Browsing by Author "Katusiime, Barbra"

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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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    Toxicity of four herbs used in erectile dysfunction;Mondia whiteii,Cola acuminata,Urtica massaica, and Tarenna graveolensin male rats
    (African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2015) Oloro, Joseph; Tanayen Kihdze, Julius; Katusiime, Barbra; Imanirampa, Lawrence; Waako, Paul; Bajunirwe, Francis; Agaba Ganafa, Amon
    In Sub-Saharan Africa, herbal medicines are commonly used for prevention or treatment of illnesses, including erectile dysfunction. Contemporary medicines used to manage erectile dysfunction are not only inaccessible to local populations, but also impose significant out-of-pocket expenditure on patients. Herbal medicines offer alternatives for alleviating erectile dysfunction, which has clinical, psychological and societal consequences. Regardless, there are increasing concerns about the safety and/or toxicity of herbal medicines. In this study, the toxicity of aqueous extracts of four herbs, commonly used in south-western Uganda, to manage erectile dysfunction, was investigated. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies were conducted following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines for toxicity study. All four plants extracts were found safe at single dose exposure up to the limit dose of 5000 mg/kg. Extracts of Cola acuminate reduced the weights of the experimental animals, Tarenna graveolens and Cola acuminata indicated low level liver toxicity and Tarenna graveolens, Cola acuminata and Urtica massaica indicated low level renal toxicity following multiple exposures for 90 days. Three of the four herbs studied have shown low level toxicity on multiple exposure for 90 days.