This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Li... more This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In Kenya, the D. abyssinica rhizome’s decoction is traditionally used to treat urinary tract infe... more In Kenya, the D. abyssinica rhizome’s decoction is traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), mainly gonorrhea and candidiasis. UTIs are the most severe public health problems that affect over one hundred and fifty million people worldwide annually. They are caused by a wide range of microorganisms where Escherichia coli is known to be the main causative pathogen. Medicinal plants are used in traditional Kenya set up for treatment and most recently as an alternative source of treatment for UTIs due to the increased cost of treatment and many challenges experienced with antibiotic therapy. The current study is designed to investigate the phytochemical composition, acute oral toxicity, and antimicrobial activity of Digitaria abyssinica rhizome extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Candida albicans. The rhizomes of D. abyssinica were obtained, dried, ground, and extracted using water and organic solvents. The phytochemical ...
Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehi... more Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehistoric times. However, the pharmacologic efficacy and safety of many plants currently used in traditional medicine have not been explored empirically, which raises serious public health concerns, derailing further research and their integration into the conventional healthcare system. Despite the longstanding ethnomedicinal usage of Yushania alpina shoot extract to treat inflammation, microbial infections, and diarrhoea, among other diseases, there is insufficient scientific data to appraise its toxicity profile and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the subacute toxicity of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina in Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) for 28 days based on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 407. In this study, all the experimental rats treated orally with 40 mg/Kg BW, 200 mg/Kg BW, and 1000 mg/Kg BW of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina...
The use of herbal medicine products worldwide and in Uganda is on the rise and there is much-rene... more The use of herbal medicine products worldwide and in Uganda is on the rise and there is much-renewed interest in their use because of the belief that they are safe. However, this belief is not backed up by credible scientific research for many products in Uganda. Almost all herbal products produced locally in Uganda have no scientific proof for their claimed safety and efficacy for the treatment of the various conditions they are claimed to treat example; covid-19, HIV, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and others. There is an urgent need to quickly improve and enforced research on the local products in order to realise the economic benefits which could be lying hidden in them and put a ban on adulterated products from being sold to the public. This review was conducted in order to determine the challenges and opportunities in the Traditional Herbal Medicine sector in Uganda. It was found out that enormous challenges face the Traditional Medicine sector in Uganda including; lack o...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Olea africana is used by some indigenous communities in Kenya to control gastrointestinal worms i... more Olea africana is used by some indigenous communities in Kenya to control gastrointestinal worms in animals. Plant-based anthelmintics are gaining popularity globally in the control of gastrointestinal worms in animals. The egg hatch inhibition assay was used to assess the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of O. africana against the eggs of mixed gastrointestinal helminths in dogs. Probit regression was used to calculate the concentration of extracts that inhibited egg hatching by 50% (IC50). Albendazole was used as a control. Standard techniques were used to quantify the phytochemicals in the extracts. The aqueous extract had an IC50 of 1.85 mg/mL (1.64–2.10), and the ethanol extract had an IC50 of 0.25 mg/mL (0.23–0.26). Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that aqueous and ethanol extracts of O. africana contained alkaloids (19.40 and 61.60%), saponins (24.00 and 6.00%), phenols (0.95 and 1.28 mg/g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)), flavonoid...
The main aim of the study was to ascertain the analgesic properties of Vernonia hymenolepis leave... more The main aim of the study was to ascertain the analgesic properties of Vernonia hymenolepis leaves to validate its use for the treatment of toothache. The plant is widely used as a traditional herb by communities in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya for treatment of various infections including toothache. However its efficacy has not been established. Leaves of the plant were collected from Trans Nzoia County, Kenya and identified at University of Nairobi Herbarium. An aqueous extraction of leaves was prepared. Formalin test was carried out using 30 male albino wister mice to determine antinociceptive effect and the painful response at 0 – 10 min (Early) and 15 – 60 min (late phase). Acetylsalicylate at dose of 100 mg/Kg was used as a positive control. The dose significantly (p<0.05) reduced the time spent in pain behavior in both phases hence indicating that the plant posses antinociceptive activity. It’s concluded that Vernonia hymenolepis possesses analgesic property.
Pain is the most widely diagnosed and managed symptoms of human diseases, with various debilitati... more Pain is the most widely diagnosed and managed symptoms of human diseases, with various debilitating effects. Current analgesics agents have shown low efficacy, are inaccessible, unaffordable, and elicit deleterious side effects which limit their use, thereby warranting the need for alternative and complementary strategies. Mystroxylon aethiopicum is widely utilized in the Agikuyu community of Kenya to treat stomachache, chronic pain, coughs, among other conditions; however, its analgesic efficacy and safety data are scanty, hence the present study. The analgesic activity of the aqueous and methanolic stem bark extracts of M. aethiopicum were determined using the standard acetic acid-induced writhing technique. Further, qualitative phytochemical screening for various phytocompounds in the studied plant extracts was done following standard phytochemical screening methods. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of M. aethiopicum possess noteworthy analgesic activity as demonstrated by the...
The African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2015
Background: The skin is highly predisposed to injury because of its direct contact with the envir... more Background: The skin is highly predisposed to injury because of its direct contact with the environment. The aim of treating of wounds is to both hasten healing, and to minimise the occurrence of perturbations of the healing process. Many plants traditionally used to treat wounds have been proven to support the healing process using scientific models. Aspilia pluriseta has been used by a number of communities in East and Southern Africa to treat wounds. Objectives: This study aimed at testing ethnomedical claims of wound healing activity of A. pluriseta using preclinical models. Methods: Aerial parts of the plant were ground and incorporated into an ointment base (10% and 20% w/w) to evaluate the influence of the plant on the healing of acute excision wounds in mice compared to Silverex Cream ® and Simple Ointment (B.P.). The 20% ointment was tested for skin sensitization in guinea pigs. Results: The effects of the plant-based ointments on wound contraction and gross epithelialisati...
1 Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197... more 1 Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 3019700100, Nairobi, Kenya 2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected] Plants are widely used for control of mosquitoes in Kenya but there is little documentation on effects of their long term use. Six plants used traditionally for mosquito control in Kenya’s south coast were evaluated for their genotoxicity potential using the Allium cepa test. The plants were Tagetus minuta L., Adansonia digitata Linn., Ocimum suave, Plectranthus barbatus A., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Lantana camara L. The plant extracts were assessed for mitotic index, early anaphases, chromosomal bridges/fragments, stickiness and c-mitosis. Leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica induced mitotic inhibition, produced binucleate and ghost cells in the allium cepa root meristems. Among the normal cells in the e...
Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, 2013
Many microorganisms are responsible for causing serious diseases of bacterial origin. Development... more Many microorganisms are responsible for causing serious diseases of bacterial origin. Development of drug resistance in animal and human pathogens against commonly used antibiotics has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial substances from other sources including plants. The present study reports on the antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality of Piliostigma thonningii leaves collected from two geographical regions, Kenya and Malawi. Both aqueous as well as organic extracts from leaves of P. thonningii were screened for antibacterial activity against bacteria of human and veterinary importance using agar well diffusion and evaluated for acute toxicity using brine shrimp bioassay. Except for chloroform extract of P. thonningii from Malawi, all of the plant extracts demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity against the five test bacteria at concentrations tested (250 µg/ml) in agar well diffusion method. In brine shrimp bioassay, all the crude extracts from Kenya and Malawi ...
Background: Antibiotic resistance is putting the commercial poultry production systems across the... more Background: Antibiotic resistance is putting the commercial poultry production systems across the globe at risk of losses due to the failure of treatments for animals and human health which has been associated with overuse and misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming. One possible approach to the resistance problem is ensuring adequate knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use by farmers on commercial production systems across the globe are applied. Therefore, the current study was carried out to determine factors that could promote antimicrobial use in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County, Kenya. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use. One hundred and fifty-six (n = 156) semistructured questionnaires imprinted in a mobile Open data kit were administered to capture the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial usage in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County. Results: Out of the 156 commercial poultry farmers who participated in this study, females accounted for (64%) with 51% of them keeping layers between 50-500 birds as medium scale farmers. In the study, most of the farmers were 45 years and above (61%) and they had obtained a secondary level of education (34%). We further noted that 67% of the farmers obtain antibiotics through self-prescription/personal experience.
The practice of traditional medicine is as old as the human race, and plants are an important sou... more The practice of traditional medicine is as old as the human race, and plants are an important source of research and development of new drugs. Anthelmintic resistance in human and animal pathogenic helminthes has been spreading in prevalence and severity to a point where there is multi-drug resistance against the three major classes of anthelmintics. It has become a global phenomenon in gastrointestinal nematodes of farm animals, and hence the need for novel anthelmintic products. The objectives of this study were to carry out phytochemical screening and determine bioactivity of plants which are commonly used in the treatment and control of helminthosis in LoitoktokSub-Countyof Kenya. The plant species (Albiziaanthelmintica, Myrsineafricana, Embeliaschimperi and Rapaneamelanophloeos) were selected based on their ethnopharmacological uses, as anthelmintics, by the traditional health practitioners. Phytochemical were screened in aqueous and organic extracts using standard methods and ...
The stem bark tinctures and decoctions of Bridellia micrantha are used to cure burns, soft tissue... more The stem bark tinctures and decoctions of Bridellia micrantha are used to cure burns, soft tissue injuries, sexually transmitted infections, protozoa infections, gastrointestinal conditions, typhoid, pneumonia and dental diseases 12,13. Leaf preparation is used to manage eye problems 13. Previous studies have indicated that B. micrantha has anti-ulcer activity against H. pylori-induced ulcers and antimicrobial activities against S. typhi, S. enteritidis, S. flexneri, E. coli and M. tuberculosis bacterial strains 13. Furthermore, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of extracts derived from B. micrantha have been reported 10,14. Phytochemical investigations have revealed presence oftaraxerone, Friedelin, Taraxerol, Epifriedelinol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, anthocyanidin, delphiniridin and Benzene 1,3-bis(3-phenoxyphenoxy),2-pinen-4-one 13 .
Carpobrotus edulis is a common medicinal plant used in Southern Africa. Despite its extensive use... more Carpobrotus edulis is a common medicinal plant used in Southern Africa. Despite its extensive use in herbal medicine, there is no documented scientific evidence corroborating its safety. This study aims to evaluate the acute and subacute toxic effects of the aqueous extracts of Carpobrotus edulis in Sprague Dawley rats. In acute toxicity testing, three healthy female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to Carpobrotus edulis aqueous extract per step at any of the four fixed dose levels of 300, 600, 1200 and 2000mg/Kg body weight. The Sprague Dawley rats were observed clinically for any signs of toxicity. A 28-day subacute toxicity testing was carried out on thirty-two Sprague Dawley rats grouped in four experimental groups of eight animals each. Group A received 100mg//kg of the extract, Group B received 300mg/kg while Group C received 1000mg/kg. Group D was a negative control group and received distilled water. Bodyweight, feed and water intake were measured at weekly intervals. Blood ...
The present study investigated the effects of heat stress on oxidative stress status and physiolo... more The present study investigated the effects of heat stress on oxidative stress status and physiological changes using female New Zealand White rabbits. 24 sexually mature female rabbits weighing 1953.1-2375.4 g were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each and subjected to ambient temperature (T0: 19-26 • C), 27-28 • C for T1, 31-32 • C for T2 and 35-36 • C for T3 using electrical heaters from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily for 30 days. Feed intake and body weight gain were recorded daily. Behavioral alterations of anxiety, dizziness, aggression, withdrawal, impaired feed intake were observed. At the end of experimental period animals were sacrificed, blood samples and vital organs such as liver, kidney, heart, ovaries, uterus collected for appropriate analysis. Results revealed that animals of T2 and T3 had an 11% decrease in the final body weights and 62% body weight gain but increase in feed conversion ratio by 64.81%, 24.19% water intake, 3.64% in rectal and 2.42% in skin temperature compared to the control. Dizziness, withdrawal to a corner of the cage and reduced feed intake were observed. The live weight of lungs and kidneys increased by 37.71% and 33.78% while that of ovaries and uterus decreased in the same animals of T2 and T3. Animals from T2 and T3 showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) by 23.64% in hemoglobin concentration, 12.73% in red blood cells, 11.93% in packed cell volume, 12.02% in total protein while mean corpuscular volume, white blood cells, lymphocytes, creatinine, urea and aspartate transaminase increased respectively by 10.73%, 42.37%, 15.53%, 28.98%, 53.2% and 23.31% compared to the control. The kidney level of malondialdehyde was significantly increased in T2 and T3 animals by 74.29%, whereas protein, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with control. It was concluded that long-term exposure of female rabbits to elevated ambient temperatures induces heat stress and accompanying oxidative stress that consequently impairs physiological function.
The leaves of Carpobrotus edulis are used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. This study ... more The leaves of Carpobrotus edulis are used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. This study therefore seeks to do a phytochemical screening of the aqueous leaf extract of Carpobrotus edulis which grows in Zimbabwe as well as determine the effect of these aqueous extracts on hematological parameters of Sprague Dawley rats. Aqueous extraction of Carpobrotus edulis leaves was performed by using routine methods and standard phytochemical screening methods. Thirty-two (32) Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes equally represented, were grouped into three treatment groups (A-C) and one negative control group D of eight animals each. Group A received 100mg/kg of the extract; Group B received 300mg/kg while Group C received 1000mg/kg of the extract for 28 days. After 28 days of daily oral gavage of the extract, hematological parameters were measured. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and glycosides. Aqueous...
Introduction: At present, acyclovir is commercially available as the drug of choice for managing ... more Introduction: At present, acyclovir is commercially available as the drug of choice for managing herpes simplex type I (HSV-1) viral infection. However, the high prevalence of the infection coupled with the emergence of resistant viral strains has limited its effectiveness. Thus, the development of novel antiviral agents is crucial. Practitioners of herbal medicine in Kenya make use of Dicrocephala integrifolia (DI) for the management of several diseases including viral infections. However, information on the efficacy of this plant against HSV-1 viral infection is not available. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro antiviral activity of crude extracts of DI against HSV-1. Methods: Leaves, roots, flowers and stems of DI were extracted using water (W) and methanol (ME) and qualitatively screened to identify the phytoconstituents present. Furthermore, the anti HSV-1 activity of the obtained extracts was evaluated on Vero cell lines using the 3-[4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC 50) and 50% effective concentration (EC 50) of each extract was determined using regression analysis. The effects of crude DI extracts on adsorption and post-adsorption stages of the HSV-1 replication cycle was evaluated against acyclovir using a cytopathogenic inhibition assay. Results: Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids were found to be present in the extracts. The CC 50 values of the aqueous DI extracts was in the range 71.31 ± 2.65 to >100 µg/ml compared to >100 µg/ml of acyclovir. The EC 50 values of crude extracts of DI on the pre-adsorptive phase of HSV-1 activity was in the range 54.45±3.45 to >100µg/ml compared to 4.772±7.81µg/ml of acyclovir whilst the EC 50 value of the crude extracts of DI on the post-adsorptive phase of HSV-1 activity was in the range 45.270±4.31 to >100µg/ml compared to >100µg/ml of acyclovir. Conclusion: The results suggest that crude extracts of DI may be a reservoir of phytochemicals with potentially good efficacy against HSV-1.
Background: The use of conventional cancer medication is limited by cytotoxicity on normal cells,... more Background: The use of conventional cancer medication is limited by cytotoxicity on normal cells, intolerability of the drugs used and emergence of aggressive tumors which do not respond to treatment. Herbal alternatives are now being touted to be of promising efficacy. Fagaropsis angolensis (FA) has wide ranging ethno medicinal uses in Kenya. However, the anticancer potential of this plant is yet to be fully explored. The present study aims to determine the antiproliferative activity of crude extracts of Fagaropsis angolensis (FA) against African monkey kidney (Vero, E6), throat cancer (Hep2) and colon cancer (CT 26-CL 25) cell lines. Methods: Water and methanol extracts of FA were qualitatively screened to determine their phytochemical composition. In vitro growth inhibition capacity of these extracts on African monkey kidney (Vero, E6), throat cancer (HeP2) and colon cancer (CT-26-CL-25) cell lines was then assessed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium assay and expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50). Doxorubicin (standard anticancer agent) was used for comparison. Results: On Vero cell lines, statistical differences (p<0.05) were noted in the IC 50 values of methanol whole root and methanol root stem extracts of FA (5.80+/-0.80μg/ml) against 1.10+/-0.70μg/ml) as well as between Doxorubicin and methanol root stem extracts of FA (6.5+/-3.25 μg/ml against 1.10+/-0.70μg/ml). On colon cancer cell lines, statistical differences (p<0.05) were noted between the IC 50 values of Doxorubicin and the methanol root stem extract of FA (19.00+/-9.00ug/ml against 8.33+/-1.42μg/ml) as well as between Doxorubicin and methanol whole root extract of FA (19.00+/-9.00μg/ml against 5.25+/-0.35μg/ml). The effects of the extracts of FA on throat cancer cell lines were unremarkable. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the choice of solvent may have some effect on the IC 50 values of the extracts on cancer cell lines. It may also be suggested that the methanol root stem and whole root extracts of FA may be sources of important lead molecules that may be useful in the treatment of colon cancer. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the methanol root stem and whole root extracts of FA may be sources of important lead molecules in cancer therapy.
Background: Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) is an antimalarial drug. It is associated with improve... more Background: Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) is an antimalarial drug. It is associated with improved cure rates, accelerated response to therapy and delayed development of resistance. However, liver damage, neurotoxicity and agranulocytosis have been reported as adverse effects whose origins have been linked to free radicals generated by the drug. According to native materia medica, Moringa oleifera (MO) has wide utility in ethnomedicine. However, there is paucity of information on the hepatoprotective efficacy of this plant. The present study evaluated the mitigative effects of MO leaf extracts against liver injury induced by AS-AQ combination in female Wistar rats. Methods: Dry leaf powder of MO was extracted with water and a 20:80 v/v mixture of water and methanol to give aqueous (AQ) and aqueous-methanol (AQ-ME) MO leaf extracts respectively. In vitro hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity of serial dilutions (10-100 μg/ml) of each of the extracts was then evaluated using an assay model where butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) served as a reference standard. The extract with better free radical scavenging activity was then evaluated for hepatoprotective effects against AS-AQ intoxication in female Wistar rats based on the Acute Toxic Class method (OECD 2000). Serum asparate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), total bilirubin and histological examination of rat liver sections were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the selected MO leaf extract. Siliphos ® (standard hepatoprotectant) was used for comparison. Results: There was a concentration dependent increase in the hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity of MO leaf extracts and standard (BHT) with values ranging from 46.36-66.36% for the AQ extract, 41.04-60.95% for the AQ-ME extract and 44.93-65.23% for BHT with corresponding IC 50 values of 26.84 μg/ml, 51.88 μg/ml and 32.58 μg/ml respectively. A 1000 mg/kg dose of the AQ-ME MO leaf extract significantly (p < 0.05) lowered AST values of AS-AQ intoxicated rats to a level comparable to the standard hepatoprotectant; Siliphos ®. Serum ALT and TB were also lowered but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The 1000 mg/kg dose also reduced hepatocyte degeneration in rats treated with four times the clinical dose of AS-AQ. This study suggests that the hepatoprotective activity of the leaves of MO may have some relation to its free radical scavenging properties. These leaves may thus be useful in mitigating free radical initiated disease conditions. Conclusion: The aqueous-methanol Moringa oleifera leaf extract exhibits free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective properties. Further investigations on the structural identity of the phytoconstituents and their mechanisms of action should be performed to facilitate the development of a potent medicinal agent.
Uvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Ken... more Uvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Kenya. The rapidly increasing population has put a strain on the limited resources and poses serious challenge to national planning. The aim of the study was to validate the traditional claims by investigating the effect of root bark extract of both plants on reproductive hormones and ovarian structures. Twenty five mature normocyclic female winstar rats were used. Group 1 consisted of 5 animals that acted as control. Group 2 and 3 with 5 animals each; received 500 and 800mg/ Kg Croton menyharthii respectively on alternative days for 28 days through intra-abdominal gavage. Group 4 and 5 were treated in a similar manner but received Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. Serum was harvested from all animals on 28 th day and hormone levels determined. Left ovaries were harvested and processed for histomorphology. Both Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii caused a significant increase of progesterone in a dose dependent manner. Croton menyharthii extracts caused a degeneration of corpora lutea. At 800mg/kg Croton menyharthii caused a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers but a decline in size. Uvariodendron kirkii caused hypertrophy and a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers. Enhanced/ hypertrophied corpora lutea possibly led to high levels of progesterone seen, interfered with the implantation window due to disrupted hormonal milieu thereby leading to compromised fertility and implantation index. The study validates the traditional use of the plant in fertility regulation. We suggest further investigation on these potential plants to address the call for novel contraceptive drugs.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Li... more This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In Kenya, the D. abyssinica rhizome’s decoction is traditionally used to treat urinary tract infe... more In Kenya, the D. abyssinica rhizome’s decoction is traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), mainly gonorrhea and candidiasis. UTIs are the most severe public health problems that affect over one hundred and fifty million people worldwide annually. They are caused by a wide range of microorganisms where Escherichia coli is known to be the main causative pathogen. Medicinal plants are used in traditional Kenya set up for treatment and most recently as an alternative source of treatment for UTIs due to the increased cost of treatment and many challenges experienced with antibiotic therapy. The current study is designed to investigate the phytochemical composition, acute oral toxicity, and antimicrobial activity of Digitaria abyssinica rhizome extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Candida albicans. The rhizomes of D. abyssinica were obtained, dried, ground, and extracted using water and organic solvents. The phytochemical ...
Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehi... more Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehistoric times. However, the pharmacologic efficacy and safety of many plants currently used in traditional medicine have not been explored empirically, which raises serious public health concerns, derailing further research and their integration into the conventional healthcare system. Despite the longstanding ethnomedicinal usage of Yushania alpina shoot extract to treat inflammation, microbial infections, and diarrhoea, among other diseases, there is insufficient scientific data to appraise its toxicity profile and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the subacute toxicity of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina in Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) for 28 days based on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 407. In this study, all the experimental rats treated orally with 40 mg/Kg BW, 200 mg/Kg BW, and 1000 mg/Kg BW of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina...
The use of herbal medicine products worldwide and in Uganda is on the rise and there is much-rene... more The use of herbal medicine products worldwide and in Uganda is on the rise and there is much-renewed interest in their use because of the belief that they are safe. However, this belief is not backed up by credible scientific research for many products in Uganda. Almost all herbal products produced locally in Uganda have no scientific proof for their claimed safety and efficacy for the treatment of the various conditions they are claimed to treat example; covid-19, HIV, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and others. There is an urgent need to quickly improve and enforced research on the local products in order to realise the economic benefits which could be lying hidden in them and put a ban on adulterated products from being sold to the public. This review was conducted in order to determine the challenges and opportunities in the Traditional Herbal Medicine sector in Uganda. It was found out that enormous challenges face the Traditional Medicine sector in Uganda including; lack o...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Olea africana is used by some indigenous communities in Kenya to control gastrointestinal worms i... more Olea africana is used by some indigenous communities in Kenya to control gastrointestinal worms in animals. Plant-based anthelmintics are gaining popularity globally in the control of gastrointestinal worms in animals. The egg hatch inhibition assay was used to assess the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of O. africana against the eggs of mixed gastrointestinal helminths in dogs. Probit regression was used to calculate the concentration of extracts that inhibited egg hatching by 50% (IC50). Albendazole was used as a control. Standard techniques were used to quantify the phytochemicals in the extracts. The aqueous extract had an IC50 of 1.85 mg/mL (1.64–2.10), and the ethanol extract had an IC50 of 0.25 mg/mL (0.23–0.26). Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that aqueous and ethanol extracts of O. africana contained alkaloids (19.40 and 61.60%), saponins (24.00 and 6.00%), phenols (0.95 and 1.28 mg/g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)), flavonoid...
The main aim of the study was to ascertain the analgesic properties of Vernonia hymenolepis leave... more The main aim of the study was to ascertain the analgesic properties of Vernonia hymenolepis leaves to validate its use for the treatment of toothache. The plant is widely used as a traditional herb by communities in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya for treatment of various infections including toothache. However its efficacy has not been established. Leaves of the plant were collected from Trans Nzoia County, Kenya and identified at University of Nairobi Herbarium. An aqueous extraction of leaves was prepared. Formalin test was carried out using 30 male albino wister mice to determine antinociceptive effect and the painful response at 0 – 10 min (Early) and 15 – 60 min (late phase). Acetylsalicylate at dose of 100 mg/Kg was used as a positive control. The dose significantly (p<0.05) reduced the time spent in pain behavior in both phases hence indicating that the plant posses antinociceptive activity. It’s concluded that Vernonia hymenolepis possesses analgesic property.
Pain is the most widely diagnosed and managed symptoms of human diseases, with various debilitati... more Pain is the most widely diagnosed and managed symptoms of human diseases, with various debilitating effects. Current analgesics agents have shown low efficacy, are inaccessible, unaffordable, and elicit deleterious side effects which limit their use, thereby warranting the need for alternative and complementary strategies. Mystroxylon aethiopicum is widely utilized in the Agikuyu community of Kenya to treat stomachache, chronic pain, coughs, among other conditions; however, its analgesic efficacy and safety data are scanty, hence the present study. The analgesic activity of the aqueous and methanolic stem bark extracts of M. aethiopicum were determined using the standard acetic acid-induced writhing technique. Further, qualitative phytochemical screening for various phytocompounds in the studied plant extracts was done following standard phytochemical screening methods. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of M. aethiopicum possess noteworthy analgesic activity as demonstrated by the...
The African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2015
Background: The skin is highly predisposed to injury because of its direct contact with the envir... more Background: The skin is highly predisposed to injury because of its direct contact with the environment. The aim of treating of wounds is to both hasten healing, and to minimise the occurrence of perturbations of the healing process. Many plants traditionally used to treat wounds have been proven to support the healing process using scientific models. Aspilia pluriseta has been used by a number of communities in East and Southern Africa to treat wounds. Objectives: This study aimed at testing ethnomedical claims of wound healing activity of A. pluriseta using preclinical models. Methods: Aerial parts of the plant were ground and incorporated into an ointment base (10% and 20% w/w) to evaluate the influence of the plant on the healing of acute excision wounds in mice compared to Silverex Cream ® and Simple Ointment (B.P.). The 20% ointment was tested for skin sensitization in guinea pigs. Results: The effects of the plant-based ointments on wound contraction and gross epithelialisati...
1 Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197... more 1 Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 3019700100, Nairobi, Kenya 2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected] Plants are widely used for control of mosquitoes in Kenya but there is little documentation on effects of their long term use. Six plants used traditionally for mosquito control in Kenya’s south coast were evaluated for their genotoxicity potential using the Allium cepa test. The plants were Tagetus minuta L., Adansonia digitata Linn., Ocimum suave, Plectranthus barbatus A., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Lantana camara L. The plant extracts were assessed for mitotic index, early anaphases, chromosomal bridges/fragments, stickiness and c-mitosis. Leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica induced mitotic inhibition, produced binucleate and ghost cells in the allium cepa root meristems. Among the normal cells in the e...
Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, 2013
Many microorganisms are responsible for causing serious diseases of bacterial origin. Development... more Many microorganisms are responsible for causing serious diseases of bacterial origin. Development of drug resistance in animal and human pathogens against commonly used antibiotics has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial substances from other sources including plants. The present study reports on the antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality of Piliostigma thonningii leaves collected from two geographical regions, Kenya and Malawi. Both aqueous as well as organic extracts from leaves of P. thonningii were screened for antibacterial activity against bacteria of human and veterinary importance using agar well diffusion and evaluated for acute toxicity using brine shrimp bioassay. Except for chloroform extract of P. thonningii from Malawi, all of the plant extracts demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity against the five test bacteria at concentrations tested (250 µg/ml) in agar well diffusion method. In brine shrimp bioassay, all the crude extracts from Kenya and Malawi ...
Background: Antibiotic resistance is putting the commercial poultry production systems across the... more Background: Antibiotic resistance is putting the commercial poultry production systems across the globe at risk of losses due to the failure of treatments for animals and human health which has been associated with overuse and misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming. One possible approach to the resistance problem is ensuring adequate knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use by farmers on commercial production systems across the globe are applied. Therefore, the current study was carried out to determine factors that could promote antimicrobial use in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County, Kenya. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use. One hundred and fifty-six (n = 156) semistructured questionnaires imprinted in a mobile Open data kit were administered to capture the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial usage in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County. Results: Out of the 156 commercial poultry farmers who participated in this study, females accounted for (64%) with 51% of them keeping layers between 50-500 birds as medium scale farmers. In the study, most of the farmers were 45 years and above (61%) and they had obtained a secondary level of education (34%). We further noted that 67% of the farmers obtain antibiotics through self-prescription/personal experience.
The practice of traditional medicine is as old as the human race, and plants are an important sou... more The practice of traditional medicine is as old as the human race, and plants are an important source of research and development of new drugs. Anthelmintic resistance in human and animal pathogenic helminthes has been spreading in prevalence and severity to a point where there is multi-drug resistance against the three major classes of anthelmintics. It has become a global phenomenon in gastrointestinal nematodes of farm animals, and hence the need for novel anthelmintic products. The objectives of this study were to carry out phytochemical screening and determine bioactivity of plants which are commonly used in the treatment and control of helminthosis in LoitoktokSub-Countyof Kenya. The plant species (Albiziaanthelmintica, Myrsineafricana, Embeliaschimperi and Rapaneamelanophloeos) were selected based on their ethnopharmacological uses, as anthelmintics, by the traditional health practitioners. Phytochemical were screened in aqueous and organic extracts using standard methods and ...
The stem bark tinctures and decoctions of Bridellia micrantha are used to cure burns, soft tissue... more The stem bark tinctures and decoctions of Bridellia micrantha are used to cure burns, soft tissue injuries, sexually transmitted infections, protozoa infections, gastrointestinal conditions, typhoid, pneumonia and dental diseases 12,13. Leaf preparation is used to manage eye problems 13. Previous studies have indicated that B. micrantha has anti-ulcer activity against H. pylori-induced ulcers and antimicrobial activities against S. typhi, S. enteritidis, S. flexneri, E. coli and M. tuberculosis bacterial strains 13. Furthermore, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of extracts derived from B. micrantha have been reported 10,14. Phytochemical investigations have revealed presence oftaraxerone, Friedelin, Taraxerol, Epifriedelinol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, anthocyanidin, delphiniridin and Benzene 1,3-bis(3-phenoxyphenoxy),2-pinen-4-one 13 .
Carpobrotus edulis is a common medicinal plant used in Southern Africa. Despite its extensive use... more Carpobrotus edulis is a common medicinal plant used in Southern Africa. Despite its extensive use in herbal medicine, there is no documented scientific evidence corroborating its safety. This study aims to evaluate the acute and subacute toxic effects of the aqueous extracts of Carpobrotus edulis in Sprague Dawley rats. In acute toxicity testing, three healthy female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to Carpobrotus edulis aqueous extract per step at any of the four fixed dose levels of 300, 600, 1200 and 2000mg/Kg body weight. The Sprague Dawley rats were observed clinically for any signs of toxicity. A 28-day subacute toxicity testing was carried out on thirty-two Sprague Dawley rats grouped in four experimental groups of eight animals each. Group A received 100mg//kg of the extract, Group B received 300mg/kg while Group C received 1000mg/kg. Group D was a negative control group and received distilled water. Bodyweight, feed and water intake were measured at weekly intervals. Blood ...
The present study investigated the effects of heat stress on oxidative stress status and physiolo... more The present study investigated the effects of heat stress on oxidative stress status and physiological changes using female New Zealand White rabbits. 24 sexually mature female rabbits weighing 1953.1-2375.4 g were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each and subjected to ambient temperature (T0: 19-26 • C), 27-28 • C for T1, 31-32 • C for T2 and 35-36 • C for T3 using electrical heaters from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily for 30 days. Feed intake and body weight gain were recorded daily. Behavioral alterations of anxiety, dizziness, aggression, withdrawal, impaired feed intake were observed. At the end of experimental period animals were sacrificed, blood samples and vital organs such as liver, kidney, heart, ovaries, uterus collected for appropriate analysis. Results revealed that animals of T2 and T3 had an 11% decrease in the final body weights and 62% body weight gain but increase in feed conversion ratio by 64.81%, 24.19% water intake, 3.64% in rectal and 2.42% in skin temperature compared to the control. Dizziness, withdrawal to a corner of the cage and reduced feed intake were observed. The live weight of lungs and kidneys increased by 37.71% and 33.78% while that of ovaries and uterus decreased in the same animals of T2 and T3. Animals from T2 and T3 showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) by 23.64% in hemoglobin concentration, 12.73% in red blood cells, 11.93% in packed cell volume, 12.02% in total protein while mean corpuscular volume, white blood cells, lymphocytes, creatinine, urea and aspartate transaminase increased respectively by 10.73%, 42.37%, 15.53%, 28.98%, 53.2% and 23.31% compared to the control. The kidney level of malondialdehyde was significantly increased in T2 and T3 animals by 74.29%, whereas protein, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with control. It was concluded that long-term exposure of female rabbits to elevated ambient temperatures induces heat stress and accompanying oxidative stress that consequently impairs physiological function.
The leaves of Carpobrotus edulis are used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. This study ... more The leaves of Carpobrotus edulis are used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. This study therefore seeks to do a phytochemical screening of the aqueous leaf extract of Carpobrotus edulis which grows in Zimbabwe as well as determine the effect of these aqueous extracts on hematological parameters of Sprague Dawley rats. Aqueous extraction of Carpobrotus edulis leaves was performed by using routine methods and standard phytochemical screening methods. Thirty-two (32) Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes equally represented, were grouped into three treatment groups (A-C) and one negative control group D of eight animals each. Group A received 100mg/kg of the extract; Group B received 300mg/kg while Group C received 1000mg/kg of the extract for 28 days. After 28 days of daily oral gavage of the extract, hematological parameters were measured. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and glycosides. Aqueous...
Introduction: At present, acyclovir is commercially available as the drug of choice for managing ... more Introduction: At present, acyclovir is commercially available as the drug of choice for managing herpes simplex type I (HSV-1) viral infection. However, the high prevalence of the infection coupled with the emergence of resistant viral strains has limited its effectiveness. Thus, the development of novel antiviral agents is crucial. Practitioners of herbal medicine in Kenya make use of Dicrocephala integrifolia (DI) for the management of several diseases including viral infections. However, information on the efficacy of this plant against HSV-1 viral infection is not available. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro antiviral activity of crude extracts of DI against HSV-1. Methods: Leaves, roots, flowers and stems of DI were extracted using water (W) and methanol (ME) and qualitatively screened to identify the phytoconstituents present. Furthermore, the anti HSV-1 activity of the obtained extracts was evaluated on Vero cell lines using the 3-[4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC 50) and 50% effective concentration (EC 50) of each extract was determined using regression analysis. The effects of crude DI extracts on adsorption and post-adsorption stages of the HSV-1 replication cycle was evaluated against acyclovir using a cytopathogenic inhibition assay. Results: Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids were found to be present in the extracts. The CC 50 values of the aqueous DI extracts was in the range 71.31 ± 2.65 to >100 µg/ml compared to >100 µg/ml of acyclovir. The EC 50 values of crude extracts of DI on the pre-adsorptive phase of HSV-1 activity was in the range 54.45±3.45 to >100µg/ml compared to 4.772±7.81µg/ml of acyclovir whilst the EC 50 value of the crude extracts of DI on the post-adsorptive phase of HSV-1 activity was in the range 45.270±4.31 to >100µg/ml compared to >100µg/ml of acyclovir. Conclusion: The results suggest that crude extracts of DI may be a reservoir of phytochemicals with potentially good efficacy against HSV-1.
Background: The use of conventional cancer medication is limited by cytotoxicity on normal cells,... more Background: The use of conventional cancer medication is limited by cytotoxicity on normal cells, intolerability of the drugs used and emergence of aggressive tumors which do not respond to treatment. Herbal alternatives are now being touted to be of promising efficacy. Fagaropsis angolensis (FA) has wide ranging ethno medicinal uses in Kenya. However, the anticancer potential of this plant is yet to be fully explored. The present study aims to determine the antiproliferative activity of crude extracts of Fagaropsis angolensis (FA) against African monkey kidney (Vero, E6), throat cancer (Hep2) and colon cancer (CT 26-CL 25) cell lines. Methods: Water and methanol extracts of FA were qualitatively screened to determine their phytochemical composition. In vitro growth inhibition capacity of these extracts on African monkey kidney (Vero, E6), throat cancer (HeP2) and colon cancer (CT-26-CL-25) cell lines was then assessed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium assay and expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50). Doxorubicin (standard anticancer agent) was used for comparison. Results: On Vero cell lines, statistical differences (p<0.05) were noted in the IC 50 values of methanol whole root and methanol root stem extracts of FA (5.80+/-0.80μg/ml) against 1.10+/-0.70μg/ml) as well as between Doxorubicin and methanol root stem extracts of FA (6.5+/-3.25 μg/ml against 1.10+/-0.70μg/ml). On colon cancer cell lines, statistical differences (p<0.05) were noted between the IC 50 values of Doxorubicin and the methanol root stem extract of FA (19.00+/-9.00ug/ml against 8.33+/-1.42μg/ml) as well as between Doxorubicin and methanol whole root extract of FA (19.00+/-9.00μg/ml against 5.25+/-0.35μg/ml). The effects of the extracts of FA on throat cancer cell lines were unremarkable. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the choice of solvent may have some effect on the IC 50 values of the extracts on cancer cell lines. It may also be suggested that the methanol root stem and whole root extracts of FA may be sources of important lead molecules that may be useful in the treatment of colon cancer. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the methanol root stem and whole root extracts of FA may be sources of important lead molecules in cancer therapy.
Background: Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) is an antimalarial drug. It is associated with improve... more Background: Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) is an antimalarial drug. It is associated with improved cure rates, accelerated response to therapy and delayed development of resistance. However, liver damage, neurotoxicity and agranulocytosis have been reported as adverse effects whose origins have been linked to free radicals generated by the drug. According to native materia medica, Moringa oleifera (MO) has wide utility in ethnomedicine. However, there is paucity of information on the hepatoprotective efficacy of this plant. The present study evaluated the mitigative effects of MO leaf extracts against liver injury induced by AS-AQ combination in female Wistar rats. Methods: Dry leaf powder of MO was extracted with water and a 20:80 v/v mixture of water and methanol to give aqueous (AQ) and aqueous-methanol (AQ-ME) MO leaf extracts respectively. In vitro hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity of serial dilutions (10-100 μg/ml) of each of the extracts was then evaluated using an assay model where butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) served as a reference standard. The extract with better free radical scavenging activity was then evaluated for hepatoprotective effects against AS-AQ intoxication in female Wistar rats based on the Acute Toxic Class method (OECD 2000). Serum asparate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), total bilirubin and histological examination of rat liver sections were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the selected MO leaf extract. Siliphos ® (standard hepatoprotectant) was used for comparison. Results: There was a concentration dependent increase in the hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity of MO leaf extracts and standard (BHT) with values ranging from 46.36-66.36% for the AQ extract, 41.04-60.95% for the AQ-ME extract and 44.93-65.23% for BHT with corresponding IC 50 values of 26.84 μg/ml, 51.88 μg/ml and 32.58 μg/ml respectively. A 1000 mg/kg dose of the AQ-ME MO leaf extract significantly (p < 0.05) lowered AST values of AS-AQ intoxicated rats to a level comparable to the standard hepatoprotectant; Siliphos ®. Serum ALT and TB were also lowered but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The 1000 mg/kg dose also reduced hepatocyte degeneration in rats treated with four times the clinical dose of AS-AQ. This study suggests that the hepatoprotective activity of the leaves of MO may have some relation to its free radical scavenging properties. These leaves may thus be useful in mitigating free radical initiated disease conditions. Conclusion: The aqueous-methanol Moringa oleifera leaf extract exhibits free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective properties. Further investigations on the structural identity of the phytoconstituents and their mechanisms of action should be performed to facilitate the development of a potent medicinal agent.
Uvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Ken... more Uvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Kenya. The rapidly increasing population has put a strain on the limited resources and poses serious challenge to national planning. The aim of the study was to validate the traditional claims by investigating the effect of root bark extract of both plants on reproductive hormones and ovarian structures. Twenty five mature normocyclic female winstar rats were used. Group 1 consisted of 5 animals that acted as control. Group 2 and 3 with 5 animals each; received 500 and 800mg/ Kg Croton menyharthii respectively on alternative days for 28 days through intra-abdominal gavage. Group 4 and 5 were treated in a similar manner but received Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. Serum was harvested from all animals on 28 th day and hormone levels determined. Left ovaries were harvested and processed for histomorphology. Both Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii caused a significant increase of progesterone in a dose dependent manner. Croton menyharthii extracts caused a degeneration of corpora lutea. At 800mg/kg Croton menyharthii caused a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers but a decline in size. Uvariodendron kirkii caused hypertrophy and a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers. Enhanced/ hypertrophied corpora lutea possibly led to high levels of progesterone seen, interfered with the implantation window due to disrupted hormonal milieu thereby leading to compromised fertility and implantation index. The study validates the traditional use of the plant in fertility regulation. We suggest further investigation on these potential plants to address the call for novel contraceptive drugs.
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