ANTIMYCOBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Ten Nigerian medicinal plants Abrus precatorius, Annona senegalensis, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Crateva adansonii, Detarium microcarpum, Faba spp, Neocarya macrophylla, Ocimum gratissimum, Securidaca longpenduculata and Terminalia avicennioides used by traditional medicine practitioners for the management of infectious and chronic diseases such as tuberculosis and whooping cough were investigated for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against attenuated strains of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG). Hexane and methanol extracts of the plant materials were obtained by maceration. The antimycobacterial activity was determined by the broth microdilution method. The hexane extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides showed strong inhibitory activity at 312µg/ml. Eight of the ten plant extracts showed moderate inhibitory activity in either hexane or methanol extract at 1250µg/ml. While the hexane and methanol extracts of Detarium microcarpum and Neocarya macrophylla did not exhibit any significant activity. These observed activities could be associated with secondary metabolites in these plants. This study demonstrates the efficacy of Nigerian medicinal plants as potential agents in the management of the tuberculosis disease

Antifeedant Activity of the Chemical Constituents of Detarium microcarpum

Abstract: Plant-derived extracts or phytochemicals have long been a subject of research in an effort to develop alternatives to conventional insecticides with reduced negative impact on human health and the environment. In this study, the chemical constituents of Detarium microcarpum (Guill&Perr) plant was investigated for a comparison of the biological actions of the chemical composition of its leaves, stem and root barks. Extracts from the leaves, stem and root barks were analyzed for feeding deterrent and contact toxicity activities. All the solvent-based extracts from the various parts of D. microcarpum (Guill&Perr) showed feeding deterrent and contact toxicity effects against Tribolium casteneum, Hbst. a maize weevil. Methanol extracts of the root bark of D. microcarpum (Guill&Perr) gave the best antifeedant index and contact toxicity effect on T. casteneum, Hbst with an LC 50 value of 47μg/insect. IR and GCMS analyses have identified some saturated carboxylic acids and carbonyl compounds

IN VITRO ANTIMYCOBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TWO MEDICINAL PLANTS IDENTIFIED FROM NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The global threat of tuberculosis demands for search for alternative antimycobacterial drugs [1]. The crude methanolic extracts of eight Nigerian medicinal plant species used in the treatment of TB and other respiratory diseases were evaluated for activity against a clinical isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and attenuated Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) using broth microdilution method. The plant parts used were obtained as described by the users from a forest near Baddegi, Niger State, Nigeria. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium at the Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria and National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Nigeria. Two hundred grams (200g) of each dried plant material was powdered and extracted by maceration with methanol for 72h at room temperature (3 x 250mL). All the crude extracts were filtered and evaporated in vacuo (350C). Each extract was then partitioned with n-hexane-MeOH (3 x 250mL, 1: 1) to give n -hexane and MeOH solubles as well as all the partitioned extracts for each plant were combined; concentrated and dried in vacuo. Both hexane and methanol extracts of each plant species were tested for antimycobacterial activity. Four out of the eight plant extracts exhibited inhibitory activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 78 and 1250μg/mL [2]. The hexane fractions obtained after fractionation were the most active fractions for all the plants tested against BCG, having Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides exhibiting the highest activity at 312 and 200μg/mL respectively. Fractions Ta5 and Al4 obtained on further purification exhibited most significant activity (MIC 4.7μg/mL, 7.8μg/mL) respectively. From the results of phytochemical analysis, terpenes and triterpenoid saponins are the most prominent compounds in these fractions and several reports earlier indicated that these metabolites are potential antimycobacterial agents [1]. This class of metabolites presents interesting area for further investigation with special attention on the Combretaceae family from Nigeria flora. References: [1] Copp, BR: The Review of Natural Products with antimycobacterial activity. Nat. Prod. Rep., 20(6): 535-557. (2003). [2] Mann, A., Amupitan, J. O., Oyewale, A.O., Okogun, J. I., Ibrahim, K., Oladosu, P., Lawson, L., Olajide, I., and Nnamdi, A.: Evaluation of in vitro antimycobacterial activity of Nigerian plants used for treatment of respiratory diseases, Afri. J. Biotech., 7 (11): 1630-1636 (2008

Jos christmas eve bomb blast: confronting new challenges with old resources

Background: Jos, Nigeria has witnessed several mass casualty incidents from sectarian crises, with mechanisms of injury mainly from blunt forces and use of machetes and less from gunshots. In December 2010, for the first time, twin bomb blasts detonated at a market generating casualties and triggering another crisis. We sought to describe peculiarities of this novel mechanism of mass casualty.Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of patients who presented to our hospital with injuries sustained following the Jos Christmas Eve bombing of 2010.Results: Of the 90 patients that presented over 4 days, 81 were males and 9 females. Age ranged from 2 to 76 years with a mean of 36.2 years, SD=± 16. There were 31 (34.4%) blast injuries and 35 (38.9%) gunshot injuries. Majority of the wounds involved the lower limbs in 39(43.3%) patients, and upper limbs in 24(26.6%). Forty three (47.8%) patients required only debridement and 13(14.4%) needed only wound dressing. Definitive procedures done were open reduction and internal fixation in 7(7.7%) patients, laparotomy in 5(5.5%), amputation and local wound exploration in 3(3.3%) each, and chest tube insertion in 2(2.2%) patients. Duration of hospital stay ranged from 0-84 days. More than half of the 14(15.5%) complications were infective in origin. There were 7(7.7%) mortalities. The hospital cost was 14 times higher than that of previous crisis that did not involve bomb blast.Conclusion: The bomb blasts generated predominantly limb injuries that required a lot of resources and prolonged hospital care..A disaster response protocol that envisages injuries arising from this mechanism is essential