Oxytocic and anti-implantation activities of the leaf extracts of Graptophyllum pictum (Linn.) Griff. (Acanthaceae)

This study was aimed at evaluating Graptophyllum pictum aqueous extract (GPAE) and ethanol extract (GPEE) in vitro for oxytocic and in vivo for anti-implantation activities. The oxytocic screening of the extracts was carried out on the isolated strip of gravid rat uterus in mid pregnancy and was compared with the activity of an agonist drug, oxytocin. GPEE exhibited oxytocic activity which is comparable to oxytocin while GPAE was found to reduce the normal contraction of the uterine strip. The antiimplantationinvestigation was done using three groups of eight week old virgin female Sprague-Dawley albino rats (eight rats/group). A selected dose (400 mg/kg) of GPEE was orally administered to a group of the rats. The same dose of GPAE was similarly administered to another group while the vehicle of administration (distilled water) was similarly administered to the third group as control. All administrations started on day one of pregnancy and were given daily for seven days. The rats were sacrificed on day 10 of pregnancy. Presence of foetus, implantation sites and number of corporal lutea in the autopsied rats were recorded and used to calculate the percentage anti-implantation effect. GPEE, GPAE and distilled water have percentage anti-implantation value of 93.8 ± 9.1, 16.8 ± 8.5 and 3.9± 5.4, respectively. The results support the use of this plant in folkloric medicine as a delivery aid and also suggest that the plant can be used very early in pregnancy as a contraceptive

Blood glucose lowering effect of aqueous extract of Graptophyllum pictum (Linn) Griff. on alloxan-induced diabetic rats and its acute toxicity in mice

This study was aimed at evaluating the claimed anti-diabetic property of the aqueous extract of Graptophyllum pictum leaf and to establish an effective dose for the extract. It also attempted to unravel if the extract could be acutely toxic to mice. The anti-diabetic study was carried out on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. After diabetic induction, the rats were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1 to 3 were orally administered 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight extract by gastric probe for four weeks; group4 was administered 10 mg/kg body weight metformin, a well known hypoglycemic drug, while group 5 served as control and received the vehicle of administration (distilled water). The fasting blood glucose level (FBGL) of the rats was checked before commencement of treatment and weekly during the drug administration period using Roche Accu-chek Active Glucometer. The percentage change in FBGL before commencement of treatment and during the treatment period was calculated and expressedgraphically. The acute toxicity of the extract was studied in 4 groups of Swiss albino mice which were orally administered high doses (1 to 4 g/kg) of the extract. The results obtained from the anti-diabetic study showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean fasting blood glucose level in all the three groups of animals treated with the plant extract when compared to the control; and it exhibited effective anti-diabetic potency when compared with metformin (a standard anti-diabetic drug); the effective dose was established at 100 mg/kg. The LD50 could not be determined as none of the treated mice died during the acute toxicity study. These findings suggest that the aqueous extract of the leaves of G.pictum possess hypoglycemic effect which is comparable to metformin and can be safely administered orally without any immediate unwanted effect. However, this calls for detailed studies to elucidate the therapeutic and long term toxicological profiles of the extract.Key words: Diabetes, Graptophyllum pictum, aqueous extract, hypoglycemic, metformin

Evaluation of the concentration of toxic metals in cosmetic products in Nigeria

It has been shown that heavy metals toxicity to humans is as a result of long term or high level exposure to pollutants common in the environment including the air, water, food and numerous consumer products such as the cosmetics and toiletries. In this study, we assessed the levels of toxic metals in different cosmetic products sold at local shops in Lagos, Nigeria. The cosmetic items included thirty creams and twenty lipsticks and lip glosses. These items were purchased from various shops at different locations in Lagos. The cosmetics were analyzed for heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel) after digestion with concentrated acids HNO3: H2SO4: HClO4 in ratio 2:2:1. The concentrations of the selected toxic heavy metals were determined in duplicate using a Buck 205 flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. All the samples analyzed contained a detectable amount of all the metals of interest. The concentration of the heavy metals in the samples ranged from 0.006 to 0.207 ppm. It is obvious from the present study that the use of some cosmetic products exposes users to low concentrations of toxic heavy metals which could constitute potential health risk to users since it has been known that heavy metals can accumulate in the biological system over time and are known to induce skin problems or diseases such as cancer. Further research to better understand the sources of heavy metals in cosmetic products is recommended.Key words: Toxic heavy metals, cosmetics, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, environment

Evaluation of the chemical constituents and the antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil of Citrus reticulata fruit(Tangerine fruit peel) from South West Nigeria

The volatile oil of tangerine fruit (Citrus reticulata) was extracted by steam distillation and assessed for antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The volatile oil was tested against some Gram-negative organisms (Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella paratyphi, Proteus mirabilis and Citrobacter spp); Gram-positive organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and a fungus (Candida albicans). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined with concentrations of oil extract ranging from 0.87 to 445 mg/ml. Result of the study showed that the oil has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity. MIC recorded were S. aureus (0.74 mg/ml), S. aureus ATTC 25923 (2.46 mg/ml), E. faecalis (1.26 mg/ml), S. typhi (2.07 mg/ml), K. pneumoniae (0.56 mg/ml), E. coli ATTC 35218 (0.19 mg/ml), E. coli (1.95 mg/ml), P. aeruginosa (0.97 mg/ml), C. albicans (0.68 mg/ml). Antioxidant screening with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was negative. Analysis of the chemical constituent by GC-MS showed the presence of D-limonene as the major constituent. Other constituents found were a-pinene and β-pinene

The malaria scourge: the place of complementary traditional medicine

That plants are veritable sources of scientific bioactive drug discovery is attested to by the fact that many species of these plants are important condiments of observed efficacious traditional medicines and concoctions in developing countries. The study of naturally occurring compounds has evinced impressive advances in pharmacology, physiology and clinical medicine. Tropical plants will continue to provide mankind with a dynamic natural laboratory as sources of important medicines, food, cosmetics, and natural pharmaceutical excipients. The WHO recognizes Medicinal Plants as whole plant species or parts thereof whose extracts, decoctions in especially aqueous vehicles whose beneficial medicinal properties have been proven both by folkloric practice and experimental research. The use of Phytomedicines or ethnobotanicals in the form of processed herbs has already gained world-wide attention and acceptance. The use of these phytomedicines are not without some health hazards. Strong reports of medical complications due to use or intake of herbal remedies have been made. Herbal medicines which include plant extracts of ephedra, garlic, ginko, ginseng, kava, St. John's wort and valerian have been implicated in excessive bleeding during surgery, hypoglycaemia, cardiac abnormalities. Herbal remedies are known to have demonstrated serious drug interactions with conventional medicines. What is very worrisome in the Nigerian landscape is the very fact that many of these herbal preparations fail woefully as remedies for presupposed ailments. Items of information such as the afore-mention make it imperative that the physician goes the extra mile in determining the medication status of a patient before conventional prescriptions are made or before recommending a patient for surgery. This treatise attempts to explore the present status of traditional remedies, traditional medicine practice and plant or natural sources of acclaimed antimalarials of natural origin in Nigeria.Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 49(5) 2006: 126-13

Comparative Dissolution Profiles of Representative Quinolones in Different Media

Background: Quinolones have a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria and are a class of synthetic antimicrobial modeled after nalidixic acid.Objective: To determine the dissolution efficiencies of ciprofloxacin and sparfloxacin in 0.1NHCL, deionized water, 0.1M acetic acid and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.Methods: The in-vitro dissolution profiles of ciprofloxacin (250mg and 500mg) and sparfloxacin (200mg) tablets were studied in the respective media using US Pharmacopoeia (USP) Apparatus II. In order to monitor the comparative rate of dissolution, samples were withdrawn from themedium for quantification over nine pre-determined time points during a total period of two hours. Samples were analyzed by an HPLC method capable of concurrent elution of ciprofloxacin/sparfloxacin.Results: The medium with most stable release pattern for the representative quinolones was 0.1M acetic acid, followed by 0.1NHCl, distilled water and pH 7.4 buffer respectively. The %Q of Ciprofloxacin(CP) and 3 0 Sparfloxacin(SP) was found to conform entirely to both USP2004 and FDA specifications. Sparfloxacin was found to be unstable due to cloudiness observed in 0.1N HCl medium. The CP and SP showed highest %Q in 0.1M max acetic acid compared to other media. This result hasimplication in the choice of medium for dissolution testing of quinolones, particularly for comparative purposes in the absence of specific monograph recommendations. Furthermore, it supports the change from 0.1N to 0.01NHCl for ciprofloxacin in the USP as a monographic modification.Conclusion: We conclude that there is a need to have a general-purpose dissolution medium for comparing profiles of different quinolones, 0.1M acetic acid may be a suitable candidate. Furthermore, the study may serve as guidance to the drug regulatory authorities in formulation of monographs for the drugs.Key words: Ciprofloxacin, Sparfloxacin, media and Dissolution test

The Latex Of Jatropha Curcas Linn (Euphorblaceae): A Prospective Haemostatic Agent

The latex of Jatropha curcas Linn (Euphorbiaceae) has been investigated as a prospective haemostatic agent. The latex reduced clotting and bleeding times significantly (

Effect of five Alive&#174 fruit juice on the dissolution and absorption profiles of ciprofloxacin

No Abstract. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 17 (1) 2007: pp. 53-5

Artesunate causes relaxation of rat aortic rings and reduces the contractile response to noradrenaline

No Abstract

Anticonvulsant Activity of Schumanniophyton magnificum Roots Extracts in Mice

Schumanniophyton magnificum, a highly valued medicinal plant in Nigeria and West African sub-region is widely used by traditional medical practitioners in the treatment of various ailments including epilepsy and convulsion. In order to evaluate this aspect of the folkloric use of the plant, the anticonvulsant effects of the S. magnificum ethanolic root extract were studied in mice, using picrotoxin and strychnine as convulsants.The extract (1000mg/kg) administered orally, 30 minutes prior to subcutaneous administration of picrotoxin (5mg/kg body weight) was found to confer a 100% protection on the animals. Also, a dose of 800mg/kg of the extract administered 30 minutes before subcutaneous administration of strychnine (4mg/kg body weight) prolonged the latency period of the induced seizures, and increased the time to death. The results of the study indicate that the extract has a protective effect on convulsions and this may provide a rationale for its local use in the management of episodes of seizure. Key Words: Anticonvulsant activity, medicinal plants, picrotoxin, Schumanniophyton magnificum, strychnine. Résumé Schumanniophyton magnificium plante à grande valeur medicinale au Nigeria et dans la sous région Ouest- africaine. Est largement utilisé par les tradi-praticiens dans le traitement de différents maux parmis lesquels l'epilepsy et la convulsion . dans le but d'évaluer cet aspect floklorique de l'utilisation de la plante; l'effet anticonvulsant des extraits à base d'ethanol de la racine du S. magnificium ont été étudié sur des souris utilisant la picrotoxine et la strychinne comme anticonvulsant. Des extraits (1000mg/kg) administré orallement 30minutes avant l'administration sous-cutanée des pricrotoxin(5mg/kg poids corporel) conférais aux animaux une protection de 100%. Des dose 800mg/kg des extaits administré 30 minute orallement avant administration sous-cutanée du strychnine (4mg/kg poids corporel) prolongeait la période de latence des convulsions induites et augmentaient le temps de mort. Les resultats des études montre que les extraits ont un effet protecteur sur la convulsion et ceci peut être la raison de son utilisation local pour le traitement des épisode de convulsions. Mot clés: activité anticonvulsante ,plante medicinales , picrotoxine, Schumanniophyton magnificium, strychnine. West Afr. J. Pharmacol. Drug Res. Vol.19 (1&2) 2003: 33-3