Senna occidentalis is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments. This study evaluated the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antibacterial activity of methanol and ethanol leaf extracts of S. occidentalis against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using methanol and ethanol. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods, while antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, and anthraquinones in varying intensities. Both extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against the test organisms. The methanol and ethanol extracts produced inhibition zones ranging from 7–17 mm and 4–19 mm, respectively. The MIC was 12.5 mg/mL for both extracts against both organisms. The MBCs of the methanol extract were 50 mg/mL for E. coli and 100 mg/mL for S. aureus, while those of the ethanol extract were 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, respectively. The findings demonstrate the antibacterial potential of S. occidentalis leaf extracts, support their traditional medicinal use and suggests its potential as a source for developing plant-based antimicrobial agents to combat drug-resistant infections.
For decades, Annickia chlorantha and Annickia affinis have been jointly referred to as Enantia chlorantha in literature.Both plant species are commonly used for managing malaria and are difficult to tell apart. Their antimalarial activityis attributed to protoberberine alkaloids. In the current study, we compared their phytometabolites, total alkaloidcontent and β-hematin inhibitory potential. Both plant species were seen to possess the major phytochemicals assessed although in varied amounts, with A. affinis having more of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and cardiac glycosides than A. chlorantha. Both plant species had comparable alkaloidal content. Using GC-MS, we observed that berberine; a classical protoberberine alkaloid is present in A. affinis and not A. chlorantha. Interestingly, both plant species had comparable β-hematin inhibitory potential despite A. affinis having an ~3-fold higher ability to inhibit malaria parasite growth than A. chlorantha. Inhibition of β-hematin formation in vitro is often used to screen for plant extracts with capacity to inhibit hemozoin polymerization within cultured malaria parasites. Our results thus suggest that inhibition of hemozoin polymerization may contribute to the antiplasmodial activity of both plant species and that berberine can serve as a useful biomarker for differentiating A. affinis from A. chlorantha.
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has led to a more intensive search for alternative antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants. Boswellia dalzielii (Burseraceae) is traditionally used to treat infections, with previous studies reporting antibacterial activity. However, further investigation of its antibacterial properties and bioactive constituents is warranted. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity and phytochemical composition of B. dalzielii stem bark extracts against selected pathogenic bacteria. The stem bark was collected, dried, and extracted with methanol using cold maceration. The crude extract was fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella bongori was assessed using agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth dilution. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were performed to identify bioactive compounds. The extracts showed varying antibacterial activity, with the aqueous fraction demonstrating the highest activity (7.50 ± 0.00 mm to 18.45 ± 0.25 mm). MIC values ranged from 18.75 – 150 mg/mL, while MBC indicated bactericidal effects at higher concentrations. The identified compounds, including n-hexadecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, may contribute to the observed antimicrobial activity of B. dalzielii and warrant further investigation as potential antimicrobial agents.
Heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally and continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. This retrospective study reviewed 156 HF prescriptions from adult patients attending the cardiology clinic at DELSUTH between January 2020 and December 2024. Most patients were male (64.7%) and aged 50–64 years, with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II being the most common diagnosis (42.3%). Diuretics were the most frequently prescribed medications—spironolactone (82.7%) and furosemide (71.2%)—followed by Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (50.9%), beta-blockers (47.4%), and antithrombotic agents (48.7%). Use of newer guideline-recommended therapies such as Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors (ARNIs) (8.3%) and Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (8.7%) was low. Medication therapy problems occurred in 7.7% of prescriptions, mainly non-adherence (3.2%) and administration errors (1.9%). Most prescribers (41.7%) followed ACC/AHA guidelines, and all prescriptions involved multidrug therapy issued by cardiologists. The study shows strong adherence to standard HF management but highlights limited access to newer therapies and persistent issues with adherence and minor edication errors.
Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal spasms and other smooth muscle disorders. However, its direct effects on uterine smooth muscle contractility remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of the ethanol seed extract of M. fragrans (MFSE) and its fractions on spontaneous and agonist-induced uterine contractions in isolated murine uterus. Uterine strips obtained from nonpregnant female Swiss mice were mounted in an organ bath containing physiological saline solution, and isometric contractions were recorded. The effects of cumulative concentrations of MFSE and its fractions were evaluated on spontaneous, oxytocin-induced, high potassium (KCl)-induced, and oxytocin-induced contractions in calcium-free medium. MFSE and its fractions produced significant, concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous uterine contractions, reducing contraction amplitude, frequency, and area under the curve (P < 0.05). Similar inhibitory effects were observed against oxytocin- and KCl-induced contractions. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited the greatest inhibitory potency, particularly against KCl-induced contractions (IC50 = 0.0048 ± 0.004 mg/mL), while the crude extract demonstrated broad inhibitory activity. In calcium-free medium, MFSE and its fractions also suppressed oxytocin-induced transient contractions. These findings indicate that M. fragrans possesses significant uterine relaxant activity, possibly mediated through modulation of calcium-dependent pathways.
