Characterization of Malaria Preventive Extracts from Myrsine africana Seeds

Introduction: The use of pharmaceutical anti-malaria drugs in many rural areas is not common. Various plant extracts have been used as anti-plasmodial agents. Myrsine africana seed extracts are common anti-malaria agents amongst the Maasai community of Kenya. Aims: This study aimed at characterizing the chemical constituents of methanolic, aqua and n-hexane extracts of Myrsine africana seeds. Study Design: An independent measures design was used. Methodology: The extracts were obtained by maceration of the seeds before subjecting to physical-chemical analysis, functional groups, bio-metal concentrations and phytochemicals screening. Antibacterial studies were conducted using E. coli and S. aureus. The extracts were thereafter screened for presence of quinine and chloroquine by UV VIS spectroscopy. Results: The results indicated the extracts were weakly acidic with moderate solid content. The FT-IR peaks of the extracts indicated abundance of carboxylic acids and benzylic groups. The extracts had a moderate iron concentration with mild copper, cobalt and zinc concentrations. The extracts were also rich in tannins, phenols, saponins, alkaloids and steroids. The antibacterial proficiency of both stains used increased with concentration of extracts and were highest at 50.0 mg/mL. Methanolic and water extracts of the seeds also showed appreciable quinines and chloroquinines concentrations. Conclusions: M. africana seed methanolic and water extracts can be used as anti-plasmodial drugs to help curb malaria in rural tropical regions.

Anthelmintic efficacy and safety of selected medicinal plants against mixed gastrointestinal nematodes in artificially infected sheep

There has been widespread resistance to anthelmintics by pathogenic helminths to an extent where there is multi-drug resistance against all major classes of conventional anthelmintics. This world-wide phenomenon calls for urgent search for different approaches to the control of helminthosis including novel anthelmintic products. The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of selected plants, which are frequently used in the treatment and control of helminthosis, in artificially infected sheep under controlled laboratory conditions. The selected plant species were, Albizia anthelmintica Brongn, Embelia schimperi L., Myrsine africana L. and Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez. Thirty six male Dorper lambs, aged between 6 and 8 months, artificially infected with mixed gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) under controlled laboratory conditions, were used for the study. Efficacy was determined using percentage fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT %) and percentage total worm count reduction (TWCR %). Safety of the remedies was assessed using health, hematological and biochemical parameters. The FECR % against the mixed gastrointestinal nematodes was -55, 7.6, 34.2, 69.3 and 83.3% for Albizia anthelmintica, Embelia schimperi, Rapanea melanophloeos, albendazole and Myrsine africana respectively. TWCR% of 60.7, 44.6, 66, 69.7 and 35.6 percent were recorded for Albizia anthelmintica, Embelia schimperi, Myrsine Africana, Rapanea melanophloeos, and albendazole groups respectively. It was concluded that some of the remedies like M. africana have good efficacy at safe levels and should further be evaluated to determine the most optimum dosages. The gastrointestinal nematodes used in this study were resistant to albendazole

Anthelmintic efficacy of selected medicinal plants against gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep in Kenya

The use of plants, or their extracts, for the treatment of human and animal ailments, including helminthosis is steeped in antiquity. Anthelmintic resistance in pathogenic helminths has been spreading in prevalence and severity to a point where there is multi-drug resistance against the three major classes of anthelmintics. This globe-wide phenomenon calls for urgent search for different approaches to the control of helminthosis including novel anthelmintic products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of plants, which are commonly used in the treatment and control of helminthosis, under the natural grazing conditions in Loitoktok Sub-County of Kenya. The plant species (Albizia anthelmintica, Myrsine africana, and Embelia schimperi were selected based on their availability and ethnopharmacological uses, as anthelmintics, by the traditional health practitioners in the area. Fifty sheep of mixed breeds, belonging to local herders, and naturally infected with mixed gastrointestinal nematodes were recruited for the study. The herbal remedies were prepared and administered by methods prescribed by the traditional practitioners. Their efficacy was determined using faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). The percentage faecal egg count reduction against the mixed gastrointestinal nematodes was 59, -11, -31 and 87 for Myrsine africana, A. anthelmintica, E. schimperi and albendazole respectively. It was concluded that some of the remedies have some efficacy and further studies are needed to evaluate their potential as anthelmintics. There was also suspicion of development of anthemintic resistance to albendazole and herders needed to be advised accordingly on the proper use of conventional anthelmintic products