Africa needs climate data to fight disease

Climate variability and change are a major concern for public health in Africa. The livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people there are dependent on rain-fed agriculture and seasonal water resources. Poor rural communities also suffer from under-nutrition and bear the greatest burden of infectious diseases and natural disasters while having the least access to public-health services. Many of Africa’s most important cities are on the coast and at risk of sea level rise. Without adequate infrastructure they are vulnerable to poor sanitation during floods and shortages of drinking water and loss of hydroelectric power during droughts. Rising temperatures, air pollutants and dust threaten to increase heat stress and respiratory disease

Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of Dissotis rotundifolia Triana (Melastomataceae)

Dissotis rotundifolia Triana (Melastomataceae), a native of tropical West Africa is known to have many uses in ethnomedicine. Establishment of pharmacognostic profile of the leaves will assist instandardization which can guarantee quality, purity and identification of samples. Evaluation of fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves was carried out to determine the macromorphological,micromorphological, chemomicroscopic, numerical and phytochemical profiles. Macroscopically, the leaf was linear in shape, with a glabrous texture, a short petiole, margin entire, apex and leaf base acutewith pinnate venation. Microscopically, stomata was anomocytic, epidermal cells were straight and polygonal with uniseriate and multiseriate covering trichomes. Chemomicroscopic characters presentincluded lignin, starch, mucilage and calcium oxalate crystals while phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and saponins. The investigations also included themoisture content, ash values as well as palisade ratio, stomata index, vein – islet and veinlet termination numbers. These findings should be suitable for inclusion in the proposed Pharmacopoeia of Nigerian medicinal plants

In Vitro Antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract of Kigelia Africana Lam. Benth (Bignoniaceae) formulated as shampoo

The leaves of Kigelia africana Lam. Benth (Bignoniaceae) are used ethnomedically across Africa for the management of various infections. This study is aimed at formulating the crude extract of the leaves as shampoo for possible use in the management of skin infections. Chemical and chromatographic tests were carried out. Inhibitory activity of the crude ethanol extract and the shampoo formulation against clinical strains of the following bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and fungi namely, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were compared with ciprofloxacin and griseofulvin. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. Chromatographic fingerprints to aid identification of the plant were established. The crude ethanol extract and shampoo formulation inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, K. pneumonia and Candida albicans to varying extents. The ethanol extract from the leaves of Kigelia Africana Lam. Benth can be formulated into a shampoo dosage form for possible use in the management of skin infections such as solar keratosis, skin cancer and kaposi sarcoma.Keywords: Kigelia africana, antimicrobial, formulation, shampooJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 9 No. 2 (2012

Pharmacognostic evaluation and antisickling activity of the leaves of Securinega virosa Roxb. ex Willd. (Euphorbiaceae)

Securinega virosa (Euphorbiaceae) together with condiments from natural sources serve as antisickling remedies in Nigeria. This study was aimed at establishing the pharmacognostic profile as well as the antisickling activity of the leaves of S. virosa Roxb. ex Willd (Euphorbiaceae). Evaluation of the fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves were carried out to determine the macromorphological, micromorphological and chemomicroscopic characters. Chemical tests were employed in phytochemical investigations. Evaluation of the antisickling activity involved the inhibition of sodium metabisulphite-induced sickling of the HbSS red blood cells obtained from confirmed sickle cell patients who were not in crises. Concentrations of the crude extract and its fractions were tested with normal saline and p-hydroxybenzoic acid serving as controls. Microscopical studies showed anomocytic stomata arrangement and glandular trichomes. Phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. Percentage sickling inhibitions of the aqueous methanol extract of S. virosa as well as all the fractions, except the petroleum ether fractions were significant all through the period of assay p < 0. 05 compared to normal saline. These results are suggestive of a potential role for S. virosa in the management of sickle cell disorders and a candidate for further investigations.Keywords: Securinega virosa, euphorbiaceae, pharmacognostic standardization, sickle cell disorders.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(40) 4040-404

Effects of oil exploration on the anatomy and antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Annona muricata l. (Annonaceae)

Nigeria flares much natural gas associated with oil exploration like many other countries of the world. A major problem of gas flaring is the release of large amounts of methane, which has the potential to affect medicinal plants. The effects of gas flaring on the anatomy and antimicrobialactivities of Annona muricata, used by traditional medical practitioners in the Niger Delta to treat infections was investigated. The leaves of Annona muricata Linn (Annonaceae) were collected from Ologbo, near Benin City (Edo State), Ebedei, near Abraka (Delta State) and Elele, near Port-Harcourt (Rivers State), three towns in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where gas flaring is still taking place. Evaluation of the anatomical sections of the leaves was carried out to determine micromorphological profile. Chemical and chromatographic tests were employed in phytochemicalinvestigations. Inhibitory activity of aqueous ethanol extracts against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis were compared with that of ciprofloxacin. Microscopic studiesirrespective of place of collection showed that the leaves have anisocytic stomata arrangement. The epidermal cells were beaded and had uniseriate covering trichomes on both surfaces. The transverse section showed dorsiventral arrangement. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, cardiac and cyanogenetic glycosides. The aqueous ethanol extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus to varying degrees. A. muricata has been reported to possess broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. However, our findings showed a reduction of antimicrobial activity by the species growing in some parts of the Niger Delta where gas flaring is still ongoing. Concerted efforts should be made by the Nigerian Government to stop gas flaring in the region to preserve the pharmacological and biological activities of the medicinal plants.Keywords: Annona muricata, antimicrobial, anatomical, oil exploration, gas flarin