African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and phytochemical screening of ethanolic root extract of Plumbago zeylanica, Linn.

G. O. Ajayi¹*, J. A. Olagunju¹, O. Ademuyiwa² and O. C.Martins³

¹Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), P. M. B 21266, Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS), University of Agriculture (UNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

³Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 4 July, 2022

Abstract

Plumbago zeylanica is a medicinal plant widely used in forklore medicine in Africa and Asia for the management of ailments such as parasitic diseases, scabies, ulcers, piles, diarrhoea, skin diseases, leprosy, fever or malaria, rheumatism and intestinal parasites. The present study was carried out to identify the phytochemical components present in the ethanolic root extract of the plant by phytochemical screening methods and GC-MS analysis. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, cardiac-glycosides, phlobatinnins and carbohydrates. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis also identified the presence of phytochemical components like phenolics (Phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) (RT: 6.796), Cyclopentadecane (RT: 7.305), fatty acids/methyl esters, Feroprofen (RT: 9.602), 1,1,1,5,7,7,7-Heptamethyl-3,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)tetrasiloxane (RT: 8.253), Indazol-4-one, 3,6,6-trimethyl-1-phthalazin-1-yl-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro- (RT: 10.162), 2H-Indol-2-one,1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro- (RT:11.191), 2-Methyl-7-phenylindole (RT: 14.540), 1H-Indole-2-carboxylic acid, 6-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-,   isopropyl  ester   (11.528),   and  Anthranilic   acid,  3-chloro-N-(o-chlorophenyl)-    (RT:12.443).

Key words: Plumbago zeylanica, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, phytochemical screening.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-004, July, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hypofibronectinaemia in leprosy

Ogbu ISI* and Ogalagu RO

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Accepted 3rd June, 2022

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the levels of plasma fibronectin in leprosy patients of Nigerian origin. Seventy leprosy patients, 42 men and 28 women, aged 20 to 70 years, of Mile 4 Hospital Abakalilki in Ebonyi State of Nigeria and seventy age and sex-matched apparently normal subjects were used. Some (44) of the patients were on multiple drug therapy with dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine as the mainline drugs. The remaining 26 patients had stable treated leprosy but were living in the colony, (on-colony). Study protocol was approved by the Ethic Committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu and informed consent was obtained from all subjects before collection of data and samples was made. Plasma fibronectin was assayed by an ELISA method. The leprosy patients had mean plasma fibronectin levels of 70.51 ± 17.83 µg/ml, men 85.39 ± 18.0 µg/ml, women 63.19 ± 3.63 µg/ml compared with the mean control value of 286.2 ± 130 µg/ml, men 395.5 ± 114.5 µg/ml, women 208.9 ± 71.69 µg/ml (p < 0.001). Peak control values were observed in the fifth decade of life, 40 to 49 years, and declined steadily thereafter. The peak values for the patients were observed in third decade of life, 20 to 29 years, and declined steadily with advancing age. Patients on drugs had lower fibronectin values, 71.32 ± 13.83 µg/ml, than those living on colony, 85.30 ± 20.50 µg/ml (p < 0.05). There is marked hypofibronectinaemia in leprosy patients that may be due to several possible causes. More work is needed to elucidate the exact cause(s) of hypofibronectinaemia in leprosy.

Key words: Leprosy, hypofibronectinaemia, plasma fibronectin, adhesion protein, Nigerian lepers.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-004, June, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-demographic characteristics of patients presenting pulmonary tuberculosis in a primary health centre, Zaria, Nigeria

Ogboi S. J.¹*, Idris S. H.¹, Olayinka A. T.² and Ilyas Junaid¹

¹Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 May, 2022

Abstract

Tuberculosis is one of the killer diseases of great antiquity especially in developing countries and so contributes significantly to health instability and economic loss. The directly observed treatment (DOT) course is the recommended standard of care in treatment of tuberculosis worldwide and its key elements lie in making the diagnosis. The study was aimed at examining the socio-demographic characteristics of patients presenting at a primary health care centre in Zaria, North- Western Nigeria. The records of all suspected cases of tuberculosis seen at Sabon-Gari Comprehensive Health Centre Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria between May, 2005 - 2006 were scrutinized and reviewed. The main variables studied were age, education, occupational and educational status. A total of 694 case records were reviewed comprising of 58.4% of males and 41.6% females with a mean age of 32.78 years ± 15.10. The proportion of sputum smear positive samples was 12% with high pronderance of smear positive cases in the age group 20 - 29 years. There was statistically significant association between sex (x² =52 df = 1 p < 0.05) educational status (x² = 10.24 df = 4 p < 0.05) occupational status (x² = 19.2 df = 5 p < 0.05) and the very likely chance of detecting AFB in sputum. The study revealed that most of the patient presenting with tuberculosis are in the productive age with unemployment and low literacy level serving as potent risk factors for tuberculosis in the study area. There was a positive relationship between sputum positive, unemployment, education and occupational status (socio-demographic characteristics). There is the need for National tuberculosis and leprosy control programme (NTLCP) to take cognizance of socio-demographic factors in designing an efficient TB control programme in Nigeria.

Key words: Tuberculosis, socio-demographic characteristics, age, occupation, educational status.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In-silico analysis of Mycobacterium leprae genome to find out potential drug targets

Asad Amir¹, Asif Siddiqui¹, Anjali Malik¹, Neeraj²*, Garima Dua¹, Garima Rastogi¹, Gayatri Sharma¹, Richa Goel¹ and Singhal Gauvav^2.

¹Department of Biotechnology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Indian.

²Scientific and Applied Research Center, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Indian.

Accepted 29 March, 2022

Abstract

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent of the disease, leprosy. In-silico analysis can be performed on M. leprae genome to find out the potential drug targets. This was done first by database search to find the recorded complete genes with complete sequences of M. leprae and then their comparative study with human by using homology searching using human BLAST. From a total of 1605 genes, potential drug targets have been identified.

Key words: Mycobacterium leprae Genome, BLAST, NCBI, drug target

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Comprehensive scientific demystification of Kigelia africana: A review

Olatunji A. Gabriel¹ and Atolani Olubunmi²*

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P. M. B 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemical Sciences, Bells University of Technology, P. M. B 1012, Ota, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 February, 2022

Abstract

Medicinal plant plays a vital role in the management of various diseases. Kigelia africana popularly known as the Sausage tree, Kigelia pinnata is a multipurpose medicinal plant with many attributes and considerable potentials. The plant has traditional uses which include anticancer, antiulcer, anti-aging, antioxidant, and anti malarial. It is also widely applied in the treatment of genital infections, gynaecological disorders, renal ailments, fainting, epilepsy, sickle-cell anaemia, psoriasis, eczema, central nervous system depression, respiratory ailment, skin complaint, body weakness, leprosy, impetigo, worm infestation, scalp, athlete’s foot, tumours etc., especially in developing nations where orthodox medicine are meager, expensive or inaccessible. The various chemical constituents such as the naphthaquinones, iridoids, fatty acids, norviburtinal, sterols, lignans, terpenoid, and flavonoids are the essential building block responsible for its wide range of activities. This work represents the recent profile of applications of K. africana as examined by various modern scientific researches. This work was prompted as a result of lack of recent and sufficient scientific information on the use of K. africana as a viable medicinal plant.

Key words: Bignoniaceae, Kigelia africana, nahthaquinones, anticancer, anti-inflammatory.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Ethnomedicinal studies on some pteridophytes of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, India

S. D. Rout¹, T. Panda²* and N. Mishra³

¹Department of Wildlife and Conservation Biology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada - 757003, India.

²Department of Botany, S. N. College, Rajkanika, 754 220, Kendrapara, Orissa, India.

³Department of Zoology, Chandbali College, Chandbali- 756133, Bhadrak, Orissa, India.

Accepted 21 January, 2022

Abstract

Investigations had been made on medicinal values of higher plants but pteridophytes are often ignored. In spite of the luxuriant growth of these plants in and around Similipal in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, northern India, they had not been studied taxonomically or ethnobotanically. The dominant tribes involved in using pteridophyte as medicines in the district are Santhal, Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas. The plant parts, viz. leaves, roots, rhizomes and fronds were used in raw or cooked forms for the treatment of malaria, gonorrhea, leprosy, rheumatism etc. Mostly used genera are Adiantum, Asplenium, Lygodium and Pteris .The present study had been designed to assess the medicinal uses of 33 pteridophyte species belonging to 21 families on the basis of field surveys and taxonomic identification of plants.

Key words: Ethnomedicinal, pteridophytes, similipal biosphere reserve, Orissa.