L. Iniaghe, Chinenye Amara Ilondu, Ewere Ogechukwu Eseka, B. Gabriel
{"title":"Effects of dimethyl fumarate in murine models of depression and anxiety","authors":"L. Iniaghe, Chinenye Amara Ilondu, Ewere Ogechukwu Eseka, B. Gabriel","doi":"10.4314/jpb.v15i1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jpb.v15i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders, which are leading causes of disability and often accompany chronic diseases. Increased oxidative stress occurs in both disorders. This study investigated the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in animal models of depression and anxiety. Different groups of mice were treated with either the vehicle, 50, 100 mg/kg DMF or imipramine and subjected to either the forced swim tes t (FST) or the tail suspension test (TST). Another set of mice were treated daily with either the vehicle, DMF 50 and 100 mg/kg and imipramine for two weeks and subjected to either the FST or TST. Thereafter, animals were sacrificed; whole brains isolated and brain catalase levels assayed. The same procedure was followed for evaluation of anxiolytic property of DMF using the staircase and hole-board tests as test indices and diazepam as the reference drug. In the test for depression, 50 and 100 mg/kg DMF significantly (p<0.05) reduced periods of immobility in both the FST and TST after acute and chronic drug administration; and significantly (p<0.05) increased brain catalase levels. In the test for anxiolysis, both doses of DMF did not produce significant changes in the staircase test indices following acute and chronic drug treatment. However, low dose DMF -50 mg/kg significantly increased (p<0.05) the number of head dips in the holeboard test post chronic drug treatment; both doses increased levels of cata lase in the brain. DMF exhibited antidepressant activity and anxiolytic properties and increased levels of catalase in the brains of mice . Keywords: Catalase; Forced swim test; Staircase test; Antioxidants; Depression","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78178350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical students’ knowledge and perception of Lassa fever at the University of Benin, Nigeria","authors":"P. Osahon, Victoria E. Oaikhena","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.7","url":null,"abstract":"Lassa fever is an acute virulent viral hemorrhagic illness with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is a disease of global concern and adequate knowledge relating to this disease is vital in the hospitals, rural or urban setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of Lassa fever among of the University Of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Self-administered questionnaire were used. Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS version 21, descriptive statistics were done and frequencies and proportions were used to summarize variables of interest. Ethical considerations were observed. Of the 260 respondents , 42.7% were females. Mean age was 23.5 ± 1.2years. Most of the respondents, 98.8% had a good knowledge of what Lassa fever is, it’s symptoms, causes, risk factors, control and prevention of Lassa fever epidemic, but a few of them; 24.6% knew the drug used for treatment of Lassa fever. Also, 98.5% of the respondents demonstrated a positive perception towards reporting any suspected case of Lassa fever on Campus or in the hospit al setting where their Clinical clerkship is done. These students reported that the social media was the main source of information about the disease (78.1%) followed by their lecturers and study materials (38.5%). Clinical students of UNIBEN demonstrated a good knowledge and positive perception of Lassa fever. Awareness campaigns and public health education are important means of communicating health information to the clinical students, healthcare providers and the general public.Keywords: Lassa fever; Clinical students; Ribavirin; Knowledge; Perception","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"86 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84150026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sedative and anticonvulsant evaluation of Tapinanthus globiferus A. Rich (Loranthaceae) in mice and chicks","authors":"M. Abdullahi, H. Kwanashie, N. Danjuma, A. Musa","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.9","url":null,"abstract":"Tapinanthus globiferus is mistletoe that is used in folklore for the management of sleep disorders and epilepsy, amongst others. This study was designed to evaluate the sedative and anticonvulsant properties of the ethanol extract of T. globiferus in mice and chicks. The extract was screened for its sedative activity and effect on motor coordination using diazepam-induced sleep and beam-walk assay respectively; while anticonvulsant property was screened, using maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- and strychnine (STN)-induced seizure test models. Experiments were conducted in mice except MES which was conducted in day old cockerels, with all drug administered by intraperitoneal route. Data was analysed using ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test. The extract produced a significant (p ≤ 0.05) and dose-dependent decreased in the onset and increased in the duration of diazepam-induced sleep at doses of 87.5, 175 and 350 mg/kg and also produced significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in number of foot slips and the time spent on beam at the highest dose of 350 mg/kg, compared to control. However, the extract had no effect on the onset of seizure compared to the control in both PTZ and STN-induced seizures and offered no protection against STN and MES-induced seizure. The results indicated that the ethanol extract of T. globiferus possesses sedative effects in mice and minimum or no anticonvulsant properties in mice and chicks. Keywords: Tapinanthus globiferus , Electroshock, Pentylenetetrazole, Strychnine","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88945719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Sanusi, H. S. Hassan, Y. Sani, A. Musa, U. Pateh, M. G. Magaji, M. Mahmoud, A. Yusuf, M. Mailafiya
{"title":"Preliminary phytochemical and anticonvulsant studies on the root extracts of Ficus capensis Thunb. (Moraceae)","authors":"A. Sanusi, H. S. Hassan, Y. Sani, A. Musa, U. Pateh, M. G. Magaji, M. Mahmoud, A. Yusuf, M. Mailafiya","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Ficus capensis Thunb. (Moraceae) is used in West Africa to manage different ailments including epilepsy, leprosy, neuralgia, weakness, stiffness, oedema, amenorrhoea and difficult childbirth. The aim of the study was to carry out preliminary phytochemical screening, acute toxicity and anti-convulsant studies of the methanol root extract (MRE) and hexane fraction of Ficus capensis . The preliminary phytochemical screening of the MRE and its fractions were carried out using standard procedures. Anticonvulsant activity was studied using Maximum electro-shock induced seizure test (MEST) in chicks and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure in mice. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the MRE and its fractions revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites . The intraperitoneal median lethal doses of MRE and WHF in mice were found to be 1,131 and 1,264 mg/kg respectively. No protection was recorded for MRE and WHF against maximal electro-shock induced convulsion; the standard drug, Phenytoin (20 mg/kg) had 100 % protection. The MRE (300 mg/kg) and WHF (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) produced a significant (P<0.05, P<0.001) dose independent anticonvulsant activity in the PTZ-induced seizure in mice; the standard drug, sodium valproate (200 mg/kg) had 100 % protection. The finding of the study suggests that the root extracts of Ficus capensis possess significant anticonvulsant activity validating the ethno-medicinal use of the plant in management of epilepsy. Keywords: Ficus capensis ; Phytochemical screening; Acute toxicity study; Anticonvulsant studies","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74180059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Magaji, L. Iniaghe, S. Hamza, Goshi Sinji Gokum
{"title":"Evaluation of the cognitive and sleep modulating properties of paracetamol in mice","authors":"M. Magaji, L. Iniaghe, S. Hamza, Goshi Sinji Gokum","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.3","url":null,"abstract":"Cognition and sleep are important for optimum functioning of the central nervous system. Paracetamol, a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent is thought to modulate cognition and sleep in humans. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of paracetamol on cognitive and sleep indices in mice. Cognitive effect of paracetamol (250-1000 mg/kg) was evaluated using the elevated plus maze and novel object recognition tests while the diazepam and ketamine induced sleep models were used to assess its sleep modifying effects. Paracetamol significantly (p<0.05) decreased transfer latency in the elevated plus maze test and increased the time spent exploring the novel object. Onset and duration of sleep were increased in both the diazepam and ketamine induced test. Results suggest a modulatory role of paracetamol in cognition and sleep. Keywords: Elevated plus maze; Diazepam; Ketamine; Novel object recognition test; Paracetamol","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82401846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. G. Dafam, A. Agunu, H. Ibrahim, O. S. Ojerinde, T. L. Ohemu, V. A. Okwori, P. Olotu, N. Ilyas
{"title":"Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Pseudocedrela kotschyi Schweinf Harms (Meliaceae) and Strophanthus sarmentosus DC (Apocynaceae)","authors":"D. G. Dafam, A. Agunu, H. Ibrahim, O. S. Ojerinde, T. L. Ohemu, V. A. Okwori, P. Olotu, N. Ilyas","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.10","url":null,"abstract":"Medicinal plants often have secondary metabolites that possess some antioxidant properties, which could provide protection for living organisms from damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), with concomitant lipid peroxidation, and DNA strand breaking because of their redox properties. The aim of this work was the phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (PK) Schweinf Harms and Strophanthus sarmentosus (SS) DC. Plants were collected, identified and authenticated using standard procedures. The phytochemical screening of the medicinal plants was carried out using the standard official methods. The antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH free radical scavenging method as described by Brand-Williams and co-workers with a slight modification. The probit analysis graph pad prism 7 software was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that flavonoids, tannins and saponins are more abundant in PK-L (leaf) than PK-B (bark) whereas alkaloids and cardiac glycosides are more in SS-R (root) and SS-L. The IC 50 of the extracts were 7.94, 14.96, 50.11 and 251.20 μg/ml for (PK-B > PK-L>SS-L>SS-R) respectively, thus indicating activity resides more in the bark and leaf of Pseudocedrela kotschyi than the Strophanthus sarmentosus . Furthermore, the IC 50 of PK-B (7.94 μg/ml) has a higher activity compared to the standard, rutin (10.00 μg/ml). Thus, Pseudocedrela kotschyi is a potential source of active constituents that could be used in further drug development. Keywords: Medicinal plants; Phytochemicals screening; Antioxidant; Free radical scavenging; Tarok people","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"43 2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78343630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Outcomes of type 2 diabetes care in a tertiary hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria","authors":"P. Osahon, V. Odili, A. Sani, H. R. Sani","doi":"10.4314/jpb.v15i1.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/jpb.v15i1.8","url":null,"abstract":"Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease and monitoring of biochemical parameters like Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HbAIc and anthropometric indices, blood pressure, may reduce complications associated with it. The objective of the study is to assess the clinical outcome of diabetes care in a tertiary healthcare facility, determine the extent of glycaemic control and to access the incidence of complication. A prospective cross sectional study was conducted on outpatients who met the inclusion criteria. Data were gathered on demographic, biochemical and anthropometric parameters. Descriptive statistics were computed and sampled characteristics were compared using student’s t-test. There were fifty-four (54) eligible respondents; mean age was 52.50 + 10.577 years. There was a statistically significant decrease in follow up fasting blood glucose 8.25 + 3.12 mmol/L of the respondents as compared to the baseline fasting blood glucose 11.1 + 4.68 mmol/L, P 0.05. There is need for improved monitoring by healthcare providers to improve positive outcomes of diabetic care. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Anthropometric parameters , fasting blood sugar, Insulin","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79387658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbial quality evaluation of two pharmaceutical companies in Kano State, Nigeria","authors":"M. Olaitan, B. Muhammad","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.11","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental monitoring is one of the systems that helps determine the quality of product in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals in a pharmaceutical industry. This research was therefore carried out to evaluate the microbial quality of air, equipment and personnel in two pharmaceutical plants coded as Plant A and Plant B in Kano state, Nigeria. Parameters such as aerobic mesophilic bacterial and fungal count, and identification, were carried out. Data obtained from the study showed that some of the sampled air exceeds the limit of European Union (EU) and World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practice (WHO GMP) with <100cfu/4hrs especially for Plant B. Meanwhile, the most prominent organism isolated from air was Micrococcus luteus . Similarly, some swab samples from personnel and equipment did exceed the permissible microbial limit with 198 CFU/25 cm 2 and 156 CFU/ cm 2 being the highest respectively. Organism isolated from these samples includes M. luteus , Klebsiella sp, Citobacter sp, Providencia sp and Erwinea ( Pectobacterium ). The Citobacter sp was isolated from the hands of personnel who manually fill methylated spirit and from the jug used in the course. Isolated fungi from this research were Aspergillus niger , A. amstelodami , Penicillium spinulosum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The results show that while the microbial limit for equipment are still within permissible levels, there is a need to improve on personnel hygiene and air quality in the plant. Keywords: Environmental monitoring, Pharmaceuticals, Microbial quality, EU, WHO GMP, Swab sample","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86373854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbiological and physicochemical assessment of some brands of gentamicin eye drops marketed in registered retail pharmacies in Port Harcourt, Nigeria","authors":"N. Ezenobi, C. N. Chinaka","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.4","url":null,"abstract":"Gentamicin eye drop is the most commonly imported, often abused, cheap anti-infective for most superficial eye infections in Nigeria. This study therefore aims at determining the physicochemical properties and the antimicrobial efficiency of nine brands of the multi-dose Gentamicin eye drops purchased from registered retail pharmacies in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. Nine brands of gentamicin sulphate eye drops were purchased from different pharmacies in Port Harcourt metropolis. Physical appearance of the different brands were examined for integrity of the packaging and closure system. In addition to physicochemical analysis (colour and clarity evaluation, pH) sterility testing was done by inoculating each differentiating nutrient media (liquid thioglycollate, soya casein, and Sabouraud dextrose media) with different eye drop sample. Microbial challenge test on the effectiveness of the preservative (using E. coli , P. aeruginosa , S. aureus and C. albicans ) and pyrogen testing were conducted on the samples. All the samples in vials were packaged properly with no particulate matter in any of them. The pH of the brands ranged from 5.40 - 7.26. All the nine samples of gentamicin eye drops passed the “on the spot” sterility testing. One of the 9 samples (11.11%) failed the preservative challenge test while 4 samples (44.44%) failed the pyrogen test for bacterial endotoxin. An eye product may be sterile but not pyrogen-free. The efficiency of the preservative system in a sterile gentamicin eye drop solution is to confer the eye drop with the ability to withstand contamination by opportunistic microorganisms during usage. Keywords: Gentamicin; Eye drop; Preservative; Pyrogen testing; Microbial challenge test, Nigeria","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78776540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of microcrystalline cellulose from Saccharum officinarum as dry binder in ciprofloxacin tablet formulation","authors":"N. Nwachukwu, K. Ugoeze, A. Okoye, C. N. Chinaka","doi":"10.4314/JPB.V15I1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/JPB.V15I1.6","url":null,"abstract":"This work was aimed at the application of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtained from Saccharum officinarum stem pulp (coded MCC-Sacc) as a dry binder in the formulation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets. Formulations containing 250 mg ciprofloxacin hydrochloride powder and different ratios of MCC-Sacc were mixed dry and compressed into tablets. Some physical properties and dissolution studies of the ciprofloxacin tablets was done using the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) method. Avicel PH 102 was used as comparing standard. Res ults show tablets that conformed with BP specifications in terms of weight (300 mg ± 5 %), hardness (4.74 ± 1.41 to 6.00 ± 1.05 kg/F), friability of ≤ 1 %, and disintegration time (3.20 ± 0.01 to 3.79 ± 0.37 min). The drug dissolution studies for both MCCs showed more than 80 % release of ciprofloxacin within 60 min. Ciprofloxacin tablets containing MCC-Sacc compared favourably with those containing Avicel PH 102 in terms of uniformity of tablet weight and disintegration time. Tablets containing Avicel PH 102 were significantly (p < 0.05) harder and less friable than those containing MCC-Sacc. Thus, MCC-Sacc served as a good dry binder and has a good potential as a directly compressible excipient in the formulation of ciprofloxacin tablets.Keywords: Microcrystalline cellulose; Saccharum officinarum; Dry binder; Avicel PH 102; British Pharmacopoeia","PeriodicalId":16803,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources","volume":"390 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78063145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}