Landolphia owariensis leaf extracts reduce parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Context Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv. (Apocyanaceae) leaf is used in southeast Nigeria to treat malaria. Objective This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf extract and fractions, also the phytoconstituents were standardized and analyzed. Methods The effects of daily, oral administrations of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of L. owariensis leaf extract (LOE), its hexane (LOHF), ethyl acetate (LOEF) and methanol (LOMF) fractions on early, established and residual infections in Plasmodium berghei-infected albino mice were evaluated in vivo. The extract and fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis and HPLC fingerprinting, and the acute toxicity of LOE was evaluated. Results The extract and fractions elicited 29-86, 18-95 and 75-96% significant (p < 0.001) suppression of parasitemia in early, established and residual infections, respectively. The ED50 values for suppressive activity of LOE, LOHF, LOEF and LOMF were 266.56, 514.93, 392.95 and 165.70 mg/kg, respectively. The post-day 30-survival index was 16.7-50, 16.7, 16.7-66.7 and 50-83.3% for LOE, LOHF, LOEF, and LOMF, respectively. Extract-treated mice significantly (p < 0.001) gained weight and had reduced mortality compared with negative control (untreated) mice. An oral LD50 value  >5000 mg/kg in mice was established for LOE. The LOMF showed the greatest antiplasmodial activity in all the models, suggesting that the antimalarial activity of the plant may be attributed to alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins present in the fraction. Conclusion Results demonstrate the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf, and provide a pharmacological rationale for its ethnomedicinal use as an antimalarial agent.

Comparative Study of the Antioxidant Effects of Metformin, Glibenclamide, and Repaglinide in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the serious global health problems affecting a significant proportion of both developed and developing countries. Overproduction of free radicals and oxidative stress has been associated with the development of diabetic complications. In the present study, the antioxidant effects of metformin (MET), glibenclamide (GLI), and repaglinide (REP) were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The findings from this study may possibly help in understanding the efficacy of these standard drugs in managing the complications arising from diabetes mellitus (DM). Alloxan (130 mg/kg BW) was administered as a single dose to induce diabetes. Four (4) groups of rats (n = 6) were used; group 1 served as diabetic control while groups 2, 3, and 4 were the diabetic test groups that received MET (25 mg/kg), GLI (2.5 mg/kg), and REP (0.5 mg/kg), respectively. The result of the study showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the altered antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT) and GSH concentration in diabetic treated rats compared with the diabetic control group. MET and REP produced significant effect on the MDA concentration while GLI showed insignificant reduction in the MDA concentration compared with the diabetic control. Findings from this study suggest that the administration of MET, GLI, and REP exerts significant antioxidant effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, thus contributing to the protective effect against oxidative stress-induced damage during diabetic complications.

Satisfaction of HIV patients with pharmaceutical services in South Eastern Nigerian hospitals

BACKGROUND

Pharmacists play an important role in the care of HIV patients especially by providing pharmaceutical care. Thus it is imperative to assess the experience and satisfaction of HIV patients with the pharmaceutical services they receive as this will ensure that quality care is provided.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess HIV-infected patients' satisfaction with pharmaceutical services provided in South-Eastern Nigeria's HIV/AIDS clinics. A secondary aim was to repeat the validation process in order to confirm the initial validation of 'Patient Satisfaction with Pharmaceutical Service' (PSPS) questionnaire.

METHODS

The survey was conducted in six HIV/AIDS clinics in South-Eastern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the clinics. The level of satisfaction of the participants was determined. Variance in satisfaction score among the different demographic variables was also assessed. Re-validation techniques employed include factor analysis, reliability test, and construct validity. Results The response rate was 81.85 % (1,637 patients). With the exception of item 12 which examined provision of written information by pharmacists, the average score obtained in the survey was high. Most of the average scores ranged from 4 to 5, signifying that responses ranged from agree to strongly agree. Re-validation of the PSPS questionnaire revealed the same result obtained in the original validation exercise.

CONCLUSION

HIV patients were highly satisfied with services rendered by the pharmacists in South-Eastern HIV clinics in Nigeria and PSPS proved to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring satisfaction of HIV patients with pharmaceutical services.