ABSTRACT
Purpose: Prunus africana is a well-known plant that is used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and other ailments, although there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims of its wound-healing properties. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the wound-healing potential of P. africana bark extract in mice. Methods: The bark of the plant was extracted by successive maceration using 80% methanol and then fractionated with aqueous, n-butanol, and chloroform. The crude extract and solvent fractions were formulated as an ointment. Wound healing activity was evaluated using excision and incision wound models. Total phenol, flavonoid, and alkaloid contents of the crude extract, aqueous, and n- butanol fractions of the plant were determined. Results: In both models, mice treated with 5% (w/w) and 10% (w/w) crude extract ointment exhibited a significant (p < 0.001) wound healing activity compared with control as evidenced by the increased rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content, the reduced epithelialization time, and the higher skin breaking strength. Mice treated with aqueous fraction ointment exhibited a high percentage of wound healing effect among all solvent fractions. The aqueous fraction consisted of higher phenolic (49.71 ± 0.73 mg/g) and flavonoid (39.58 ± 0.27 mg/g) content, while alkaloid (3.89 ± 0.55 mg/g) content was the lowest. Conclusion: Prunus africana stem bark extract demonstrated wound healing activity in mice model which supports the acclaimed use by Ethiopian traditional medicine.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Beta-blocker use evaluation is a performance method that focuses on the evaluation of beta-blocker use processes to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Several studies conducted in different hospitals revealed a high incidence of inappropriate prescription of beta-blockers among hospitalized patients. Therefore, it is important to identify inappropriate beta-blocker prescribing since they may increase the risk of hospitalizations. Despite this, there was no study conducted related to drug use evaluation of beta-blockers in Nedjo general hospital (NGH). Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the use evaluation of beta-blockers in medical wards of NGH. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at medical wards of NGH from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. RESULTS: Out of the total of 149 medical record of patients that contains beta-blockers, 84 (56.37%) were males and about one-third (31.54%) of the patients ages were between 41 and 50 years. Propranolol was the most commonly prescribed beta-blocker (62.76%), and 94.56% of beta-blockers were prescribed with correct indication. There were about 51%, 46.31%, 64.43%, and 46.98% of beta-blockers prescribed with the correct dose, duration, frequency, and route of administration, respectively. Regarding the routes of administration, 70 (46.98%) of them were prescribed with the correct route. Most drugs interacting were propranolol with cimetidine 26 (68.42%), and the most frequent condition for which beta-blockers were prescribed was hypertension (32.89%). CONCLUSION: Overall, there was an inappropriate use of beta-blockers in terms of dosage and durations. So, prescribers of NGH should strictly adhere to the national treatment guideline when prescribing medications. Additionally, drug information centers have proved useful and effective in promoting rational drug use. Hence, it should be recommended for general use.
