Effect of the root extract of Fagara zanthoxyloides on blood coagulation.

The clot-promoting activity of the aqueous extract of Fagara-zanthoxyloides Lam plant is described for the first time. It significantly shortened the PTT (K) of normal and factor VIII deficient plasma while it manifested no such action on factor IX-deficient plasma. This activity could be demonstrated in the residue of the lyophilized aqueous extract after its successive extraction with ether, chloroform and methanol. It could not be attributed to the purified fractions: Zanthoxylol or its modified form 3, 4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1 benzopyran-6-butyric acid (DBA), hesperidin, Fagaramide or the ether soluble fraction of the aqueous extract.

Use of 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole for determining cysteine and cystine in cereal and legume seeds.

A new colorimetric method has been developed for the determination of chemically available cysteine and half-cystine in maize and legume seeds. The method is based on the reduction of cystine with aqueous NaBH(4)/urea/EDTA solution and the reaction of cysteine with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl) in 0.2 M sodium acetate/HCl buffer (pH 2.0) to form a greenish product showing maximum absorbance at 410 nm. The method is simple, accurate, and highly specific for cysteine, in the presence of other naturally occurring amino acids. The method was applied to the determination of cysteine and of cysteine plus half-cystine in some seed meals. There was a good correlation between the results obtained using this method and those obtained using Ellman's reagent [5, 5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)]. There was also a good correlation between the results obtained using this method and cysteic acid values calculated from amino acid analysis of the samples.

Blood coagulation activities of the root extracts of Fagara xanthoxyloides plant.

The coagulant properties of root bark and root wood extracts of Fagara xanthoxyloides lam plant are reported. Results of an earlier report which showed that the aqueous extract of the root shortened both the PT and PTT of normal and FVIIIC-deficient plasma are confirmed as well as the absence of many such effects on FIXC-deficient plasma. Root bark manifested twice as much potency as an equal concentration of root wood. The activity could still be demonstrated in the residue of root bark after the lyophilized aqueous extract had been successively extracted with methanol and hexane. It is suggested that these results may have clinical implications.

Aqueous extract of Securidaca longepedunculata root induce redox imbalance in male rat liver and kidney.

The effect of aqueous extract of Securidaca longepedunculata root on redox homeostasis in male rat liver and kidney was investigated. Rats were grouped into four: A, B, C and D, where A (the control) received orally 1 mL of distilled water; B, C and D (test groups) received orally 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, for 28 days. Extract administration significantly reduced (p < .05) alkaline phosphatase activity in the liver and kidney with corresponding increases in the serum. Acid phosphatase activity increased significantly (p < .05) in the liver and kidney, while there was no significant change (p > .05) in the serum acid phosphatase activity. There was also significant decrease (p < .05) in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver and kidney. Liver and kidney levels of GSH, vitamins C and E were also significantly reduced (p < .05). Serum malonidialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxide increased significantly (p < .05) in all the extract-treated groups. The available data from this study revealed that aqueous extract of S. longepedunculata root exerted its toxicity in the animals by depleting the antioxidant systems. This may consequently expose the cells and cellular macromolecules to oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species generated either from the metabolism of the extract or other in vivo means.

Ethno-medicinal plants and methods used by Gwandara tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria, to treat mental illness.

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey, various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music, incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations--decoction, powder, infusion--which are administered in various ways like fumigation, inhalation, bathing, steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion, there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such, at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge.

The influence of CDTA and DPTA on ethanol production from sugar cane molasses using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Effects of complexing agents on the sensitivity of ethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated using trans-1,2-diamino-cyclohexane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (CDTA) and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DPTA). Addition of 600 ppm CDTA during inoculation produces a maximum stimulation; ethanol production at this concentration was 1.5% (v/v) more than the control cultures (approximately 6%). 1000 ppm CDTA produces maximum effect during propagation which was 2.3% more than the control cultures. When DPTA was introduced during inoculation, 800 ppm DPTA produces a maximum effect, which was 2.9% more than the control cultures. 200 ppm DPTA produces a maximum stimulatory effect of 1.0% more than the control cultures. No significant effect was observed when DPTA was added during fermentation but 700 ppm CDTA increased ethanol production by 1.3% more than the control cultures.

Novel Structures of two Chromone Alkaloids from Root-Bark of Schumanniophyton magnificum.

The constitutional formulae of two new chromone alkaloids, schumannificine 2 and N-methylschumannificine 3 isolated from the root-bark of SCHUMANNIOPHYTON MAGNIFICUM, H ARMS, have been shown to be linear tetracyclic compounds with ring D being piperidine in nature, on the basis of the chemical evidence and spectral analyses.

Antibacterial and antifungal compounds from Kigelia pinnata.

A biologically monitored fractionation of the methanolic extracts of the root and fruits of Kigelia pinnata D.C. led to the isolation of the naphthoquinones kigelinone (1), isopinnatal (2), dehydro-alpha-lapachone (3), and lapachol (4) and the phenylpropanoids p-coumaric acid (5) and ferulic acid (6) as the compounds responsible for the observed antibacterial and antifungal activity of the root and kigelinone (1) and caffeic acid (7) from the fruits of this plant.

2-Methoxycanthin-6-one: A New Alkaloid from the Stem Wood of Quassia amara.

A new alkaloid, 2-methoxycanthin-6-one ( 1) has been isolated from the methanol extract of the stem wood of QUASSIA AMARA. In addition quassin ( 6) was also isolated. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods.

Anti-sickling, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy benzoic acid and 2,3,4-trihydroxyacetophenone.

Effects of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,3,4-trihydroxyacetophenone were studied on haemoglobin S (Hb S) polymerisation, analgesia and inflammation using Hb S solution, rats and mice. UV spectrophotometric procedure was used to monitor the polymerization of the Hb S. Acetic acid induced writhing in mice and egg albumin induced rat paw edema procedures were used to evaluate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the compounds respectively. The results indicate that both drugs inhibit the process of polymerization significantly, possibly by direct action on the Hb S molecules. The drugs inhibited acetic acid induced pain and decreased egg albumin induced oedema. It is concluded that 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,3,4-trihydroxyacetophenone may have some value in the management of sickle cell disease.

Anthelmintic activity of the stem bark extracts of Berlina grandiflora and one of its active principles, Betulinic acid.

This study examines the anthelmintic activity of a methanol, hexane and ethylacetate extracts of Berlina grandiflora and purified betulinic acid, the major triterpenoid found in the extract. Caenorhabditis elegans, a free living soil nematode was used as in vitro model in the study. A suspension of worms was treated with the extracts. After seven days of incubation activity was assessed in terms of number of worms exhibiting motiliy. The results showed that methanol, hexane and ethylacetate fractions at 500 ppm showed anthelmintic activities in the order ethylacetate > methanol > hexane from the alcoholic crude extract. The isolated betulinic acid from the ethylacetate fraction at 100 and 500 ppm showed strong anthelmintic activities comparable to piperazine. These results confirm the traditional use of Berlina grandiflora as an anthelmintic and indicate that betulinic acid is the active component.

Antifertility activity of Quassia amara: quassin inhibits the steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells in vitro.

The crude methanol extract of the stem wood of Quassia amara L. inhibited both the basal and LH-stimulated testosterone secretion of rat Leydig cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Fractionation of the extract by chromatography gave quassin (1) and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one (2); compound 1 proved to be the bioactive agent.

Hypoestoxide, a novel anti-inflammatory natural diterpene, inhibits the activity of IkappaB kinase.

Most inflammatory agents activate nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), resulting in induction of genes coding for cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes involved in amplification and perpetuation of inflammation. Hypoestoxide (a bicyclo [9,3,1] pentadecane) is a diterpene from Hypoestes rosea, a tropical shrub in the family Acanthacea, several members of which are used in folk medicine in Nigeria. Here, we demonstrate that hypoestoxide (HE) abrogates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, HE inhibits the production of nitric oxide (NO) by IL-1beta- or IL-17-stimulated normal human chondrocytes. In vivo, oral administration of HE to mice significantly ameliorated hind paw edema induced by antibodies to type II collagen plus LPS. Furthermore, topical administration of HE to mice also significantly inhibited phorbol ester-induced ear inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of HE may be due in part to its ability to inhibit NF-kappaB activation through direct inhibition of IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity. Thus, HE could be useful in treating various inflammatory diseases and may represent a prototype of a novel class of IKK inhibitors.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised cross-over clinical trial of NIPRISAN in patients with Sickle Cell Disorder.

The study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of NIPRISAN, a phytomedicine, developed for the management of patients with Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD). The study design is a placebo-controlled double blind cross-over trial. Eighty-two (82) patients with SCD were recruited and randomised into two groups. An initial 4 month pre-trial study was undertaken to determine the similarity of the groups. The main study was conducted over a twelve-month period with crossover at six months. Safety of the drug was assessed clinically and biochemically. NIPRISAN significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the frequency of SCD crisis associated with severe pains. Acute toxicity to the liver assessed by the activities of liver enzymes, indicate that NIPRISAN is safe. Renal function assessed by the serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remained normal. Both the clinical and laboratory results of the present phase IIB (pivot) clinical study suggest that NIPRISAN is a safe and efficacious phytomedicine for the management of patients with Sickle Cell Disorder.