Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science Research

Self-medication practices with over-the-counter drugs among pharmacy students in South- South Nigeria

Samuel O. Orji — 2026-03-25

Background: Self-medication with Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs is increasingly practiced among university students, including those in health-related disciplines. This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and self-medication practices with OTC drugs among pharmacy students in the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400–600 level pharmacy students using a structured, self-administered questionnaire based on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) model. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, utilizing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations between socio-demographic variables and KAP components. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Pharmacy Ethics Committee.

Results: Findings revealed that a large proportion of respondents (98.1%) demonstrated good knowledge of OTC drugs. Most students (99.6%) exhibited positive attitudes toward responsible self-medication, acknowledging the pharmacist’s role in ensuring drug safety. However, a considerable proportion (82.2%) reported practicing self-medication within the past three months without professional consultation, while 34.1% admitted increasing drug doses beyond recommended limits. Chi-square analysis showed no statistically significant association between socio-demographic variables and respondents’ knowledge or attitude toward OTC drug use (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Pharmacy students demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes regarding OTC drug use but engaged in risky self-medication practices, indicating a persistent knowledge gap. Strengthening drug-safety education and enforcing OTC regulations is recommended.

Antiplasmodial activity of combined bark extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, Mangifera indica, and Carica papaya at a 1:1:1 Ratio in a Murine Malaria Model

Aniekan S. Ebong — 2026-03-25

Background: Malaria remains a significant global health burden, exacerbated by the rising prevalence of drug-resistant Plasmodium strains. This critical public health challenge highlights an urgent need for novel anti-malarial therapies, with traditional herbal medicine offering a promising avenue for drug discovery. This study evaluated the antiplasmodial efficacy of bark extracts from Vernonia amygdalina (BB), Mangifera indica (MB), and Carica papaya (PB), investigating both individual treatments and polyherbal combinations in an experimental parasitic infection model.

Methods: Parasitaemia was established in mice, followed by a 5-day curative treatment initiated on day 4 post-infection. Mice were administered 400 mg/kg of each extract, 10 mL of distilled water (negative control), or 5 mg/kg of Chloroquine (CQ) as a positive control. Parasite clearance was assessed on day 9 post-infection.

Results: Our findings demonstrated synergistic antiplasmodial activity in the polyherbal combinations for both aqueous and ethanol extracts, outperforming individual extract treatments. Notably, the triple ethanol combination (BB+MB+PB) exhibited the highest parasite clearance at 89.71%, closely approaching the standard drug CQ (97.89%), representing only an 8.18% difference in efficacy.

Conclusion: These results offer significant insights into the therapeutic potential of these plant extracts, particularly when combined, advocating for further dose-response investigations into their collective anti-malarial properties.

Pharmacy services in primary healthcare facilities: A survey of patients’ perspectives and influence of demographic factors on satisfaction

Paul O. Onah — 2026-03-25

Background: The dispensing of medicines and other pharmacy services at primary health care (PHC) facilities is largely carried out by nurses, community health workers and pharmacy technicians. There are concerns about quality, as dispensary staff are often unqualified to perform pharmacy services. This study is therefore aimed at assessing satisfaction with medication-related services at PHCs.

Methods: This survey study was carried out in ten selected PHCs located in Jere and Maiduguri metropolitan area councils of Borno State. A modified pharmaceutical service quality questionnaire (PSQ-18) was administered to randomly selected patients at dispensary units. Mean item and satisfaction domain scores were calculated and scores <3 (≥ 70%) was considered satisfaction. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between demographic factors and satisfaction. P values < 0.05 were statistically significant.

Results: The dispensary staff consists of community health workers (58.6%), junior community health workers (18.4%) and pharmacy technicians (17.9%). Satisfaction was adequate for medicine information (88.3%), while quality of services (61.7%), medicine availability (47.6%), timeliness of services (45.1%) and good relationships with staff (30.4%) performed poorly. There was an insignificant association between satisfaction and demographic variables except for medicine availability (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Satisfaction with medicine information was adequate; other aspects of services performed poorly. Demographic factors had no significant association with satisfaction, with the exception of medicine information. There is need to improve dispensary services if satisfaction is to be achieved among patients.

Susceptibility of Aedes aegypti L. to essential oils of Eryngium foetidum L. and Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng

Peace M. E. Ubulom — 2026-03-25

Aedes aegypti is a major vector of yellow fever, dengue, and lymphatic filariasis. Increasing resistance to synthetic insecticides has necessitated the search for safer, plant-based alternatives. This study evaluated the susceptibility of adult female Aedes aegypti to the essential oils of Eryngium foetidum and Plectranthus amboinicus.

Methods:

Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Susceptibility was assessed based on knockdown effects at concentrations of 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, and 100.00 μl/ml. The negative control was 1 ml of 10% Tween 80, while deltamethrin served as the positive control. Each concentration and control was tested in quadruplicate, with 25 adult female mosquitoes per replicate (100 per concentration). Bioassays were conducted using Wheaton bottles coated with the respective test solutions.

Results:

Eryngium foetidum oil produced a concentration- and time-dependent knockdown effect, achieving 100% and 96% knockdown at 50.00 μl/ml and 100.00 μl/ml, respectively. Plectranthus amboinicus oil showed a non-linear concentration– response relationship. At 30 minutes, KD₅₀ values estimated by log-time probit analysis were 15.236 μl/ml for P. amboinicus and 59.311 μl/ml for E. foetidum, indicating greater susceptibility of Ae. aegypti to P. amboininicus oil. Only the positive control elicited knockdown among controls.

Conclusion:

Both essential oils demonstrated adulticidal activity, with P. amboinicus showing greater potency. These findings support further investigation of these plant-derived oils as potential eco-friendly mosquito control agents.

Antispasmodic and Toxicological effects of ethanol extract of Chromolaena odorata on jejunum muscle in animal models

Armstrong C. Ukah — 2026-03-25

Background: Chromolaena odorata, widely used in traditional medicine for diabetes, malaria, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammation, was evaluated for its in vitro effects on jejunal smooth muscle contractility and relaxation, as well as its histological toxicity, using methanol extracts in animal models.

Methods: Acute toxicity was assessed using modified Lorke’s method in thirty adult mice (20–30 g) randomized into six groups. In vitro studies were conducted using twenty matured Wistar rats (180–200 g) divided into four groups of five animals each. Jejunum muscle strips were mounted in an organ bath containing Tyrode’s solution for contractility assessment. Histological evaluation of harvested jejunum tissues was performed using Mayer’s haematoxylin and eosin staining techniques.

Results: The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the extract was 2738.61 mg/kg, indicating relatively low acute toxicity. The extract produced dose-dependent antispasmodic effects on jejunal smooth muscle, mediated partly via muscarinic receptors, as demonstrated by atropine antagonism. At 2 × 10⁻² mg/ml, the extract elicited the maximum relaxation response (−7.0 ± 0.58 mm; 100% of maximal response), although it was less potent than atropine and not statistically significant at P < 0.05. Histological findings showed that low doses were safe, whereas higher doses induced moderate mucosal damage.

Conclusion: The methanol extract of C. odorata exhibits dose-dependent antispasmodic activity on jejunal smooth muscle, primarily through muscarinic receptor pathways. Low doses appear safe, while higher doses require caution. These findings may validate its traditional use in gastrointestinal disorders and highlight its potential as a natural antispasmodic agent.