The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics A Textbook of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics for Physicians and Medical Students. By Prof. Louis Goodman and Prof. Alfred Gilman. Pp. xiii + 1383. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1941.) 50s. net.

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Book reviewsHerbert Stone, Joel L. Sidel, Sensory evaluation practices, Academic Press, Orlando, FL (1985), p. 311, $39·50

Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness

Background. Available data indicate that diabetes mellitus leads to elevated cost of healthcare. This imposes a huge economic burden on households, societies, and nations. As a result many Ghanaians, especially rural folks, resort to the use of phytomedicine, which is relatively less expensive. This paper aims at obtaining information on plants used in Ghana to treat diabetes mellitus, gather and present evidence-based data available to support their uses and their mechanisms of action, and identify areas for future research. Method. A catalogue of published textbooks, monographs, theses, and peer-reviewed articles of plants used in Ghanaian traditional medicine between 1987 and July 2018 for managing diabetes mellitus was obtained and used. Results. The review identified 76 plant species belonging to 45 families that are used to manage diabetes mellitus. Leaves were the part of the plants frequently used for most preparation (63.8%) and were mostly used as decoctions. Majority of the plants belonged to the Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Apocynaceae families. Pharmacological data were available on 23 species that have undergone in vitro studies. Forty species have been studied using in vivo animal models. Only twelve plants and their bioactive compounds were found with data on both preclinical and clinical studies. The records further indicate that medicinal plants showing antidiabetic effects did so via biochemical mechanisms such as restitution of pancreatic β-cell function, improvement in insulin sensitivity by receptors, stimulating rate of insulin secretion, inhibition of liver gluconeogenesis, enhanced glucose absorption, and inhibition of G-6-Pase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase activities. Conclusion. This review contains information on medicinal plants used to manage diabetes mellitus, including their pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action as well as models used to investigate them. It also provides gaps that can form the basis for further investigations and development into useful medications for effective treatment of diabetes mellitus.

/pdf/phytomedicines-used-for-diabetes-mellitus-in-ghana-a-2jr58lbmof.pdf

Phytomedicines Used for Diabetes Mellitus in Ghana: A Systematic Search and Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.

Phytochemical profile, antioxidant, α-amylase inhibition, binding interaction and docking studies of Justicia carnea bioactive compounds with α-amylase.

This study investigated the chemical composition and physiochemical properties of matured stems of Opuntia dillenii grown in Nigeria in accordance with standard procedures. The proximate analysis revealed moisture content (11.20%), crude protein (11.60%), carbohydrate content (64%) while the ash (3.33%), fat (4.42%) and crude fibre content (4.40%) were low. The phytochemical screening revealed that saponin (118.08±0.57µg/ml) was the most concentrated while oxalate and phytate had low concentrations. The physiochemical assessment of the matured stem oil demonstrated high peroxide value, acid value and low iodine value. The fatty acid analysis revealed high concentrations of myristic acid (41.66%) followed by linoleic acid (13.95%), heptadecanoic acid (11.32%) and stearic acid (9.25%). Unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and linolenic acid were not detected. The study demonstrated that the matured stems of Opuntia dillenii contained nutrients that are nutritionally beneficial to human health and substantial amount of saponins that could be employed in the confectionaries and cosmetic sectors, however the fatty acid analysis demonstrated that these matured stems may not be rich in unsaturated fatty acids while the matured stem oil may be susceptible to auto oxidation and possess a low shelf life.

/pdf/chemical-composition-and-physicochemical-analysis-of-matured-3bpil596u5.pdf

Chemical Composition and Physicochemical Analysis of Matured Stems of Opuntia dillenii Grown in Nigeria

Effect of caffeine on some selected biochemical parameters using rat model was investigated. Standard methods of analysis were used for the study. A total of sixty (60) rats divided equally into five groups of which one group served as the control, and the rest as test groups were used. The test rats were placed on different concentrations of caffeine for twenty-eight (28) days. Results obtained for the selected biochemical parameters revealed that AST and ALT levels of the liver increased significantly ( ) in test rats against the control. Creatinine and electrolyte ions of the kidney increased significantly ( ) in test groups when compared to the control. Haematological indices such as WBC, monocytes, lymphocytes, MCV, MCHC, and MCV levels were significantly altered ( ) in test rats against those of the control. It therefore becomes imperative for those that consume caffeine with believe that it does more good work than harm to take note of these findings. This study has revealed the effect of caffeine on some selected biochemical parameters using rat model.

/pdf/effect-of-caffeine-on-some-selected-biochemical-parameters-20nasce17y.pdf

Effect of Caffeine on Some Selected Biochemical Parameters Using Rat Model

Nutritional, phytochemical and sensory evaluation of “Mberiagworagwo” traditional food of 6 Uruagunnewi people in Anambra State, Nigeria was investigated using standard methods. Available 7 carbohydrates (79.60± 0.13%), crude fat (12.77±0.64%), crude protein (9.80±0.16%), total free fatty 8 acid (12.81±0.16%) and total vitamins (22.39± 2.04%) were among the nutrients found in the studied 9 food sample. Phytochemicals such as saponins, flavonoids, and tannins were discovered in the food. 10 “Mberiagworagwo” had improved sensory evaluation attribute in terms of aroma, taste, texture (mouth 11 feel) and colour when compared to other traditional foods. The overall acceptability of the traditional 12 food could be compared to those of other traditional foods. The presence of nutrients and 13 phytochemicals in “Mberiagworagwo” could be indication that the food maybe beneficial to the body 14 on consumption. This study has shown the nutritional, phytochemical and sensory evaluation of 15 “Mberiagworagwo” traditional food of Uruagunnewi people in Anambra State, Nigeria. 16

/pdf/nutritional-phytochemical-and-sensory-evaluation-of-36gyh58ub2.pdf

Nutritional, Phytochemical and Sensory Evaluation of “Mberiagworagwo” Traditional Food of Uruagunnewi People in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigated the antiplasmodial potency of Justicia carnea in plasmodium infected mice. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea was subjected to phytochemical screening using GC-FID. The suppressive, prophylactic and curative activity of the studied plant was accessed after oral administration of standard drugs (5mgkg-1 choroquine and 4mgkg-1 artesunate) and 400-800mgkg-1 of the extract. The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant was also explored in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and hematological indices of plasmodium infected mice using spectrophotomertic methods and a hematology auto analyzer (BC 5300 Mindray England) respectively. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea showed considerable dose dependent antiplasmodial activity in the suppressive, prophylactic and curative test conducted. The suppressive activity of (92%) of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant at 800mgkg-1 was comparable to the standard drugs used while the mean survival time of plasmodium infected mice at 800mgkg-1 was beyond the mean survival time of the infected untreated group. The aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant also exhibited significant improvements in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and some hematological parameters at 800mgkg-1 of the extract when compared with the infected and untreated group. The results of the study exhibited the antiplasmodial activity of the studied plant, nonetheless, the crude extracts of the studied plant can be further purified for synergistic use with other potent antimalarial drugs to combat and achieve total clearance of plasmodium resistant infections.

http://www.tjsr.org/journal/index.php/tjsr/article/download/83/99

The Modulatory Activity of Justicia carnea in Plasmodium Infected Mice

Using standard methods, this study investigated the ameliorative effects of coconut products during alloxan-induced diabetic conditions. Experimental animals were divided into five groups, group 1 served as normal control rats fed only rat chow and saline, group 2 were dia-betic control rats intraperitoneally treated with 150mg/kg body weight alloxan monohydrate, group 3 were diabetic rats orally treated with 4ml/day of coconut milk, group 4 were diabetic rats orally treated with 4ml/day of coconut water, and group 5 were diabetic rats orally treat-ed with 4ml/day of a mixture of coconut milk and coconut water. The coconut products had high moisture, fats, potassium, magnesium, and sodium contents. Coconut milk exhibited the most effective glucose lowering effect, and on the 21st day. The total cholesterol was com-pletely normalized on treatment with coconut milk after alloxan induced diabetes, while the administration of the mixture of coconut milk and water had a comparable effect to administering only coconut milk on HDL, LDL, and TG. The alloxan-induced derangements on SOD, catalase and GPx were completely normalized after the coconut milk administration, while the mixture of coconut milk and water restored only SOD and GPx, and coconut water, ineffective on most of the antioxidant enzymes. Coconut water was ineffective on the RBC and HB of diabetic rats, while coconut milk and the mixture of coconut milk and water showed the most hemato-ameliorative effect. This study has shown the effectiveness of coconut products in the management of diabetes, with coconut milk the most effective.

/pdf/nutrient-composition-and-ameliorative-effects-of-cocos-4auervlcbz.pdf

Amadi Benjamin

Papers

Chemical Composition and Physicochemical Analysis of Matured Stems of Opuntia dillenii Grown in Nigeria

Effect of Caffeine on Some Selected Biochemical Parameters Using Rat Model

Nutritional, Phytochemical and Sensory Evaluation of “Mberiagworagwo” Traditional Food of Uruagunnewi People in Anambra State, Nigeria

The Modulatory Activity of Justicia carnea in Plasmodium Infected Mice

Nutrient composition and ameliorative effects of Cocos nucifera products on Alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats