COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT IN SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS.

This study was to compare the total phenolic (TP) content in extracts from eleven plant materials collected at different geographical locations in Kenya, Nigeria, and USA. These plants have been selected because the majority of them are highly pigmented, from yellow to purple, and would therefore have economic value in industries for producing antioxidants and surfactants. Two of them were collected from the industrial and domestic waste outlets. Each analysis was achieved using the Folin-Ciocalteau technique. The order of decreasing phenolic acid content as gallic acid concentration (mg/g dry weight) was Prunus africana (55.14) > Acacia tortilis (42.11) > Khaya grandifoliola (17.54) > Curcuma longa (17.23) > Vernonia amygdalina (14.9)> Russelia equisetiformis (14.03) > Calendula officinalis (7.96) >Phragmites australis (control) (7.09) > Rauwolfia vomitoria (6.69) > Phragmites australis (industrial) (6.21) > Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (5.6). The TP contents of Spartina alterniflora species were below the detection limit.

Effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract on the blood glucose and insulin levels of inbred type 2 diabetic mice.

The effects of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) leaf extract and chlorpropamide on blood glucose and insulin levels in the inbred type 2 diabetic mice are reported. After treatment with CA, the glucose levels were measured at 0 and 2-hour intervals in experimental groups and controls. Group I received no treatment and served as control; Group II was the reference and it received chlorpropamide; Groups I-III were moderately diabetic, 100-300 mg/dL blood glucose levels while Group IV were severely diabetic (> 300 mg/dL). Groups III and IV received CA and served as test groups. There was no significant difference between the blood glucose levels at 0 and 2 hours for the control group, (P>0.23) but there were statistically significant differences for Group II (P<0.0002); Group III (P<0.002) and Group IV (P<0.0001). For moderately diabetic mice, CA and chlorpropamide decreased the glucose levels by 25.6% and 16.3% respectively while for the severely diabetic mice CA decreased the blood glucose by 43.7%. It is proposed that CA has an insulinogenic property that possibly stimulated dormant beta-cells to secrete insulin. The histopathology of several organs in the treated animals was found to differ from the expected. The islets of Langerhans for example were found to be preserved in the time frame examined. Also the liver and kidney were found to display milder pathology in the treated groups.

Bioequivalence study of three generic formulations of co-trimoxazole tablets in human urine.

Many proprietary and generic formulations of co-trimoxazole tablets commercially marketed in Nigeria are mostly from Asian countries. Nigerians buy these products because of their cheaper prices but not confident with regards to therapeutic, quality, safety, and efficacy. Health professionals usually are cautious about drug product selection and substitution during prescription and dispensing. In this paper, the bioequivalence study of three multi-sourced (generic) co-trimoxazole tablets was carried out on the urine of twelve healthy volunteers. The reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography was employed for the analysis. Sulphadoxine was used as internal standard. The limits of detection were 76.3 ng/mL for trimethoprim, and 61.9 ng/mL for sulphamethoxazole at 0.16 aufs. The linearity (n = 5) for the calibration curve was of the order, 1.0000 for trimethoprim and 0.9998 for sulphamethoxazole; percentage recoveries for trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole were 89.4 and 87.9% respectively. The relative bioavailabilities of the two generics to the innovator's product were 104.2% (trimethoprim) and 106.8% (sulphamethoxazole); 114.8% (trimethoprim) and 111.8% (sulphamethoxazole) for a product of reputable pharmaceutical company in Nigeria and Indian product respectively. In conclusion, the three generic formulations of co-trimoxazole tablets were biologically equivalent. Interchangeability of drugs in prescription and dispensing may be recommended in this situation.

Comparison of the urinary excretion time profile of amodiaquine in albino rabbits by fluorometric and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods.

Fluorometric and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been used to study the urinary excretion time profile of amodiaquine in albino rabbits after single oral (18.5 mg) and i.v. (9 mg) administration. There was no significant difference between the total mean values obtained for the two methods (P greater than 0.05). Although the HPLC method is more selective, one can still rely on the fluorometric method to measure urine concentrations of amodiaquine for therapeutic drug monitoring where toxicological conditions are not taken into consideration.