Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of the methanol root extract of Capparis thonningii: involvement of monoaminergic, cholinergic and GABAergic systems.

BACKGROUND: Capparis thonningii Schum. (Capparaceae) is used in traditional African Medicine for the treatment of mood disorders. OBJECTIVE: The study investigates antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of methanol root extract of C. thonningii (CT). METHODS: CT (25-100 mg/kg, p. o.) was administered 1 h before behavioral studies were carried out in mice. Antidepressant effect was investigated using the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The anxiolytic effect was evaluated using the elevated-plus maze test (EPM), hole-board test (HBT), and light-dark test. RESULTS: CT (25 and 50 mg/kg) increased swimming activity (P<0.05) by 92.73% and attenuated immobility time by 35.72%, similar to anti-immobility effect of imipramine (33.87%) in FST. In addition, CT (50 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.01) reduced immobility time by 30.24% in TST. -However, the antidepressant-like effect elicited by CT was reversed by metergoline, cyproheptadine, and sulpiride (40.81, 45.93, and 48.52%, respectively) pretreatment but prazosin, and yohimbine failed to reverse this antidepressant-like effect. Similar to diazepam, CT (25 mg/kg) increased duration of open arms exploration (P<0.05) by 43.73% in EPM, number of head-dips (HBT) (90.32%), and time spent in the light compartment by 45.77% in light/dark test indicating anxiolytic-like effect. The anxiolytic-like effect of CT was reversed by flumazenil pretreatment. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest antidepressant-like effect of C. thonningii involving interaction with serotonergic (5-HT2), dopaminergic (D2), noradrenergic (α1 and α2), and muscarinic cholinergic systems; and anxiolytic effect through an interaction with GABAA benzodiazepine receptor.

The use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in public secondary health facilities in Lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to assess the prescription pattern of Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) in uncomplicated malaria and the knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians as regards use of ACTs in the outpatient clinics of public secondary health facilities in Lagos State. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the ten General Hospitals under the Lagos State Health Management Board were studied and classified as either rural or urban. 1878 retrospective antimalarial prescriptions of outpatients between March, 2005--March, 2006 were systematically sampled and questionnaires were distributed to prescribers in April--May, 2006. Prescription assessment was based on the recent Nigerian National Antimalarial Treatment Policy and WHO/INRUD drug use indicators. RESULTS: The percentage of prescriptions containing ACTs was found to be rather small (5.9%) inspite of the high proportion (59.2%) of prescribers who were favourably disposed to the National antimalarial policy change from Chloroquine to ACTs as first line. There was no statistically significant difference in frequency of ACTs prescription between the rural and urban health facilities. The prescription of Artemisinin derivatives as monotherapy was 18.2%. The prescription of Chloroquine was found to be more predominant, (48.8%) in all the health facilities. CONCLUSION: Despite the national policy change from Chloroquine to (ACTs) as the first line antimalarial, their use in the public secondary health facilities in Lagos State does not reflect this policy change and it appears that Chloroquine still remains the choice antimalarial drug.

Correlating antibiotic consumption with antimicrobial resistance of uropathogens in a university teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to correlate the antibiotic consumption rates with the antibiotic resistance rates of uropathogens in Lagos University Teaching Hospital. METHODOLOGY: Urine specimens obtained over 18 months (between January 2005 and June 2006) were processed for microscopy culture and sensitivity, and records of antibiotics dispensed during the same periods were reviewed. Significant bacteriuria was performed by the standard loop method. Isolation and identification of organisms was by standard laboratory methods. The antibiotic consumption calculator of Monnet (ABC calc version 3) was used to classify the antibiotics into ATC classes and to calculate the numbers of daily defined doses. The 6-monthly antibiotic resistance and consumption rates were compared using Pearson's correlation coefficient. For analysis, the period of study was divided into three. RESULTS: Except for co-trimoxazole the rates of consumption of all antibiotics were higher in the second period than the first period of the study and highest in the 3rd period for ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime. This correlated with an increase in the rates of resistance for some antibiotics during the 2nd and 3rd periods. While a steady increase in consumption of ciprofloxacin correlated with a steady increase in the resistance rates from the 1st to the 3rd periods, a steady increase in consumption of ceftazidime was associated with an increased resistance rate from the 2nd to 3rd periods. CONCLUSION: Increased consumption of the antibiotics tested, most noticeably, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime correlated with increased resistance rates. There is need for urgent interventions like formulation of antibiotic policies and education of staff on the appropriate use of antibiotics to reduce the development of resistance.