ABSTRACT Leaf of Vernonia amygdalina has been shown to have hypoglycemic activity. This may be as a result of the presence of secondary metabolites as its constituents. The major secondary metabolites present in the leaf are tannins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, glycosides, steroids and proteins. This work was designed to identify these secondary metabolites responsible for this activity, test the lethality of the constituents and then determine the best solvent for extraction. A 1 kg cru...
ABSTRACT Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv (Apocynaceae) is a woody liane commonly used in Africa for the treatment of gonorrhea, worm infestation and malaria. The methanol leaf extract (ME) of L. owariensis was obtained by cold maceration and then fractionated into nhexane (nHF), ethylacetate (EF) and methanol (MF) fractions. The methanol extract and fractions were tested against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei in early, established and repository models of infection using Pe...
ABSTRACT Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects 10 - 20 % of women after child birth. It has been observed that gestational iron deficiency which affects mostly mothers and their infants causes a deficit in behavioural, cognitive and affective functions precipitating depressive symptoms in both mothers and their infants during the postpartum period. The present work examined the role of iron in depression during the postpartum period in animal models. Method: ...
ABSTRACT Background: Current conventional antidepressant drugs have delayed onset of action, significant adverse effects, are costly and about 30-40% of patients are non-responsive, underscoring the need for alternative therapies for depression. Presently, no known scientific evidence exists to support the efficacy of Trichilia monadelpha in depression treatment, though used in Ghana in managing psychosis, epilepsy and mood disorders. Aim: This study investigated the antidepressant effect of ...
ABSTRACT Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels (Combretaceae), is a member of the genus Terminalia that comprises around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. In Africa it is found along the coast of west and central Africa. It has different uses in traditional medicine such as antimalarial, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, and anti-hypertensive in the areas where it is found. Most of these uses are yet to be scientifically investigated. The powdered stem bark of Terminalia superba...
ABSTRACT Background: Synedrella nodiflora is a common weed in Ghana that is boiled to treat epilepsy and threatened abortion. The ethanolic whole plant extract has been demonstrated to have antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anticonvulsant, sedative, antidepressant and antipsychotic effects in murine models. The study presents the anti-oxidant and antihyperglycaemic effects of the ethanolic extract of the whole plant extract of Synedrella nodiflora (SNE) on a diabetic rat model. Met...
ABSTRACT Background: A major constraint in the management of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, with highly active antiretroviral therapy is the high incidence of adverse drug reaction among patients. Nevirapine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor is among the first-line antiretroviral therapy used in Ghana for the management of Human immunodeficiency virus-1 patients. Despite its usefulness, hypersensitivity reaction is a common complication that accounts for p...
ABSTRACT Background: Capparis erythrocarpos is a medicinal plant that is used extensively in folklore medicine in Ghana to manage various inflammatory conditions. Previous pharmacological study showed that an ethanolic extract of the roots of Capparis erythrocarpos may have antiinflammatory activity. However, no attempt has been made to investigate the basis of the effect(s), if any, of the aqueous extract on the inflammatory processes or ascertain its safety. Aim: The aim of this study was ...
ABSTRACT In rural savannah areas of Nigeria, Echics ocellatus (Carpet viper) is responsible for high incidence of snakebite morbidity and mortality. The snakebites are commonly treated with plant extracts in form of traditional medicine. The antivenom activity of Paullinia pinnata Linn and Detarium microcarpum Guill and Perr, popular herbs used in the treatment of Echis ocellatus bites are of great interest and were investigated in vivo and in vitro against the venom (2mg/kg) of Echis carniat...
ABSTRACT Background: The ethanolic extract of Synedrella nodiflora has demonstrated analgesic activity in acute and chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in rodents. The present study evaluates the analgesic effect in hyperalgesia and allodynia associated with streptozotocin–induced diabetic neuropathy in rats and also elucidates the antioxidant activity of the extract. Method: Diabetic neuropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection with 55 mg/kg freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) d...
ABSTRACT Pain is a worldwide problem and is associated with most disease conditions. The properties of herbs used to treat pain were investigated with the aim of confirming their use and finding out some pharmacological properties that may augment their analgesic activity. A total of eighteen plants (Erythrina senegalesis, Nauclea latifollia, Kizelia africana, Pseudocedrela kotchyi, Crotalaris spp., Boswellia dalzielli, Khaya senegalensis, Annona senegalensis, Xylopia aethiopica, Ficus thonn...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Prostate cancer is a major disease that affects adult males. The high cost of current drugs in use, treatment failure/drug resistance as well as toxic side effects warrants the development of more effective, less toxic and affordable anti-prostate cancer drugs. The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-prostate cancer properties of selected Ghanaian medicinal plants used for the management of prostate cancer. Method: The leaves, fruit and seeds of selected plant...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cleome rutidosperma (DC.) (Family: Cleomeceae) is a low-growing herb used for the treatment of epilepsy in African traditional medicine. This study presents the anticonvulsant, sedative effects and safety profile of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Cleome rutidosperma (CRE) in murine experimental models. METHODS: Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract was conducted using standard colorimetric assays. The general effect of the extract, CRE (1...
ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes mellitus is an important complication of pregnancy with adverse effects on both mother and fetus. Poor control of pre-gestational diabetes during the period of organogenesis increases the risk of major congenital malformations. While insulin is effective in controlling high blood glucose levels, otherwise resistant to diet and exercise management, several factors hinder its use. Metformin has been found to be a convenient, cheap, effective and safe hypoglycaemic ...
ABSTRACT Allium ascalonicum L. (Shallot) was one of the herbs repeatedly identified from the result of our ethnobotanical survey for the treatment of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria diseases. It has been reported to show inhibitory potentials against several pathogens. This plant is also known to form part of the diet of many people across the world. In the quest for a more active and body-friendly therapeutic agents, extracts of Allium ascalonicum (whole plant) were screened aga...