Quality control tests on Andrographis paniculata nees (family: acanthaceae) - An Indian 'Wonder' plant grown in Nigeria

Purpose: To characterize the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata , a bitter Indian herb grown in Nigeria, for the purpose of quality control. Methods: The determination of bitterness value and of various physicochemical characteristics; tests for key phytochemicals; and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the air-dried herb, were carried out as prescribed in standard texts. Results: The mean bitterness value of the herb for both men and women was 2.86 ± 1.74 x 10 3 units per g. The male value (2.07 ± 1.42 x 10 3 ) appeared to be lower than the female′s (3.52 ± 1.82 x 10 3 ) but the difference was not statistically significant. The results (% w/w) of loss on drying (10.64 ± 0.36), total ash (14.10 ± 4.49), water extractive value (30.37 ± 2.63) and acid insoluble ash (1.00 ± 0.06) were similar to those reported for the Asian plant. The phytochemical tests revealed the presence of glycosides, saponins, tannins and alkaloids, but not of anthraquinones. Normal phase TLC of the drug yielded 5 spots as against 6 spots yielded by reverse TLC. Conclusion: The results provide useful quantitative and descriptive data that are essential for identifying and characterizing the Nigerian grown herb for the purpose of quality control; and confirm key similarities between the Nigerian and the Asian plant

Analysis of pan-African Centres of excellence in health innovation highlights opportunities and challenges for local innovation and financing in the continent

<p>Abstract</p> <p>A pool of 38 pan-African Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in health innovation has been selected and recognized by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI), through a competitive criteria based process. The process identified a number of opportunities and challenges for health R&D and innovation in the continent: i) it provides a direct evidence for the existence of innovation capability that can be leveraged to fill specific gaps in the continent; ii) it revealed a research and financing pattern that is largely fragmented and uncoordinated, and iii) it highlights the most frequent funders of health research in the continent. The CoEs are envisioned as an innovative network of public and private institutions with a critical mass of expertise and resources to support projects and a variety of activities for capacity building and scientific exchange, including hosting fellows, trainees, scientists on sabbaticals and exchange with other African and non-African institutions.</p