Preliminary evaluation of the wound healing effect of Vitex doniana sweet (Verbenaceae) in mice.

Vitex doniana is traditionally used in Togo to treat various diseases including wounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of Vitex doniana on cutaneous wound healing. Wounds were induced in ICR mice divided into four groups as following: Group I received carbopol 974P NF empty gel, Groups II and III were treated topically with carbopol gel containing 2.5% and 5% of Vitex doniana extract. Group IV received Betadine® 10% as standard drug. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by planimetry and histological analysis. We secondary used the gel containing Vitex doniana at 2.5% and the pure extract at 10 mg/ml on the model of ear edema induced by xylene. Skin toxicity test was performed with the gel containing Vitex doniana at 5% and the pure extract at 30 mg/ml. Vitex doniana at 5% and 2.5% provided better wound contraction (91.14% and 86.38%) at day 12 post-excision when compared to control (51.15%). The results of histological evaluation supported the outcome of excision wound model. Moreover Vitex doniana inhibited significantly edema induced by xylene when compared to control (p< 0.05). In skin toxicity test, no abnormal symptoms were developed over 14 day-time period. Vitex doniana inhibits the topical inflammation and accelerate cutaneous wound repair.

[Effect of Morinda lucida Benth. (Rubiaceae) and Newbouldia leavis P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) on sickling of red blood cells]. / Effet de Morinda lucida Benth. (Rubiaceae) et de Newbouldia leavis P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) sur la falciformation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the In vitro anti-sickling activity of two plants widely used for treatment of sickle cell disease in Togo, i.e., Morinda lucida et Newbouldia leavis. A concentration-dependent decrease in the rate of sickling was observed after incubation of red blood cells with plant extracts and 2% sodium metabisulfite as compared to incubation with 0.9% NaCl. On samples with a SS blood genotype the inhibition rate of Morinda lucida was 17.30% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and 92.31% at a concentration of 30 mg/ml. On samples with an AS blood genotype, the inhibition rate of Morinda lucida 48.10% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and 99.34% at a concentration of 30 mg/ml. Using Newbouldia leavis the inhibition rates at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 30 mg/ml were 15.66% and 90.42% respectively on samples with a SS blood genotype and 64.03% and 99.02% respectively on samples with an AS blood genotype. The study protocol appeared to be adequate for both SS and AS blood genotypes since the Pearson correlation coefficient between rates measured on the two types of samples was 0.92 for Newuboulida and 0.89 for Morinda. These findings show that these two plants have clear-cut in vitro anti-sickling activity and support their use in traditional medicine.

Anti-ulcer and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Hydro-Alcohol Extract of Aloe buettneri A. Berger (lilliaceae)

Purpose: Aloe buettneri A. Berger is commonly used in Togolese folk medicine to treat inflammation and gastric ulcer. In this study we investigated the anti-oedema; analgesic; antipyretic and ulcer healing properties of the hydro-alcohol extract of their leaves. Methods: Rat oedema paw were induced by the injection of 0.1 ml of formaldehyde 1; tail flick method is used to study analgesic property; hyperthermia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 15of a brewers' yeast suspension at dose of 10 ml/kg and ulcers were induced by ethanol or HCl/ethanol mixture. Results: The extract showed anti-inflammatory properties at doses between 250-500 mg/kg. It inhibited; in a dose- dependent manner; the oedema induced by 0.1 ml of formaldehyde 1. Scores of 73.70and 83.63were obtned when the doses of extract administered were 100 and 500 mg/kg; respectively. The tail flick analgesic index showed an increase of 36.56when the dose was 500 mg/kg. The extract decreased significantly the hyperthermia induced by the injection of yeast. 1000 mg/kg of the extract inhibited 63.77of the gastric lesion induced by acid-water-ethanol mixture while daily administration of the same dose accele- rated the cicatrisation of gastric ulcer induced by 95ethanol. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the hydro-alcohol extract of Aloe buettneri A. Berger (Lillia- ceae) has anti-inflammatory; anti-ulcer and wound healing properties

Effet de Morinda lucida Benth. (Rubiaceae) et de Newbouldia leavis P. Beauv. (bignoniaceae) sur la falciformation

Ce travail a ete realise dans le but d'evaluer l'activite inhibitrice de falciformation in vitro des extraits de deux plantes couramment utilisees dans le traitement de la drepano- cytose au Togo :Morinda lucida et Newbouldia leavis. Lorsque les hematies sont incubees en presence des extraits vegetaux et du metabisulfite de sodium a 2; on note une diminution concentration- dependante du taux de falciformation par rapport au sang temoin qui a ete incube en presence de NaCl a 0;9a la place des extraits. Morinda a montre un taux d'inhibition de 17;30a la concentration de 1 mg/ml et de 92;31a la concentration de 30 mg/ml sur le sang SS. Sur le sang AS; a la concentration de 1 mg/ml de cet extrait; l'inhibition est de 48;10et 99;34pour 30 mg/ml. Avec N. leavis on a obtenu une inhibition de 15;66a 1 mg/ml et 90;42a 30 mg/ml sur le sang SS. Sur le sangAS cette inhibition est de 64;03pour 1 mg/ml et 99;02pour 30 mg/ml. Ce protocole semble approprie pour travailler aussi bien avec le sang AS qu'avec le sang SS car les effets compares de chacun des extraits sur la falciformation du sang AS et SS ont donne un coefficient de correlation de Pearson qui est de 0;92 pour Newbouldia et de 0;89 pour Morinda. Nos resultats montrent que ces deux plantes ont un effet anti-falciformant evident in vitro et soutiennent l'interet de leur usage en medecine traditionnelle

Investigation of the antioxidant activity of African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea).

African potato (AP) is widely used as an immune booster for the treatment of various ailments. The norlignan glycoside hypoxoside, a major phytoconstituent of AP, its aglycon rooperol, and an aqueous preparation of lyophilized AP corms were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine) and FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) tests. Inhibition of quinolinic acid (QA) induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver tissue was studied in vitro using the thiobarbituric assay (TBA). Superoxide free radical scavenging activity was determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium assay. An isocratic HPLC method was developed to quantitatively determine both hypoxoside and rooperol concurrently. While rooperol and AP extracts reduced QA-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates and significantly scavenged the superoxide anion at pharmacological doses, in comparison, hypoxoside was virtually devoid of activity. Since hypoxoside is converted to rooperol in vivo following administration of AP, the results indicate that the hypoxoside component in AP could have value as an antioxidant prodrug.

[Anti-cholinergic effect of Pluchea ovalis (pers.) Dc. (asteraceae) root extract on isolated Wistar rat tracheae]. / Effet anti-cholinergique de la racine de Pluchea ovalis (pers.) Dc. (asteraceae) sur la trachée artère de rat in vitro.

Ethanolic extract of Pluchea ovalis roots inhibit acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction observed in asthma. To understand the mechanism of P. ovalis root extract on airway smooth muscle contraction, we investigated the anti-cholinergic effect of the ethanolic extract on isolated isolated tracheae of the Wistar rat. For this purpose, three experimental conditions of incubation were used: idomethacin, indomethacin+propranolol or indomethacin+propranolo+ promethazine. The extract was applied in all three conditions at 0.25 mg/ml for 10 minutes prior to cumulative doses of acetylcholine (10(-8) to 5.10(-4) g/ml). The extract reduced acetylcholine-induced contraction and could have an antagonistic effect on muscarinic receptors of the rat trachea.