Evaluation of packaging, labels, and some physicochemical properties of herbal antimalarial products on the Ghanaian market.

Introduction: Malaria is a parasitic disease that is endemic in tropical areas and can be life-threatening. There has been a decrease in the prevalence of malaria in Ghana but the burden of the disease is still high in the country. Many Ghanaians depend on herbal products for malaria treatment. This study aimed to survey and evaluate commercial herbal antimalarials in the Volta Region of Ghana. Methods: A survey of finished herbal antimalarials was done at herbal shops, pharmacies, and over-the-counter medicine seller shops. Products available on shelves were purchased and their details were recorded, after which they were examined using a visual inspection tool. The density, pH, and extract weight per dose of each sample were also determined. Results: Thirty-four liquid formulations (A-1-34) containing 1-9 different herbs were found. The majority of the product labels had errors in consumer age classifications. Unconventional ways of stating doses were found on two products (A-13, "tot"; A-19, cupful). Six products did not have dosing devices. No duration of treatment was indicated on 24 products. Dose errors were found on A-14 and A-22. Samples A-17 and A-28 did not have registration or batch numbers. Product A-28 did not have its herbs listed on it and was indicated for persons aged 3-8 years at a dose of 45 mL. The relative density range for the products was 0.997-1.015. From the pH investigation, no product was extremely erosive; however, 10 samples were deemed erosive (pH, 3.0-3.99), whereas 24 were minimally erosive (pH, ≥4.0). The extract weight per dose volume (20-90 mL) was 0.048-1.766 g, indicating that unit dose capsules or tablets could be formulated from the products. Conclusion: The findings clearly show that Ghanaian authorities responsible for regulating herbal products must enforce guidelines for the formulation, label details, and sale of antimalarial products. Additionally, the unpleasant taste of liquid herbal mixtures can affect patient compliance and dosing convenience; therefore, it is recommended that oral solid dosage forms of herbal antimalarials are produced as alternatives to the liquid mixtures.

Assessment of the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves hosted by the branches of Persea americana.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants represent a valuable source for new effective and safe antimicrobial drugs making them an alternative therapy. Existing antimicrobial agents are costly and mostly associated with possible side effects. The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the antimicrobial property and phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves and its fractions. METHOD: T. bangwensis leaves (harvested from its host plant, Persea americana) was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol and further fractionated with different organic solvents using the solvent partitioning method to obtain the crude extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous fractions. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were screened and quantified. Also, the TLC of the extracts were analyzed to serve as a fingerprint. Using the agar diffusion and broth dilution methods, the antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed. RESULTS: The study showed that the hydroethanolic (70%) crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols and reducing sugars. The phytoconstituents were well extracted into the ethyl acetate fraction than the other fractions evidenced in the high levels (p < 0.0001) of saponins (66.47 ± 1.72% w/w), phenolic compounds (77.75 ± 1.06 mg/100 mg GAE) and flavonoids (44.34 ± 0.06 mg/100 mg QE) contents. From the antimicrobial studies, all the microorganisms tested exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility to the extracts with MIC values between 0.78 to 12.5 mg/mL. The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves, its ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions also exhibited lethal antimicrobial activity with MLC between 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions demonstrated antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Candida albicans, thereby representing a potential source of natural antimicrobial agent. Further study is required to identify and isolate antimicrobial compounds from the plant for the development of the natural bioactive antimicrobial agents.

"A Review of Parquetina nigrescens (Afzel.) Bullock, A Plant for Traditional Medicine: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties".

The development of herbal medicines as a remedy for several illnesses has been recognized and accepted worldwide by health experts. Parquetina nigrescens is a perennial evergreen woody climber from the Apocynaceae family, widely used in Africa for the treatment of many diseases. The current study is intended to review and put together information available on this ethno-medicinal plant, which will improve scientific knowledge about the plant and also identify research areas that need to be investigated further. The information related to the plant was obtained using scientific databases such as Google scholar, WebMD, Wiley, Science direct, Cochrane database, student thesis, PubMed, and Scopus to obtain relevant literature regarding the botanical descriptions and distribution of the plant, traditional uses, phytochemicals, active compounds isolated from the plant, and pharmacological properties of P. nigrescens. Several traditional uses for different parts of the plant (leaves, stem bark, roots, leaf sap, flowers, and latex) have been presented. A review of the phytochemical composition of different plant parts revealed the presence of reducing sugars, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, coumarin, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and saponins. Many studies also highlighted pharmacological activities related to P. nigrescens, including antianemic and haematological activity, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiasthmatic, antimicrobial, insecticidal, neurotoxic, cytotoxic, antityphoid, antipolycystic ovarian syndrome activity, antilipidemic, and memory-enhancing activity. It is recommended that further in-vivo and clinical studies be conducted on the plant for the development of novel drugs.

Bridelia ferruginea Benth.; An ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological review.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bridelia ferruginea belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, identified as an important commonly growing shrub, is used in traditional medicine for managing arthritis, dysentery, constipation, chronic diabetes, skin diseases, bladder and intestinal disorders, oral infections, thrush, bites and as an arrow poison antidote. This review aims at providing information on the traditional medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry and toxicity studies of Bridelia ferruginea to bridge the gap between traditional medicinal uses and preclinical studies on B. ferruginea and subsequently lead to the development of valued added medicines from B. ferruginea. Materials and methods: Data in this review were compiled using databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer link, Elsevier and Taylor and Francis, articles from peer reviewed journals and other grey literature (short notes, book chapters, short communications) to access all the relevant information available on B. ferruginea. Results: B. ferruginea contains different phytochemicals including flavonoids, phenolics, phytosterols, triterpenes, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Gallocatechin-(4'-O-7)-epigallocatechin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,3,4,5-tetracaffeoylquinic acid and some derivatives of 3-methoxyflavone, such as quercetin-3-methyl ether, quercetin 3-,7,3',4'-tetramethyl ether, myricetin 3',4',5'-trimethyl ether, myricetin 3,3',4',5'-tetramethyl ether, myricetin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside specific flavonoids and biflavonoids like apigenin, kaempferol and glycosides of both have been isolated and further characterized from B. ferruginea. B. ferruginea has several pharmacologically beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-infective, antipyretic, analgesic, diuretic and natriuretic activities. Conclusion: The wide distribution, traditional medicinal uses and wealth of phytochemicals present in B. ferruginea suggests that the plant can be useful in lead compound discovery. Although B. ferruginea has been widely studied, further studies on the mechanism of action, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and side effects in humans need to be investigated.

A review on anti-peptic ulcer activities of medicinal plants used in the formulation of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules.

Peptic ulcer disease affects many people globally. With the increasing resistance to some orthodox antibiotics such as Clarithromycin and Metronidazole, it is important that new acceptable, safer and effective therapies are developed to manage this disease. Various herbal medicines have been used traditionally for the remedy of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), however scientific information with regards to their anti-peptic ulcer both in-vivo and in-vitro as well as clinical studies supporting their use is still inadequate. The Centre for Plant Medicine Research, (CPMR) Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana manufactures three herbal Products namely Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules which are currently used for the remedy of PUD as a triple therapy at its out-patient clinic with promising effects. The aim of this review is to gather information from literature on the anti-ulcer properties, pharmacological, phytochemical constituents and related activities of herbal plants used at the CPMR for formulation of the triple herbal therapy. This review may, provide some scientific bases for the use of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules in the management of Peptic ulcer at the CPMR out-patient clinic. METHODS: Organization for the review involved the on and/or offline search for information from available literature using electronic data and scientific research information resources such as PubMed, Science Direct and Google scholar. RESULTS: In this review, fifteen ethno-medicinal plants used for the formulation of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK capsules have been discussed, presenting the description of the plants, composition and pharmacological activity. INTERPRETATION: Tables with the summary of reviewed medicinal plants with their anti-ulcer models and inference on possible mechanisms of action were drawn up. The mechanism(s) of action of individual plants and products (Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules) must be further investigated and established experimentally in-vitro in addition to in-vivo pharmacological and clinical activity studies to confirm their use in the remedy of PUD.

Strategies for formulation of effervescent granules of an herbal product for the management of typhoid fever.

Herbal medicines are currently being adopted as alternatives to orthodox medicines for the management of drug-resistant and emerging multidrug-resistant microbial strains of various diseases, including typhoid fever. A herbal decoction, MA 001, manufactured by the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), has been used for the treatment of typhoid fever for at least two decades in Ghana with desirable outcomes. MA 001 is formulated from Citrus aurantifolia, Spondias mombin, Latana camara, Bidens pilosa, Trema occidentalis, Psidium guajava, Morinda lucida, Vernonia amygdalina, Persea americana, Paulina pinnatta, Momordia charantia and Cnestis ferruguinea medicinal plants. The low palatability and compliance to treatment due to the bulky nature of the decoction poses challenges in its optimum use. This study sought to design and formulate the therapeutic components of the aqueous herbal decoction of MA 001 into an optimal solid dosage form of effervescent granules to improve the delivery of MA 001 as well as increase patient compliance and convenience of product handling. The methods involved pre-formulation studies on the suitability of effervescent vehicles, formulation and evaluation of effervescent granules for drug excipient interactions using high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The findings indicate that the effervescent granules were suitable for use in the delivery of the therapeutic constituents for the treatment of typhoid fever as done with the decoction due to minimal herbal extract-excipient interaction.

Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Oral Capsules and Suspension from the Ethanolic Extract of Cola nitida Seeds for the Treatment of Diarrhea.

Management of diarrhea has evolved over the years from relatively inadequate interventions in the early years to more successful physiological approaches. The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has grown significantly over the past three decades, with more than half of the global population depending on it for some aspect of their primary health care needs. This study is aimed at formulating solid and liquid oral dosage forms of the ethanolic extract of Cola nitida seeds for the treatment of diarrhea. The flow property of the dried ethanolic extract was determined and subsequently formulated into granules for encapsulation. The ethanolic extract was also used in formulating an oral suspension. Pharmacopeia tests such as uniformity of weight, disintegration, drug content, and dissolution were carried out on the formulated capsules. The formulated suspension was also assessed using the following parameters; viscosity, flow rate, drug content, dissolution, sedimentation rate, and sedimentation volume. The dried ethanolic extract and formulated granules exhibited good flow properties. The formulated capsules exhibited optimal in vitro release of extract (>90% after 45 minutes) and passed the uniformity of weight, disintegration, and drug content tests. The formulated suspension also passed the drug content test and had a good sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume, and flow rate. The formulated suspension also exhibited pseudoplastic flow, optimal viscosity, and a good in vitro release profile (>90% after 45 minutes). Capsules and suspension of the ethanolic extract of Cola nitida seeds have been successfully formulated and can be used as standard dosage forms for the management of diarrhea.

Medicinal Plants with Prospective Benefits in the Management of Peptic Ulcer Diseases in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: The growth or multiplication of harmful microorganisms in addition to harmful human activities has led to many disorders in humans. Consequently, there is a search for medications to treat these disorders. Interestingly, medicines of plant origin are known to be among the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results in the treatment of various diseases including peptic ulcers. This review, therefore, is aimed at obtaining knowledge on some Ghanaian ethnomedicinal plants used to treat peptic ulcers, their folkloric uses, their phytochemicals, and their antiulcer and related pharmacological activities as well as finding areas for prospective studies. METHODS: Published peer-reviewed articles on ethnomedicinal plants used for the management of peptic ulcers in Ghana from 1967 to 2020 were sourced and used for the study. RESULTS: In this review, 13 plants were identified which belong to 10 different families including Sapindaceae, Apocynaceae, and Bignoniaceae. The parts most often used for most preparations were the leaves (53%), followed by stem bark and roots (both having the same percentage of use of 17.6%), the whole plant (5.9%), and the rhizomes (5.9%). Azadirachta indica was the only plant that had undergone some patient studies in addition to animal studies. Conclusion. A discussion of various antiulcer activity studies using ulcer models carried out on selected medicinal plants used for the management of peptic ulcer disease in addition to brief information on their folkloric uses and their phytochemical and other pharmacological properties is presented. These medicinal plants may be used in developing herbal products for the management of peptic ulcer disease.