Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources

Water quality index of selected borehole locations in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria

Juliet D. Dodo — 2024-09-13

Prevalence of water borne diseases is a public health concern. The study assessed the quality of selected borehole waters in Jos North for their potability. The physicochemical parameters were assessed in addition to chlorides, phosphates, nitrates, and sulphates, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total hardness, using standard methods. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry used for elemental analysis of samples for manganese, lead, cadmium, copper and zinc. microbial analysis was carried out to test for presence of anaerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, yeast and mould, Staphylococcus aureus using the plate count method. Water Quality Index by Weighted Arithmetic Index Method. Results ranged from 22.19-56.22 mg/L (chlorides), 0.00-0.07 mg/L (phosphates), 0.11-0.19 mS/cm (conductivity), 141.40-169.40 mg/L (alkalinity) and 86.70-160 mg/L (TSS). Kyan Primary school had Mn 0.632 mg/L against 0.500mg/L recommended by WHO. Microbial analysis revealed that Kyan primary school had 1 cfu per 100 mL water for E. coli, Salmonella typhi, yeast and mould. This indicated faecal contamination. The WQI revealed Village hostel, Kyan Village, Gadabiu had values of 6.54, 19.41, 10.97 are potable, Government College, Angwan Jarawa, Kyan Primary school had 28.90, 61.50, 93.60 are potable, poor, very poor, not potable.

Mosquito repellent propensity of hexane extract of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (Poaceae), lemongrass, cream and emulgel formulations

Omoshalewa M. Adesola — 2024-09-13

Malaria is a global threat affecting majorly the African continent with Nigeria having the highest burden of deaths from the disease. Prophylactic measures in addition to curative treatments are strategies used for eradication of malaria. This study aims to develop topical mosquito repellent from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Lemongrass extract was obtained by Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane, it was formulated as lemongrass extract cream (LGCM) and emugel (LGEM) at 1 and 2% w/w concentrations. Organoleptic properties, spreadability, pH and skin irritation test were evaluated. Percentage mosquito repellency (R) and complete protection time (CPT) assay using the animal (rodent) model were determined and compared with N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). Results showed all the formulations were non-gritty, homogenous, relatively stable upon storage for 30 days at room temperature except for
LGCM 1. They were non-irritant to the skin; pH was in range of 5.3 – 8. Spreadability was optimum with LGCM, LGEM 1 and 2% w/w. Mosquito repellency was concentration dependent and ˃ 80% in LGCM 2 and LGEM 2 but emulgels exhibited better repellency. CPT was 4, 5 and 8h for LGCM 2, LGEM 2 and DEET respectively. This study shows that LGEM 2% may be considered as an efficient topical mosquito-repelling formulation.

Retrospective analysis of prescribing pattern at Bayero University, Kano, old campus clinic

Safiya Bala Borodo — 2024-09-13

Drugs are substances used to treat or manage certain health problems. There is no health care system without drugs. The rational use of drugs is a worldwide concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prescription pattern for outpatients in Bayero University, Kano (BUK) old campus clinic. This is a retrospective study conducted using 600 prescriptions at outpatient unit in BUK old campus clinics between January 2021 and December 2021. The data was collected using data collection form, which consists of two sections, namely, demography of the patient and prescription information. The average number of drugs per encounter was 3.26. Antibiotic prescription was high (48.8%) while the drugs prescribed by generic name were 61.8% which is low compared to the WHO standard. Injection was prescribed in 25.8% of prescription encounters. In addition, 80.8% and 40.5% of the prescriptions had
analgesic and antimalaria drugs respectively. Amoxicillin and paracetamol were the most prescribed antibiotic and analgesic respectively. There was inconsistency between the prescription pattern at BUK and the WHO guidelines as the values deviate from WHO references values.

Incidence of malaria infection and adherence to antimalarial treatment guidelines at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Grace Ovayoza Chris-Otubor — 2024-09-13

The development of antimalarial resistance has been a foremost barrier to malaria control. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of malaria infection and adherence to Antimalarial Treatment Guidelines (ATG) at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BhUTH), Jos, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess malaria infection diagnosis, antimalarials prescription pattern and adherence to the ATG by physicians over a two-year period. The study extracted data from 570 prescriptions of different patients and 227 patient files. The demographics of the patients was also obtained. Analyses were carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that of the 227 patients treated for malaria, 65 % (n=148) underwent laboratory investigations before treatment while 35 % (n=79) were treated empirically. Artemether-Lumefantrine was the most prescribed antimalarial for treatment of uncomplicated malaria while parenteral Arteether and
Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP) was the mainstay for treating severe malaria. This study also revealed that physicians placed patients on antimalarials without confirmatory test indicating poor adherence to the ATG. Adherence to ATG has the potential to limit resistance to antimalarial drugs and should therefore be discouraged.

Efficacy of methanol extracts of Lawsonia inermis L. and Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. against fungal isolates from poultry farms in Anambra State, Nigeria

Chito Clare Ekwealor — 2024-09-13

Fungal diseases in poultry constitute a challenge to poultry productivity and public health risk to poultry workers. The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of Lawsonia inermis L. and Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. leaves against fungal isolates from poultry farms. Susceptibility of fifteen species of fungi to methanol extracts of the plants leaves were assessed using disc diffusion method. Discs impregnated with different concentrations of these extracts were placed on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates inoculated with the test organisms. Discs with 2% DMSO and 1.25 mg/ml Nystatin served as negative and positive controls. The plates were incubated at 25°C for 48 hours and diameter of zone of inhibition measured in millimeters. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined using broth dilution method. Ten moulds (66.7%) were susceptible to methanol
extract of L. inermis while eight (53.3%) were inhibited by C. citratus. MIC and MFC of the extracts were recorded at ≥12.5 mg/ml and ≥50 mg/ml respectively. The leaves exhibited fungicidal activities against most tested moulds and could be explored as alternative and safer sources of new antifungal drugs.

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial studies of extracts and chromatographic fractions of Gmelina arborea Roxb (Lamiaceae)

Philip Adegboyega Idowu — 2024-09-13

Antimicrobial resistance and oxidative stress are increasing and researchers are being encouraged to search the natural plant products, due to their popular usage in ethno-medicine, for alternative source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. Gmelina arborea used in West-Africa and Ayurveda folkloric medicine to cure several diseases was therefore investigated for phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Extracts and chromatographic fractions of the root-bark tested for antibacterial activity with the MIC determined on seven selected bacteria using agar dilution method. The antioxidant capacity of the crude extracts was determined by six (6) methods: total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl) properties. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids anthraquinones, phenols and alkaloids. The methanol and ethyl-acetate extracts of the plant showed good antibacterial activities (18 mm inhibitory zones and MIC and MBC 12.5–100 mg/mL) against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and S. aureus ATCC 6571. Antioxidant study of the extracts revealed that both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts have good antioxidant capacity comparable to that of ascorbic acid standard. Therefore, Gmelina arborea could prove a valuable source of developing new antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds for therapeutic uses.