Metallo-β-lactamase and AmpC genes in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from abattoir and poultry origin in Nigeria.

Background: Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance genes such as metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and AmpC genes that give them the undue advantage to resist antimicrobial onslaught. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MBL (bla, bla, bla, bla) and AmpC (bla, bla, bla, bla) resistance genes in aforementioned GNB collected from abattoir and poultry sources in Nigeria.

Results: In total, 370 isolates were collected from abattoir tables (n = 130), anal region of cows (n = 120), and the cloacae of poultry birds (n = 120).

Evaluation of Chitosan-Microcrystalline Cellulose Blends as Direct Compression Excipients.

This study was aimed at evaluating chitosan-microcrystalline cellulose blends as direct compression excipients. Crab shell chitosan, -lactose monohydrate, and microcrystalline cellulose powders were characterized. Blends of the microcrystalline cellulose and chitosan in ratios 9 : 1, 4 : 1, 2 : 1, and 1 : 1 as direct compression excipients were made to constitute 60% of metronidazole tablets.

Thermochemical Properties of Hydrophilic Polymers from Cashew and Khaya Exudates and Their Implications on Drug Delivery.

Characterization of a polymer is essential for determining its suitability for a particular purpose. Thermochemical properties of cashew gum (CSG) extracted from exudates of and khaya gum (KYG) extracted from exudates of were determined and compared with those of acacia gum BP (ACG). The polymers were subjected to different thermal and chemical analyses.

Anti-trypanosomal activity of nigerian plants and their constituents.

African trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease causing serious risks to the lives of about 60 million people and 48 million cattle globally. Nigerian medicinal plants are known to contain a large variety of chemical structures and some of the plant extracts have been screened for antitrypanosomal activity, in the search for potential new drugs against the illness. We surveyed the literatures on plants and plant-derived products with antitrypanosomal activity from Nigerian flora published from 1990 to 2014.

Immunomodulatory and immunorestorative activities of β-D-glucan-rich extract and polysaccharide fraction of mushroom, Pleurutus tuberregium.

Context: Some edible mushrooms are reputed to possess useful medicinal properties which are related to their ability to modulate the protective responses of the immune system.

Objective: This study explored the immunomodulatory and immunorestorative properties of a hot aqueous extract (APTR) and of a β-d-glucan-enriched polysaccharide fraction (BGP) of a local oyster mushroom Pleurutus tuberregium (Fr.) Singer (Pleurotaceae).

Molecular modeling of potential anticancer agents from African medicinal plants.

Naturally occurring anticancer compounds represent about half of the chemotherapeutic drugs which have been put in the market against cancer until date. Computer-based or in silico virtual screening methods are often used in lead/hit discovery protocols. In this study, the "drug-likeness" of ~400 compounds from African medicinal plants that have shown in vitro and/or in vivo anticancer, cytotoxic, and antiproliferative activities has been explored.

New direct compression excipient from tigernut starch: physicochemical and functional properties.

Tigernut starch has been isolated and modified by forced retrogradation of the acidic gel by freezing and thawing processes. Relevant physicochemical and functional properties of the new excipient (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation and accelerated (forced) retrogradation (ST(AM))) were evaluated as a direct compression excipient in relation to the native tigernut starch (ST(NA)), intermediate product (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation (ST(A))), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The particle morphology, swelling capacity, moisture sorption, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermographs and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns, flow, dilution capacity, and tablet disintegration efficiency were evaluated.

Pharmacodynamics of piroxicam from novel solid lipid microparticles formulated with homolipids from Bos indicus.

The dissolution of piroxicam is a limiting step in its bioavailability on account of its hydrophobicity. The objective of this research was to formulate novel solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) based on homolipids (admixtures of tallow fat (TF) and Softisan(®) 142 (SFT) templated with Phospholipon(®) 90G (P90G), a heterolipid for the delivery of piroxicam. Lipid matrices consisting of TF and SFT in ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 were templated with the heterolipid, P90G and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Antidiabetic effect of combined aqueous leaf extract of vernonia amygdalina and metformin in rats.

This study investigated the antidiabetic activity of the various combinations (ratios) of metformin (50 mg/kg) and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (100 mg/kg). The ratios of Extract to Metformin were 1:1, 2 1, and 2:1 and distilled water (control, p.o.

Biodegradable microspheres based on gelatin-porcine mucin admixtures: in vitro and in vivo delivery studies.

Soluble mucus glycoprotein (S-mucin) processed from the small intestines (ileal region) of freshly slaughtered pigs via homogenization, dialysis, centrifugation and lyophilization and their admixtures with type B gelatin were used to prepare cefaclor-loaded microspheres by the emulsification-crosslinking method. The microspheres were evaluated for the in vitro delivery of cefaclor in both simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) without pancreatin (pH 7.4) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) without pepsin (pH 1.

Preparation and evaluation of mucinated sodium alginate microparticles for oral delivery of insulin.

Effective oral insulin delivery remains a challenge to the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, insulin-loaded microparticles for oral delivery were prepared with mucin and sodium alginate combined at different ratios using a novel method based on polymer coacervation and diffusion filling. Some physical characteristics of the various insulin-loaded microparticles such as particle size, morphology and compressibility indices were determined.

Preparation and characterization of mucinated agarose: a mucin-agarose physical crosslink.

Efficient, biocompatible and biodegradable new polymer materials are continually being sought to meet the challenging needs of drug delivery. Mucinated agarose, a physical crosslink of mucin and agarose, which are both biodegradable natural polymers, has been successfully prepared by a temperature controlled coarcervation technique of aqueous dispersions of equal concentrations of both polymers. Some functional and physicochemical characteristics of the new polymer such as swelling, moisture uptake, mucoadhesive as well as the thermal properties were determined and compared to those of agarose and mucin alone.

In vitro evaluation of the antiviral activity of extracts from the lichen Parmelia perlata (L.) Ach. against three RNA viruses.

Background: Substances extracted from lichens have previously been reported to possess antimicrobial activities against various groups of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Due to the high abundance of Parmelia perlata in the Eastern parts of Nigeria, we decided to explore whether it possesses antiviral activity against some common animal and human viruses.

Methodology: The dried and powdered lichen was extracted with acetone, water and 4% (v/v) NaOH (to yield a crude polysaccharide fraction) using standard methods.

Evaluation of snail mucin motifs as rectal absorption enhancer for insulin in non-diabetic rat models.

The use of snail mucin motifs as rectal absorption enhancer for insulin has been evaluated. The mucin motifs were extracted from the giant African snail Archachatina marginata by differential precipitation with acetone. The mucin motifs were found to have a molecular weight of 5780 Da and an isoelectric point of 3.

Thermodynamic consideration of the charge transfer interaction of the donor: acceptor type between chloranilic acid and haloperidol.

The thermodynamic parameters of the charge transfer complex between chloranilic acid and haloperidol were studied. Haloperidol in pure form and in dosage form was assayed in this study. The method was based on charge transfer complex formation between the drug, which acted as an n-donor, and chloranilic acid, which acted as a pi acceptor in a non aqueous solvent.

Pharmacodynamic-pharmacokinetic profiles of metformin hydrochloride from a mucoadhesive formulation of a polysaccharide with antidiabetic property in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat models.

The antidiabetic property of a formulation containing metformin hydrochloride and detarium gum has been evaluated in streptozotocin model of experimental rats. Both the gum and metformin hydrochloride possess antidiabetic properties to varying degrees. The pharmacokinetics of metformin from the mucoadhesive dosage forms indicated that for metformin alone, the area under the curve (AUC) values were 125.

Bioadhesive delivery of metformin using prosopis gum with antidiabetic potential.

The antidiabetic properties of prosopis gum alone and as a bioadhesive base for the delivery of metformin are presented. The bioadhesive value of the gum was commensurate with those of Carbopol 974-P and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC). The release of the drug was higher from prosopis gum based bioadhesive formulations than from NaCMC and Carbopol 974-P products.