Pharmacological Biochemistry

In-vitro studies were carried out using blood samples of different genotypes AA, AS, and SS obtained from volun-teers to ascertain the effect of Papaverine as a plausible drug in the management of sickle cell anaemia. Some haematological parameters as well as Ca 2+ -ATPase and Na + ,K + -ATPase specific activities were investigated before and after incubation with Papaverine. Results of haemoglobin tests showed that haemoglobin levels in the SS red cells (11.8g/dl) were lower when compared to AA (14.0g/dl) and AS red cells (15.8g/dl). The result of erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed that SS red cells (8mm/hr) had higher value when compared to AS (4mm/hr) and AA red cells (3mm/hr). Plasma Ca 2+ levels were found to be higher in SS (12.9mg) when compared to AA (11.1mg) and AS (8.1mg). There was significant reduction in protein concentration after incubation with Papaverine in the three groups. Papaverine significantly reduced the specific activities of the two ATPases. The highest ...

Myricetin belongs to the members of polyphenolic compounds that make up the flavonoid class, which possess antioxidant properties. Myricetin is mostly obtained from vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, tea, and is also found in red wine. It is also similar structurally to quercetin, fisetin and luteolin and is known to possess similar functions as the other members in the flavonol class of flavonoids. The health benefits of myricetin cuts across being an anticarcinogen compound to its antiviral, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, neuroprotective and anti inflammatory properties among others. It also plays a role as a cyclooxygenase 1 inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent, an antioxidant, a plant metabolite, a food component and a hypoglycemic agent. It is a hexahydroxyflavone and a 7-hydroxyflavonol. The 2D structure of myricetin was obtained from the PubChem database while the MarvinSketch sotware was used to effect the various structural modifications on the compound. T...

Purpose: To investigate the anticonvulsant effect of Glyphaea brevis leaf fractions using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model in mice. Methods: Glyphaea brevis leaf methanol extract was partitioned using n-hexane and hydro-methanol (8:2). Seizure was assessed in terms of onset of myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizure, duration of seizure and frequency of seizure. The concentrations of glutathione of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in the brain of the mice were also determined. Results: The administration of the different fractions of Glyphaea brevis leaf prior to induction of seizure with PTZ prolonged the latency of convulsion in mice as well as a significant (p < 0.05) decline in the intensity of convulsion was observed. In relation to the untreated mice, there was a rise in the levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the brain, but a decrease in malondialdehyde levels. Conclusion: The study re...

The most commonly occurring mechanism driving ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction is thrombosis. It is normally characterized by platelet activation and aggregation. Thrombolytics have been used in the treatment of several forms of thrombosis, but their adverse effects have limited their usefulness. Thus, there is a need to develop alternatives from medicinal plants known to possess antithrombotic activity such as Costus afer. The phytochemical evaluations indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins. The antithrombotic profiling showed that streptokinase had the highest percentage clot lysis, followed by ethylacetate fraction of the extract, which was higher than aspirin and other fractions of the extract. The present findings show that C. afer stem extract and various fractions possess antithrombotic activities. However, further studies are needed to characterize the antithrombotic bioactive c...

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of 20 % methanol leaf fraction of Cola hispida (MLFC) using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model in rats. Methods: The activity of MLFC against castor oil-induced diarrhoea, intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling), and gastrointestinal motility were evaluated. The experimental animals were grouped into five, each with four animals. Group 1 received distilled water, while group 2 received loperamide and served as negative and standard control groups respectively. Groups 3 - 5 were administered 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of MLFC respectively. One-hour post-treatment, castor oil (p.o.) was used to induce diarrhoea in all the groups. The activity of MLFC was tested against castor oil-induced looseness of stool, fluid accumulation in the intestine and intestinal motility of charcoal meal. Its effect on electrolyte concentration in the small intestinal content was assessed; furthermore, its effect on the electrolyte concentrations of Na+, ...

Hibiscus asper, a herb used in folklore medicine has demonstrated strong and diverse therapeutic potentials, such as, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, and widely used in the management of diseases. Despite the ethno-pharmacological value of this plant, no study has been conducted to evaluate its anti-ulcerogenic activity. Methanol fraction of Hibiscus asper leaves (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was used to investigate anti-ulcerogenic activity in acidified ethanol-induced ulceration model, whereas, Omeprazole was used as the standard drug; both were administered orally. Pre-treatment of rats with the plant fraction significantly inhibited development of gastric ulcers by oral administration of acidified-ethanol in a dose-dependent manner, presenting protection to ulceration of 46.6 % to 81 % as doses increased from 100 to 400 mg/kg. No significant difference was observed in gastric protection presented by Omeprazole pre-treated control group (87.6 %) and the fraction, at ...