Browsing by Author "Agaba, Amon"

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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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    The availability of six tracer medicines in private medicine outlets in Uganda
    (Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice, 2014) Birabwa, Catherine; Murison, Jude; Evans, Valerie; Obua, Celestino; Agaba, Amon; Waako, Paul; Pollock, Allyson
    Many low income countries struggle to provide safe and effective medicines due to poor public health care infrastructure, budgetary constraints, and lack of human resource capacity. Private sector pharmacies and drug shops are used by a majority of the population as an alternative to public pharmacies. This study looks at the availability of six essential medicines in private drug outlets across Uganda. Methods: A standardised medicines availability survey developed by the World Health Organization and Health Action International was adapted for use in this project to collect availability data for six tracer medicines in 126 private medicine outlets across four districts in Uganda from September 2011 to October 2012. Results: Artemisinin-based combination treatments and metformin were the most commonly found medicines in the private medicine outlets surveyed. Ninty-nine percent of all outlets carried artemisinin-based combinations while 93% of pharmacies and 53% of drug shops stocked metformin. Oxytocin was found in one third of outlets surveyed. Fluoxetine was in 70% of pharmacies yet was not found in any drug shops. Rifampicin and lamivudine were found infrequently in outlets across all districts; 10% and 2%, respectively. Not all brands found in surveyed outlets were listed on the Ugandan National Drug Register. In particular, five unlisted brands of rifampicin were found in private medicine outlets. Conclusions: The regulatory process should be improved through the enforcement of outlet licensing and medicine registration. Additional studies to elucidate the reasons behind the use of private medicine outlets over the public sector would assist the government in implementing interventions to increase use of public sector medicine outlets.
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    Medicinal plants used in gynecological procedures in Uganda
    (Medicinal plants used in gynecological procedures in Uganda, 2020) Tenywa, Mercy Gladys; Agaba, Amon; Ogwang, Patrick Engeu; Tolo, Casim Umba; Ajayi, Clement Olusojia; Katuura, Esther
    Distress and pains among other gynecological challenges mothers go through during childbirth result in mortality. This has compelled people particularly in developing countries to use traditional medicine to induce birth due to lack of more effective alternatives. In Uganda, from time immemorial most child birth and pregnancy related problems have been solved using medicinal plants as a primary alternative to conventional drugs. Although research has been done to document and validate effectiveness of these plants, it is not compil ed for communication to the wider community. This study, therefore, reviewed the medicinal plants used in Uganda for easing childbirth. The study collated and documented medicinal plants used by Traditional Birth Attendants and Traditional Health Practitioners to induce labor and ease child birth in local communities in Uganda and show the gaps that need to be investigated. The available literature on medicinal plants used in Uganda for childbirth were selected from reputable journals using citation databases including Google Scholar, Institute for Scientific Information, PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, and Scientific Information Database among others. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae, respectively were the most cited for gynecological uses by various local communities in Uganda. The commonly reported species were Laggera alata Sch. Bip., Tagetes minuta L, Clitoria ternatea Linn and Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst ex Benth among others. Authors were also determined to ascertain scientific evidence against analgesic, anti-inflammatory, oxytocic and phytochemical properties of the selected plant species.
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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.