Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Heptonica: A Ghanaian Hepatorestorative Polyherbal Product.

The incidence of liver diseases is increasing globally, and many patients in developing countries are resorting to the use of herbal products as treatment. This study was aimed at establishing the safety and effectiveness outcomes for patients with deranged liver panel treated with a Ghanaian finished polyherbal product. The product Heptonica is prepared by CPMR from three medicinal plants: Bidens pilosa, Citrus aurantifolia, and Trema orientalis. Fifty (50) participants with clinical and biochemical signs of liver impairment were purposively recruited and treated for a period of 28 days. Participants received Heptonica at a dose of 30 mL 8 hourly after meals for the treatment period. Clinical and biochemical evaluation (liver panel test, renal function test, haematology, and urinalysis) of subjects for the safety and effectiveness of the product was undertaken at days 0 (baseline), 14, and 28. Compared to the baseline values, Heptonica did not have any untoward effect on renal function, haematological parameters, and urine parameters of subjects. Clinical and liver panel results of the participants also improved compared to the baseline: serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.0001), alanine transaminase (ALT) (p < 0.0001), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (p- 0.0013), total bilirubin (p-0.0136), direct bilirubin (p < 0.0001), total proteins (p-0.0409), and alkaline phosphates (p- 0.0284). Level of albumin showed no significant difference within the study period. The outcome of this study indicates Heptonica has hepatorestorative action with no observable toxicity and can be used with confidence as indicated as a liver tonic.

Assesssing herbal medical practitioners in professional qualifying examination in Ghana, a model.

About 70% of Ghanaians depend on Alternative health practice for their primary health care needs. Hence, there is the need to streamline and regulate these practices. Graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T), Kumasi-Ghana were assessed by the Professional Qualifying Examination Board of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Ghana, after two years of internship training. A model of assessment took into consideration, the scope of the university training, internship and the primary health care needs of the society.

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Xylopia aethiopica.

Xylopia aethiopica is a medicinal plant of great repute in West Africa which produces a variety of complex chemical compounds. The fresh and dried fruits, leaf, stem bark and root bark essential oils showed various degrees of activity against the gram positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, the gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans, using the cup plate method. However, none of the oils showed activity against Escherichia coli.

Evaluation of the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of Secamone afzelii Rhoem.

The antioxidant activity of a methanol extract of Secamone afzelii stems was tested using the DPPH assay and the active compound was identified as alpha-tocopherol. HPLC determination showed that 0.12% w/w alpha-tocopherol was present in the plant. The total extract also showed effective free radical scavenging activity in the assay for non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in liposomes with an IC50 value of 90 microg/mL, with alpha-tocopherol isolated from the plant having an IC50 of 15 microg/mL in the same system, thus demonstrating the presence of other antioxidants.

Ethno-Botanical Survey Of Medicinal Plants In The Plant Genetic Resources Centre Arboretum - Bunso

The ethnobotanical uses and mode of administration of twenty-nine medicinal plants; found in the arboretum of the Plant Genetic Resource Centre located at Bunso in the eastern region of Ghana; against some disease conditions are hereby documented

Antimicrobial activity of the leaves and seeds of Bixa orellana.

The ethanolic extracts of the leaves and seeds of Bixa orellana showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The activity of the leaf extract was more pronounced.