Background: Increased resistance against antimicrobial medication used to combat bacterial infection necessitates the need for alternative medication. Objective: This study seeks to evaluate the antimicrobial potential and phytochemical profiles of 10 medicinal plants collected from Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County of Kenya. Plant samples were collected, dried, pulverised into fine powders and extracted with distilled water. Methodology: Qualitative phytochemical screening and disc-agar diffusion methods were used according to standard method to determine phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extracts against four bacterial strains and a fungus. Results: Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins and reducing sugars in all the plants except one. Saponins were found to be present in Albizia anthelmintica, Entada leptostachya, Raponae rhododendroides and Warbugia ugandensis. Steroids were present in seven plants while alkaloids were present in five. Albizia anthelmintica, E. leptostachya and W. ugandensis extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Escherichia coli was the most susceptible bacteria against all the plant extracts tested, except Harrisonia abyssinica. Vernonia lasiopus and Uvariodendron anisatum were the least active extracts. Susceptibility against E. coli and C. albicans was significantly comparable to benzathine penicillin and streptomycin. Conclusion: The type of ailments the plants are claimed to treat can be attributed to the presence of various classes of phytochemicals. In conclusion, the plants evaluated were found to be active against the microorganisms tested.

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Helminthes infestation is a major constraint to livestock production. Increasing anthelmintic resistance and the impact of conventional anthelmintics on the environment has led to increased interest on new novel plant-based compounds. In this study, the in vivo activity of a herbal extract mixture containing Entada leptostachya and Prosopis juliflora was determined using faecal egg count (FEC) reduction tests on sheep. There were no signs of toxicity in all the groups throughout the study period apart from reduced feed intake in the initiation stage of the experiment. The herbal formula exhibited a time-dependent but not dose-dependent invivo anthelmintic activity. The 500mg/kg b.w.dose produced the maximum faecal egg reduction of 84% while 4500mg/kg b.w.dose gave the least reduction of-59% on day 19 post-treatment (PT). The results of the FEC reduction tests indicated that the herbal formulation tested passed the threshold FEC reduction of 80%. All the groups had an increase in their mean live body weights (LBWs) by day 19 PT except the untreated group. However, none of the increase was significant (P>0.05). All the animals recorded pre-and post-treatment packed cell volume (PCV) values that were within the permissible range of between 24-45% for experimental sheep. All the groups recorded improved PCV values except the doses at 1500mg/kg b.w. and 4500mg/kg b.w. In conclusion, the herbal mixture was, therefore, safe and sufficiently active and has potential as a novel anthelmintic drug for the treatment of gastro-intestinal nematodes in ruminants.

Aim: Many medicinal plants have been used traditionally in treating ailments in humans and animals. However, for most of herbal remedies, no scientific toxicity profiles exist in literature. In this study, the safety profile of an herbal extract mixture containing Entada leptostachya (EL) and Prosopis juliflora (PJ) was determined using acute oral toxicity tests using adult female Wistar albino rats. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratories in the departments of Chemistry, Zoology,

The rhinoceros is endangered species in Kenya. Due to rampant poaching, the population of the black rhinoceros decreased from about 20,000 in the 1970s to about 300 in the early 1990s. Since then, its population increased to about 745 in 2018. From 2011 to 2015, however, about 160 rhinoceros were poached in Kenya. This paper examines the current status of rhinoceros protection and discusses how the protection regime can be improved in the future. We argue that inter-agency collaboration and public engagement are key to dismantle poaching cartels. These ideas can also facilitate the implementation of Kenya's Rhinoceros Action Plan. This paper explores collaboration opportunities at Lake Nakuru National Park by examining wildlife law enforcement as well as the investigation and prosecution of rhinoceros crimes. Here local communities are key stakeholders as they can help identify poachers and provide testimonies in courts. Inter-agency partnership through sharing of information and intelligence among law enforcement agencies, investigators, and prosecutors could promote both human and wildlife justice. Wildlife crimes involving endangered species could be prosecuted at the Environment and Land Court to expedite wildlife crime litigation. In the future, county environment courts may be established to better handle specialized prosecution of environment and wildlife crimes.