Browsing by Author "Agunu, A."
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Item ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC POTENTIALS OF THE ROOT BARK EXTRACT OF SABA COMORENSIS (BOJER) PICHON (APOCYNACEAE) USED IN NIGERIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE(Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2020-03) Attah, F. A; Chukwudulue, U. M.; Diyaolu, O. A.; Njinga, N. S.; Abdullahi, A. A.; Agunu, A.; Musa, K. Y.Painful and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, backache, headaches, asthma and peptic ulcer disease are widespread and highly prevalent. The existing drugs for these conditions are liable to sub-optimal efficacy, intolerable adverse effects, prohibitive costs or limited availability. This scenario calls for renewed search for additional anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Hence, in line with the Traditional uses of plants, this study investigated the ethanol extract of Saba comorensis (Bojer ex. A.DC.) Pichon, for its safety, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in rodents using standard experimental protocols. The LD50 (i.p.) for the ethanol extract obtained from the geometric mean of doses was 770 mg/kg. Compared with the negative controls, the ethanol extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory, ulcerogenic and dose-independent analgesic effects, while the petroleum extract did not induce any significant ulcerogenic effects. These findings suggest Saba comorensis ethanol root extract may be relatively safe and possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and may justify its use as traditional remedy for painful and inflammatory conditions. There is the need to investigate the study plant further for anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug discoveryItem Anti-inflammatory and Diuretic Activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) and Andrographis paniculata Burm. f. (Acanthaceae) Co-administered in Rats.(Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Practice, 2016-06) Lawal, B. A.; Salawu, K. M.; Agunu, A.; Adedoyin, I. R.; Abdulganiy, G. O.; Ayanniyi, R. O.Moringa oleifera Lam. ( Moringaceae) and Andrographis paniculata Burm.f. ( Acanthaceae) are commonly used medicine plants in severalparts of Nigeria . The leaf extract of M. oleifera (MO) has been extensively studied and used traditionally for its anti-inflammatory anddiuretic activities. Because of the wide medicinal benefits of these plants they are often used together in polyherbal formulation(s). This study was aimed at evaluating some biological activities of MO and A. paniculata (AP) administered singly and in combination. Thisaim was pursued using in vivo acute toxicity study, formalin induced rat paw edema and diuretic assay. The leaf extracts MO and AP were observed to be safe up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The extract of MO and AP at 100 mg/kg body weightdisplayed 69.44 and 10.10 % inhibition of rat paw edema respectively, while the combination of extract elicited weaker inhibition (11.29 %)of paw volume. The extract of MO and AP when administered singly and in various combination at different doses elicited similar diureticactivity compared to the hydrochlorothiazide except at a combined dose of MO 50 mg/kg + AP 50 mg/kg, where the urine volume(1.27±0.60 mL) was lower compared to the negative control (1.62±0.52 mL). The extracts of MO and AP were observed to be relatively safe. The extract of MO had significant anti-inflammatory and diuretic activitiescompared to AP . However the combination of both plants extracts led to inhibition of the anti-inflammatory and diuretic activities of MO.Item PERCEPTION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRADITIONAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE AMONG STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA(Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine, 2016) Lawal, B. A.; Agunu, A.The practice of traditional medicine in Nigeria is widely acceptable and contributes significantly to healthcare delivery, yet, integration and/or corecognition with orthodox medicine is still faced with a lot of challenges. One of the most recommended ways of addressing these challenges include enlightenment on the practice of traditional medicine and opportunities available for the general populace. This study presents a survey of the perception of the knowledge of traditional and herbal medicine among medical and nursing students in the College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of 159 students were selected for the survey from 200 to 500 level of medical students and nursing students of the College of medicine of the University using a semi structured questionnaire and informal conversation on the respondents. A total of 98 medical students and 61 nursing students consisting of 39% male and 61% female. Ninety-two percent of the respondents have had contact with traditional and herbal medicine although level of interest is 39% low, 49% medium and just 12% high. Majority of the respondents (87%) prefer modern medicine and only 8% prefer herbal medicine. 60% of the respondents will like to take a course in traditional/herbal medicine, but only 9% will actually like to practice traditional medicine. Although majority of the respondents have no knowledge of traditional/herbal medicine, but they are willing to understand the practice. There is therefore need for the incorporation of traditional and herbal medicine into college of medicine curriculum.Item Pharmacognostic studies and antioxidant activity of the stem-bark of Entandrophragma utile Dawe & Sprague (Meliaceae)(Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, 2018-03) Usman, S.O.; Agunu, A.; Njinga, N.S.; Oladipupo, A.F.; Olutayo, A.O.The stem-bark of Entandrophragma utile (Meliaceae) is used traditionally for treatment of rheumatism, eye inflammation, sickle cell disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pharmacognostic and antioxidant properties of the stem-bark of E. utile. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations, physicochemical parameters as well as phytochemical analyses of the powdered stem bark are performed. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effects. The macroscopic studies indicated that the stem-bark is brown, bitter, rough, channeled or squilled and has a smooth fracture type. The microscopy showed the presence of bundles of fibres, single fibres, cork cells, and sclereids. Chemo-microscopy showed the presence of lignified cell walls, suberized/cuticular cell walls, tannins and starch. Physicochemical constants are: moisture-content 8.3 ± 0.03 %, alcohol-soluble extractive 0.8 ± 0.07 % and 0.4 ± 0.03 % water-soluble extractive values. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannin, saponin and flavonoid. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract was found to be 452.8±39.4 (GAE/g of dried extract mg/g) and 15,673±261.7 (QE mg/g) respectively. The IC50 was found to be 0.75 mg/mL. The study showed that the stem bark extract is a good source of polyphenols that could be responsible for the observed antioxidant activity of the plant.Item Phytochemical and Anti-Inflammatory Studies of Ethanol Extract of Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. Combretaceae) Stem Bark in Rats and Mice(Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2017-12) Usman, S.; Agunu, A.; Atunwa, S.; Hassan, S.; Sowemimo, A.; Salawu, K.Background: Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) is a flowering plant used traditionally for the treatment of various disease conditions including hepatitis, dysentery, piles, edema, fever, gastritis, as aphrodisiac, applied to sprains and as a cleanser for washing sores. The aim of the work was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of T. macroptera stem bark. Material and Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening and quantification was carried out on the extract using standard phytochemical methods. The ethanol stem bark extract was screened using the carrageenan induced rat paw edema model, and xylene induced edema model in mice at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses orally. Lorke’s method was used to study the acute oral toxicity effect. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract were 164.8±10.37 (GAE/g of dried extract mg/g) and 193.6±6.37 (QE mg/g) respectively. The result showed that the extract produced a significant (p<0.05) dose independent inhibition with the maximum inhibition (89.93%) observed at 30 minutes at 50 mg/kg in the carrageenan induced edema and (49.5%) at 400 mg/kg in xylene induced models. No toxic effect was observed at 4.0g/kg of the extract in rats. Conclusion: The study showed that the ethanol stem bark extract is a good source of various phytochemicals that could be responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory activity of the plant. Keywords: Terminalia macroptera, Anti-inflammatory, Phytochemical, Carrageenan