Evaluation of valuation of toxicity profile of an alkaloidal fraction of the stem bark of Picralima nitida (fam. Apocynacaes).

Dermal and acute toxicity evaluation of the basic alkaloidal fraction of the stem bark of Picralima nitida, which has been shown to have pronounced activity against causative organisms of dermatomycosis in man, was carried out in animals. Acute intraperitoneal toxicity tests showed a dose-dependent toxicity. There was inflammation and necrosis of liver hepatocytes accompanied by reduction in neutrophilic count and a corresponding increase in lymphocytic count.

Bioactive chemical constituents from Alchornea laxiflora (benth) pax and hoffman.

Quercetin-7,4'-disulphate (1) quercetin (2) quercetin-3',4'-disulphate (3) quercetin-3,4'-diacetate (4) rutin (5) and quercetrin (6) were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction (ESM) of the crude methanolic leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora. Purification of these compounds was carried out by column chromatography utilising sephadex LH 20 and various mixtures of water, methanol, ethanol and toluene as eluents. Structural elucidation was by UV, IR, (1)HNMR and (13)CNMR spectroscopy as well as by FAB-MS.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial property of the stem bark of Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae).

The basic fraction (BF) of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Picralima nitida (family Apocynaceae) exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, but limited activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The BF had a similar minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for S. aureus to the control drug ampicillin, and lower MIC values against A.

Antibacterial activity of diospyrin, isodiospyrin and bisisodiospyrin from the root of Diospyros piscatoria (Gurke) (Ebenaceae).

Two dimeric naphthoquinones, diospyrin and isodiospyrin, isolated from the root of Diospyros piscatoria (Gurke), a common ingredient in several folk medicines, have been shown to have a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of diospyrin against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 12344 and Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 33400 ranged from 1.56 to 50 microg/mL.

Plasmid profiles of multiple drug resistant local strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

In an attempt to determine the molecular basis for the degree of resistance among strains of S. aureus to Beta-lactam antibiotics, 50 clinical isolates of coagulase-positive strains of S. aureus were obtained.

Evaluation of the destructive effect of khaya gum on Bacillus subtilis spores during tableting.

The destructive effect of khaya gum used as a binding agent in a paracetamol formulation on Bacillus subtilis spores during tableting has been investigated, in comparison with the effects of two standard binders-polyvinylpyrrolidone and gelatin. The destructive effect of khaya gum was generally similar to those of the standard binders. Significant (p < 0.

Antimicrobial potentials of Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae).

The petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of the leaves, stem bark, and root of Diospyros mespiliformis were studied for their antimicrobial activities. The crude extracts showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activities against 9 Gram-positive bacteria, 8 Gram-negative bacteria, and 6 fungal strains. Of the four extracting solvents, chloroform produced extracts with the best antimicrobial activities, while the chloroform extract of the root exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity.

Ecological distribution of Chikungunya haemagglutination inhibition antibodies in human and domestic animals in Nigeria.

A serological survey to detect presence of antibodies to Chikungunya virus in 477 human sera randomly sampled from four ecological zones of Nigeria was carried out employing a haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Similarly 220 animal sera collected mostly from the northern parts of Nigeria were screened for HI antibody to Chikungunya virus. Of the 477 human sera tested a total of 68 or 14.

Comparative in-vitro antibacterial activity of two brands of antibiotics against clinical isolates of some bacterial genera.

Six brands of ampicillin and four of gentamicin were compared for their in-vitro antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The minimum inhibitory concentrations obtained for each brand against each bacterial isolate compared very well with one another, and the kinetics of bactericidal activity showed that the brands of each antibiotic possessed similar activity against the clinical isolates tested.

Preliminary investigation of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of two Nigerian Diospyros species (Ebenaceae).

The aqueous and alcoholic extracts from the leaves of Diospyros bateri and D. monbuttensis were studied for their antimicrobial activities. The alcoholic extracts of the two Diospyros spp.

Patterns of childhood hepatitis in the Nigerian African.

A total of 133 children aged between less than a month to 14 years presenting consecutively with hepatitis were prospectively studied over a 6-year period. Most cases were acute and presented at the icteric phase. The peak incidence was in very young infants whose illness had to be differentiated from congenital biliary tract obstruction.

Effect of silver on whole cells and spheroplasts of a silver resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Electron micrographs of a silver resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in the presence of 50 micrograms/ml Ag+ indicate that the surviving cells are resistant at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane. Spheroplasts of the resistant strain were not lysed by 1 h contact with 8 micrograms/ml Ag+, but were 36% and 22% lysed by 1 h contact with 20 micrograms/ml chlorhexidine and 40 micrograms/ml polysorbate 80, respectively. Spheroplasts of a silver sensitive strain of P.

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, e-antigen and its antibody in menstrual blood and semen.

Fifty male and fifty female healthy Nigerians were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG). Results were positive in five men and four women. HBsAg was detected in samples of semen of three male HBsAg carriers and in menstrual blood of four female carriers.

Congenital transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Nigerians.

The prevalence rate of HBsAg carrier state in Nigerian pregnant women was determined to be 11.2 per cent. One third of infants born to these carrier mothers had persistent antigenaemia during an eight month follow-up period.

Rubella immunity in Nigerian children.

A serological survey was carried out to determine the rubella haemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies among Nigerian children. The subjects consisted of 100 neonates and 550 children aged one month to 15 years. The study shows that rubella immunity rose with increasing age of the children.

Hepatitis B surface antigen in menstrual blood and semen.

There is considerable epidemiologic evidence that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be transmitted sexually. With the reverse passive hemagglutination method, HBsAg was found in six (12%) of 50 male and four (8%) of 50 female Nigerians attending a family planning unit. HBsAg was detected in samples of semen in three (6%) male HBsAg carriers and in menstrual blood in four (8%) female carriers.

Application of single-radial-haemolysis test for the detection of antibodies to togaviruses.

The newly developed single-radial-haemolysis technique was employed in this study for screening of sera for detection of antibodies to three Nigerian togaviruses. This technique was compared with the standard haemagglutination-inhibition method. A close correlation between the two techniques was observed.

Rubella haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies in females of child-bearing age in western Nigeria.

Hitherto, epidemiological surveys of viral disease in Nigeria had been concentrated mostly on arboviral infections. This could be due to prevalence of the arthropod vectors responsible for the arboviral infections in this country. Recently, however, the Departments of Paediatrics and Ophthalmology of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, reported an alarming number of cases of congenital heart defects and cataracts in some infants in the wards.