Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences

In-vitro activity of ethanol extract and cream formulation of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark against some pathogens

N. H. Igbokwe — 2024-11-19

The problems of toxicity, adverse reactions, high cost and resistance associated with synthetic drugs have created widespread interest in plants as alternative sources of antimicrobial agents, hence the need for scientific assessment of the efficacy of such plant materials. This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of the ethanol extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark and it’s cream formulations. The coarse powder obtained by grinding the dried bark of C. zeylanicum was extracted with 70% ethanol using a Soxhlet extractor. An oil-in-water formulation of the extract as an herbal cream was prepared using the previously described methodology. The antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extract and its cream formulations against some selected bacteria and fungi strains were determined using the agar well diffusion method. The MIC of the extract was determined by the agar dilution method, while the physicochemical properties of the cream were assessed by reference standard protocols. The extract of C. zeylanicum bark and the formulated cream showed comparable concentration-dependent antimicrobial activities to the standard antibiotic (Polymyxin B®), antifungal (Clotrimazole) and combined (triple) action cream (Funbact A®). The MICs were: Staphylococcus aureus (70 mg/ml), Proteus mirabilis (20 mg/ml), Escherichia coli (30 mg/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (110 mg/ml), Klebsiella oxytoca (120 mg/ml) and Entero infections ococcus faecalis (50mg/ml). The physicochemical evaluation of the herbal cream showed that it possesses suitable organoleptic properties of a good cosmetic product. The concentration-dependent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities exhibited by the crude extract and the cream formulation justify the local use of C. zeylanicum plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of various microbial infections and demonstrate its potential for use in antimicrobial chemotherapy when further developed and formulated in a suitable dosage form.

In-silico investigation of the therapeutic potentials and activities of certain plants used in the management of epilepsy

U.M. Ogbeide — 2024-11-19

Epilepsy stands out as one of the prevalent and severe brain disorders. Traditional medicinal plants have been used as remedies for epilepsy in various cultures. By utilizing natural lead compounds identified through virtual screening and pharmacokinetic prediction, it becomes feasible to develop effective molecules for the management of epilepsy. This study aims to evaluate the anti-epileptic potentials of phytoconstituents present in Caesalpnie bonduc, Origanum majorana, and Annona squamosa using in-silico methods. Phytoconstituents of these plants were obtained in their SDF files from the PubChem database and prepared using the ligprep panel in Maestro 12.8; the proteins, GABA Receptor, GABA Reuptake Transporter 1 Receptor (7SK2) and Human Na-K-2cl Co-transporter Isoform 1 (7S1X) were retrieved from protein data bank, prepared utilizing the protein preparation wizard, followed by receptor grid generation to define active sites for docking. Molecular docking was performed using high throughput virtual screening in the maestro software while Swiss ADME and Protox II were used to assess the pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties of test compounds respectively.
This study revealed that 8 phytoconstituents from C. bonduc had higher binding affinity than the standard molecule diazepam against the GABA receptor protein, up to 45 exhibited higher binding affinity than tiagabine against the GAT receptor while 4 compounds were seen to have higher affinity than bumetanide against the Human NKCC receptor. 20 phytoconstituents from O. majorana were observed to have higher binding affinity than the standard against GAT, 22 compounds had higher binding affinity than diazepam against the GABA receptor while 4 compounds had higher scores than the Human NKCC standard. 8 phytoconstituents from A. squamosa had higher binding affinity than the standard molecule diazepam, 6 compounds had higher binding affinity than tiagabine while 4 compounds with comparative docking affinities as the standard against Human NKCC were selected together with the other compounds from the other target proteins for further screening. ADMET analysis revealed favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties while post-docking analysis showed the molecular interactions of ligands with the receptors. In-silico studies of the various plant phytoconstituents provide considerable leads for further drug development and lead optimization valuable to the discovery of more efficacious drugs for the management of epilepsy.

Antioxidant potentials of the partitioned and vacuum liquid chromatographic fractions of Zea mays silk extract

Cyril Ohikhatemen Ahonsi — 2024-11-19

The aim of the study was to investigate the phytochemical and antioxidant activities of the fractions of methanol extract of Corn silk. The methanol extract of Corn silk obtained by cold maceration was subjected to solvent fractionated with organic solvents such as n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. The fractions were subjected to DPPH and FRAP antioxidant assays at concentrations between 25-400 mg/mL. The active ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatographic fractionation accompanied by thin layer chromatographic analysis of the resulting ten (10) fractions, which were bulked into four sub-fractions, and were subjected to phytochemical screening and antioxidant assays (12.50-100 mg/mL). Phytochemical screening of the fractions showed variation in the presence of phytochemical groups based on solvent polarities. The ethyl acetate fraction, among the other fractions, showed the highest phenolic (83.20 ± 1.01 %) and flavonoid (69.49 ± 2.31%) contents as well as DPPH and FRAP scavenging activity of 91.30±1.94 and 71.05±4.01 % respectively, at the maximum concentration of 400 mg/mL. The vacuum liquid purification of the ethyl acetate fraction further increased the phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant activities. Among the sub-fractions, fractions 6 – 9 recorded highest phenolic (89.64 ±3.10 mg GAE/g), flavonoid (72.11±1.10 mg QUE/g) contents, as well as the highest DPPH (91.34±3.21 %) and FRAP (79.26±1.98 %) radical scavenging activities at 100 mg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction of the Corn silk may be a potential natural antioxidant source for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.

Biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a university teaching hospital in north central Nigeria

U. J. Ineke — 2024-11-19

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the biofilm-forming bacteria implicated in many infections resulting in prolonged hospital stay, morbidity and high mortality, with ultimate economic burden and retardation of antibiotics effectiveness. This study determined the iofilm production potential and antimicrobial resistance pattern in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. All suspected Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from samples submitted to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory Unit of the Hospital from August, 2023 to January 2024, were collected, purified and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the disk diffusion method and EUCAST interpretative criteria. A total of 200 samples were randomly collected from different sources, 50 samples per source (Ear, wound, urine and blood). The occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from all the sources was 40.5% (81/200). Of the 81 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 67% (54) were biofilm producers (How did you determine this? Not mentioned above). The distribution of biofilm producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in the different samples evaluated were 44.4% (36) from ear swab, 27.2% (22) from wound swab, 18.5% (15) from urine and 9.9% (8) from blood. The isolates were resistant to Ticarcillin-Clavulanic acid (73%), Ceftazidine (32%), Ciprofloxacin (28%), Amikacin (26%) and Imipenem (1 %). Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in antibiotics resistance pattern of biofilm producers and nonbiofilm producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. In this study, 25(31%) of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), being resistant to one or more agents in three or more antibiotic classes. This study reported biofilm producing P. aeruginosa with high resistance profile from Makurdi and calls for immediate surveillance of biofilm production in all clinical isolates to reduce the spread of resistance among patients.

Comparative growth inhibitory assay of the fractions of methanol extract of corn silk (Zea mays L.) .

Cyril Ohikhatemen Ahonsi — 2024-11-19

Cancer cells, like meristematic cells, exhibit uncontrolled high proliferation and this has led to the recognition that compounds capable of exerting anti-proliferative effects are potential anti-cancer agents. This was investigated using predictive bench-top assay method of germinating seed radicle of Guinea Maize (Sorghum icolor). The material of the plant used was the silk of corn (Zea mays L.) which is a collection of the stigmas (fine, soft and yellowish threads) from the female flowers of the maize plant. The extraction of the plant material was performed using Soxhlet apparatus with methanol and the extract was concetrated using a rotary evaporator at 40oC. The methanolic extract of Zea mays silk was subjected to solvent partitioning with water and chloroform to obtain respective fractions. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, phenols and cardiac glycoside. Varying concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/ml) of the extract were prepared for aqueous and chloroform fractions. The radicle growth length was measured at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours and results expressed in percentage. The antiproliferative activity of the fractions was concentration (dose) –dependent. When compared to the aqueous fraction, the chloroform fraction was more effective and completely inhibited seed germination at 30 mg/ml. The results suggest that Zea mays silk extract may be used in the preparation of formulations for tumour-related ailements. However, further investigation using tumour in vitro/ in vivo cell lines may be necessary to justify this claim.

Evaluation of the hematological effects of crude extract and fractions of Napoleonae imperialis in streptozotocin - induced diabetic rats

Obinna Joseph Mba — 2024-11-19

This study was designed to evaluate the hematological effects of crude extract and fractions of Napoleonae imperialis in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. In phase one, forty two male albino rats of mean weight 140 g were used for the study. The animals were grouped into seven groups of six rats each, as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic group), group 3 (drug control); groups 4, 5 and 6 were the test groups administered 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kgbwt of the crude extract, group 7 received 500 mg/kg bwt of the extract only. There was significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose concentration in groups 3 - 7 when compared with group 2. There was also significant (p < 0.05) increase in Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC concentrations in groups 3 - 7 when compared with group 2. In phase two, a total of 54 animals of mean weight 140 g were placed into nine groups of six rats each as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (drug control), while groups 4 - 9 received fractions 1 - 6 respectively for 28
days. The results showed that fractions 2, 5 and 6 significantly reduced blood glucose concentration, when compared with group 2. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC in rats that received fractions 2, 5 and 6 when compared with group 2. These findings suggest that crude extract and fractions of N. imperialis possess hypoglycemic properties and increased Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC concentrations. Investigation is needed to exploit the plant’s other relevant therapeutic effects to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.