The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Zea mays husk extract (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of body weight) were investigated in rats. The hot plate and formalin-induced paw licking models were used to assess analgesic effects of the extract, whereas the carrageenan and cotton pellet models were used for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity. The extract at 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (P < .05) reduced pain stimuli and inflammatory activity when compared with the control group. The reductions in paw licking time and granuloma weight in the formalin and cotton pellet models were both dose dependent. Also, the 200 mg/kg doses of the extract produced higher effects compared with indomethacin (5 mg/kg body of weight) in all the tests. These observations suggest that Z. mays husk extract may have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that may be due to its tannins and polyphenolic constituents. These results provide scientific validation for the use of Z. mays husk decoction for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions in Nigerian folk medicine.
The World Health Organization reported 241 million cases and 627,000 death from malaria in 2020 and Nigeria accounted for 27% of malaria death worldwide. Effective tools are continually developed through global efforts to have a malaria-free world. The study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and management of falciparum malaria among febrile patients in South-western Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on febrile patients undergoing treatment at the outpatient units of selected hospitals in Ekiti and Ondo States, Nigeria between August 2019 and January, 2021. A total of 399 participants were enlisted in the study following informed consent. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic information and the management of malaria among the participant and blood collected from them for malaria examination by microscopy and rapid test diagnosis. Two hundred and ninety-five (73.9%) of the subjects were females and 104(26.1%) males, with modal age of 21–28 years. There were 171(42.9%) and 228(57.1%) participants from Ekiti and Ondo States respectively. Subjects from Ondo State reported significantly higher occurrence of malaria than their counterparts from Ekiti State (p=0.005). Malaria occurrence was found to be significantly associated with age (p=0.047), occupation (p=0.001), individual’s perception of approach to malaria treatment (p=0.002) and use of local herbs (p=0.002). Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) were drugs of choice (76.3%) by the respondents; other drugs commonly used were Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (13.3%) and chloroquine/quinine (10.4%). The use of insecticide treated nets (26.6%), insecticide spray (25.3%), as well as, nets on windows and doors (15.8%) were reported as the major ways of controlling mosquito bites at home. The management of malaria among respondents is commendable; notwithstanding, healthcare professionals will need a combination of new approaches and tools in effective management of malaria.
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