ABSTRACT
Khat (Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk.) is a herb from the Celastraceae family (also known as qat, gaad, or miraa). The leaves and stems are used medicinally and for recreational purposes. The communities that grow khat have identified different varieties based on perceived appearance and quality. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of khat varieties grown in the Meru and Embu Counties of Kenya. Field studies were undertaken in the markets and farms in Meru and Embu Counties of Kenya to document and purchase local khat varieties. Dried khat was extracted with a 1:1 v/v MeOH: CH2Cl2 solvent and water. Cytotoxicity of extracts was determined in vitro by MTT assay against four normal and cancer cells namely; HeLa ATCC® CCL-2™, HCC1395 ATCC® CRL-2324™, Hep2 ATCC® CCL-23™, and Vero E6 ATCC® CRL-1586™. The khat varieties identified were Muti Mutiiri, Mugwanthingi, Gicheru, Karimi ka Nthiya, Muguka, Black colombo asili, Black mbaine, and white. The aqueous extracts of black colombo asili and black mbaine displayed the highest cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines having IC50 37.15 ± 1.75 µg/ml and 38.31 ± 2.05 µg/ml, respectively. Muguka and Muti Mutiiri varieties were not cytotoxic to the Vero E6 cell line with CC50 > 100 µg/ml. 75% (12/16) of extracts were cytotoxic to the Vero E6 cell line with CC50 ˂ 100 µg/ml. This study demonstrated that there is variability in activities between the identified khat varieties. Toxicity was observed in vitro due to observed cytotoxicity to the Vero E6 cell line.

ABSTRACT
Research studies have shown that about 90% of the time is spent in indoor environments (homes, hospitals, schools, offices, restaurants and subways). During the past decade, many studies have been conducted to assess indoor air quality in school environments. A large number of indoor air pollutants have been measured including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, bioaerosols and particulate matters. In most low and medium-income countries, biomass fuel-based cooking and heating is considered to be a significant source of the household as well as ambient air pollution formaldehyde from clipboard and hydrocarbons from paints, cleaners and furnishings (anthropogenic sources). A wide range of acute and chronic diseases are now associated with exposure to air pollution, starting from diabetes mellitus, declining cognitive functions, and obstructive pulmonary diseases, haematopoietic diseases, to cardiovascular disease.

ABSTRACT
Estimation of foliar bioactive components (viz. photosynthetic pigments, nutrients, alkaloids, polyphenol and antioxidant activities) of Centella asiatica L. Urban were studied in four different seasons (EM: early monsoon- March, April and May; M: Monsoon-June, July and August; LM: Late Monsoon- September, October and November and W: Winter- December, January and February) within a year. A pot culture based experiment was conducted at the Botanical Garden, University of Chittagong. Maximum foliar photosynthetic pigments, nutrients were observed in monsoon and minimum in winter respectively. Whilst the highest alkaloid content was observed in early monsoon and the lowest in winter. Moreover the maximum polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were observed in the leaf extract of late monsoon and the minimum in winter respectively. The present study concludes that monsoon is suitable for efficient photosynthesis as well as nutrient accumulation in Centella, early monsoon is favorable for alkaloid synthesis and late monsoon is the right time for harvesting Centella to obtain maximum antioxidant activity for medicinal use.

ABSTRACT
Preformulation studies are fractions that are initiated once new molecules are seeded. In a broader sense, it deals with the study of physical, chemical, analytical, and pharmacological properties associated with molecules, providing ideas for appropriate modifications of molecules for better performance. The study of pre-formulation parameters can lead to the production of effective, safer, stable and reliable drug formulations. Aceclofenac is an analgesic. It relieves pain, stiffness and swelling caused by various conditions of bones and joints. It is also used to relieve headaches, toothaches, back pain, menstrual cramps, sprains and muscle strains. Aceclofenac works by preventing the body from releasing chemicals that cause pain and swelling. In the current work, the overall goal of aceclofenac preformulation research is to generate information useful for the development of stable bioavailable dosage forms.

ABSTRACT
Plants are not only indispensable in health care but form the best hope of source for safe future medicines. In spite of the fact that now we have at our disposal a number of modern drugs, it is still genuinely urgent to discover and develop new therapeutic agents. The objective of the study is to determine the secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Heteropogon contortus. The phytochemical analysis of the crude plant extract of Heteropogon contortus was performed using standard analytical method while the antioxidant activity of the extract was done using DPPH method of analysis. The study recorded yield of 9.22% for the methanol extract. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of seven secondary metabolites out of the nine metabolites screened for. The result of antioxidant activity of the crude extract showed good activity with an increase in the percentage inhibition on increase in concentration with the highest percentage inhibition of 57.16±53% at 500 mg/ml this was quite comparable to that of the standard (ascorbic acid) which had percentage inhibition at 500 mg/ml to be 67±32%. In conclusion the findings of the study showed that the methanol extract of H. contortus has an appreciable antioxidant activity which could be attributed to the secondary metabolites which it contains.

ABSTRACT
Liver disease is one of the most common public health problems in the word. In this study, we investigate the possible hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Passiflora foetida (AEPF) using paracetamol-induced liver damage albino rats as animal model. The rats were divided in groups consisting of six animals each and treated for seven consecutive days as following: group I was the normal control and received distilled water, group II was the negative control treated with distilled water; group III served as the positive control and pretreated with 100 mg/kg of silymarin; groups IV, V and VI were pretreated with the AEPF doses of 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg respectively. At the seventh day, the rats from group II to VI were given a dose of 2 g/kg of paracetamol (PCM) and 24 hours after this treatment, blood samples and pieces of liver were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Results showed that in group II, PCM increased significantly the activity of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and PAL), the serum level of total and direct bilirubin and decreased significantly the serum level of total cholesterol, triglyceride and total protein in rats. Also, the liver tissue of the PCM-treated group exhibited severe acute centrilobular associated to periportal necrosis and haemorrhagic lesions in comparison to normal control rats. However, the biochemical and histopathological adverse effects of PCM were suppressed or reduced significantly by the pretreatment of rats with silymarin and AEPF dose dependently. These data indicated that Passiflora foetida possessed hepatoprotective effects similar to those of silymarin probably due to its saponins, phenols and flavonoids contents.

ABSTRACT
Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an infection in the vagina with a high inflammatory response, decreased Lactobacillus sp., increased pathogenic bacteria, increased parabasal cells, and increased acidity levels (pH). Increased pH levels in AV conditions are associated with reduced Lactobacillus in the vagina due to the dominance of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria that cause AV, including Streptococcus agalactiae, which can cause an increased risk of infection. Antibiotics are the mainstay of AV treatment but are resistant to several antibiotics, causing the need for other alternatives, one of which is the use of medicinal plants. The medicinal plant in this study is Centella asiatica plant which has been proven to have an anti-bacterial property. This study aims to compare pH levels before and after administration of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica on the acidity (pH) levels of Rats in AV model. This research is an experimental study use post-test control group only, consists of six groups Rattus norvegicus female. The first group was the negative control group (K-) rats. The second group was positive control rats (K+). The next are four groups of rats of AV models given various doses of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica, and each group consists of four rats, namely P1 (100 mg/kg). P2 group (200 mg/kg), P3 (400 mg/kg), and P4 (800 mg/kg). Paired T-Test showed results P-value is 0.000 (<0.005), stating that there was a significant difference between pH levels both before and after administration of ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica plant in rats model AV.