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OPTIMAL EXTRACTION PARAMETERS OF THEABROWNIN FROM SICHUAN DARK TEA
Get PDFBackground: Sichuan Dark Tea is a popular beverage with hypolipidemic and lifting greasy properties in the minority
neighborhoods of Sichuan and Tibet regions. The theabrownin, an important pigment of dark tea, has been proven for the role of the
hypolipidemic property in Sichuan Dark Tea. The objective of the study investigated the extraction process of theabrownin.
Materials and Methods: Theabrownin was extracted from Sichuan Dark Tea with water and organic solvents. The quadratic
regression orthogonally rotational combinational design experiment was performed to obtain the optimal extraction parameters.
Results: The extraction yield of theabrownin was significantly influenced by both water extraction temperature and solid-liquid ratio,
and the contribution of these factors on theabrownin yield was as follows: water temperature﹥solid-liquid ratio﹥organic solvent
temperature. Moreover, the polynomial regression model established could predict the experimental value accurately.
Conclusion: The optimum extraction process of theabrownin from Sichuan Dark Tea was established, which water temperature at
65.69-77.88℃, organic solvent temperature at 13.65-17.48℃ and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:43.58-1:50.75(g/mL)
CARDIAC DISORDER IN HEMODIALYSIS: BENEFITS OF CHINESE HERBS
Get PDFBackground: A major cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients is cardiac disease. Most complementary and alternative
therapies, including Chinese herbal medicine, have been useful in the treatment of cardiac disorders.
Materials and Methods: A 46 year old Asian woman with chronic renal failure was admitted to the clinic for hemodialysis. In the
course of the fifth session of standard dialysis, she developed shock followed by a ventricular tachycardia which rapidly degenerated
into cardiac arrest, from which she was resuscitated through cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The following therapeutic strategies
were applied: low discharge oxygen inhalation; stricter water and salt restriction; dialysate temperature set at 36.0 OC; rhEPO 3000u,
per week, low molecular weight iron dextran, 200mg/day, intravenously for five days; the patient received Chinese herbal
concoction orally.
Results: The patient obtained efficient standard dialysis without any cardiac syndrome.
Conclusion: Chinese herbs are useful in the management of cardiac disorders in hemodialysis. Chinese herbs may provide more
benefits by adjusting dialysis strategies
ANTIVIRAL EFFECTS OF GREEN TEA (Camellia sinensis) AGAINST PATHOGENIC VIRUSES OF HUMAN AND ANIMALS (A MINIREVIEW)
Get PDFBackground: Tea is the second most addictive worldwide after formulations containing caffeine in carbonated beverage. Green tea is
made from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. In the repertoire of traditional Chinese medicine, green tea beverages have played a
fundamental role associated with their culture. It has been suggested that green tea has a number of positive health benefits that are
reviewed and discussed in this minireview.
Materials and Methods: We performed a search using the key words “green tea” AND “antiviral” covering the last 10 years. The
consulted data based were PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Reuters and Thomson.
Results: The results of the searching greatly support that green tea presents both antibacterial and antiviral effects. The beneficial effects
of green tea are mainly attributed to the presence of a type of polyphenols known as catechins and formed by several isomers including
(-) - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-) - epigallocatechin, (-) - epicatechin gallate, (-) -epicatechin, and (+) - catechin. The catechins in
green tea have a wide range of antiviral activity against a variety of viruses that act by interfering with its replication cycle.
Conclusion: A detailed information on the antiviral activity of green tea in a number of different viruses show a promising future as a
popular drink and also as a potential therapeutic agent
SURVEILLANCE FOR VANCOMYCIN RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA
Get PDFBackground. Enterococci are responsible for up to 12% of cases of healthcare associated infections worldwide and cause life threatening infections among critically ill patients. They show intrinsic and acquired resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents. Glycopeptide resistance is due to vanA, vanB, vanC, vanD, vanE, vanG and vanL genes.
Objectives. To determine the carriage rate of VRE among patients on prolonged hospitalization in LUTH, assess the antimicrobial resistance pattern of VRE, identify factors associated with VRE colonization and describe the genetic determinants of enterococcal resistance to Vancomycin.
Methods. VRE were isolated from rectal swabs collected from patients hospitalized for seven days or more in Lagos University Teaching Hospital and identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by E-test. PCR assay for Vancomycin resistance genes was also performed. Data on demographic and risk factors collected by questionnaire was tested for significance using chi square.
Results. Thirteen of 319 patients surveyed were colonized with VRE; one with vanA E. faecium, two with vanB E. faecium, ten with E. gallinarum and one with E. casseliflavus. Univariate analysis for risk factors associated with VRE colonization was only significant for the ward of admission. Only one VRE isolate showed full resistance to vancomycin and Teicoplanin. Three were resistant to Ampicillin and nine to Ciprofloxacin but all were susceptible to Linezolid. High-level resistance to Gentamicin was found in four VRE isolates.
Conclusion. There is a low prevalence of VRE in Lagos University Teaching Hospital which may be spreading among patients in affected wards
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PROFILING AND MICROBIOTA OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY DOGS IN IBADAN, SOUTH WEST NIGERIA.
Get PDFBackground: Rearing of dogs and other pets has become increasingly popular in modern society. Bacterial flora resides within the nasal and oral cavities of dogs and when chanced, can be pathogenic. Certain similarities between humans and dogs portends dangerous behavioral habits that could lead to zoonotic disease transmission. This study was aimed at isolation, identification and antibiotic profiling of bacteria from nasal swabs of apparently healthy dogs. The zoonotic risk was also considered.
Methodology: A total of 173 nasal swabs were collected from 173 apparently healthy dogs. Structured questionnaires were administered to investigate human behavioral habits.
Results: Two hundred and twenty two (222) bacterial isolates were obtained from the culture with ten (10) potentially pathogenic bacteria in the order of Escherichia coli (18.5%), Proteus species (17.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.0%), Klebsiella species (9.0%), Acinetobacter species (9.0%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus species (7.7%), Pseudomonas species (6.8%), Actinobacter species (6.8%), Citrobacter species (5.9%) and Streptococcus species (5.4%). Overall, the Gram negative isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (9.3%), sparfloxacin (16.0%),perfloxacin (17.3%), ofloxacin (21.6%), chloramphenicol (34..6%), gentamycin (36.4%), streptomycin (37.%), septrin (49.4%), amoxillin (59.3%), augmentin (62.3%) while the Gram positive bacteria showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.3%), perfloxacin (6.7%), erythromycin (13.3%), streptomycin (21.7%), rocephin (28.3%), septrin (28.3%), gentamycin (36.7%), zinnacef (68.3%), ampiclox (81.7%) and amoxillin (85.0%). Multi-drug resistance (MDR) to three or more antimicrobials was observed in some of the isolates. Seventy - seven resistance patterns were observed, 16 in Gram positive and 61 in Gram negative bacteria.
Conclusion: This study revealed MDR to two or more antimicrobials in all the isolates. These can pose antibiotic resistance challenges in situation of primary or secondary canine respiratory infections. Also, this study revealed that 82% of the dog owners/ lovers had less than 50cm face-to-face contact with these dogs while playing with them, thus increasing their chances of acquiring MDR bacteria from apparently healthy dogs
FLOCK-BASED SURVEILLANCE FOR LOW PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS IN COMMERCIAL BREEDERS AND LAYERS, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA
Get PDFBackground: Flock surveillance systems for avian influenza (AI) virus play a critical role in countries where vaccination is not
practiced so as to establish the epidemiological characteristics of AI needed for the development of prevention and control strategies
in such countries.
Materials and Methods: As part of routine AI monitoring in southwest Nigeria, a competitive ELISA was used for detecting
influenza A virus antibodies in the sera of 461 commercial breeder and layer birds obtained from different flocks in Oyo State,
Nigeria while haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies against low pathogenic AI viruses (LPAIVs) were detected using H5N2,
H7N7 and H9N2 subtype-specific antigens. Suspensions prepared from cloacal swabs were tested for AI virus RNA using reverse
transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Results showed that influenza A virus antibody prevalence was 12.8% and 9.3% for breeders and layers, respectively while
HI assay revealed 22.0%, 2.0% and 78.0% prevalence of LPAIV H5N2, H7N7 and H9N2 antibodies respectively. All cloacal swab
suspensions were negative for AIV RNA.
Conclusion: Since LPAI infections result in decreased or complete cessation of egg production in breeder and layer birds, increased
infection severity due to co-infection with other poultry viruses have occasionally been transmitted to humans, the detection of
LPAIV H5N2, H7N7 and H9N2 antibodies in these birds is of both economic and public health significance. These findings
underscore the need for continuous flock monitoring as part of early warning measure to facilitate rapid detection and sustainable
control of AI in Nigerian poultry
A REVIEW OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON FOODS AND PLANTS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE LACTATION IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Get PDFBackground: While both the proportion of infants exclusively fed breast milk and the duration of suckling increased worldwide and
in Turkey, the addition of another product to breast milk in the first six months of the infant's life is still widespread.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive, cross-sectional study to identify the traditional methods
intending to increase breast milk in pregnancy. The sample group consisted of 100 pregnant women in their last trimester who
visited the obstetrical outpatient clinics of a State Hospital of Zonguldak. Data were collected on a data collection form during a face
to face interview.
Results: The methods for increasing lactation in pregnant women that the subjects had heard about consisted of the ingestion of
abundant water and fluid food (94.0%), green leafy vegetables (such as lettuce) (38%), sweet foods (26%) and milk or other dairy
items (19%). Of the pregnant women questioned, 19.0% declared that they would not do anything in particular to increase their milk,
33% that they would drink more fluids, 14% that they would ingest apricot compost and 12% herbal teas. No significant differences
among groups were detected between age, educational status, family type, parity and live children number on one side and the
subjects' planning to use special foods or fluids (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The subjects believed that in addition to an abundant consumption of water and fluid foods, seen as essential, eating
green leafy vegetables, chiefly lettuce, and a particular type of sesame halva would increase lactation
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF GYMNOSPERMA GLUTINOSUM (SPRENG.) LESS. (ASTERACEAE) METHANOL EXTRACTS AGAINST HELICOBACTER PYLORI
Get PDFBackground: Prolonged use of antibiotics may lead to the selection of drug-resistant bacteria; as a result, efforts are being made to identify new and effective antimicrobial agents, particularly, from medicinal plants, against bacterial infections. Antimicrobial activity of Gymnosperma glutinosum against Helicobacter pylori has not yet been reported.
Materials and methods: The antibacterial in vitro effect of Gymnosperma glutinosum methanol leaf extracts against Helicobacter pylori (ATCC 43504) was evaluated in liquid medium by the colorimetric 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay and in solid medium by the colony forming units (CFU) method.
Results: Methanol extracts significantly (
PHYTOCHEMICAL, ELEMENTAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL STUDY OF CRYPTOCARYA LATIFOLIA
Get PDFBackground: Existing populations of Cryptocarya latifolia (Lauraceae) are rapidly declining as a consequence of their substitutive use for Ocotea bullata. The uncontrolled and excessive removal of the bark and roots of this species has led to the death of many of these plants and may eventually result in its depletion in the natural habitat.
Materials and methods: The secondary metabolites from the leaves and fruits of C. latifolia were extracted using solvents of various polarities, isolated using column chromatography and identified using spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro free radical scavenging activity (antioxidant capacity) of selected phytocompounds at varied concentrations was determined by the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. A propagation study of the species was also conducted.
Results: The compounds isolated from the plant were the novel compound, α-pyrone (5-hexyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one) and known compounds quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, β-sitosterol, copaene and nerolidol. The radical scavenging activity of the isolated compounds indicated moderate to good anti-oxidant activity. Treatment of explants with BAP:NAA at 1.0:0.01 mg L-1 produced the highest percentage of shoots (94%) and longest shoot length (8.06 mm).
Conclusion: This study validates the ethno-medicinal use of the plant and supports the replacement of bark and roots by leaves and fruits for the management and conservation of this declining plant species. The benefits of consuming the fruits are two-fold as they can also contribute to the recommended dietary allowances of most essential elements for the majority of individuals
PHYTOCHEMISTRY, CYTOTOXICITY AND APOPTOSIS STUDIES OF Β-SITOSTEROL-3-O-GLUCOSIDE AND Β -AMYRIN FROM PRUNUS AFRICANA
Get PDFBackground: Prunus africana is used traditionally in many countries for the treatment of cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia.
Materials and methods: In this study, compounds from the leaves and bark of this plant were isolated and tested for their
cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in two human cancer cell lines (hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and colorectal carcinoma
(Caco-2)) and a non-cancer cell line (embryonic kidney (HEK293)). GC-MS profiling of the extract was also conducted.
Results: Three compounds (β-sitosterol, β-amyrin and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside) were isolated and the cytotoxic activity of β-
amyrin and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside on the HepG2, Caco-2 and HEK293 was determined using the MTT cell viability assay. Both
compounds had significant cytotoxic activity towards the Caco-2 cell line with IC50 values of 81 μg mL-1 and 54 μg mL-1 for β-
amyrin and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, respectively while low cytotoxicity was observed on HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values of 206
μg mL-1 and 251 μg mL-1 for β-amyrin and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, respectively. Apoptosis induction in cells was studied using
acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining. In both cases, the compounds tested demonstrated selective cytotoxicity towards
cancer cells with high apoptosis indices in cells exposed to β-amyrin. Low IC50 values of 156 μg mL-1 and 937 μg mL-1 for β-amyrin
and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, respectively, were observed in the HEK293 cell line.
Conclusion: This study reveals that the plant is rich biologically active compounds thereby validating its ethno-medicinal use