Research Article
Antimycobacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity and Phytochemical Screening of Organic Extracts of Commiphora Africana Stem Bark from Kenya
Charity Mwangi, François Nimbeshaho, Yahuza N. Abdulai, Mery, R. Chacha, Ephantus Ndirangu, Edith O. Ajaiyeoba, Elizabeth V. M. Kigondu
EAS J Pharm Pharmacol, 2020; 2(2):23-30.
DOI: 10.36349/easjpp.2020.v02i02.001
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ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that kills approximately three million people annually. Efforts to treat the disease have been made difficult due to the development of drug-resistant strains and co-infection with HIV/AIDS. There is a need to develop new, inexpensive, safe, and effective anti-TB drugs. Commiphora africana (C. africana, Burseraceae) is a very useful plant and has been known to treat several ailments. The plant contains various secondary metabolites and has been found to possess many pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects. The study aimed at screening the extracts for their antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacteria smegmatis; cytotoxicity in Vero cells; qualitative phytochemical analysis and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) profiling. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, sapogenins, and tannins. The dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of C. africana stem bark were the most active extracts against the M. smegmatis strain used with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC99) of 1.30 and 2.60 mg/mL, respectively. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that most of the extracts had CC50>20 µg/mL thus considered safe. However, hexane extract of C. africana stem bark showed CC50<5 µg/mL and thus considered toxic. The study confirms the antimycobacterial activity of C. africana. Further studies on the isolation of specific phytochemicals are ongoing and elucidating mechanisms of action are needed with the aim of developing a novel anti-TB regimen.
ABSTRACT
Counties mitigate the virus through interventions like home isolation and social distance affected economic downward. So far no treatment or vaccine has been conformed, making people in depressed and anxious physiological mind state from catching the virus themselves or their beloved ones. Also, with number of infected individuals are rising, the health system is becoming overwhelmed. Preventing the disease and preventing its occurrence by taking a prophylaxis has a great effect in reducing the negative consequences of this disease, including huge human and economic losses, even on the psychological level, and reducing the isolation period. Glycyrrhizin acid is the main active component of Licorice root which has been known in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine since ancient times. In these cultures, glycyrrhizin acid (GA) is one of the most frequently used drugs. The potential of GA to prevent or control the disease caused by this disease primarily from its ability to inhibit the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1). the consumption of GA has various benefits including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulation effect. In this review we propose Glycyrrhizic acid as a potential cost-effective botanical drug for pandemic SARS-COV-2 infection prophylaxis.
ABSTRACT
Microemulsions are one of the best candidates as novel drug delivery system because of their long shelf life, improved drug solubilization with ease of preparation and administration. Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable and optically isotropic liquid solutions of oil, water and amphiphile. They have emerged as novel vehicles for drug delivery which allow controlled or sustained release for ocular, percutaneous, topical, transdermal, and parenteral administration of medicaments. Microemulsions can be easily distinguished from normal emulsions by their low viscosity, transparency and more accurately their thermodynamic stability. Microemulsions have great range of applications and uses such as in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, cutting oils, biotechnology, food, cosmetics, analytical applications, environmental detoxification etc. The main objective of this review paper is to discuss microemulsions as drug carrier system with other possible applications. Microemulsions have emerged as novel vehicles for drug delivery which allow sustained or controlled release for percutaneous, topical, transdermal, ocular and parenteral administration of medicaments. Topical microemulsion offer the advantage of spontaneous formation, ease of manufacturing, thermodynamic stability, improved drug solubilization of hydrophobic drugs and increase bioavailability.
ABSTRACT
The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resulted in a pandemic in 2019 and encouraged researches worldwide to look for a treatment or a cure for this disease. As the risk of COVID-19 infection increases in people with concomitant comorbidities leading to the higher possibility to death due to the infection and increases the burden, it is essential to provide prophylaxis for patients who aren’t yet diagnosed and have a high risk of the infection especially in the early stages, as this is substantial in decreasing the onus on governments, health care system, and people who are at high risk especially hypertension and heart failure patients, because they are already on medications which might make the scenario worse One of the suggested promising medications is the renin inhibitor, Aliskiren, which was approved in 2007 for the treatment of hypertension. Several studies pointed out that Aliskiren can be used to prevent the virus from entering the host cells or at least prevent the disease from progressing into ARDS. Aliskiren inhibits renin and this will eventually result in the disruption of the renin-angiotensin system pathway that is suggested to be an entry point for the COVID-19. Some studies showed that this medication showed high affinity to the viral protease M pro which can be a target to terminate the replication of the virus in the host cells. This review article will highlight the suggested role of Aliskiren as a promising prophylactic and early stage treatment in ambulatory hypertensive patients who are at high risk for COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), What is the catastrophe that changed the life of the world suddenly and in a short time. it was affected health, economic, teaching and all the life was changed in badly picture. COVID-19 spreads all over the world and become global pandemic with a lot of worries between the society after record first case of this disease. Until now there is no approved treatment for COVID-19. Researcher also show that vitamin D plays a role in balancing RAS and in reducing lung damage & has been reported to increase immunity and to reduce inflammatory responses and the risk of acute respiratory tract infections. Vit D deficiency especially in winter is associated with increased risk of community acquired pneumonia. to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection it is recommended to take a high weekly dose of cholecalciferol and calcium supplement as a potential preparedness and proactive infection control for COVID-19 transmission.