An acetone-water neem leaf extract with antimalarial activity was evaluated in vitro at 5 microg/ml for inhibition of adhesion of malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes and cancer cells to endothelial cells, and at 10 microg/ml for protection of lymphocytes against invasion by HIV. The extract was also evaluated in 10 patients with HIV/AIDS at 1000 mg daily for 30 d. The mean binding of infected erythrocytes and cancer cells per endothelial cell was 15 and 11 respectively in the absence of the extract, and 0 and 2 respectively in with the extract. In the absence and presence of the extract, 0% and 75%, respectively, of lymphocytes were protected. In the treated patients, haemoglobin concentration, mean CD4+ cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which were initially 9.8 g/dl, 126 cells/microl and 90 mm/h respectively, improved to 12.1 g/dl, 241 cells/microl and 49 mm/h. Mean bodyweight and platelet count, initially 57 kg and 328 x 10(3)/mm3 respectively, increased to 60 kg and 359 x 10(3)/mm3. No adverse effects were observed during the study. The extract showed antiretroviral activity with a mechanism of action that may involve inhibition of cytoadhesion. The results may help in the development of novel antiretroviral and antimalarial drugs.
The safety and effect of an acetone-water neem leaf extract (IRAB) on CD4 cells was investigated in 60 HIV/AIDS patients as part of an ongoing study to determine the influence of neem on immunity and viral load in HIV/AIDS. Patients were confirmed as HIV I or II positive, as having CD4 cell count, less than 300 cells/microL, and as antiretrovirally naïve. They were given oral IRAB (1.0 g daily for 12 weeks). Clinical and laboratory tests were carried out at baseline and at 4 weekly intervals. Thus, the patients served as their own controls. Sixty patients completed treatment. Fifty (83.33%) were completely compliant with respect to laboratory tests. Increase in mean CD4 cells, 266 cells/microL (159%), for the 50 patients was significant (P < 0.001) between baseline and week 12. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (64 mm/hr at baseline) was 16 mm/hr at week 12, whereas total number of incidences of HIV/AIDS-related pathologies decreased from 120 at baseline to 5. Mean bodyweight, hemoglobin concentration, and lymphocyte differential count increased significantly by 12% (P < 0.05), 24% (P < 0.0001), and 20% (P < 0.0001), respectively. There were no adverse effects and no abnormalities in kidney and liver function parameters. The results support the safety of IRAB in HIV/AIDS, and its significant influence on CD4 cells may be useful in the formulation of multidrug combination therapies for HIV/AIDS. However, its antiretroviral activity is being evaluated in our laboratory.
Objective The objective of this study was to observe the effects of chronic dosing with monosodium glutamate on mortality, fertility, major organ functions and histology in albino Wistar rats. Results 6 male and 6 female rats (age 6 weeks) were bred in a cage, feeding on standard growers’ mash, with monosodium glutamate added (120 mg/kg/day). 12 corresponding breeding rats (on standard feed without MSG) were controls. Chronic dosing with monosodium glutamate in albino Wistar rats (at a dose consistent with the human ADI) led to increased mortality, fertility impairment, and significant changes in major organ function tests and histology. 23 deaths were recorded in the rats fed with MSG additive, while mortality was zero in the control animals. Fertility was lower in rats on MSG (48 births) than in controls (117 births). The weight gain of the MSG rats was higher than in controls. Biochemical parameters and organ histology remained normal in control animals. In MSG-treated rats however, liver/renal function tests, fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride, serum uric acid showed a significant rise at trimestrial time-points. Histology showed mild portal inflammation in MSG rats, with periglomerular fibrosis and interstitial nephritis in two rats, at 6–12 months.
The Achi community of south-east Nigeria was given mass ivermectin therapy to control endemic onchocerciasis. 7556 subjects (75.6% of those eligible) were dosed. 992 patients (13.1%) complained of adverse effects, mostly within one week of dosing. Adverse events were mainly of the Mazzotti type. Exacerbation of pruritus (71.2%), oedema (47.4%), headache (46.4%), and worsening of rash (24.4%) were the most common. In 962 subjects (97%), adverse events were mild and did not prevent work. Two patients suffered severe sustained postural hypotension. The incidence of adverse events was greater in villages with a high load of microfilarial infection.
Microfilariae were eliminated in eight out of ten patients. Spontaneous nodule regression was noted in four patients.
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