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These results indicated that the root bark extracts of A. Senegalensis are safe at the lower doses tested, and calls for caution in use at higher doses in treatment.

BackgroundOldenlandia affinis, commonly called ‘kalata-kalata’, a versatile plant used locally to treat malaria fever in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa was investigated for anti-plasmodial and anti-inflammatory activities.ObjectiveThe study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial as well as anti-inflammatory activities of whole extract and cyclotide-rich fraction of Oldenlandia affinisMethodThe dichloromethane-methanol extract (ODE) of the plant, O. affinis was investigated for suppressive and curative antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium berghei in mice. ODE and the cyclotide-rich fraction (CRF) was investigated for chronic and acute anti-inflammatory activities in rat models of inflammation. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators was studied in RAW264.7 macrophages.ResultsODE exhibited significant (p<0.05) reduction in mean parasitaemia in both the suppressive and curative models of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.Administration of ODE(100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) and CRF (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition of rodent models of acute and chronic inflammation . This observation is supported by the significant (P<0.05) inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide (iNO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the reactive radical scavenging activities in RAW264.7 macrophages.ConclusionThese findings could explain, at least in part, the successes reported in the use of the herb, Oldenlandia affinis in the traditional treatment of malaria fever

Context Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv. (Apocyanaceae) leaf is used in southeast Nigeria to treat malaria. Objective This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf extract and fractions, also the phytoconstituents were standardized and analyzed. Methods The effects of daily, oral administrations of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of L. owariensis leaf extract (LOE), its hexane (LOHF), ethyl acetate (LOEF) and methanol (LOMF) fractions on early, established and residual infections in Plasmodium berghei-infected albino mice were evaluated in vivo. The extract and fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis and HPLC fingerprinting, and the acute toxicity of LOE was evaluated.Results The extract and fractions elicited 29-86, 18-95 and 75-96% significant (p50.001) suppression of parasitemia in early, established and residual infections, respectively. The ED 50 values for suppressive activity of LOE, LOHF, LOEF and LOMF were 266.56, 514.93, 392.95 and 165.70 mg/kg, respectively. The post-day 30-survival index was 16.7-50, 16.7, 16.7-66.7 and 50-83.3% for LOE, LOHF, LOEF, and LOMF, respectively. Extract-treated mice significantly (p50.001) gained weight and had reduced mortality compared with negative control (untreated) mice. An oral LD 50 value 45000 mg/kg in mice was established for LOE. The LOMF showed the greatest antiplasmodial activity in all the models, suggesting that the antimalarial activity of the plant may be attributed to alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins present in the fraction. Conclusion Results demonstrate the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf, and provide a pharmacological rationale for its ethnomedicinal use as an antimalarial agent. ARTICLE HISTORY

Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials across several cultures in many continents. For various reasons, consumption of kaolin is common among pregnant women in Nigeria. This earth material is known to contain heavy metals. This study was carried out to determine the effect of kaolin consumption on some heavy metal levels in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows; Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women within the first trimester). Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women within the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control) Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week, Group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the heavy metal contents of kaolin was carried out. After two weeks of kaolin consumption, the serum levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury of the subjects were determined. The mean concentrations of lead (0.347 ± 0.12), arsenic (0.354 ± 0.15), cadmium (0.209 ± 0.11) and mercury (0.029 ± 0.02) in the kaolin exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in food. The concentration of lead increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the first and second trimester pregnant women on 150 and 200 g of kaolin per week. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the concentration of arsenic and cadmium in the second trimester women who consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. These results indicate that unregulated consumption of kaolin in pregnancy increases the serum level of the heavy metals and may be a risk factor for lead toxicity with its attendant complications in the infants.