Browsing by Author "Adiukwu, Paul Chukwuemeka"

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    Acute Toxicity, Antipyretic and Antinociceptive Study of the Crude Saponin from an Edible Vegetable: Vernonia Amygdalina Leaf
    (International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2012) Adiukwu, Paul Chukwuemeka; Agaba, Amon; Nambatya, Grace; Adzu, Bulus; Imanirampa, Lawrence; Twinomujuni, Silvano; Twikirize, Osbert; Amanya, Martin; Ezeonwumelu, Joseph Obiezuchukwujekwu; Oloro, Joseph; Okoruwa, Godwin Aiyabalu; Katusiime, Barbra
    Vernonia amygdalina is commonly used for food and health purposes. Processing of the leaf for food is aimed at removing bitter tasting antinutritional principles like saponins. This study was designed to determine the antipyretic and antinociceptive property of the crude saponin from Vernonia amygdalina leaf. Standard procedure for antipyretic study using Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced pyrexia in rats; and acetic acid induced writhe, hot plate and cold tail flick tests for antinociceptive study in mice were used. Data for the crude saponin showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) dose dependent anal temperature decrease. The antinociceptive data in mice was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in the writhing test contrary to the cold tail flick test. In acute toxicity study, an LD50 of 5.1523 g/kg using oral route indicated it was practically non-toxic. Finding suggests that Vernonia amygdalina leaf prepared as diet could be of potential benefit to ailing persons with fever and/or pains, if processing technique adopts minimal loss of principles like saponins.
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    Pharmacognostic, antiplasmodial and antipyretic evaluation of the aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaf
    (International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2011) Adiukwu, Paul Chukwuemeka; Agaba, Amon; Nambatya, Grace
    The impeding safety challenges to the use of herbs have made qualitative and quantitative evaluation of herbal preparations a necessity. This study was aimed at evaluating the pharmacognostic and pharmacological properties of V. amygdalina leaf. Methods used include standard procedure for macroscopic and microscopic examinations; ash and extractive values determination; and quantitative evaluation of phytochemicals of the leaf aqueous extract. 4-day antiplasmodial suppression test using mice and antipyretic evaluation in rats induced pyrexia by i.p administration of 15% w/v Saccharomyces cerevisiae were carried out. Data showed presence of calcium oxalates and animocytic stomata. Extractive values suggest high aqueous soluble constituents. Saponin at 9.18% w/w } 0.19, among the phytochemicals evaluated was highest. Ash values: total ash 11.33% w/w } 0.15 and acid insoluble ash 1.89% w/w } 0.19, were obtained. Parasite suppression on day 4 and dose induced body temperature decrease, were significant (P . 0.05) for all the 3 dose levels of the extract used. Study agrees with folkloric use of the leaf extract in malaria fever but suggests substantial antipyretic property of the leaf.
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    Tsetse fly distribution and occurrence of Trypanosoma species among cattle and goats around Queen Elizabeth National park, Uganda
    (International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2017) Adiukwu, Paul Chukwuemeka; Bonsu, Martina; Okon-Ben, Inemesit; Peprah, Paul; Mensah-Kane, Paapa; Jato, Jonathan; Nambatya, Grace
    The use of herbal therapy is a common practice in Africa. One of the commonly used herbs is Vernonia amygdalina. Processing of the plant for use leads to the loss of phytochemical principles like saponin which has been shown to possess bioactivity. This study was to evaluate and characterize the saponin principles, using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Standard antipyretic study procedure using Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced pyrexia in rats was used for the evaluation of the herbal aqueous extract, as well as, the crude saponin and its chromatographic fraction. The separation and chromatogram development of resulting pure saponin components was carried out using a HPLC with UV-vis detection at 365 nm. Data for the antipyretic study agrees with previous bioactivity report for the saponin. Chromatographic and spectroscopic evaluation indicated the presence of three pure saponin components at retention times of 7.78 ± 0.19, 8.76 ± 0.16 and 13.54 ± 0.87 minutes, in the fractionate. Finding suggests that the pure components are individual or collective contributors to the bioactivity of the crude saponin and fractionate. Further bioactivity probe of the pure components will aid good understanding and use of the herbal medication.
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    Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Evaluation of Bioactive Saponin Fraction from the Aqueous Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina [Asteraceae] Leaf
    (International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2017) Adiukwu, Paul Chukwuemeka; Bonsu, Martina; Okon-Ben, Inemesit; Peprah, Paul; Kane, Paapa Mensah; Jato, Jonathan; Nambatya, Grace
    The use of herbal therapy is a common practice in Africa. One of the commonly used herbs is Vernonia amygdalina. Processing of the plant for use leads to the loss of phytochemical principles like saponin which has been shown to possess bioactivity. This study was to evaluate and characterize the saponin principles, using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Standard antipyretic study procedure using Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced pyrexia in rats was used for the evaluation of the herbal aqueous extract, as well as, the crude saponin and its chromatographic fraction. The separation and chromatogram development of resulting pure saponin components was carried out using a HPLC with UV-vis detection at 365 nm. Data for the antipyretic study agrees with previous bioactivity report for the saponin. Chromatographic and spectroscopic evaluation indicated the presence of three pure saponin components at retention times of 7.78 ± 0.19, 8.76 ± 0.16 and 13.54 ± 0.87 minutes, in the fractionate. Finding suggests that the pure components are individual or collective contributors to the bioactivity of the crude saponin and fractionate. Further bioactivity probe of the pure components will aid good understanding and use of the herbal medication.