Antitussive activity of Triclisia dictyophylla of the family Menispermecae

Objective:To verify through a scientific mean the therapeutic use of the plant as an anti-tussive agent,by traditional medicine healers and also aid in the search for new drugs developments from plants.Methods:The roots of Triclisia dictyophylla were investigated for their antitussive properties.The plant was uprooted in the month of June 2003 at Igbodo,Delta State,Nigeria and was taken to the university of Nigeria Nsukka for taxonomy. The roots were chopped,ground and immersed in pure drinking water for 24 hours.After filtration, extraction was carried out using a Rotary evaporator,preliminary phytochemistry and acute toxicity studies were carried out.Antitussive study was carried out using a total of 42 young rats of average weight of 72.2 g.The rats were housed in standard animal house of the university and were allowed access to feeds and water but, were fasted for 12 hours prior to commencement of experiment.Specific and appropriate dosage of the crude extract and Codeine re - dissolved in water were administered orally 30 minutes prior to induction of cough. Cough was induced by exposing the animals to Sulphure dioxide gas for 3- minutes.Coughing was taken as number of Head-nods per minute,Stethoscope aided audible sounds and,or tears secretion.Percentage cough inhibition for crude extract and,or Codeine treated rats were compared with reference to control animals.Results were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 13.0.Results:A 10.2%extraction yield was got from a starting root initial weight of 320 g.The preliminary phytochemistry of the aqueous root extract revealed the presence of alkaloids,saponins,flavonoids,proteins,reducing sugars,steroids,resins fats/oils and glycosides. The Median lethal dose(LD_(50)) based on Lorke's 1983 method was 548 mg/kg The aqueous root extract at concentrations of 10 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg orally administered,inhibited cough in rats induced by sulphure dioxide gas by 16.67%,33.33%,50.00%and 83.33%respectively.While Codeine phosphate,a standard antitussive agent,at oral concentrations of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg inhibited cough in rats induced by sulphure dioxide gas by 33.33%and 60.67%respectively.Conclusion:Earlier works by some authors had led to isolation of Morhinian Alkaloids from Triclisia dictyophylla thus most probably linking its mechanism of antitussive activity to that likable of Morphine.This study justifies the use of the plant in treatment of cough by Traditional Medicine Healers.

Antiinflammatory activity of the methanolic extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in experimental animals

Objective:To scientifically verify the claims of our traditional healers on the anti-inflammatory activity of Carica papaya(C.papaya) and possibly deduce its activities.Methods:0.1 mL of fresh egg albumin was injected into the right hind-paw of adult white Wistar rats to induce inflammation an hour post intraperitoneal(IP) administration of 50-200 mg/kg doses of the extract to 3 groups of 5 rats per group.The 4th group of 5 rats was used as negative control and received 2 mL/kg(IP) of physiological saline,while the 5th group of 5 rats was used as positive-comparative control and received(IP) 150 mg/kg of aspirin.Increases in diameter of the paw were measured with the aid of Veneer Calipers before extract administration and at interval of 30 minutes post administration for further 2 hours.Percentage inhibition of oedema was calculated for each dose group and results were subjected to statistical analysis using student /-test and analysis of variance(ANOVA).Results:All doses of extract showed a dose and time dependent inhibition effects of oedema(P【0.05).Conclusions:This work is at present though limited to animals,the anti-inflammatory activity of the seeds of C.papaya is perhaps proven.

Antidiabetic fallacy of Vernonia amygdalina(bitter leaves) in human diabetes

Objective:Aim of present study is to scientifically,verify the antidiabetic activity/potency of Vernonia amygdalina in human diabetes.Methods:A search was made at Nnewi,South - East Nigeria for known diabetes who use Vernonia amygdalina either as their sole or supplementary antidiabetic.A total of ten volunteers comprising, eight females and two males were recruited.They were all of age range of 36-50 and average weight of 78 kg and suffering from non - insulin form of diabetes.The purpose of the study was explained to them and their consent obtained.They were asked not to take any other antidiabetic outside Vernonia amygdalina throughout the four weeks study period.There was however,no form of restrictions to their choice of diet or life style. They were requested to abstain from any drugs a week prior to commencement of study.Their prescriber’s dosage range was followed and minimum daily dose of 210 mL(approximately 220 mg of dry extract) was administered in Week-1,followed by daily dose of 420 mL(440 mg) in Week-2.In Week-3 they received 630 mL (660 mg) daily dose and in Week-4,they received daily dose of 840 mL(880 mg).Their fasting blood sugar were estimated pre-crude drug administration and on weekly basis for the four week study period.Their weekly weights were measured to check for possible weight gain or loss.Results were subjected to statistical analysis and Students T-Test was used to calculate P-value.P-value≤0.05 were considered significant.Results:It was observed that all the volunteers in the study group were taking Vernonia amygdalina only as supplementary. Two volunteers dropped out of the study at the end of Week-3 leaving us with 8 in Week-4.There was no significant bodyweight change within the four week study.The starting mean fasting blood sugar which was 133.3 mg/dL(7.41 mmol/L) rose to 136.6 mg/dL(7.59 mmol/L) in Week-1,to 149.5 mg/dL(8.31 mmol/L) in Week-2 and to 166.5 mg/dL(9.30 mmol/L) in Week-3.Week-4 had us left with 8 volunteers with a mean of 190.6 mg/dL(10.59 mmol/L).There was significant differences in increase in sugar levels between the pre-crade extract administration and treatment period with Vernonia amygdalina(P≤0.05 for Week-1,Ps?0.02 for Week-2,P^0.01 for Week-3 and PssO.001 for Week-4).Conclusion:Claims of antidiabetic efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina in human diabetes are scientifically non verifiable based on our work hence these claims are false.We also feel bold to state that we could not demonstrate any antidiabetic activity of Vernonia amygdalina in human subjects.We recommend that NAFDAC and all relevant agencies must sit up and control all forms advertorial on Medicinal plants until such are well studied and proven.

Effects of the methanolic seeds extract of Carica Papaya on plasmodium Berghei infected mice

Objective:The leaves extract of Carica Papaya（C.Papaya）papaya has been shown to possess antimalarial activity, thus this work aims at finding out if the plants antimalarial activity is present in or extended to the seeds.Methods:The seeds of C.papaya were collected from its fruit,air dried for 5 days and ground into fine powder.80.65 g of the powder was then soaked for 48hours in 300 mL of methanol.Filtration was carried out using Whatman No.1 filter paper.The filtrate was evaporated to dryness by a three-day continuous heating on a hot plate of 30℃.The dry extract yield was scraped out of the Petri dish weighed and refrigerated until required. The percentage extract yield was calculated out from the initial powder weight.A preliminary phytochemical study was done by re-dissolving the appropriate amount of the dry extract in distilled water and appropriate test reagent added.The LD50 of the seeds of C.papaya was carried out using arithmetic method.Swiss albino Mice of both sexes and of average weight of 18-25 g were used as animals for antimalarial activity.They were housed in standard animal house,fed on Rats/Mice pellets and had non restricted excess to both feed and water throughout the 60day study period.While the non pregnant female Mice were used as test animals,the male animals were used as malaria parasite donors.Precautions were taken to ensure that all animals in the study groups were free from infection with Eperythrozoon coocoides.The female animals were then divided into three main groups（A-C） of 25 animals per group.Group A was used for malaria suppressive study（early infection -day 0-3） and was further subdivided to 5 subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.Group B was used for malaria curative study（established malaria infection-day 3-7） and was further subdivided to 5subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.Group C was used for malaria prophylactic study（repository-4days treatment prior to malaria parasite infection） and was also further subdivided into 5subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.At the appropriate time,50 mg/kg/day,100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of crude extract of C.papaya were administered orally to the different subgroups（b-d） within the three main groups.One subgroup（a） in each main group also received orally,5 mg/kg/day of chloroquine phosphate as positive control while one subgroup （e） in each main group also received orally,0.2 mL/kg/day of distilled water as negative control.Malaria parasites infected red blood cells numbering 1×10 and suspended in 0.2 mL of physiological saline was inoculated intraperitoneally,to each animal of the subgroups（a-d） in each of the three main groups at the appropriate time.Blood smears were made from animals’tail,stained with Lieshman and examined microscopically at 100×for the presence of malaria parasite.Percentage malaria parastaemia was calculated as well as average percentage malaria parasitaemia suppression.Results:Extraction yield of 25.29%was obtained while the LD50 was 620 mg/kg.The phytochemistry showed the richly presence of alkaloids,as well as glycosides,carbohydrates, resins,fats and fixed oils.The suppressive study at doses of 200,100 and 50mg/kg/day showed 53.02%,43.43%and 19.83%suppressive activity against Plasmodium berghei respectively.This activity compared to that of chloroquine,a standard antimalaria drug that gave 95.95%suppressive anti-parasitaemia. The prophylactic study at doses of 200,100 and 50 mg/kg/day showed 63.85%,61.12%and 48.08%prevention to malaria parasitaemia respectively as against 94.78%showed by chloroquine.The curative study however,at doses of 200,100 and 50 mg/kg/day failed to suppress malaria parasitaemia with a mean survival range of 6-8days as against 27.2 days showed by chloroquine.The seeds extract of C.papaya showed a significant malaria parasitaemia suppressive activity（P≤0.05）.These activities are dose dependent and comparable to those of Chloroquine phosphate.Conclusion:The results above suggest that the seeds extracts of C.papaya possess antimalarial activity like the leaf extracts.The antimalarial activity may be attributable to the richly presence of alkaloids and or the presence of its proteolytic enzyme（Papain）.The present finding justifies the inclusion of the seeds of C.papaya in the treatment of malaria by local herbalists.The seeds extracts therefore,if well purified and characterized may be used in treatment of very early plasmodiasis as well as a good prophylactic drug in human.This work at the moment is limited to animals,thus clinical trials in humans is be recommended particularly,when C.papaya seeds are non harmful/non toxic.

HIV/AIDS selective infectivity-report of two peculiar cases

We report two peculiar cases that were observed in two communities of Anambra State,South East Nigeria.The first case was a woman of 44 with a history of blood transfusion from a donor of questionable HIV status.A pint of blood was transfused in a private Hospital on the 15th January. 2000.She has had no form of antiviral therapy until 22nd April.2008 when she came to the hospital for routine medical check up.Her HIV result came out confirmed positive while that of her husband came out negative.She has had active sexual life with her husband in the previous eight years as they have had some difficulties in getting their desired extra two children having earlier gotten a boy and a girl.The second case involves a family of six.A couple with four children of ages about 6 months,2 years,3 years and 5 years.The youngest,a female presented with fever and multiple lymphadenopathy.She tested HIV positive and so was her mother and her second sibling.But her father and two other siblings remained negative at post three and six months intervals from their very first test date with us.These reported cases appear to go contrary to earher formed opinion on HIV transmission.We support the opinion on a naturally,occurring substance,APOBEC3G which possibly confers permanent immunity against the HIV virus.We recommend clinical trials of the characterized APOBEC3G as a vaccine for non HIV infected persons of all ages and to people living with HIV/AIDS as a therapeutic drug.