Background Malaria is a global infectious (vector-borne: Anopheles mosquitoes) disease which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Among all its parasitic (protozoan: Plasmodium sp.) variants, Plasmodium falciparum (PF) is the most virulent and responsible for above 90% of global malaria deaths hence making it a global public health threat. Main context Despite current front-line antimalarial treatments options especially allopathic medications and malaria prevention (and control) strategies especially governmental policies and community malaria intervention programs in SSA, PF infections remains prevalent due to increased antimicrobial/antimalarial drug resistance caused by several factors especially genetic mutations and auto(self)-medication practices in SSA. In this article, we focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the largest SSA country by bringing perspective into the impact of self-medication and antimalarial drug resistance, and provided recommendation for long-term improvement and future analysis in malaria prevention and control in SSA. Conclusions Self-medication and anti-malarial drug resistance is a major challenge to malaria control in DRC and sub-Saharan Africa, and to achieve sustainable control, individual, community and governmental efforts must be aligned to stop self-medication, and strengthen the health systems against malaria.

The present study investigated possible benefits of magnesium ion (as MgCl2) in organophosphorus poisoning targeting its ability to interact with substrates and membrane enzymes. Blood samples collected from volunteered healthy adult by venepuncture into anticoagulant test tubes containing EDTA were separated into plasma and red blood cell and divided into three groups namely: normal, pesticide only (0.25‐2.0 mmol/L chlorpyrifos) and pesticide (0.25‐2.0 mmol/L chlorpyrifos) + 0.1 mol/L MgCl2. Acetylcholinesterase, Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase activities were evaluated. Results showed that Chlorpyrifos significantly (P < .05) reduced the levels of cholinesterase both in plasma and on red blood cells. Red blood cells Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase were also significantly (P < .05) reduced by chlorpyrifos while MgCl2 counteracted effects of chlorpyrifos with significant (P < .05) increase in the levels of cholinesterase, Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase. We concluded that MgCl2 neutralized effects of chlorpyrifos by promoting normal ATPase activities and inhibiting release of acetylcholine from cell.

Background Eucalyptus globulus leaf has shown promising potential in its efficacy to manage some diseases but little is known about its safety and its use in the management of diabetes. This study was designed to identify the bioactive compounds present in Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract (EGLEX), assess its toxic effects and its oral glucose tolerance ability. Powdered Eucalyptus globulus leaf was extracted with methanol using standard extraction procedure. Preliminary phytochemistry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the extract, its acute and subacute toxic effects and on its glucose tolerance (in-vivo) capability were assessed using standard laboratory techniques. Results EGLEX was tested positive for the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, phlobatannins and terpenoids. Nine compounds were identified by GCMS analysis of the leaf extract. EGLEX (up to 300 mg/kg bwt) showed no toxicity in all the rats dosed for the period of 14 days. The histomorphological study of the liver and kidney tissues harvested from rats dosed with 2000 mg/kg bwt showed features of histoarchitectural distortions in the two tissues. EGLEX (200 mg/kg bwt) further demonstrated effective glucose utilization as insulin and metformin. Conclusions The results obtained deduced that EGLEX is safe at a lower dose of 300 mg/kg bwt but toxic at higher dose of 2000 mg/kg bwt, and that single dose (200 mg/kg bwt) of the plant extract prevented hyperglycemia in normal rats.

This study investigated possible use of gentamicin and magnesium chloride as antidotes of dichlorvos pesticide poisoning. Thirty albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6

Combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) is used by women to prevent ovulation. This study investigated toxicological effects of COCP on the brain of female rats. Fifteen rats were divided at random into three groups (n=5): Normal control, and first and second cycles treated orally with COCP (0.04 μg/kg bwt of ethinyl oestradiol and 2 μg/kg bwt levonorgestrel) daily for 21 and 42 days respectively. Toxicological effect of treatment on the brain was assessed in the prefrontal cortical acetylcholinesterase, sodium/potassium-ATPase (Na+/K+-ATPase), superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione levels. Histomorphological examination of the prefrontal cortex of the rats in all the groups was carried out. Activities of cortical Na+/K+-ATPase, acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly (p<0.05) reduced following chronic administration of COCP. Histomorphological study of the pre-frontal cortex showed large pyramidal neurons, pyknotic pyramidal neurons, condensed nuclei and increased perineural spaces. Results showed that chronic administration of oral contraceptive caused prefrontal cortical oxidative stress by repressing activities of antioxidant enzymes, Na+/K+-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase.