Investigating ethnopharmacology-based natural product leads for antimalarial drug discovery

A collaborative study between the University of Salford and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Nigeria, involving in vitro tests at the University of Salford and the use of facilities at NIPRD for invivo tests has led to the evaluation of a range of traditional “fever cures” for antimalarial efficacy. The main objective of this study is to identify a suitable antimalarial plant candidate towards the development of a phytopharmaceutical drug (a plant-based medicinal mixture/compound used in preventive or therapeutic medicine) for the treatment of malaria as a cheaper and more accessible alternative, inline with the WHO resolution (WHA 3049) urging nations to use their traditional systems of medicine as part of their healthcare systems. Traditionally, the mainstay of the antimalarial drug discovery process has been natural products. Their use however diminished over the past few decades due to several advances in molecular targets and technical difficulties encountered in high-thoughput screens of natural product leads. Natural products have played a very important role as a source of antimalarials (e.g. quinine and artemisinin derivatives). In this present study, fluorescent-based in vitro antimalarial assays including flow cytometry (FCM) and SYBR green microtitre assay (SG) were optimized to screen some aqueous plant extracts which were selected based on their ethnopharmacological usage. Giemsa light microscopy was used to validate the assays. Plasmodium berghei malaria animal model was also used to evaluate the anti-plasmodial activity of extracts in vivo. The results showed a strong antimalarial activity in all the six extracts. Bryocarpus coccineus and Bridelia ferruginea were chosen for further investigation due to their efficacy and the collaborative nature of the study. The IC50 values obtained in the in vitro antimalarial studies in the region of 70 µg/ml and 15 µg/ml. Bridelia ferruginea aqueous and methanolic extract was compared to determine any differences in IC50. In vitro comparison of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the extract revealed an IC50 value in the region of 25.69 µg/ml for the aqueous extract and 15-16 µg/ml for the methanolic extract. Qualitative phytochemical screening of both extracts revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds including tannins, flavonoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides amongst others in both the aqueous and methanolic extract of B. ferruginea. Anthocyanins were found present in the methanolic extract only. Further investigation of the mechanism of action of the methanolic B. ferruginea extract showed that the extract inhibited β-haematin formation, indicating the inhibition of haemazoin formation in the parasite. Lastly, the methanolic extract was fractionated using HPLC analysis. Various resolved peaks were obtained and subsequent bioassays of the collected fractions revealed that antimalarial activity was distributed across the fractions. This may suggests that isolating a single active compound might not be advantageous, making a case for a phytopharmaceutical drugs

Problems and Challenges in the Preservation of Digital Contents: An Analytical Study

This paper probed the issues and changelogs related to the preservation of digital contents. A literature-based approach was adopted to identify the major problems related to the preservation of these unique contents. After studying the literature, it was identified that basic principles that should be kept in mind while preserving digital contents are longevity, selection, quality, integrity, and accessibility. It was found that the most critical problems and challenges faced during the digital preservation including nature of the contents keeping the data, maintaining trust in the data, coping with the data deluge, technological obsolescence, media fragility, lack of expert and copyright & intellectual property right issues, etc. It was concluded that the libraries, archives, and information centers should be equipped with ICT facilities, and the staff has the necessary skills to handle the management of digital resources and their preservation. Moreover, sufficient funds should be allocated for the procurement and preservation of digital objects

Protective effects of the aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus L. (Nymphaeaceae) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers

Effects of the aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus were investigated on ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats. The extract (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05), dose dependently, protected the rat gastricmucosa against the necrotising effects of ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes, and had an oral LD50 of >5000 mg/kg. These resultsshows that aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus contains active ingredients with a therapeutic potential against gastric ulcers, and thus authenticate the use of Nymphaea lotus as an antiulcer agent in traditional medicine.Keywords: Nymphaeae lotus, ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, gastroprotection

Comparison of haematological changes associated with coccidiosis in commercial layer chickens at different production stages in Zaria, Nigeria

Avian coccidiosis remains an economically important disease affecting the poultry industry worldwide. The dearth of information on haematological changes resulting from field cases of coccidiosis in commercial layer chickens necessitated this research. One hundred and twenty commercial layer chickens sampled from different farms in Zaria, diagnosed of coccidiosis at early, mid/peak and late production stages were used for this study. Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) decline in almost all haematological parameters (except for elevated MCV) of commercial layer chickens which were diagnosed of coccidiosis at the different production stages when compared to corresponding values of other apparently healthy layers that served as controls. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in the layers diagnosed of coccidiosis at all production stages were significantly higher than the values obtained from the corresponding apparently healthy ones that served as control, whereas the MCHC showed significant decreases across all layer chickens diagnosed of coccidiosis at different production stages when compared to the corresponding values of the apparently healthy control layers. Thus, the erythrocytic indices of the layer chickens with coccidiosis showed the RBCs were macrocytic and hypochromic. On the basis of mean PCV, layer chickens at early production stage (PCV: 24.51 ± 3.17%) were most severely affected by coccidiosis, following closely by the layers at mid/peak production stage (PCV: 24.66 ± 1.64%). The highest mean WBC (19.15 ± 2.99 x109/L) was recorded in layers with coccidiosis at mid/peak production stage, which showed they were better in mounting inflammatory response when compared to the mean values of layers at early (14.92 ± 2.85 x109/L) and late (17.99 ± 2.70 x109/L) stages of production. In conclusion, coccidiosis in commercial layer chickens caused significant haematological alterations which could necessitate dietary supplementation to prevent occurrence of anaemia and decline in egg production

Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Intellectual Performance of Primary School Children in Islamabad, Pakistan

Purpose: To assess the differences, if any, in the intellectual performance scores of children who have iron deficiency anemia and those who are neither anemic nor iron-deficient in New Kashmir Model School, Islamabad, Pakistan.Methods: A total of 108 primary New Kashmir Model School children of Islamabad, Pakistan between the ages of 7 to 9 years were included in the study. They were divided into two groups based on Iron deficiency anemia and Non-anemia children’s. A brief clinical history and physical examination was performed. All the 5 mandatory subjects of WISC-R were administered to the children of both groups. Electronic cell counter was used for the evaluation of hemoglobin, packed cell volume (PVC), mean cell volume (MCV), Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) while serum parameters were determined after first separating serum from blood. Giemsa stain was used to evaluate red cell morphology.Results: Seventy six of these children had iron deficiency anemia based on their hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and serum ferritin levels. The remaining 32 children were neither anemic nor iron-deficient based on their profiles. Intellectual performance scores which comprised of central nervous system (CNS) impact, as well as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and serum ferritin levels and also clinical parameters for the iron deficiency anemia group, were significantly lower than those of the non-anemia group.Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia appears to be associated with lower intellectual performance scores in school children. These results support previous findings that iron depletion leads to psychological and developmental effects in children.Keywords: Intellectual performance, Anemia, Children, Psychological and developmental effect

Critical Success Factors for Pharmaceutical Firms: The Case of Pakistan

This study is to investigate the critical success factors for Pakistani pharmaceutical firms. This study conceptualizes knowledge management, image and control as the key indicatorsof critical success factors. This study collects the data from the lower-, middle-, and top-level managers in the pharmaceutical firms in major cities of Pakistan: Lahore, Multan, Islamabad. Thisstudy performs PLS-SEM in analyzing 100 responses obtained through survey forms. Results of the study indicate that knowledge management is the element that gives rise to confession, wage, promotion and the execution of unlike objectives that increase a general exposure of the all stakeholders. It achieves a pleasurable passionate state that frequently prompts a positive organizational performance and competitive advantage. This research puts light on the gaps found in adaptation of critical success factors in Pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan as compared to the developed countries in this sector

The role of anaesthetist in the management of patients due to insurgency in the North-eastern Nigeria.

The roles played by the team of Anaesthetists in the management of patients due to insurgency are enormous and very vital in the survival of the patients and indeed in the reduction of the possible morbidities and mortalities due to injuries from the insurgency. Objective: This study is aimed at giving an overview of the role of Anaesthetist in important areas of patient's management due to insurgency and to suggest ways of improvement. Method: This is a prospective study of 1,339 patients managed for various injuries sustained due to insurgency in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, for the period of five years (January, 2010 and December, 2014). Results: One thousand three and thirty nine (1,339) patients who were injured directly due to the insurgency were included in the study during the period under review. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 80 years with the mean age of 38.6±18.3 years. Most of the injuries occurred among the age group 18 - 35 years. Patients were resuscitated, had anaesthesia for surgeries and also had intensive care management. Conclusion: The roles played by the Anaesthetist are so vital in the survival of the patients due to insurgency. However, there is a need for an increase in the number of Anaesthesia manpower and for the training and re-training of these Anaesthetists in the management of mass casualties

Studies on anti-ulcer, analgesic and antipyretic properties of the ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium in rodents

The ethanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves were evaluated for anti-ulcer, analgesic and anti pyretic activities in rats and mice. Ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced nociception were used. Yeast-induced hyperpyrexia was used to investigate the antipyretic activity. The extract produced a significant ulcer protective activity in rats. The extract also decreased pain induced both by acetic acid in mice and early phase of formalin test in rats. A significant reduction in hyperpyrexia was also produced by the extract in rats. This present studyprovides a strong evidence of anti-ulcer, analgesic and antipyretic activities of G. latifolium