Background: The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains worldwide has necessitated the scientific search for novel, potent, and affordable antimicrobial agents including medicinal plants and non-antibiotic drugs for therapy of infectious diseases. The objective of this study is to assess in vitro antibacterial activities and time kill kinetics of some non-antibiotic drugs against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates.Methodology: In vitro antibacterial activities including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration  (MBC) and time kill kinetics of Amlodipine (AML), Thioridazine (THI) and Promethazine (PRO) against Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS), Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates were determined using disc diffusion, broth microdilution and plate count techniques.Results: The mean growth inhibition zones by the disc diffusion assay of AML, THI and PRO against the isolates were ≤15.1±1.0 mm with MIC and MBC values ranging from 12.5 to 50μg/ml and 25 to 100μg/ml respectively. The time-kill assay revealed bactericidal effect of AML, THI and PRO on Gram positive bacteria evidenced by mean log reductions in viable bacterial cell counts ranging from 0.13 Log10 to 2.41 Log10 CFU/ml for S. aureus, 0.88 Log10 to 2.08 Log10 CFU/ml for Streptococcus spp, and 0.26 Log10 to 2.34 Log10 CFU/ml for CoNS after ≤30hrs post inoculation at 1xMIC. The range of log reduction in viable cell counts of Gram-negative bacteria exposed to AML, THI and PRO were E. coli (0.11 to 3.23 Log10 CFU/ml), P. aeruginosa (0.52 to 2.56 Log10 CFU/ml), K. pneumoniae (0.85 to 3.0 Log10 CFU/ml) and  Enterobacter spp (0.38 to 2.08 Log10 CFU/ml) after ≤30 hrs post inoculation at 1x MIC.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate in vitro antibacterial efficacies and time kill kinetics of AML, THI and PRO against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates, which indicate that these non-antibiotic drugs may be useful therapeutic alternatives in the bid to reduce the burden of infectious diseases associated with antibiotic resistant pathogens. Keywords: Amlodipine, Thioridazine, Promethazine, Time-Kill, Kinetics, MIC, MBC, bacteria   French title: Activité antibactérienne et cinétique de destruction du temps de l'amlodipine, de la thioridazine et de la prométhazine contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes Contexte: L'émergence de souches bactériennes multirésistantes dans le monde a rendu nécessaire la recherche scientifique d'agents antimicrobiens nouveaux, puissants et abordables, notamment des plantes médicinales et des médicaments non antibiotiques pour le traitement des maladies infectieuses. L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer les activités antibactériennes in vitro et la cinétique de destruction temporelle de certains médicaments non antibiotiques contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes. Méthodologie: activités antibactériennes in vitro, y compris la concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI), la concentration bactéricide minimale (MBC) et la cinétique de destruction du temps de l'amlodipine (AML), de la thioridazine (THI) et de la prométhazine (PRO) contre Staphylococcus aureus, les staphylocoques à coagulase négative (CoNS), Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae et Pseudomonas aeruginosa ont été déterminés en utilisant des techniques de diffusion sur disque, de microdilution en bouillon et de numération sur plaque. Résultats: Les zones moyennes d'inhibition de la croissance par le test de diffusion de disque d'AML, THI et PRO contre les isolats étaient ≤15,1±1,0mm avec des valeurs MIC et MBC allant de 12,5 à 50μg/ml et de 25 à 100μg/ml respectivement. Le dosage temporel a révélé un effet bactéricide de la LMA, du THI et du PRO sur les bactéries Gram positives, mis en évidence par des réductions logarithmiques moyennes du nombre de cellules bactériennes viables allant de 0,13 Log10 à 2,41 Log10 CFU/ml pour S. aureus, 0,88 Log10 à 2,08 Log10 CFU/ml pour Streptococcus spp et 0,26 Log10 à 2,34 Log10 CFU/ml pour CoNS après ≤ 30 heures après l'inoculation à 1 x MIC. La plage de réduction logarithmique du nombre de cellules viables de bactéries à Gram négatif exposées à la LMA, au THI et au PRO était E. coli (0,11 à 3,23 Log10 CFU/ml), P. aeruginosa (0,52 à 2,56 Log10 CFU/ml), K. pneumoniae (0,85 à 3,0 Log10 CFU/ml) et Enterobacter spp (0,38 à 2,08 Log10 CFU/ml) après ≤ 30 heures après l'inoculation à 1 x MIC. Conclusion: Ces résultats démontrent une efficacité antibactérienne in vitro et une cinétique de destruction du temps des LMA, THI et PRO contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes, ce qui indique que ces médicaments non antibiotiques peuvent être des alternatives thérapeutiques utiles dans le but de réduire le fardeau des maladies infectieuses associées aux antibiotiques pathogènes résistants. Mots-clés: Amlodipine, Thioridazine, Prométhazine, Time-Kill, Cinétique, MIC, MBC, bactéries

Background Bacteremia constitutes a significant public health challenge and represents a vital cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients, and fluoroquinolones are commonly prescribed antibiotics due to their range of activities and pharmacokinetic profiles. This study the evaluated antibacterial activities and time-kill kinetics of fluoroquinolone antibiotics: Ofloxacin (OFL), Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Levofloxacin (LEV) against the etiology of bacteremia of genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Haemophilus, Enterobacter, and Salmonella using disc diffusion, micro-broth dilution and plate count techniques. Results The lowest mean growth inhibition zones (mm ± SD) of OFL, LEV, and CIP against the isolates were 10.5 ± 0.0, 10.1 ± 0.1 and 9.6 ± 0.3, respectively. The MIC values of OFL, LEV and CIP on isolates ranged from 6.25 to > 50 µg/mL, MBC ranged from 12.5 to > 50 µg/mL, while MBC/MIC ratios were ≤ 2. The time-kill assay revealed that logarithmic reductions in viable cell counts (Log10 CFU/mL) of bacteria exposed to OFL, LEV and CIP ranged from 0.17 to 2.14 for P. aeruginosa; 0.13 to 1.31 for H. influenzae; 0.04 to 2.23 for Acinetobacter spp; and 0.08 to 2.08 for K. pneumoniae. LEV and OFL (1 × MIC concentration) achieved bactericidal effects on S. typhi ST07 and E. aerogenes EA01 at 30 h post-inoculation, respectively, while ≥ 99.9% reduction in the number of viable K. pneumoniae cells exposed to CIP was achieved at 24 h post-inoculation. Conclusion The fluoroquinolones demonstrated higher inhibitory activities at higher concentrations against the etiology of bacteremia in HIV-infected patients, signifying a concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth. The MIC-based time-kill curve analyses showed that LEV achieved 3 Log10-fold reduction (≥ 99.9% reduction) in CFU/mL of most etiology of bacteremia faster compared with the other two fluoroquinolones.

Diarrhoea is a leading killer of young children accounting for approximately 8% of all deaths among children ˂ 5 years worldwide and causes neonatal mortality and hospitalization in geriatrics. Ipomoea triloba L. has been claimed to have antidiarrheal properties. This study evaluated antibacterial properties of the ethanol / aqueous extracts and fractions of I. triloba on diarrheagenic bacteria to validate its use in trado-medical treatment of diarrhoea. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of pulverized I. triloba were prepared by cold maceration and phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures. Diarrheagenic bacteria were isolated from twenty (20) composite diarrhoeal stool samples by community bioprospecting using appropriate selective and differential media. In vitro antibacterial activity of extracts and fractions of I. triloba was determined by the modified agar-well diffusion technique, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by reference standard agar-dilution technique (ADT) after re-incubation of MIC samples at 37o C for 24 h. A total of 74 isolates, belonging to six genera, were identified with their numbers and percentages of occurrence as follows: Escherichia coli, 26 (35.1%), Staphylococcus aureus, 4 (5.4 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 9 (12.2%), Shigella dysenteriae, 18 (24.3%), Salmonella typhi, 8 (10.8%) and Vibrio cholera, 9 (12.2%). Flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, carbohydrates and steroids were detected in both extracts. Ethanol extracts (≥30 mm) showed more potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity than aqueous extract (≥18 mm). The MIC and MBC values ranged from 250 to 500 mg/mL and 500 to 1000 mg/mL respectively, thus establishing a time-dependent bactericidal mode of antibacterial activity. The best antibacterial activity was elicited by dichloromethane fraction. From the study, I. triloba possesses antibacterial potentials and may be exploited in the chemotherapy of bacterial diarrhoea.

This study investigated the ameliorative effects of Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera on cogni-tive impairment in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in male Wistar rats. The animals were allotted into eight groups of five. Group 1 were not induced nor treated. Diabetes was induced with alloxan (135 mg/kg body weight) in groups 2-8. Group 2 which served as diabetic control received distilled water (10 mL/kg). Groups 3-8 were administered ethanol extracts of V. amygdalina (200 mg), M. oleifera (500 mg), V. amygdalina (400 mg), M. oleifera (1,500 mg), V. amygdalina (300 mg) + M. oleifera (1,000) mg, and Metformin (14.29 mg) per kg body weights respectively, for 28 days starting 72 h post induction of diabetes. Novel object recognition, T-maze simple alternation, transfer latency and neurohistology were assessed. Rats in diabetic control had negative discrimination ratio and scored less than 50% in simple alternation. These memory deficits were reversed in the treated groups. The nootropic effect was higher in M. oleifera 1,500 mg/kg than any other group. Severe neuronal degeneration, shrinkage and clumping observed in the diabetic group were ameliorated with administration of V. amygdalina and M. oleifera extracts individually and in combination. Histological findings showed decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression. V. amygdalina (400 mg/kg) and M. oleifera (500 mg/kg) were the most effective in ameliorating neuronal damage. The neuroprotective effects of both plants are attributed to their constituent antioxidants, and appear not to be synergistic.

As societal needs change, so are professions adjusting and adapting their services to meet this new normal. The essence is not just to remain relevant, but to live up to their professional expectation and be impactful to their environment. In the constantly changing societal healthcare needs, Pharmacists as medicine experts and frontline contributors towards health care delivery, have crucial roles to play. From sound medical information dissemination to drug manufacture; from dispensing and therapeutic drug control to research and development and from sustaining supply chain of products to provision of total pharmaceutical care, pharmacists stand tall to provide needed healthcare services. Rendering services with professionalism is the desired path. But what does it take to attain professionalism in pharmacy practice? How can pharmacists in the academia harness their potentials to promote the path of service delivery with professional excellence? This piece showcases the role of excellence in the pharmacy profession highlighting the potentials of members in the academia in spearheading excellence in practice, thereby adding to the professional outlook of the pharmacist.