Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences

Acid-neutralizing-capacity(ANC) of some brands of antacids and other anti-ulcer drugs marketed in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria

Jennifer Drambi Audu-Peter — 2024-01-15

The prevalence of high stress among the working class has significantly increased the incidences of some conditions such as the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and the Gastro- esophaegeal reflux disease (GERD). A number of antacids and other antiulcer drugs are produced to treat these conditions and it is important for patients to choose the best among them for quick relief. The acid- neutralizing capacity (ANC) of antacids determines the most effective and quick relieving agent of epigastric pain. This work was aimed at evaluating the ANC of some chewable antacid tablets, rabeprazole tablets, omeprazole capsules and ranitidine tablets using titrimetric method of analysis. Sixteen brands of the drugs within their shelf-life when study was carried out in 2019 were randomly procured from pharmacies in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria and evaluated for package information, visual characteristics, physicochemical properties and their ANC determined by back-titration. The results showed that all the brands provided adequate label information and passed important physicochemical attributes examinations. The result of their ANC showed that among the chewable tablets, brand B had the highest value of 12.4602 mEq, followed by brand D (11.3221 mEq) and brand C (10.9488 mEq). A chewable antacid tablet, brand A, showed a comparable ANC value to brand E, a proton pump inhibitor. Rabeprazole and Ranitidine performed better than omeprazole in neutralizing acids. In conclusion, the ANC of antacids tablets showed higher ANC values than H2-receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor, and gives credibility to their choice as drugs of first choice in acute epi-gastric pain. Brand B is the drug of choice among the brands tested.

Phytochemical analysis of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus sur Forssk (Moraceae)

E.E. Odion — 2024-01-15

Ficus sur is a sizeable spreading tree used in traditional medicine in the treatment of anaemia, diarrhoea, wounds, malaria, haemorrhoids and epilepsy. These effects are due to the presence of different phytochemicals in the leaf. This study aims at identifying the phyto-constitutents that may be responsible for its ethno-medicinal uses. Phytochemical screening of the methanol leaf extract was achieved using standard methods. Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to identify the compounds, while High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify alkaloids. Screening the powdered leaf for phytochemicals revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and terpenoids. GC-MS analysis revealed sixty-six compounds, while HPLC analysis showed benzene sulfonamide, norethindrone, benzamide, indolizine, pyrazoline, isobutylamine, colchicine, methanamine, simulansamide, androstane and propargylamine. This study identified eleven alkaloids from the leaf of Ficus sur and these could be responsible for the observed activities exhibited by Ficus sur.

Historical perspective of pandemics in Nigeria

Ogechi A. Ikem — 2024-01-15

Emergence and spread of infectious diseases with pandemic potential occurred regularly throughout history. Major pandemics and epidemics such as plague, cholera, flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have already afflicted humanity. Many infectious diseases leading to pandemics are caused by zoonotic pathogens that were transmitted to humans due to increased contacts with animals through breeding, hunting and global trade activities. The understanding of the mechanisms of transmission of pathogens to humans allowed the establishment of methods to prevent and control infections. During centuries, implementation of public health measures such as isolation, quarantine and border control helped to contain the spread of infectious diseases and maintain the structure of the society. Global surveillance programs of water-borne pathogens, vectorborne diseases and zoonotic spillovers at the animal-human interface are of prime importance to rapidly detect the emergence of infectious threats. Pandemics had also occurred variously in Nigeria ranging from the Flu, the yellow fever, the lassa fever, the ebola fever and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and had taken a serious toll on the nation‘s population, economy and standard of living. In each of these cases, the country seemed ill-prepared for it, but somehow, manages to scale through them. It is hoped that the nation would put mechanisms and structures in place, to contain any future pandemic.

Antidepressant and anticonvulsant effects of the methanol leaf extract of Stachytarpheta Augostifolia (Verbenaceae) in mice

OP Obaro — 2024-01-22

Most people in developing and developed countries still use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases such as epilepsy and depression. With the burden of epilepsy -induced depression on the rise; there exists a need to find newer and safer alternatives. S. augostifolia leaves are used in ethnomedicine; however there are no reports on the neuropharmacological effect of this plant. This study investigates the antidepressant, motor coordination and anticonvulsant profile of the leaves of the plant. The leaves were collected, dried, powdered and then extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Preliminary phytochemical screening and some neuropharmacological evaluations were done using standard techniques. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, carbohydrates, saponin, flavonoids, phenolics, eugenols, terpenes, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The extract at doses of 100 mg/kg (p<0.001), 200 and 400 mg/kg (p<0.0001), significantly reduced the duration of immobility in the forced swim test and tail suspension test. There was no significant increase or decrease in the number of head dips and time spent on the rota rod at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract. The extract protected mice against maximal electroshock seizures in mice. It is concluded that the leaf extracts may possess antidepressant and anticonvulsant properties.