Anticonvulsant activity of capsicum annum [red pepper] fruit extract using pentylentetrazole and maximum electroshock induced seizure tests in rats

Epilepsy is a disorder of brain function characterized by periodic and unpredictable occurrence of seizures that refers to as a transient alteration of behavior due to disordered, synchronous and rhythmic firing of populations of brain neurons. Modern drug therapy of epilepsy is complicated by side effects and inability to control seizures in some patients. The present study was conducted to test the anticonvulsant activity of Capsicum annum fruit extract in rat models. The methanolic extract of Capsicum annum fruit was tested for its potential anticonvulsant activity using pentylentetrazole [PTZ] and maximum electroshock [MES] induced seizure models in rats. The simple activity meter was used to determine the sedative activity of Capsicum annum fruit extract. Thereafter, the protective index was calculated. Results obtained showed that the extract at concentrations of 5, 9, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg produced dose dependent anticonvulsant activity. Capsicum annum [40 mg/kg, i.p.] caused 100% protection from seizure induced by PTZ and sedation in 50% of rats [TD[50]]. Fifty percent anticonvulsant activity was produced by 9mg/kg Capsicum annum. Moreover, the protective index was calculated to be more than four. When tested on seizure induced by MES, Capsicum annum extract at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg showed no seizure protection. It could be concluded that Capsicum annum fruit could be a source for potential antiepileptic agent[s]. Further studies are needed to determine the active constituents responsible for the anticonvulsant activity as well as to elucidate their mechanism[s] of action

Anticancer and antioxidant activities of Guiera senegalensis

Medicinal plants contain physiologically active principles that over the years have been exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The ethanolic extract of Guiera senegalensis was tested in vitro as anticancer and antioxidant agent as well as for its phenolic and flavonoidal contents. The trypan blue technique was used for the anticancer activity against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells [EACC] while the antioxidant activity of the plant extract was determined by 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] assay. The total phenolic and flavonoidal contents were estimated using colorimetric methods. The ethanolic extract at a concentration of 13 microg/ml caused 100% cytotoxic effect against EACC. Moreover, it possessed a considerable antioxidant activity against DPPH radical. Guiera senegalensis extract was found to contain appreciable amounts of phenolic and flavonoidal compounds. It can be concluded that Guiera senegalensis possesses sufficient in vitro anticancer and antioxidant activities to warrant further detailed study of its pharmacology and phytochemistry

[Investigation of self-medication with antibiotics, Sudan study]

The present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotmcs in four Sudanese cities, and to identify factors associated with this practice. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 1000 patients. The majority of the study population [83.8%] had used antibiotics without medical consultation. Moreover, previous symptoms were found to be the common causes of self-medication [52.7%], followed by economic factors [19.3%], while friend's advice represented 17.7%. Common cold appeared to be the most prevailed treated symptom without medical consultation [23.2%]. The study revealed that pharmacies were the main source of self-medicated antibiotics [83.9%]. The study indicated that only 54.4% of population had completed the antibiotics' regimens. Amoxicillin was the commonly used antibiotic by the majority of the respondents [53.9%], out of them 52.9% repeated the same antibiotics and 78.2% of population disagreed with self-medication practice. A set of recommendations was proposed to regulate self-mediations with antibiotics and to educate publics on the risks of irrational use of antibiotics