No abstract

Background: There are strong beliefs in the efficacy of traditional medical systems worldwide. Many herbs have been acclaimed to possess antiulcer effects and could be unexplored sources of new lead compounds. Sida corymbosa R. E. Fries (Malvaceae) is used in Northern Nigeria to treat ulcers and wounds. This work aimed to investigate the usefulness of Sida corymbosa in treatments of stomach ulcers and wounds in traditional medicine. Materials and Methods: Effect of the aqueous extract was determined on gastric ulceration, rate of wound healing and inflammation using ethanol-induced and diclofenac-induced ulceration, wound excision model and albumin-induced inflammation respectively in rats. Results: The study demonstrated the anti-ulcer activity of Sida corymbosa as the extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent, significant (P<0.05) reduction of ulcer indices against gastric ulcers induced by both ethanol and diclofenac. Topical application of a formulation prepared with the extract of Sida corymbosa on surgically created incisions produced an increase in the rate of healing of the wounds. The extract of Sida corymbosa exhibited a significant (P < 0.05), dose-related decrease in inflammation induced by fresh egg albumin. This study showed that Sida corymbosa has constituents with the ability to reduce the severity of haemorrhagic gastric lesions, promote wound healing and reduce inflammation. These actions may be attributed to any one of the active constituents or as a result of synergistic effects of these phytoconstituents. Conclusion:This study validates the use of the plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of stomach ulcers and wounds.

Preparations of Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel.) Benth. (Rubiaceae) are widely used in Northern Nigeria in the therapeutic management of trypanosomiasis, malaria and painful inflammatory disorders. Previous studies have shown that the methanolic stem bark extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties possibly mediated via Non-selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase pathways. In the present study, the methanolic stem bark extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga was evaluated against ethanol-and piroxicam-induced ulceration in rats. Histopathological studies of the rat stomach tissues were also carried out in order to determine its safety profile on the gastrointestinal tract (git). The extract (25, 50 and100 mg extract/kg body weight) significantly (P<0.05) and dose-dependently reduced ulcer index induced by ethanol (24 -92%) and piroxicam (81.81-98.60%). Histopathology of the rat stomach tissues from control and extract-treated groups at 25 mg/kg body weight extract showed mild inflammation characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, while the extract treated groups at 50 and 100mg/kg body weight and 200 mg misoprostol/kg body weight group showed no obvious lesions. These results showed that the extract had no deleterious effects and was cytoprotective on the gastrointestinal tract (git). It can thus be developed as a safe alternative to conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the management of painful inflammatory disorders.

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