 systematic review (n=26 studies), 2 randomised controlled trials (n=354 children), 14 observational studies and 2 National Institute of Health reports suggest that hydroxyurea may be associated with improved fetal haemoglobin levels, reduced rates of hospitalisation, reduced episodes of acute chest syndrome and decreased frequency of pain events in children with SCD. However, it is associated with adverse events (eg, neutropenia) when high to maximum tolerated doses are used. Evidence is lacking on whether hydroxyurea improves survival if given to young children. Majority of the included studies were of low quality and mainly from high-income countries. Overall, available limited evidence suggests that hydroxyurea may improve morbidity and haematological outcomes in SCD in children aged below 5 years and appears safe in settings able to provide consistent haematological monitoring

Evidence review of hydroxyurea for the prevention of sickle cell complications in low-income countries

Hydroxyurea is widely used in high-income countries for the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in children. In Kenyan clinical guidelines, hydroxyurea is only recommended for adults with SCD. Yet many deaths from SCD occur in early childhood, deaths that might be prevented by an effective, disease modifying intervention. The aim of this review was to summarise the available evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of hydroxyurea in the management of SCD in children below 5 years of age to support guideline development in Kenya. We undertook a systematic review and used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to appraise the quality of identified evidence. Overall, available evidence from 1 systematic review (n=26 studies), 2 randomised controlled trials (n=354 children), 14 observational studies and 2 National Institute of Health reports suggest that hydroxyurea may be associated with improved fetal haemoglobin levels, reduced rates of hospitalisation, reduced episodes of acute chest syndrome and decreased frequency of pain events in children with SCD. However, it is associated with adverse events (eg, neutropenia) when high to maximum tolerated doses are used. Evidence is lacking on whether hydroxyurea improves survival if given to young children. Majority of the included studies were of low quality and mainly from high-income countries. Overall, available limited evidence suggests that hydroxyurea may improve morbidity and haematological outcomes in SCD in children aged below 5 years and appears safe in settings able to provide consistent haematological monitoring

A 56-Day Oral Toxicity Study of the Aqueous Extract of Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez in Rats

Rapanea melanophloeos is a tropical tree that is extensively utilized in African traditional medicine to treat helminthiases, tuberculosis, and heart-water. As with many other medicinal plants, there is insufficient information regarding the safety of therapeutic R. melanophloeos extracts. An aqueous extract of R. melanophloeos stem bark was administered to Sprague Dawley rats at doses of 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg for 56 days to characterize its potential toxicity after prolonged dosing. Blood samples were obtained fortnightly for serum chemistry and hematology, while organs were collected at the end of the study. The extract caused an increase in organ weight indices of the kidneys and testis at 300 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg. Hematological and biochemical examination revealed a drop in leukocyte counts and the hematocrit at 1000 mg/kg dose level, while there was a general but nondose-related elevation in alkaline phosphatase activity. There were time-associated variations in the hematological and clinical chemistry parameters at days 28, 42, and 56 in all dose levels, but most values remained within physiological limits. No pathological lesions were evident at histopathology after treatment with the extract. Our data shows that the aqueous extract of R. melanophloeos is not likely to be toxic at the doses tested and provides support to its medicinal use

Essential oil of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. from Tanzania: Composition and antifungal activity

The hydrodistellited essential oil (yield 1.2%) of fresh leaves of wild Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. was analysed by GC and GCMS.Twenty four compounds representing 90.3% of the oil was identified. The main compound of the oil were beta caryophyllene, beta elemene, trans alpha bergamotene, spathulenol and bicyclogermacrene The oil exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against Mucor sp. when compared to ketoconazole.Fil: Malele, R. S.. Univesity Of Nairobi; KeniaFil: Mutayabarwa, C. K.. University Of Nairobi; KeniaFil: Mwangi, J. W.. University Of Nairobi; KeniaFil: Thoithi, G. N.. University Of Nairobi; KeniaFil: López, A. G.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Lucini, Enrique Iván. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Zygadlo, Julio Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin