Browsing by Author "Kasolo, Josephine N."

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    Comparison of the Hyperglycemic Control of M. oleifera Leaves Aqueous Extract and Glibenclamide Tablets in Alloxan Monohydrate Induced Diabetic Rats
    (Asian Journal of Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019) Kasolo, Josephine N.; Namaganda, Agnes; Nfambi, Joshua; Kimuli, Ivan; Muwonge, Haruna; Okullo, Isaac
    Diabetes being one of the commonest non-communicable diseases worldwide has no cure. The available hypoglycemic drugs are costly, and have associated long-term side effects. M. oleifera leaves are used in many countries in Africa and Asia to treat diabetes. The study compared the hyperglycemic control of M. oleifera leaves aqueous extract and Glibenclamide tablet in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-four female Wistar albino rats, made diabetic using alloxan monohydrate, received either M. oleifera extract, glibenclamide or distilled water were delivered intragastric. The mean body weight and mean fasting blood sugar were measured over a period of 28 days. Results: Rats that received distilled water had a mean fasting blood sugar of 329.3+44.9 mg/dl at the beginning, which increased to 448.0+189.9 mg/dl on day 14; all the rats were dead by day 21. The rats that received M. oleifera had blood sugar 443.4+134.7 mg/dl at the beginning, dropped to 166.5+162.79 mg/dl by day 14, and to 88.7+41.0 mg/dl by day 28. Rats that received glibenclamide had blood sugar 517.6+139.3mg/dl at the beginning, dropped to 209.0+201.9 mg/dl on day 14, and to 89.7+42.85 mg/dl on day 28. The blood sugar of the M. oleifera and glibenclamide groups reached normal level by day 21 and remained within the normal range up to day 28. Conclusion: Moringa oleifera leaves aqueous extract has similar pattern to glibenclamide tablet in causing hypoglycemia to alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats.
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    Identifying Appropriate Delivery of and Referral to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Uganda: A Survey Study of People Living with Chronic Respiratory Disease and Health Care Workers
    (International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2021) Katagira, Winceslaus; Ndagire, Pauline; Nanyonga, Jaliah; Kasiita, Richard; Kasolo, Josephine N.; Kirenga, Bruce; Singh, Sally J.
    Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a low cost, high impact intervention that ameliorates the disability associated with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD). PR is becoming increasingly recognized in low resource settings where the burden of CRD is rapidly increasing. To aid the implementation of PR in Uganda, we conducted a study to assess the attitudes and opinions towards PR among patients with CRD in Uganda and explore barriers faced by health care workers (HCWs) in referring to PR. A cross-sectional study comprising two survey populations: people living with CRD and HCWs regarded as potential PR referrers and PR deliverers. This exploratory study sought initial opinions and thoughts regarding PR, as well as baseline knowledge and potential barriers faced in the referral process. Overall, 30 HCWs (53% female, 43% doctors) and 51 adults with CRD (63% female) participated in the survey. Among those with CRD, the majority reported breathlessness as a major problem (86%) and breathlessness affected their ability to do paid and unpaid work (70%). Interest in PR was high amongst adults with CRD (92%) with preference for a hospital-based programme (67%) as opposed to community-based (16%) or home-based (17%). All HCWs considered PR important in lung disease management, but 77% do not refer patients due to a lack of information about PR. HCWs’ free-text responses identified the need for training in PR, patient education and streamlining the referral process as key elements to develop successful PR referral services. To successfully set up a PR service for people with CRD in Uganda, there is a great need for appropriately tailored training and education of prospective referrers about CRD and PR programs. Educating patients about the benefits of PR as well as streamlining the referral process is critical in expanding PR services across Uganda to fulfill this unmet need.
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    Phytochemicals and uses of Moringa oleifera leaves in Ugandan rural communities
    (Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2010) Kasolo, Josephine N.; Bimenya, Gabriel S.; Ojok, Lonzy; Ochieng, Joseph; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper W.
    Moringa oleifera grown and used in many countries around the world is a multi-purpose tree with medicinal, nutritional and socio-economic values. In Senegal and Benin, M. oleifera leaves are dispensed as powder at health facilities to treat moderate malnutrition in children. It established the medicinal uses of M. oleifera leaves by local communities in Uganda and identified phytochemicals present in M. oleifera leaves extracts. It used quantitative and experimental methods that established the uses, and identified phytochemicals in M. oleifera leaves. Employed serial extractions, using ether, ethanol and water as solvents. The phytochemicals were qualitatively identified using standard chemicals and standard outcomes. Twenty-four medicinal uses of M. oleifera leaves were established. Phytochemicals present included: tannins, steroids and triterpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugars. The local communities in Uganda use M. oleifera leaves to treat common ailments. Presence of phytochemicals in the extracts, indicate possible preventive and curative property of M. oleifera leaves. There is need to standardize M. oleifera leaves use for nutrition and herbal medicine.
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    Reversal Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine on Moringa oleifera Leaves-Induced Sub-Acute Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Albino Rats
    (Neuroscience & Medicine, 2019) Kasolo, Josephine N.; Namaganda, Agnes; Bbosa, Godfrey S.; Muwonge, Haruna; Lukande, Robert; Nfambi, Joshua; Kimuli, Ivan; Okullo, Isaac
    M. oleifera is a highly valued medicinal plant used widely from time immemorial to treat various ailments. However, with continued un-standardized use of the plant leaves, studies have reported organ toxicity to the liver, kidney and the heart. As communities continue to use M. oleifera leaves for its medicinal and nutritional values, there is need to find an antidote for its hepatotoxicity. Aim: The study established the reversal effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on M. oleifera aqueous leaf extract-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Twenty-four (24) rats received a toxic dose (8.05 g/kg bwt) of M. oleifera leaf extract for 28 days to cause sub-acute hepatotoxicity. They were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group I received 1 ml normal (control group), Group II received 1000 ng/kg NAC, Group III received 1200 mg/kg NAC and Group IV received 1500 mg/kg NAC. Another group of 6 rats (Group V) received 0.75 mg/kg Paracetamol to cause hepatotoxicity. Group V (a positive control) received the prescribed clinical dose of 1200 mg/kg NAC which reverses the hepatotoxicity. All the NAC doses were given once a day intragastric for 7 days. On days: 1, 3 and 7 of receiving NAC, liver serum enzymes and bilirubin were measured. On day 7 the animals were sacrificed and liver tissue harvested for histopathology analysis. Results: A dose of 8.05 g/kg of M. oleifera leaf extract and 0.75 mg/kg Paracetamol were able to induce hepatotoxicity in Wister albino rats in 28 days. The M. oleifera extract induced hepatotoxic rats treated with NAC at doses of 1000 mg/kg, 1200 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg, had a reduction in mean serum liver enzymes, plus reduced mean serum bilirubin levels. The liver histopathological analysis showed reduced inflammation after treatment with NAC for 3 and 7 days in the M. oleifera and paracetamol induced hepatotoxic rats. Conclusion: NAC can reverse M. oleifera leaf aqueous extract-induced sub-acute hepatotoxicity in Wistar Albino rats.