Methanol Leaf Extract of Persea americana Protects Rats against Cholesterol-Induced Hyperlipidemia.

Aim: To investigate anti-hyperlipidemic activity of methanol leaf extract of Persea americana (MEPA) in cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Methodology: The animals were randomly divided into five groups of 5 rats each. Group1 served as the normal control (NC) and received distilled water. Group 2, the cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemic control (CHOL) was given cholesterol diet (20% groundnut oil, 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid mixed with rat pellet) orally. Groups 3 and 4 received oral administration of cholesterol diet and MEPA at a dose of 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight respectively, while group 5 was treated orally with cholesterol diet and cholestyramine (0.26g/kg body weight). Cholesterol diet, MEPA and cholestyramine were administered daily for a period of eight weeks. Results: The changes observed in the plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) of hyperlipidemic control rats were reversed by MEPA in a dose-dependent manner. At 20 mg/kg body weight, MEPA significantly (p<0.05) reduced TC, TG and LDL plasma levels by 54.2%, 46.2% and 65.6% respectively, and increased HDL plasma level by 60.0%. At a higher dose of 40 mg/kg, MEPA reduced TC, TG and LDL levels by 60.4%, 69.2% and 87.5% respectively while HDL was increased by 80.0%. There was a significant increase of change in body weight of hyperlipidemic rats compared to the change in normal control. MEPA caused a reduction of change in body weight to nearly that of the normal control. MEPA also dose-dependently caused significant reduction (p<0.05) of plasma lipid peroxidation in the rats. The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of MEPA was comparable to that of the standard drug, cholestyramine. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Persea americana could be a source of good alternative remedy for hyperlipidemia. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism of action of the plant.

Anti-hyperglycemic Effect of Khaya senegalensis Stem Bark Aqueous Extract in Wistar Rats.

Aim: To investigate anti-hyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis stem bark (KSE) in alloxan-diabetic Wistar rats. Methodology: Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of 5 animals each. Group I (non-diabetic control) was given distilled water orally. Animals in the remaining five groups were treated with a single dose of alloxan (120mg/kg body weight, i.p) to induce diabetes mellitus. This resulted in significant increase in the fasting blood glucose level of the rats. Group I (non-diabetic control) and group II (hyperglycemic control) then received distilled water orally for 14 days. Group III, IV and V were treated orally with daily doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of KSE respectively for 14 days. Group VI was given glibenclamide (5mg/kg, p.o) for the same period. Fasting blood glucose was determined by oxidative method in all the groups on day 0 (before treatment), day 7 and day 14. Oral glucose tolerance test and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were estimated after the two week treatment. Body weights of the animals were also measured on day 0, day 7 and day 14. Results: Treatment with KSE and glibenclamide caused significant (p<0.05) and dosedependent changes compared to the untreated animals with respect to body weight, blood glucose level and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The antihyperglycemic effect of KSE was comparable to that of the standard drug, glibenclamide. Conclusion: The study showed that aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis stem bark possesses anti-hyperglycemic activity.

Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Osogbo Nigeria: efficacy of amodiaquine + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and chloroquine + chlorpheniramine for treatment

Chloroquine (CQ) resistance in Plasmodium falciparum contributes to increasing malaria-attributable morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a change in drug policy, continued prescription of CQ did not abate. Therefore the therapeutic efficacy of CQ in uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients was assessed in a standard 28-day protocol in 116 children aged between six and 120 months in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria. Parasitological and clinical assessments of response to treatment showed that 72 (62.1 percent) of the patients were cured and 44 (37.9 percent) failed the CQ treatment. High initial parasite density and young age were independent predictors for early treatment failure. Out of the 44 patients that failed CQ, 24 received amodiaquine + sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (AQ+SP) and 20 received chlorpheniramine + chloroquine (CH+CQ) combinations. Mean fever clearance time in those treated with AQ+SP was not significantly different from those treated with CH+CQ (p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean parasite density of the two groups. The cure rate for AQ+SP group was 92 percent while those of CH+CQ was 85 percent. There was a significant difference in parasite clearance time (p = 0.01) between the two groups. The 38 percent treatment failure for CQ reported in this study is higher than the 10 percent recommended by World Health Organization in other to effect change in antimalarial treatment policy. Hence we conclude that CQ can no more be solely relied upon for the treatment of falciparum malaria in Osogbo, Nigeria. AQ+SP and CH+CQ are effective in the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria and may be considered as useful alternative drugs in the absence of artemisinin-based combination therapies.

Use of injectable anti-malarials among patients in selected health facilities in Ilorin, Nigeria

Irrational use of injectable antimalarial is commonplace in developing countries. This descriptive survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of injectable antimalarials use and factors related to this practice in selected health facilities in Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of 356 outpatients were interviewed in the selected health facilities and available clinical records checked. Awareness of both oral and injectable antimalarials is fairly high among the respondents. Injectable antimalarial was the most preferred form by the patients. Request for injectable antimalarial was significantly more among educated patients and those attending private clinics and health centers. Among respondents 90.3% had ever used injectable antimalarial. Use of injectable antimalarial irrespective of clinical indications is common practice. Rational practices in the prescription of antimalarial and promotion of oral therapy need to be widely encouraged among health workers in developing countries. This will reduce the hazards associated with unnecessary injections and also reduce cost