Immunomodulatory effect of Artemisia annua and Moringa oleifera on viral load among PLWH on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda
November 2023
Contemporary highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is effective and tolerable for a long time but cannot eradicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by either elimination of viral reservoirs or enhancement of HIV-specific immune responses. HIV infects the B cell germinal centers in follicles of lymphoid tissue and induces dysfunction, which may persist during HAART, negatively affecting IgG subclass...
Pharmacotherapeutics of cerebrovascular accidents in the medical intensive care unit of the Abidjan Cardiology Institute (Ivory Coast)
November 2023
Stroke is responsible for 52% of vascular deaths in Africa, compared to 38% in Europe. A rigorous and rapid pharmacotherapeutic approach, based on the rational use of drugs, could improve this figure. This work aimed to study the pharmacotherapeutic treatment of strokes in the medical intensive care unit of the Abidjan Cardiology Institute. A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study carried out on patient records...
Polyphenol content, antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of a plant mixture composed of four medicinal plants with hepatoprotective potential
October 2023
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as normal by-products of various cellular processes, are involved in several human diseases, including cancer and liver diseases. The present study aimed to (i) determine the polyphenol contents, (ii) assess the antioxidant, and (iii) antiproliferative effects of a mixture composed of Balanites aegyptiaca, Calotropis procera, Cochlospermum tinctorium, and Acanthospermum hispidum....
Assessment of the in vivo acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of artavol® antimalaria herbal tea
September 2023
Acute toxicity testing plays a pivotal role in the initial safety assessment of products. It examines the effects of a single or multiple doses of a product administered to animals or taken by humans within a 24-hour period. This test holds particular importance in determining the toxic characteristics of products intended for use in humans, animals, and agriculture. Despite the availability of numerous herbal medicinal...
Hydrocotyle bonariensis Comm ex Lamm (Araliaceae) leaves effects on rabbit’s blood pressure and electrocardiogram
September 2023
Hydrocotyle bonariensis Comm ex Lamm (Araliaceae) is traditionally used to treat various pathologies like hypertension. This work aims to evaluate the impact of hydro-ethanolic extract of its leaves on the blood pressure and cardiac activity of rabbits, and then to compare its hypotensive effect to conventional hypotensives. Intravenous injection of the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract (10; 20; 40; 80 and 160 mg /kg body...
Microbial and physical evaluation of selected cough syrups sold at peripheral drug outlets in Bushenyi District, South Western Uganda
August 2023
Syrups, being non-sterile liquid pharmaceutical formulations, are prone to microbial contamination. The most common microbial contaminants are bacteria and fungi. Contamination of oral liquid pharmaceuticals makes them hazardous due to potential to cause infections, and may also change their physical, chemical, and organoleptic properties. This study assessed the microbial quality and physical characteristic parameters...
Attitudes towards vaccines and intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19 among undergraduate students at the University of Zambia
August 2023
Negative attitudes regarding vaccines and unwillingness to accept vaccinations are major barriers to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study assessed the attitudes towards vaccines and intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19 among undergraduate students at the University of Zambia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students from August to September 2021. Data were collected...
Effects of traditional remedy Sarenta and glibenclamide combination on hyperglycemia orally induced in rats
July 2023
Herbal preparations are commonly used by low-income populations to treat diabetes. The objective of this work was to evaluate interaction between Sarenta remedy with antidiabetic drug such as glibenclamide. Experimental study was carried out according to protocol described by Kambouche. Before giving different solutions on study, baseline blood glucose was taken using "One call plus" glucometer, then...
Synthesis of organic compounds using yellow yam (Dioscorea praehensilis) tyrosinase as catalyst
July 2023
The authors report the synthesis of some bioactive organic compounds which could be of pharmacological interest using Dioscorea praehensilis tyrosinase immobilized on calcium-alginate beads. The enzymatic synthesis of these compounds involved pyruvic acid as a source of carbonyl groups, ammonia and catechol. Catechol was used as substrate and a parent compound that supplied aromatic ring carbons for the reactions. The...
Assessment of antibiotics use and associated problems at Jimma Health Center, South West Ethiopia
July 2023
Misuse of antibiotics is the main cause for resistance development. The objective of this study is to assess patterns of antibiotics use and associated problems at Jimma Health Center. The study was conducted from February 25, 2016 to March 25, 2016. For the analysis of prescribing indicators retrospectively 295 patient charts that fulfills inclusion criteria were systematically selected from a total of 9800 charts from...
Variation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracts of propolis in three bee-keeping agro-ecological zones of Uganda
July 2023
Propolis is a resinous plant material collected by bees to defend their colony. This study evaluated the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts of Ugandan propolis in three bee-keeping agro-ecological zones. Antibacterial assays were performed on two Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. pneumoniae) and two Gram-negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria within a concentration range of ~1.6 to 100...
Relationship between vancomycin trough concentration and 24-h area under the curve concentration in Tunisian patients
June 2023
The 24-h area under the curve concentration (AUC24 h) is associated with better clinical and bacteriological response to vancomycin in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus who achieve the target AUC24 h between 400 and 700 mg×h/L. Recent consensus recommends maintaining trough concentrations between 15 and 20 mg/mL as a convenient target to reach an AUC/minimum inhibitory concentration...
A review of phylogeny, medicinal values, phytochemistry and toxicity of Sarcophyte piriei Hutch (Balanophoraceae)
June 2023
In recent years, plants have shown potential as sources of antimicrobial agents due to their immense phytochemical constituents, and there is a need to continuously search and develop potent antimicrobial agents to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. The challenges facing the utilization of ethnomedicine are lack of sufficient studies to ascertain their therapeutic use. Sarcophyte is a...
Genetic diversity of pvcsp and pvs25 in Plasmodium vivax isolates in malaria-endemic areas in Asia, Africa, and America: A systematic review
June 2023
Analysis of genetic diversity is an important tool for evaluating Plasmodium vivax drug resistance, relapse patterns, and vaccine development. P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (pvcsp) is involved in sporozoite binding to liver cells. The three pvcsp patterns, i.e., VK210, VK247, or P. vivax-like types, are indentified in P. vivax isolates, which are characterized by repeated sequences. The VK210 pattern is a major...
Assessment of pharmacy professionals’ knowledge and practice on the management and dispensing of investigational drugs in clinical trials
June 2023
In quality approach for the development of clinical research in Africa, the level of knowledge and practices of professionals influences the quality of the trial, the confidence of the sponsors in the performance of sites. We evaluated the management and dispensing of experimental drugs in Burkina Faso. From January to June 2018, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample of pharmacists and state...
Assessment of antibiotics use and associated problems at Jimma Health Center, South West Ethiopia
April 2023
Misuse of antibiotics is the main cause for resistance development. The objective of this study is to assess patterns of antibiotics use and associated problems at Jimma Health Center. The study was conducted from February 25, 2016 to March 25, 2016. For the analysis of prescribing indicators retrospectively 295 patient charts that fulfills inclusion criteria were systematically selected from a total of 9800 charts from...
Cannabis and regulatory science: A review of challenges in Africa
March 2023
To some Cannabis is antisocial anathema, to others it is a harmless sedative-hypnotic, or narcotic analgesic and to others it occupies a cultural position as religious sacrament. Some fear its use leads to psychosis and addiction; to others still it is a legal anomaly and should be decriminalized. Whatever the case may be, in Africa where Cannabis is a recreational drug. It is caught in a bizarrely legal and regulatory...
Bioactivities of Picrasma javanica Blume. leaf extract
March 2023
Picrasma javanica Blume. is locally known as Nilghanta. Traditionally, the plant is used as an anti-pyretic. The aim of this study was to determine the biological properties of P. javanica leaf extract. The writhing test and tail flick response were determined to assess peripheral and central analgesic activities, respectively. Castor oil was fed orally to induce diarrhea in the test animals. Paw edema method was...
Prevalence and possible psychoactive effects of hair cream use among students
February 2023
In the last decade, there have been different mental health challenges among students due to academic stress, especially during examinations. This has led to the need to explore the relationship between psychoactive ingredients, behavioral responses and academic stress in relation to the use of hair creams. The objectives of the study were to identify hair creams containing psychoactive ingredients in use by female...
In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenases, anti-denaturation and antioxidant activities of Malian medicinal plants
February 2023
Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is involved in the production of prostaglandins that sustain the inflammatory process. Inflammatory cells release a number of reactive species. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species can initiate intracellular signaling cascades and enhance the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The objective was to study the cyclooxygenase and protein denaturation inhibition and antioxidant activity of ten...
Acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation of aqueous stem bark extract of Zanthoxylum Zanthoxyloides (Lam.) in male Albino Wistar rats
February 2023
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has been used for decades in traditional medicine across West African countries to treat several ailments such as malaria and pain. However, sometimes it is used without information on its toxicity level. This present work aimed to explore the toxicity level of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides bark aqueous extract (AZZ) on albino Wistar rats after single and repeated administrations. For the acute...
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanolic extract of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. leaves (Arecaceae) and its fractions
February 2023
Elaeis guineensis Jacq. is an arborescent monocotyledon of the Arecaceae family. It is a plant originated from tropical rainforest of West Africa. For centuries, it has been a source of food and a natural remedy against several pathologies. The aim of the present research was to evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanolic extract E. guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae) leaves and phytochemical groups....
Acute toxicity and laxative effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves Crossopteryx febrifuga (Benth) in rats
January 2023
The leaves of Crossepteryx febrifuga (Euphorbiaceae) are commonly used in the Republic of Congo in traditional medicine as a laxative. The present study aims to justify the traditional use of C. febrifuga in the treatment of constipation. The acute toxicity of the aqueous extract was evaluated at the doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg in mice in accordance with the OECD (2001) guideline no. 423. The laxative activity of the...
Anti-viral compounds from Jatropha curcas seed extract with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 action
January 2023
Many studies have dealt with the medicinal properties of Jatropha curcas; however, there are limited studies on the scope of its antiviral potential. This is a fact associated with the current challenges posed by HIV-AIDS and COVID-19, which has reinforced the need to expand the knowledge about its antiviral resource. Based on the search for natural products with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities, this work...
Clinical Pharmacy in South Africa: Qualitative investigation of perspectives of practicing pharmacists
November 2022
The National Department of Health identified the need for Universal Health Coverage, highlighting improved access to quality healthcare in South Africa.Clinical pharmacists play a vital role in various settings, including medication safety, therapeutic drug monitoring and antimicrobial stewardship. Healthcare-related key performance indicators measures quality that ensure accountability, improve patient safety and...
Obesity related alterations in kidney function and plasma cytokines: Impact of sibutramine and diet in male Wistar rats
November 2022
Obesity is a global problem due to widespread consumption of high fat diet (HFD) with implications to well-being. This study was to investigate the modulatory effect of sibutramine and normal diet on obesity-induced alteration in kidney functions and adipokines in Wistar rats. Hundred rats were divided into four groups of 25 each and fed with either normal rat chow (NRC) (group I, control group, n=25) or HFD (n=75)....
In vivo studies of the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous extract of Artemisia herba alba
September 2022
Historically Artemisia herba alba (AHA) is widely used in traditional Moroccan medicine. Few studies have been carried out to confirm its traditional use, in particularly immunological studies and to the authors’ knowledge; no study has treated the in vivo immunomodulatory effect of AHA aqueous extracts. This work was established to assess the immunological effects of AHA, including the humoral and cellular...
Maternal-fetal repercussions of Angylocalyx oligophyllus leaves aqueous extract in pregnant rat
September 2022
Angylocalyx oligophyllus (Fabaceae) is a shrub used traditionally to treat diabetes mellitus and intestinal parasites. Although it is also used by pregnant women, no scientific study has yet revealed its effects on pregnancy. This work aimed to assess the toxic effects of A. oligophyllus leaves aqueous extract on pregnancy, reproduction and fetal development in pregnant rats. The acute toxicity of the A. oligophyllus...
Evaluation of the pharmaceutical quality of two nutraceutical lysine products in South Africa
August 2022
Dietary supplements, particularly nutraceuticals, are an expanding sector on the South African market, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, regulatory authorities do not regulate nutraceuticals and concern arose regarding safety, quality and efficacy of the product reaching the end-user. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pharmaceutical quality, specifically the physical and the...
Characterization of native, acetylated and enzymatically modified amura starch (Tacca involucrata) for tablet binding
August 2022
This research is aimed at producing alternative starch used for tablet binding from amura tuber. The microbiological load and physicochemical properties of native and modified amura starches were determined using plate counting method and standard method of BP. Amylose and amylopectin content of native and modified amura starches were determined using spectrophotometric method. Binding and disintegrant abilities of...
Dynamics of herbal medicine processing and production in Benue State Nigeria
July 2022
The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge base of traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Benue State in relation to current good manufacturing practice for effective quality, safety, and increased economic value. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the TMPs using questionnaire. Information such as practice area, type of herbal medicine preparations, water quality, preservatives as well as...
In vivo antiplasmodial activity of an aqueous extract of leafy stems of Ipomoea pes-caprea (L.) R.Br. in Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei
June 2022
The study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of an aqueous extract of aerial parts of Ipomoea pes-caprea in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Extracts of Ipomoea pes-caprea were obtained from the decoction of the dried leafy stem of the plant. The extracts obtained were used for the evaluation of the antiplasmodial activity which was done according to two methods: the Rane test was used to...
Formulation and evaluation of gastro-retentive floating tablets of griseofulvin
June 2022
About 50% of an oral dose of griseofulvin passes through the gastro-intestinal tract unabsorbed and is excreted in faeces. Short residence time of the low soluble griseofulvin, in stomach and small intestine, limits its dissolution. Griseofulvin is highly soluble in acidic pH, and so a gastro-retentive floating matrix system was developed to control dissolution rate and thereby enhance solubility to develop an...
Antibacterial activities of Bidens pilosa L, Hoslundia opposita Vahl, and Ageratum conyzoides L against some common wound pathogens
May 2022
Bacterial infection cause delayed wound healing, and the rising cases of antibiotic resistance call for alternative solutions. This research aims to determine and compare the antibacterial activity of selected research plants when extracted by different methods using different solvents. The plants were extracted with ethanol, methanol, acetone, water, chloroform, and ethyl acetate using Soxhlet and maceration...
Development of novel preparation method for rapid release of paclitaxel as a dry powder for inhalation: A preparation method for dry powder inhalers
May 2022
The purpose of this experiment was to develop a novel dry powder inhalation preparation method. Paclitaxel dry powder for inhalation was prepared by spraying a paclitaxel-ethanol solution directly onto an inhalable lactose carrier. This process was carried out under a relatively low temperature, avoiding potential damage to the drug from exposure to high temperatures. After preparation, the particle morphology, size,...
Assessment of the immunomodulatory activity of Artavol® aqueous extract in Plasmodium berghei infected mice
May 2022
ARTAVOL® is an herbal product derived from de-artemisinised extracts of Artemisia annua combined with lemon grass extract and avocado seed powder as a base locally used in Uganda for malaria prevention. This study assessed the immunomodulatory activity of the aqueous extract of Artavol® in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The immunomodulatory activity of the aqueous extract of Artavol® was evaluated on...
Ethanol extracts of Terminalia catappa leaves and Persea americana seed attenuate renal damage associated with Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
April 2022
Kidney is an essential organ responsible for excretion and detoxification. The use of streptozotocin in rat model experiments has provided rooms for researchers to test the effectiveness of medicinal plants that might possess nephroprotective and antidiabetic properties; so as to help in the treatment of diabetes complications. The study was aimed to evaluate the attenuating effects of ethanol extracts of Taminalia...
Herbal medicine for psoriasis and their molecular targets: A systematic review
March 2022
Psoriasis is an incurable, chronic, recurrent immune-mediated in?ammatory dermatosis characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and excessive in?ltration of in?ammatory cells into the dermis and neovascularization. The study aimed to provide a systematic review on the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies to support traditional uses of herbal medicine for psoriasis treatment. The systematic review was performed by...
Knowledge, perception and beliefs of human health workers and veterinarians on antimicrobial resistance in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
February 2022
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health problem in both hospital and community acquired infections. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes and perceptions on AMR among human health workers and veterinarians in Ouagadougou. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was applied among medical health and veterinary structures in Ouagadougou, on February 2020 to January 2021. A total...
Detection of oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol in untreated wastewater effluents by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) technique
January 2022
The occurrence of antibiotics in wastewater effluent has been a concern worldwide for the development of antibiotics resistance and the impact of antibiotic residues on living components in surface water may pose plausible threats on humans. Reverse phase - high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was used for the detection and estimation of Oxytetracycline (OTC) and Chloramphenicol (CAP) in untreated...
A cross-sectional survey on COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary measures of the pharmacists and patients in community pharmacies
January 2022
In the global pandemic of COVID-19, community pharmacists play key roles in implementing personal protective measures to control their own risk as well as the patient’s risk of being infected with COVID-19. This study was designed to explore the COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary measures of the pharmacists and patients in community pharmacies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the pharmacists and...
Anticancer activity of terpenoid saponin extract of Psidium guajava on MCF-7 cancer cell line using DAPI and MTT assays
December 2021
Psidium guajava (Guava) could be an ancient remedy used for a variety of health conditions. Research suggests that guava fruits and leaves might have a variety of advantages. Guava is the tropical tree with yellowish-green skin fruits, and widely grown in Central America and Asia. Individuals use guava leaf tea as a treatment for gastric symptoms in many countries, together with India and China. In different countries,...
Antiplasmodial activities of leaves and trunk bark of Sclerocaria Birea (A. Ric H.) Hochst (Anacardiaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine of Niger
December 2021
In the crude extracts of the bark and leaves of Sclerocarya birrea, have been characterized sterols, triterpenes, saponosides, tannins, anthocyanosides, coumarins, reducing compounds, alkaloids and carotenoids. Tests were carried out in vitro with extracts from each part of the plant to assess their efficacy against strains of Plasmodium falciparum sensitive to chloroquine K1 and that resistant to chloroquine 3D7. The...
Evaluation of the adverse effects of Dracaena steudneri Engl. stem bark aqueous extract in Wistar rats
December 2021
Safety of medicinal plants/products is one of the major areas that require more attention because of the high rate at which consumers use medicinal plants/products due to their availability and accessibility. Dracaena steudneri Engl. is among the plants being used and recommended for the treatment of several diseases for decades among the traditional health practitioners. Despite its frequent use, there is little...
Antimalarial drug utilization pattern amongst staff of three health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria
December 2021
The study assessed the level of antimalarial drug utilization amongst Staffers of three Health facilities in Rivers State. It was a cross sectional questionnaire based study. The study assessed the knowledge, attitude and malaria treatment and preventive practices of one hundred and five respondents gotten from amongst health workers at Terabor and Ahoada General Hospitals as well as College of Health Science and...
Investigation on the possibilities for ex vivo- and in vitro-derivation of initial myeloid and lymphoid precursors from hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells
November 2021
Initial myeloid and lymphoid differentiation of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells by appropriate ex vivo- and in vitro-incubation was evaluated. So, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from mouse spleen were ex vivo-incubated in the presence of different interleukins, as well as of various combinations of them. Non-hematopoietic mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were in vitro-incubated in the...
Clinical pharmacists education and counselling in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes in a Municipal hospital in Ghana
October 2021
Hypertension and diabetes co-morbidity are very common chronic diseases in today’s world. Patients with such conditions may have medication related problems. Assessment was made on the impact of clinical pharmacists’ led education and counselling in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes in a hospital setting. This study was done at the medical outpatient department (OPD) of a Municipal Hospital...
Medication administration omission errors: Frequency and their causes during medication administration process at Ndola Teaching Hospital in Zambia
September 2021
Medication administration omission errors (MAOE) are very common and often affect patient outcomes and length of stay in the hospitals. This study was a cross-sectional study in which the frequency and causes of MAOE over four weeks at Ndola University Teaching Hospital (NUTH) was assessed. It involved reviewing patients’ drug charts and observation of nurses during the administration of medications to inpatients...
Pharmacokinetics of gallic acid following oral administration of Triphala formulation in rats
August 2021
Triphala formulation is one of the most common traditional medicines used for several health conditions. The study investigated the pharmacokinetics of gallic acid following an oral dose administration in rats. The pharmacokinetics of gallic acid was investigated in rats following a daily oral dose of 1,000 and 5,000 mg/kg body weight (28 days). Plasma concentrations of gallic acid were measured using liquid...
Bioactive pyrrole-pyrazine derivative from a novel Bacillus species and review of the literature
August 2021
The rising antibiotic resistance is urging researchers to explore for new forms of antibiotics, notably from soil microorganisms such as Bacillus species. This study aimed to screen Bacillus strains from soil samples in Sudan for antifungal activity and to review relevant compounds from members of the genus in the literature. Out of 10 isolates from soil in Sudan, the strain JS6 (DSM 28831) was found active against...
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