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The global concern regarding the occurrence of antifungal resistance to synthetic conventional azoles used for treating vulvovaginal candidiasis, along with the associated side effects, is significant. Consequently, the pursuit for substitutes such as natural therapies has ensued. Essential oils, derived from plants, have been extensively researched and found to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study aimed to assess the antifungal efficacy of two essential oils, both alone and in combination, against Candida albicans. Essential oils were formulated into an emulgel separately and as combinations. The essential oils of Melaleuca alternifolia and Cymbopogon flexuosus were used in this study. The resulting emulgel formulations were characterized for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Physiochemical properties such as pH, viscosity, and appearance were also determined. The prepared emulgels were thereafter observed for stability over a period of 1 month. The MIC of Melaleuca alternifolia was seen to be 50 µL/mL while Cymbopogon flexuous was seen to be more potent at 25 µL/mL against C. albicans exhibiting strong synergistic effect at 0.4. The emulgel formed was white in color, smooth on skin, and had the odor of the essential oils, which is sweet to the nose. The pH of the formulations with the essential oils were acidic in the range of 3.70-3.83, making them suitable for vagina application. The emulgels had viscosities ranging from 4417.6 to 8968.7 mPas, owing to the thickness of the essential oils contained. The emulgel formulation with the combination of essential oils was more potent that the two with individual essential oils; furthermore, the one with Cymbopogon flexuous was more potent than the one with Melaleuca alternifolia. Based on the properties of the formulated emulgels and their activity against the test organism, the preparations have significant potential in the management of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
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Introduction: Globally, the incidence of inflammation and inflammatory disorders has continued to rise at an alarming rate. Entandrophragma utile is a species of flowering plant widely distributed in Africa and has been used for the management of sickle cell disease, rheumatism, ocular inflammation, duodenal and stomach ulcers. This research aims to formulate and evaluate an anti-inflammatory herbal emulgel using an extract from Entandrophragma utile stem bark (EUB). Method: Using a carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, the anti-inflammatory efficacy of EUB the extract was assessed. The formulated Entandrophragma utile emulgels (EUE) were characterized, and their anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated, by utilizing diclofenac emulgel-treated rats with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis model as the positive control group. Results: The emulgels formulated had characterization results within acceptable ranges; pH (4.25-5.80), viscosity (418.9-112.8 mPas), spreadability (25.00-31.82 gcm/s), extrudability (30.86-51.02 g/cm2), and a swelling index of (30-60%). The emulgel produced a concentration-dependent inflammatory inhibition with a peak effect (117.97%) at the end of the 4th week which was comparable to that of commercial diclofenac (127.19%). The phytochemical analysis led to the identification of saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins as active secondary metabolites. Conclusions: The stem bark extract of E. utile possessed noteworthy (p < 0.05) reduction in inflammation in comparison to diclofenac and its emulgel formulation showed enormous potential for treating inflammation and pain.
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With over 115 registered pharmaceutical manufacturers, Nigeria still depends on other countries for the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients. Significant attention has not been paid to the local production of raw materials, pharmaceutical dosage formulations, or processing equipment, which has resulted in a decline in the country's pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Owing to the overall importance of the pharmaceutical industry, it is, therefore, essential to pay close attention to developmental issues affecting this sector. In this commentary, we explore why Nigeria must boost its local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
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BACKGROUND: It is revealing that pharmacy as a key health care profession is almost invisible within more recent health policy initiatives in Nigeria. This research is an effort to improve awareness about the pharmacy profession. The target shall be young, science inclined individuals in high schools; they are the future. OBJECTIVE: To assess the levels of knowledge of high school science students about pharmacy and their interest in becoming pharmacists before and after sessions of awareness and education about the profession. METHOD: The study was a behavioral intervention study with pre and post cross-sectional survey; carried out in three high schools across Lagos, Nigeria; 127 science students participated. Information was collected using questionnaires inquiring into the career interests of the students and their levels of awareness of the pharmacy profession before and after series of coordinated sensitization about pharmacy. There was one sensitization exercise conducted per school and each lasted for about 80 min with breaks in between. An average of 40 students per school (all science majors present on the day of the survey) participated in the study. A pretest was first conducted, followed by the campaign and then a posttest to assess impact. Communication was done in English language all through the survey. RESULTS: and Discussion: Most of the students claimed to know who a pharmacist is. However, upon further probe, only 3.1 percent of the respondents had a very good knowledge of what the pharmacy profession entails, from the pretest. At the end of the awareness discussions, an appreciable 18.1 percent of the students now had very good knowledge of the pharmacy profession. Similarly, a better 11.8 percent of students became interested in becoming pharmacists against the previously recorded 5.5 percent. This depicts how strategic advocacies can be utilized in building good professionals and ensuring a sustainable legacy for pharmacy in Nigeria. CONCLUSION: The study establishes that the knowledge and awareness of high school science students about the pharmacy profession is relatively low across three selected secondary schools. The sensitization held yielded measurable improvement in awareness and interest. In view of this, Pharmacists in Nigeria are implored to do more of career mentorship.
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PURPOSE: Parquetina nigrescens (Pn) extract was evaluated for safety and antidiarrheal activity, formulated into stable suspensions, and characterized. METHODS: Acute toxicity of the extract based on Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-423 guidelines was performed. The antidiarrheal effects of the extract on castor oil-induced diarrhea in four groups of Wistar rats were determined. The first and second groups received 5 and 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) of the extract, while the third and fourth groups received normal saline (5 mg/kg bw) and loperamide (5 mg/kg bw) as negative and positive controls, respectively. Pn extract was used at 1.25% w/v to formulate structured vehicle (carboxylmethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and tragacanth) suspensions. The suspensions were tested for pharmacological activity and characterized. RESULTS: Acute toxicity gave a lethal dose 50 (LD50) that is greater than 300 and less than 2,000 mg/kg bw. A reduction in intestinal transit by 0.14 and 0.15% at 5 and 200 mg/kg of the extract was achieved as compared to an inhibition of 0.12% by 5 mg/kg loperamide. There was a dose-dependent decrease in the frequency of watery stool passed in castor oil-induced rats by 35.29% and 64.70% at 5 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. All the suspensions inhibited diarrhea, exhibiting a dose-dependent pattern and remained stable after 4 weeks. Their pH values ranged from 4.60±2.73 to 4.73±1.91, while viscosity ranged from 3.50±1.23 to 6.75±1.24 Pas at 60 rpm. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Pn possesses significant antidiarrheal activity. Suspensions of Pn were successfully formulated in structured vehicles and were effective in the control of diarrhea in Wistar rats.
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BACKGROUND: In Africa, particularly Nigeria, there is an increasing interest in natural product remedies with a basic approach towards nature. This research studies the prevalence of use, pattern of use and awareness of outpatients at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria on the use of herbal medicines. METHODOLOGY: Based on an informed consent, semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from a total of 112 outpatients attending different outpatient clinics of the hospital about the use of herbs. This sample size was derived from the Kish formula. Data obtained were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics software V23 and inferences made accordingly. RESULTS: All (100.00%) of the outpatients were familiar with herbal medicines, 67.86% had used herbal medicines in the past and 25.00% were currently taking herbal medicines as at the time of study. It was also found that 54.35% of the respondents use herbal medicines in no specific dose, 47.83% use the herbs with various additives, and 39.13% take their herbs concurrently with orthodox medicines. A total of 13.73% of the respondents prefer to use herbs when sick and another 35.29% prefer a combination of herbs and orthodox medicines. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patient-respondents prefer to include herbal medicines in their therapies. It is concerning that over one-third of the respondents concomitantly use herbal and orthodox medicines, some others use the herbs inappropriately. More efforts should be geared towards ensuring general improved use of herbal medicines.
