African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of some liquid herbal preparations sold in Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria

Okechukwu G Pipi — 2020-06-04

Background: The use of liquid herbal preparations in the treatment and management of human diseases has long been practiced before the advent of chemotherapy and is a fundamental component of the African traditional healthcare system.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of selected indigenous liquid herbal products sold in Abia State, Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 315 bacterial strains were isolated from 150 therapeutic liquid herbal preparations (LHPs) sold in different parts of Abia State. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from these products; the isolates were evaluated for total aerobic plate count, Gram’s reaction, biochemical reaction. Antibacterial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitory zone diameter (IZD).The MBC, MIC and invitro antibacterial activities of LHPs were carried out against 3 test clinical bacterial isolates; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using agar well diffusion methods.

Results: The number of isolates obtained in this study were; 100 (31.4%), 84 (26.7%) 131 (41.6%) from Umuahia, Ohafia and Aba respectively. The genera isolated included Salmonella, Bacillus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas. Out of 150 LHPs processed, 20 showed no bacterial growth. Different concentrations of these LHPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. MIC for LHPs with antibacterial activities range from 6.25-100%. MBC ranged from 12.5-100%, while IZD had range of 6-20mm.

Conclusion: The study revealed that some tested liquid herbal preparations were grossly contaminated with bacteria while some had antibacterial activities.

Time series analysis of consumption and short term forecasting of female contraceptives in the Kenyan public health sector

Dennis O Omido — 2020-06-04

Background: Contraceptive security is crucial in ensuring access to family planning services and improving the contraceptive prevalence rate. This requires proper forecasting and procurement of contraceptives. It is therefore important to study consumption patterns and apply forecasting techniques so as to adjust for any changes in the choice of contraceptives over a given time period.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to analyze trends, identify any seasonal or cyclic patterns in consumption of contraceptives, compare service point and consumption data, forecast consumption for six months and determine optimal models for forecasting contraceptives.

Methods: Data on consumption of implants, injectables, pills, and Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCDs) were extracted from the Kenya District Health Information System for the years 2014-2018. An exploratory analysis was done and the data decomposed to evaluate the trends and seasonal components. Service point and consumption data of contraceptives were compared. Short-term forecasting using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and the Exponential Smoothing (ES) models was done. The optimal model for forecasting was determined and the models validated using actual facility consumption data for 2018.

Results: The consumption of pills, injectables, and IUCDs declined while that of implants increased significantly across the 4 years. There were differences in the data reported for consumption and service point data for injectables, implants, and IUCDs. The ES models recorded the least error when forecasting consumption of all contraceptives except for one-rod implants in which the ARIMA model had the least errors.

Conclusion: There was a general shift towards the use of long-acting reversible methods especially implants in Kenya. The difference in the reporting of consumption and service point data for injectables, implant, and IUCDs showed gaps in the documentation and reporting of contraceptives. The ETS models were generally superior to the ARIMA models for predicting consumption of contraceptives.

Pattern of distribution of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions in HIV patients in a referral hospital in Kenya

Dennis O Omido — 2020-06-04

Background: Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative malignancy caused by infection with human herpes virus -8 (HHV-8). The tumour has four subtypes including Classic KS, African- endemic, Iatrogenic and Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related KS. AIDS- related KS is the most common malignancy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and has variable clinical presentation with diverse distribution of lesions.

Objective: To assess the pattern of distribution of KS lesions in patients with AIDS-related KS at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Methods: We carried out a descriptive study on patients with HIV infection with histological diagnosis of KS. The study commenced upon approval by KNH-University of Nairobi Ethics and Research Committee. Following consent, clinical and demographic data was obtained from participants through verbal interviews and from medical records using a data capture form. Follow up was until 10 weeks. Management of patients was at the discretion of the attending clinician. Data was analyzed by a statistician using Instat Biostatistics program.

Results Seventy-four participants aged between 13 to 55 years were enrolled into the study. Males were 42 (56.7%) and females 32 (43.2%). Mean age was 36.8 years. The distribution of KS lesions was variable. We demonstrate high predilection of lesions for skin and lymph nodes at 62.6%. Other sites were involved were the oral cavity 14.9%. Twenty-eight (38%) of the participants had multifocal lesions with a male predominance in skin and viscera with male to female ratio of skin 1.8:1 and viscera 7:1 respectively.

Conclusion: We demonstrate reduced male: female ratio and multifocal distribution of AIDS-related KS lesions with predominance in skin and lymph nodes and male predominance in visceral lesions. Future studies should aim to determine what favours increase in, KS in women and visceral lesions in males among patients with HIV infection.

Analgesic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Solanum anomalum

Dennis O Omido — 2020-06-04

Background: Solanum anomalum Thonn. ex Schumach. (family Solanaceae) is a shrub with edible fruit consumed locally for nutritional and medicinal purposes.

Objective: To evaluate the leaf extract of Solanum anomalum for analgesic properties in mice.

Method: The ethanol leaf extract of Solanum anomalum (70-210 mg/kg) was evaluated for analgesic activity against nociception in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced hind paw licking and thermally-induced pain models.

Results: The leaf extract significantly inhibited nociception in all the models tested in a dose-dependent fashion.

Conclusion: The leaf extract possesses analgesic activity which confirms its use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pains.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol root extract of Andropogon gayanus Kunth (Poaceae) in rodents

Dennis O Omido — 2020-06-04

Background: Andropogon gayanus is widely used in traditional medicine for various ailments such as postpartum pain, bronchitis and oedema.

Objective: This study evaluated the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol root extract of A. gayanus in experimental rodents.

Methods: Phytochemical screening tests and acute toxicity studies were carried out. Analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writhing response and hot plate test in mice, formalin-induced pain and carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats were evaluated at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract.

Results: Oral median lethal dose was >5000 mg/kg in both mice and rats. The extract significantly (p<0.01) decreased the number of writhing movements at all tested doses. It also significantly (p<0.05) increased the mean reaction times. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean pain scores was also observed in both phases of the formalin test at 1000 mg/kg. The extract at 1000 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) reduced the oedema at the 1^st hour, while at the 5th hour, all doses tested significantly reduced the oedema.

Conclusion: The methanol root extract of Andropogon gayanus possesses antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.