Effects of Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii extracts on ovarian corpora lutea and reproductive hormones.

Uvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Kenya. The rapidly increasing population has put a strain on the limited resources and poses serious challenge to national planning. The aim of the study was to validate the traditional claims by investigating the effect of root bark extract of both plants on reproductive hormones and ovarian structures. Twenty five mature normocyclic female winstar rats were used. Group 1 consisted of 5 animals that acted as control. Group 2 and 3 with 5 animals each; received 500 and 800mg/Kg Croton menyharthii respectively on alternative days for 28 days through intra- abdominal gavage. Group 4 and 5 were treated in a similar manner but received Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. Serum was harvested from all animals on 28th day and hormone levels determined. Left ovaries were harvested and processed for histomorphology. Both Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii caused a significant increase of progesterone in a dose dependent manner. Croton menyharthii extracts caused a degeneration of corpora lutea. At 800mg/kg Croton menyharthii caused a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers but a decline in size. Uvariodendron kirkii caused hypertrophy and a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers. Enhanced/ hypertrophied corpora lutea possibly led to high levels of progesterone seen, interfered with the implantation window due to disrupted hormonal milieu thereby leading to compromised fertility and implantation index. The study validates the traditional use of the plant in fertility regulation. We suggest further investigation on these potential plants to address the call for novel contraceptive drugs

The legislative and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya: a review

Complementary and alternative medicine is an integral component of primary healthcare in Kenya. This is because the infrastructural health setup in the country is inadequate in catering for all the medical needs of the population. This particularly holds true in the rural areas where many rural folk rely on products of herbal origin to offset their healthcare needs. More often than not these products are an elaborate cacophony of several different substances of biological origin and thus need personnel adept in their preparation. Sadly, due to loopholes in legislation and regulation, quacks have a field day in the practice. Moreover, the process of planting, harvesting, preparation and storage of herbs and related products dictates that a significant number of people will ultimately be involved in the whole process. This is likely to set the stage for manipulation and compromise of the safety, quality and efficacy of these products. This state of affairs appears unabated especially in the context of the current legal and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. Not only are these laws inadequate, they are shrouded in ambiguity, open to interpretation and the authorities mandated to implement them often end up performing duplicate roles. The aim of this review is to critique the legal and regulatory provisions governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. In conclusion, laws and regulations meant to control herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya are wanting. Clear and definitive legislation on herbal medicine use and practice coupled with effective implementation by mandated institutions will go a long way in inspiring confidence to all stakeholders of herbal medicine.Keywords: Herbal medicine, legislation, regulatory framework, Keny

Ginkgo biloba attenuated detrimental inflammatory and oxidative events due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in mice treated with melarsoprol.

BackgroundThe severe late stage Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T.b.r) is characterized by damage to the blood brain barrier, severe brain inflammation, oxidative stress and organ damage. Melarsoprol (MelB) is currently the only treatment available for this disease. MelB use is limited by its lethal neurotoxicity due to post-treatment reactive encephalopathy. This study sought to assess the potential of Ginkgo biloba (GB), a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, to protect the integrity of the blood brain barrier and ameliorate detrimental inflammatory and oxidative events due to T.b.r in mice treated with MelB.MethodologyGroup one constituted the control; group two was infected with T.b.r; group three was infected with T.b.r and treated with 2.2 mg/kg melarsoprol for 10 days; group four was infected with T.b.r and administered with GB 80 mg/kg for 30 days; group five was given GB 80mg/kg for two weeks before infection with T.b.r, and continued thereafter and group six was infected with T.b.r, administered with GB and treated with MelB.ResultsCo-administration of MelB and GB improved the survival rate of infected mice. When administered separately, MelB and GB protected the integrity of the blood brain barrier and improved neurological function in infected mice. Furthermore, the administration of MelB and GB prevented T.b.r-induced microcytic hypochromic anaemia and thrombocytopenia, as well as T.b.r-driven downregulation of total WBCs. Glutathione analysis showed that co-administration of MelB and GB prevented T.b.r-induced oxidative stress in the brain, spleen, heart and lungs. Notably, GB averted peroxidation and oxidant damage by ameliorating T.b.r and MelB-driven elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain, kidney and liver. In fact, the co-administered group for the liver, registered the lowest MDA levels for infected mice. T.b.r-driven elevation of serum TNF-α, IFN-γ, uric acid and urea was abrogated by MelB and GB. Co-administration of MelB and GB was most effective in stabilizing TNFα levels. GB attenuated T.b.r and MelB-driven up-regulation of nitrite.ConclusionUtilization of GB as an adjuvant therapy may ameliorate detrimental effects caused by T.b.r infection and MelB toxicity during late stage HAT

Subacute Toxicity Effects of the Aqueous Shoot Extract of Yushania alpina (K. Schum.) W.C.Lin in Sprague Dawley Rats: An Appraisal of Its Safety in Ethnomedicinal Usage

Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehistoric times. However, the pharmacologic efficacy and safety of many plants currently used in traditional medicine have not been explored empirically, which raises serious public health concerns, derailing further research and their integration into the conventional healthcare system. Despite the longstanding ethnomedicinal usage of Yushania alpina shoot extract to treat inflammation, microbial infections, and diarrhoea, among other diseases, there is insufficient scientific data to appraise its toxicity profile and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the subacute toxicity of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina in Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) for 28 days based on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 407. In this study, all the experimental rats treated orally with 40 mg/Kg BW, 200 mg/Kg BW, and 1000 mg/Kg BW of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina remained normal, like the control group rats, and did not show any clinical signs of subacute toxicity, and no morbidity or mortality was recorded. Besides, the weekly body weight gains and the haematological and biochemical parameters of experimental rats orally administered with the studied plant extract at the tested doses and in the control group were comparable (P>0.05). No pathologic alterations in internal organs were observed following necroscopy. Further, the differences in weights of the liver, kidney, and spleen of experimental rats which were subacutely treated with the studied plant extract and the control rats were insignificant (P>0.05). Moreover, no histopathological changes were observed in tissue sections of the liver, kidney, and spleen obtained from all the experimental rats. Our findings demonstrate that the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina may be safe as it does not elicit subacute toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Further toxicological and pharmacological studies using other model animals and in clinical setups are encouraged to fully appraise the efficacy and safety of the studied plant extract

Levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice infected with T.b.r and treated with MelB and GB.

The figures show the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (A), IFN-γ (B) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (C). Comparison between groups was done using One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s posthoc used for internal comparisons. (Indicated level of significance: *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001).</p

Survival rate, parasitaemia and effect of administration of MelB and GB on the blood brain barrier integrity during T.b.r infection in mice.

The figures show the percentage survival rate (A) and parasitaemia levels (B). Comparison between groups was done using One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons.</p

Effect of administration of MelB and GB on WBC and WBC subtypes in T.b.r infected mice.

The figure shows the levels of blood WBC (A), neutrophils (B), lymphocytes (C), eosinophils (D), monocytes (E), basophils (F) and platelets (G). Comparison between groups was done using One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s posthoc test. (Indicated level of significance: *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001).</p

The effect of T.b.r infection and administration of MelB and GB on liver function biomarkers (ALT, AST, ALP and GGT) in the course of T.b.r infection.

The figures show the serum levels of ALT (A), AST (B), ALP (C) and GGT (D). Comparison between groups was done using One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test as posteriori test. (Indicated level of significance: *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001).</p

Effect of T.b.r infection and administration of GB and MelB on the serum levels of urea, uric acid, albumin and creatinine during HAT.

The figures show the serum levels of urea (A), uric acid (B), albumin (C) and creatinine (D). Comparison between groups was done using One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s posthoc test for multiple comparisons. (Indicated level of significance: *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001).</p

Epidemiology of snake bites in selected areas of Kenya

Introduction: Snake bites are a silent public health problem in Kenya. Previous studies on snake bites in the country have mainly focused on identifying offending snake species, assessing the severity of envenomation and testing the efficacy of antivenom. Factors associated with snake bites in the country are yet to be fully understood. The aim of this work was to determine pharmaco-epidemiological factors associated with snake bites in areas of Kenya where incidence, severity and species responsible for snake bites have been reported. Methods: Kakamega provincial hospital, Kabarnet, Kapenguria and, Makueni district hospitals were selected as study sites based on previous findings on incidence, severity and species responsible for snake bites in catchment areas of these hospitals. Persistent newspaper reports of snake bites in these areas and distribution of snakes in Kenya were also considered. Cases of snake bites reported between 2007-2009 were retrospectively reviewed and data on incidence, age, site of the bites, time of bite and antivenom use was collected. Results: 176 bites were captured, 91 of which occurred in 2009. Individual incidence was between 2.7/100,000/year and 6.7/100,000/year. Bites peaked in the 1-15 year age group while 132/176 bites were in the lower limb area and 49/176 victims received antivenom. Most bites occurred during the dry season, in the bush and in the evening. Overall mortality was 2.27%. Conclusion: There is a need to sensitize the Kenyan public and healthcare personnel on preventive measures, first aid and treatment of snake bites