These findings indicate the antiplasmodial efficacy of P. niruri methanol extract, and the localization of this effect in its chloroform fraction.

Acalypha wilkesiana (AW), a popular medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of skin disorders including pityriasis versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis. As a prelude to clinical trials in humans, an experimental study was carried out to determine the spectrum of antifungal activity of 2 variants of the Acalypha wilkesiana plant. Materials and Methods: The ethanol extract and herbal cream formulation of the dried leaves of 2 cultivars (Macrophylla & Hoffmani) of Acalypha wilkesiana were investigated for in-vitro antifungal activity by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution techniques. Organisms tested were typed cultures of Malassezia furfur, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum; and clinical strains of Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum. Results: Both cultivars (Macrophylla and Hoffmanii) of the plant showed good activity against all the fungi tested except Microsporum canis (8.0±0.00; 7.00±0.00 mm). The greatest activity was observed against Trichophyton rubrum (22.0±0.00; 24.00±0.00 mm) while Candida albicans showed the least activity (15.0±0.00; 18.00±0.57 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the crude extract ranged between 0.25 and 8 mg/ml for all organisms, while that of the herbal cream was 0.31-8mg/ml. The lowest MIC was seen with Candida albicans for both varieties of the plant. The Acalypha wilkesiana Hoffmanii demonstrated a greater activity against Candida albicans and Malassezia furufur than the A. wilkesiana (Macrophylla). Conclusion: This study reveals Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract has potential for development as a cream that can be used to treat superficial fungal skin infections.

Salad vegetables are essential part of people's diet all around the world. They are usually consumed raw and often without heat treatment or thorough washing; hence have been known to serve as vehicles for the transmission of pathogenic microorganism associated with human diseases. Fresh samples of lettuce, carrot and cucumber collected from different markets and vendors in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria were evaluated for bacterial loads using spread plate agar dilution method. Bacterial loads ranged from 1.6 x 10 6 to 2.9 x 10 8 cfu/g. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter were amongst the coliforms (lactose fermenters), while Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella and Shigella were non-lactose fermenters associated with the samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from majority of the samples.

Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease of this century and the most prevalent cause of dementia among the elderly. 1,2 The disorder is characterized by the presence of extra-neuronal amyloid and tau deposits, dysfunction in cholinergic transmission typified by a progressive decline in levels ABSTRACT Background: Crinum zeylanicum is widely used in the ethno-therapeutic management of folk management of epilepsy, pain, neuropsychiatric, and dementing disorders in Nigeria. The current study was carried out to evaluate the possible mechanism of the memory enhancing the effect of C. zeylanicum extract and alkaloidal rich fraction in Wistar rats. Methods: The effect of Crinum zeylanicum bulb extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight orally), alkaloidal rich fraction (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg body weight p.o.), normal saline (10 ml/kg orally), or Eserine (0.3 mg/kg body weight i.p.) on spatial memory in rats was evaluated using the Y-maze. The blood samples obtained from rats in all treatment groups were evaluated for cholinesterase activities using modified Michelle electrometric method. Results: The extract and the alkaloid significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently increased spontaneous alternation behavior of rats in Y-maze. The extract produced 20.00%, 35.55%, and 52.00% inhibition of cholinesterase activity in the blood at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The alkaloid produced 56.67%, 62.67%, and 68.67% inhibition of cholinesterase activity in blood at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg body weight (p.o.). Eserine a standard cholinesterase inhibitor at 0.3 mg/kg body weight produced a significant increase in spontaneous alternation behavior and produced 73.33% inhibition of blood cholinesterase activity. Data obtained from the study showed that the enhanced spontaneous alternation behavior observed in rats treated with the extract, and the alkaloid may be due to facilitation of cholinergic transmission resulting from inhibition of cholinesterase activity. Conclusion: The extract, as well as its partially purified alkaloid, possesses potential that may be employed for therapeutic management of Alzheimer's disease.

No abstract