Antimalarial properties of SAABMAL (®): an ethnomedicinal polyherbal formulation for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria infection in the tropics.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Malaria is a serious problem in the countries of the developing world. As the malaria parasite has become resistant to most of the antimalaria drugs available currently, there is a need to search for newer drugs. This study reports the pharmaceutical quality and in vivo antimalarial activities of a polyherbal formulation (SAABMAL ® ) used as malarial remedy in Nigeria. METHODS: The antiplasmodial activity of SAABMAL ® was determined by using the 4-day suppressive test in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. The formulation was tried on three different experimental animal models for in vivo antimalarial activities, which are prophylactic, suppressive and curative in mice. Chloroquine and pyrimethamine were used as standard drugs for comparison. RESULTS: The suppressive study showed that, SAABMAL ® (200 and 400 mg/kg/bw) significantly (p <0.01) produced a suppression (29.39 - 100%) of parasitaemia in a dose-dependent manner, while the curative study showed that SAABMAL ® at 400 mg significantly (p <0.01) reduced (95.80%) parasitaemia compared with controls. The mean survival time of SAABMAL ®-treated groups (100 and 200 mg/kg) was higher than that of the chloroquine-treated group. Histopathologically, no changes were found in the spleen of both untreated and treated groups. SAABMAL ® capsules were of good mechanical properties with low weight variation and high degree of content mass uniformity. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study showed the efficacy of SAABMAL ® , a herbal antimalarial formulation against chloroquine sensitive malaria and its potential use in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria infection. Further studies need to be done in humans to test its efficacy and safety for its potential use as an antimalarial drug.

Microencapsulation enhances the anti-ulcerogenic properties of Entada africana leaf extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The antiulcer potentials of most plants still remain largely unexplored, despite their prospects evidenced by their use as ethnomedicine. Entada africana (Mimosaceae) has been widely used in Africa for the treatment of skin infections, wounds, tonic for stomach troubles and against diphtheria-like throat complaints. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-ulcer properties of Entada africana (EA) ethanol leaf extract and to obtain a novel multiparticulate pharmaceutical formulation (ACE) with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol or Indomethacin was administered to rats after oral administration of EA (200, 400 and 800 mg extract/kg b.w), ACE (400 and 800 mg/kg bw), cimetidine (100mg/kg bw), misoprostol (40 µg/kg bw) or distilled water/saline (vehicle). Anti ulcer property was evaluated by examining and scoring stomach lesions. RESULTS: The extract exhibited significant (P<0.01) cytoprotective effect against ethanol and indomethacin induced gastro ulceration. The microcapsules showed enhanced cytoprotective effect against ethanol and indomethacin induced gastro ulceration. Histopathologically, the effects of EA and ACE on mucus epithelia were mild with reduced neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocytic infiltration in stomach tissues of rats ulcerated with ethanol. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings show that EA and its multiparticulate formulation may be a useful preparation in peptic ulcer disease.

Evaluation of the fluid uptake kinetics and drug release from gellan gum tablets containing metronidazole.

In this study, the fluid uptake (swelling) kinetics and disintegrant properties of gellan gum in metronidazole tablets were evaluated in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF respectively) without enzymes. The mechanical properties as well as the disintegration and dissolution profile of the tablets were also assessed and compared with those of two standard disintegrants: maize starch and sodium starch glycolate (Primogel). Results show that, swelling was faster and higher in SIF than SGF with the minimum and maximum swelling rates of the gum being 0.365 and 6.900 mm(3)/min respectively in SGF, while the corresponding values in SIF were 0.277 and 7.600 mm(3)/min respectively. The gum was most effective as a disintegrant for metronidazole tablets at an optimum concentration of 0.2% (w/w) when incorporated extra-granularly.

Some compaction characteristics of the hot water leaf extract og Nauclea latifiola: a potential antimalarial agent.

This study aims to develop a suitable tablet dosage form of Nauclea latifolia, a potential antimalarial agent. The compaction characteristics of the oven dried water extract were studied using the Heckel equation. The mechanical properties of the compacts were also determined. This preliminary information will be useful in developing a suitable dosage form of the extract for use in the management of malaria. The results showed that N. latifolia extract exhibited high densification due to dye filling while the subsequent rearrangement of the granules did not contribute, significantly, to their densification. The granules had enhanced plasticity as shown by the low yield point, Py. The tablets produced from the extract had good mechanical properties, with hardness increasing via compression pressure while the friability decreased. However, the tablets had poor disintegration properties; it is concluded that while tablets of suitable physical properties can be produced from the extract, a disintegrant would need to be included in the formulation to ensure adequate drug release.