The effects of an investigational antimalarial agent, NIPRD-AM1 on the single dose pharmacokinetics of metronidazole in healthy human volunteers.

The effect of concurrent administration of a novel phytomedicine, NIPRD-AM1 used for the treatment of malaria on the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole was investigated in healthy volunteers. The study was a completely randomized one, crossover involving administration of single dose metronidazole tablets (200 mg×2) concomitantly with NIPRD-AM1 capsules (250 mg×2) to 11 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected before and at pre-determined time intervals following administration of the drugs. Serum concentrations of the unchanged metronidazole were analyzed using a modified simple and sensitive reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The method showed good precision for metronidazole with coefficient of variation less than 10%. The Pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC, Cmax, and Tmax) were generated using GraphPad Prism software version 2. The derived pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC, Cmax) following the administration of metronidazole alone and co-administration with NIPRD-AM1 were 76.12 µg/ml per hour, 7.94 µg/ml and 73.52 µg/ml per hour, 7.83 µg/ml, respectively. This differences were not statistically significant (P<0.05) and the relative bioavailability was found to be about 96%. The comparable relative bioavailabilty value obtained shows that there is little or no interaction between NIPRD-AM1 and metronidazole. The findings, therefore, showed that metronidazole can be administered with the phytomedicine NIPRD-AM1 without any significant effect on the pharmacokinetic profiles of metronidazole.

A normative study of the components of niprisan--an herbal medicine for sickle cell anemia.

Niprisan® is an herbal medicine for sickle cell anemia developed in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD). It is prepared from pepper seeds [Piper guineense Schum. & Thonn., Piperaceae], clove flower buds [Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb., Myrtaceae], caprium stem [Pterocarpus osun (L.) Craib., Fabaceae], sorghum leaves [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Poaceae], and "trona" The components were sourced from food dealers and herbalists prequalified as suppliers by the Institute's department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine (MPRTM), based on the criteria proposed by World Health Organization (WHO, 1998. Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials, pp. 1-115. Geneva: WHO) for the collection and handling of medicinal plant materials. The aim of the work is to establish limits for features that will influence decisions on the components. The paper describes and quantifies as per WHO guidelines of 1998 and British Pharmacopoeia (British Pharmacopoeia, 2004 . Volume IV. The Stationery Office Limited, London. Appendix II D, Atomic spectrophotometry: emission and absorption, pp. A143-145. Determination of pH, pp. A143-145; Appendix VL, Determination of pH Values, pp. A199-A200, 2004.), the most striking features of these components and demonstrates that all, except Eugenia caryophyllata, exist in more than one variety. The results, including the occasional presence of lead in trona, are discussed in the context of good manufacturing practice (GMP).

Effect of oral administration of aqueous whole extract of cassytha filiformis on haematograms and plasma biochemical parameters in rats.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous herbal extract prepared from Cassytha filiformis and administered daily for 28 days at dose levels (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg bw) in male wistar albino rats. The LD50 of the aqueous extract was determined. METHODS: The effects on body weights, organ weights, and certain haematological and plasma biochemical parameters were measured as indices of organ toxicity. RESULTS: The aqueous extract did not affect plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT); however, a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level occurred in all the treated groups. It also did not affect the electrolytes (Na , Cl and K ), total and direct bilirubin, creatinine, and glucose level. The aqueous extract elicited hypercholesterolaemic effects, but it did not affect the Hb, WBC, RBC, PVC, platelets, MCH, MCHC, MCV levels and differential counts (lympocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils). It also reduced the body weight gain and absolute weight of the kidneys. The relative weights of the heart and lungs in some animal groups were equally reduced. The acute toxicological evaluation of the plant extract revealed an oral LD50 value greater than 500 mg/kg bw. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that aqueous extract of C. filiformis administered at normal therapeutic doses is not likely to produce severe toxic effects on some organs or haematological and biochemical indices in rats.

Nigerian HIV type 2 subtype A and B from heterotypic HIV type 1 and HIV type 2 or monotypic HIV type 2 infections.

The presence of HIV-2 in Nigeria has been confirmed serologically, but not genetically. To determine the frequency of HIV-2 infections and the dynamics between HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 35 of 36 Nigerian states, 420 blood samples were collected in 1999. Antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 were detected by EIA and seroreactivity was confirmed with the INNO-LIA HIV Line Assay. The frequency of HIV-2 was 4.3% (18 of 420), with 3.8% (16 of 420) HIV-1 and HIV-2 (HIV-1/2) heterotypic and 0.5% (2 of 420) HIV-2 homotypic infections. The presence of HIV-2 subtype B in the two monotypic HIV-2 infections and subtype A in 11 (68.8%) of 16 HIV-1/2 dually seropositive samples was established by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. HIV-2 subtype B viruses were not found in any of the HIV-1/2 dual infections, and HIV-2 subtype A strains were not identified in either of the two monotypic HIV-2 infections. Since our sample size was small and represented only convenience samples, larger randomized studies will be needed to better understand the dynamics of infection between HIV-1 and different HIV-2 subtypes and to determine whether significant biological differences exist among the HIV- 2 subtypes.