Selenium and aspirin in people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria

OBJECTIVES

Aspirin and selenium have been shown in vitro and in vivo to inhibit HIV production through inhibition of the transcription factor, the nuclear factor kappa binding (NF-eB). The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy or otherwise of these drugs in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWAS) in resource limited countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Consenting HAART-naive PLWAS with mean CD4 count of 256.8 +/- 67.6 cells/ul were recruited into the study. Pretherapy blood count, serum biochemistry, chest x-ray, urinary glucose and protein and microscopy and culture of both urine and stool were checked in all cases. Each patient was treated for six months and CD4 counts were repeated at the end of the study. Thirty two patients (23 (72%) females and nine (28%) males), aged 22-52 (median = 36) years were recruited. Twenty-three (72%) were randomised into selenium and aspirin (SAM) and nine (28%) into selenium (SM); multivitamin was added to each arm.

RESULTS

Eighteen (56.2%) patients completed the study. Sixteen (88.9%) patients are already on HAART since the termination of the study; one absconded and one died of disease progression. Fourteen (43.8%) of the initial 32 patients dropped out (11 (78.6%) were lost to follow-up, two (14.3%) died and one (7.1%) opted for HAART before completing the study). The post-treatment CD4 count was 293.0 +/-102.2 cells/ml, compared to the pre-therapy mean of 256.8 +/- 67.6 cells/ul, an average rise of 36.2 cells/ul, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.059). The post-therapy mean weight was significantly higher than the pretherapy weight, 61.6+/-15.2 kg versus 60.0+/-14.3 kg (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

The SAM/SM combination regimen improved the quality of life of PLWAS, however, a greater number of patients and a longer period of follow up, are necessary to arrive at a more meaningful conclusion.

Toxicity studies on Datura metel L. with reference to official stramonium

Suspensions of the powdered leaf of Datura metel L. and Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae) were administered by intubation at different doses: 0.125 mg/kg, 0.250 mg/kg, 0.500 mg/kg, 1.000 mg/kg, 1.224 mg/kg and 1.400 mg/kg to virgin female albino mice and were observed daily. After two weeks, the mice were sacrificed and the liver, kidney and intestine were removed, preserved in 10% formalin solution and embedded in paraffin wax. Tissues from these organs were stained for assessment of tissue morphology. Pathological changes observed at 1.224 mg/kg and 1.400 mg/kg (LD100) were irreversible. At all other dose levels, there were reversible changes in the liver, kidney and intestine. Generally, D. metel-treated mice showed less anatomical abnormalities than D. stramonium-treated mice. Hence, D. metel could serve as a substitute for D. stramonium in drug development.

The search for a predictor of CD4 cell count continues: total lymphocyte count is not a substitute for CD4 cell count in the management of HIV-infected individuals in a resource-limited setting

Total lymphocyte count (TLC) has been recommended as a substitute for CD4 cell count for the management of HIV-infected individuals living in resource-limited settings. To confirm this, 151 TLCs and CD4 cell counts were obtained from 109 patients who had not yet started treatment and analyzed. CD4 cell counts of <200 cells/mm3 were found in 42 cases (37.8%) with TLCs of > or =1200 cells/mm3. Thus, 1 in 3 individuals would have been deprived of needed treatment. Therefore, in this setting, TLC is not a reliable predictor of CD4 cell count in HIV-infected individuals.

An in vitro study of the effects of Cassia podocarpa fruit on the intestinal motility of rats

Folkloric evidence and scientific reports indicate the use of C. podocarpa fruit as a purgative recipe. This study attempts to find the in vitro effects of its aqueous infusion (ACPF) and methanolic extract (MCPF) on the motility of the intestine of albino rats of Wistar strain and to compare their effect with those of C. acutifolia fruit (ACAF and MCAF). MCPF relaxed both the ileum and colon dose dependently. Its effect was blocked by tolazoline (10(-9) M) and propranolol (10(-9) M). ACPF had no effect on the ileum, but contracted the colon dose-dependently. Its effect was blocked by nifedipine (2.8 x 10(-10) M) and drastically reduced by atropine (3.4 x 10(-6) M). MCAF has the same effect as ACPF on both ileum and colon and its effect was similarly affected by atropine (3.4 x 10(-6) M) and nifedipine (2.8 x 10(-8) M). ACAF relaxed the ileum, its effect was blocked by tolazoline (5.1 x 10(-7) M). MCAF was more potent than ACPF in contracting the colon, Hexamethonium (2.8 x 10(-8) M), chlorpheniramine (3.8 x 10(-8) M) and promethazine (3.2 x 10(-10) M) potentiated the effect of ACPF on the colon. The results suggest that both ACAF and MCPF have anti-diarrhoeal effect. MCPF acts via both alpha and beta adrenergic receptor stimulation, while ACAF stimulates alpha-receptor. ACPF and MCAF engage both the cholinergic system and calcium channel activation in causing purgation in the colon. The potentiation of the effect of ACPF by some blockers could be due to allosteric enhancement of the receptors involved in its action.

The formulation of an effective topical antibacterial product containing Ocimum gratissimum leaf essential oil

The antibacterial potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil was explored. Liquid and semisolid formulations of the oil were designed in a variety of bases for topical antiseptic medication. The products were evaluated by agar diffusion assay against type strains and clinical isolates from boil, wound and pimples. Remarkable antibacterial effects, higher than those of commercial antiseptic products, were demonstrated at 2% Ocimum oil concentration in some bases. The properties of base into which the oil was incorporated affected its activity. It was more effective in hydrophilic bases than in lipophilic bases. Solubilization and microemulsification grossly reduced its activity.

Effects of an aqueous extract of cotton seed (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) on adult male rats

Twenty adult male rats per group in 4 treatment groups were injected intraperitoneally at 08.00 hours with 0.1 ml of an aqueous cotton seed extract (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) (Malvaceae) in concentrations of (a) 105.25, (b) 21.21, (c) 4.65, (d) 2.325 mg ml-1 (kg body weight)-1, respectively. A fifth group (control) was given 0.1 ml of pyrogen free distilled water per rat. Five rats per treatment group were sacrificed at 2, 8, 24 and 168 hours respectively after treatment. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) showed no change. Plasma testosterone was lower (p less than 0.05) than that of control at 2 and 8 hours, with recovery by 168 hours post treatment. Plasma creatinine was raised by 2 hours, with recovery by 8 hours. Plasma urea rose gradually but persistently to a maximum of 168 hours. Plasma aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) transaminases were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that of controls throughout the study. Testicular histology showed early germ cell disorganization followed by progressive fibrosis (sperm cytoskeleton) by 24 hours. There was evidence of recovery by 168 hours. It is concluded that aqueous extract of cotton seed meal contains substances that can rapidly cause damage to testicular, liver, kidney and muscular tissues.

Chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of bound and unbound phenolic acids in Lagenaria breviflora fruit

The fruit pulp of Lagenaria breviflora Robert (Cucurbitaceae), used in Nigeria as an anti-bacterial and anti-fertility drug, was found to contain phenolic acids. Isolation and characterization of these compounds was based on column chromatography, TLC, PC, UV, IR and GC-MS. While p-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids were found to occur as free and bound acids in the pulp, ferulic acid was found to occur only as an ester. An optimized HPLC procedure for the quantitative analysis of these acids was developed, featuring short retention, times, high sensitivity and excellent resolution. The concentration of these phenols in the fruit mesocarp was established.

Chemical and biological analyses of Nigerian Cassia species for laxative activity

The leaves of 10 Cassia species (Leguminosae), cultivated in Nigeria, were assayed spectrophotometrically for combined anthraquinone content and also pharmacologically for their laxative properties in male albino rats using official senna leaves (Cassia acutifolia Del.) as the reference standard. Leaves of C. podocarpa Guill, and Perr. and of senna had identical laxative potency. The results of both the chemical and the biological experiments suggested that C. alata L. and C. podocarpa are the most likely candidates for drug development in Nigeria. The use of a laxative index is proposed for the comparative study of Cassia (or any plant species) and its possible application to the quality control of these drugs is discussed.

Chromatographic isolation and estimation of zanthoxylol: An antisickling agent from the roots of Zanthoxylum species

The roots of four species of Zanthoxylum were examined for the presence of zanthoxylol (2-dimethylallyl-4-(3-hydroxy-propyl)phenol) but only Z. zanthoxyloides was found to contain this substance. Purification was effected using Sephadex ionexchange resins; isolation and quantification were performed on reversed-phase HPLC columns. The identity was confirmed by UV, IR, NMR, GC and MS analysis. The zanthoxylol content was calculated as p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The possible chemotaxonomic value of the zanthoxylol content in Zanthoxylum species is speculated.