Search

Blend of seeds and leaves of Picralima nitida herein referred to as West African Durand powder (WDP) was investigated for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. Acute toxic effect of the aqueous extract was evaluated in mice of both sexes. Antinociceptive effect of WDP (100–400 mg/kg) was evaluated in models of acetic acid-induced writhing and thermal nociception on hot plate in mice. Carrageenan-induced paw oedema and air pouch rat models were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract. WDP (2,000 mg/kg) showed no toxic effect in mice. WDP at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited abdominal writhings by 59.9, 66.0 and 79.0%, respectively. There was a significant increase in reaction time on the hot plate tests in mice treated with WDP (400 mg/kg). The paw oedema was reduced by WDP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) 5 h post-carrageeenan. Exudate volume was significantly reduced to 39.8 and 44.8% by 200 and 400 mg/kg WDP, respectively. WDP reduced Leucocytes counts (23.3 and 57.1%, respectively) and neutrophil counts (28.1 and 60.0%, as well as reduced nitrites, malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione concentrations in the air pouch. These results suggest that aqueous extract of blend of seeds and leaves of P. nitida possesses antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects goats and sheep in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and threatens Europe [R.E.1]. The disease is endemic on the African continent, particularly in West Africa, and is a major factor driving food insecurity in low-income populations. The aim of this research study was to carry out surveillance, genetic characterisation and isolation of recently circulating PPR viruses (PPRV) in sheep and goats from the six agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. A total of 268 post-mortem tissue samples of lung and mesenteric ganglia were collected from clinically suspected sheep and goats in 18 different states, of which five never previously sampled. The presence of PPRV was confirmed using a reverse-transcription coupled with a polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. A total of 72 samples, 17 sheep (6%) and 55 goats (21%), were found to be PPR positive. Positive samples were distributed in almost all states, except Kano, where PPR was detected in previous studies. The PPRV-positive samples were further confirmed by sequencing or virus isolation in areas where the infection had never previously been detected. These results confirm the active circulation of PPRV across all six agro-ecological zones of Nigeria, and consequently, the need for introducing strict measures for the control and prevention of the disease in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety is a common ailment of high co-morbidity with epilepsy, a chronic neurologic disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Current drugs used for these conditions have several limitations such as disabling side effects, relapse, and ineffectiveness in certain population necessitating the search for alternative options. The aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (CYC) is widely used for its various health-promoting effects including relief of seizures and anxiety in ethnomedicine. This present study describes its effects on convulsions, anxiety-like behaviors, and social interaction in mice. Methods: Male Swiss mice were pretreated orally with CYC (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), or distilled water (10 mL/kg) 60 min before induction of convulsions with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of picrotoxin (10 mg/kg), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ; 85 mg/kg), or isoniazid (300 mg/kg). The animals were then observed for the occurrence of seizure for 30 min or 2 h for isoniazid. The effects of CYC on anxiety-like behaviors, social interaction, and spontaneous motor activity (SMA) were evaluated in naive mice. Results: CYC (25-100 mg/kg) did not prevent convulsions nor delay the latency to convulsions induced by picrotoxin, PTZ, or isoniazid. Pretreatment with CYC (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o) produced anxiolytic-like effect, decreased SMA, and also enhanced social interaction behavior in naive mice. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that CYC did not exhibit an anticonvulsant property in mice injected with picrotoxin, PTZ, or isoniazid, but its anxiolytic-like activity and social interaction-promoting effect might be of benefit as an adjuvant in improving the quality of life of epileptic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ocimum gratissimum leaf is used in managing rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic extract obtained by sequential methanol extraction of O. gratissimum leaves (MEOg). Methods: The methanol extract (MEOg) was obtained after sequential maceration (n-hexane, chloroform and methanol) of dried O. gratissimum leaves. The fingerprint of the extract was obtained using a high-performance liquid chromatrographic method. In vitro effects were tested by 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging, lipoxygenase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory assays. MEOg was studied for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema and air pouch inflammation in rats. Results: HPLC fingerprint of the extract shows the presence of caffeic acid, rutin, ferulic acid, apigenin, and quercetin. Antioxidant activity of MEOg revealed an IC50 value in DPPH (31.5 ± 0.03 µg/mL) and NO assay (201.6 ± 0.01 µg/mL), respectively. The extract demonstrated strong xanthine oxidase inhibitory and weak antilipoxygenase activities. MEOg (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited carrageenaninduced paw edema by 43.2%. Furthermore, MEOg (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced exudate volume, leucocyte count, neutrophil infiltration, TNF-a, nitrites, myeloperoxidase, and malondialdehyde in carrageenaninduced air pouch inflammation. MEOg also elevated the glutathione levels in the inflammatory exudates. Conclusions: MEOg shows potential therapeutic benefits in slowing down inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic diseases, such as arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jobelyn® (JB) is an African sorghum-based food supplement claimed to be efficacious for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although in vitro studies confirmed its anti-inflammatory property, no study had shown the effect of JB using in vivo animal models of inflammation. Thus, its effects on acute and chronic inflammation in rats were evaluated in this study. Its effect on rat red blood cell (RBC) lysis was also assessed. Methods: Acute inflammation was induced with intraplanter injection of carrageenan and increase in rat paw volume was measured using plethysmometer. The volume of fluid exudates, number of leukocytes, concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) in the fluid were measured on day 5 after induction of chronic inflammation with carrageenan in the granuloma air pouch model. RBC lysis induced by hypotonic medium as determined by release of hemoglobin was measured spectrophotometerically. Results: JB (50-200 mg/kg) given orally produced a significant inhibition of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan in rats. It reduced the volume and number of leukocytes in inflammatory fluid in the granuloma air pouch model of chronic inflammation. It further decreased the levels of MDA in the fluid suggesting antioxidant property. JB elevated the concentrations of GSH in inflammatory exudates indicating free radical scavenging activity. It also significantly inhibited RBC lysis caused by hypotonic medium, suggesting membrane-stabilizing property. Conclusions: JB has in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, which may be related to its antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties, supporting its use for the treatment of arthritic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of West African Journal of Medicine is the property of West African Journal of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)