The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal

1-5

Authors: Rodriguez L, Raffaelli S, Abreo E, Altier N, Vazquez A

In spite of the great advances in chemotherapeutics, infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in the world. Thus, development of new antimicrobial compounds against different microorganisms and with new mechanisms of action is becoming critically important. In our continuous search for new antimicrobial molecules we screened the culture broth of several soil microorganisms. A Beauveria isolate showed promising activity and we isolated and determined the structure of a phenolic glycoside (6-Methyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene-1-O-β-D-4´-methyl-glucopyranoside)never before reported in this species.

13-20

Authors: Harrizul Rivai, Susi Yulianti, Boy Chandra

Research on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of bay leaves (Syzygium polyanthum (WIGHT) Walp) has been carried out from hexane, acetone, ethanol and water extracts. This study aims to analyze the chemical compounds contained in each extract of hexane, acetone, ethanol, and water from bay leaves, and determine the secondary metabolic content contained in each extract of the bay leaf. The extraction method used was maceration for hexane, acetone and ethanol solvents, infusions for water solvents. The results obtained from phytochemical screening and assay showed that bay leaf acetone extract contained phenol 0.1202% and tannin 0.1452%. Ethanol extract of bay leaves contains 0.34% alkaloids, 0.59% flavonoids, 0.1258% phenols, and 0.1688% tannins. Bay leaf water extract contains 0.486% flavonoids, phenol 0.2248% and tannin 0.1622%. The hexane extract of bay leaves was not detected to contain secondary metabolites.

31-36

Authors: Barikpoa Uedeme-Naa, Awoteinm D.I. George

The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the organosomatic index (gill, kidney, liver, heart and spleen), condition factor and glucose profile was carefully examined in this study. It was observed that the responses of Clarias gariepinus juveniles (mean length, 29.8±1.40cm SD; mean weight, 203.3± 5.11g SD g) exposed to 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20g/l of Moringa Oleifera leaf powder for 15 days was concentration dependent. Fish gill recorded the highest index at 0.20g/l (24.55%) and least at 0.05g/l (17.42%) when compared with control (19.57%). Gill, kidney and spleen indices at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20g/l and condition factor were not significantly impacted (P>0.05) while liver and heart were significantly impacted (P<0.05) with increase in M. oleifera leaf concentration when compared with control. Glucose level was significantly (P<0.05) impacted at all the treatment levels when compared with control. The study indicated that the phytochemicals in Moringa oleifera leaf could improve the health status or well being and influence positively on the utilization of energy derived from glucose for other necessary use in fish body.

53-62

Authors: Okafor, C. Sandra, Onukwuli, O. Dominic, Anadebe, V. Chikaodili

This work is on optimization and impedance study of inhibition efficiency of moringa leaf extract as corrosion inhibitor of aluminum in alkaline solution. Gravimetric method, polarization study and impedance measurement was employed in the corrosion inhibition study. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied in the optimization process. Central composite design tool of design expert software version 9 was used to evaluate the effects and interactions of four variables of acid concentration (AC), inhibitor concentration (IC), temperature (T) and time (t) on the inhibition efficiency of the extract. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to study the data generated. Moringa leaf extract exhibited optimum inhibition efficiency of 96.65 % at optimum inhibitor concentration of 1.5 g/L-1. The electrochemical impedance spectra revealed that moringa leaf extract acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. The extract is highly efficient in surface treatment of aluminum in alkaline environment.

69-76

Authors: M.K. Haruna, C.U. Aguoru, C.C. Iheukwumere, C.I.C. Ogbonna, Jose Addy

This work was carried out at Jigawa Research Institute Biotechnology Laboratory Kazaure to determine callus induction potentials of 30 wheat genotypes using matured embryo as ex-plant source under different 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) levels. The experiment had six treatments (control, 1mgl1 2,4-D, 2mgl1 2,4-D, 3mgl1 2,4-D, 4mgl1 2,4-D, and 5mgl1 2,4-D,) including control with each replicated three times and the percentage taken with callus induction frequency which ranged from 32% to 80%. Meanwhile maximum callus among the genotypes were noticed in varieties 8 followed by varieties 27, 28 and 7 with respective callus induction percentages of 79.99%, 79.99% and 77.33%, with minimum callus frequency of 32% was recorded by varieties 19, while 13 had callus induction potential of 36%. The best callus production was recorded at the treatment levels of 5mgl-1 (78.878%), callus recorded at 5mgl-1 were more granular and morphogenic in nature. However higher mean values for days to callus were at varieties 5 (6.60), 4 (6.40), 21 (6.40) and 26 (6.40), with the least mean values for days to callus at varieties 8 (5.40) and 7 (5.60), while the least mean values for days to callus was recorded at 5mgl-1 (4.69) and levels of 2, 4-D, while the higher mean values for days to callus was scored at 2mgl-1 (7.06) levels of 2, 4-D. The weight ranged from 62.24mg mean value to 85.14mg mean values. Genotype 8 had the maximum mean weight across treatments (85.14mg) followed by genotypes 7 (82.5mg), 28 (81.56mg) and 2 (81.46mg) respectively while the minimum weight values were noticed in genotypes 3 (62.24mg), 26 (64.48mg) and (64.9mg). However the maximum weight of callus according to treatments was observed at the level of 5mgl-1 of 2, 4-D with mean value 105.7mg f. while the minimum mean weight values were recorded at 1mgl-1 (31.1mg) 2, 4-D.

83-92

Authors: Valantina Al Bitar, Shaza Al Laham, Rana Attieh

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur-containing natural compound without any toxicity. MSM may have anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activity. The present work was done to investigate the possible protective effects of methylsulfonylmethane on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Colitis was induced by intracolonic injection of 5% acetic acid. Several parameters including macroscopic score, histopathological and biochemical parameters such as myeloperoxidase activity and glutathione levels were measured following standard assay procedures. Results showed that MSM decreased macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage scores caused by administration of acetic acid. MSM also significantly reduced colonic levels of MPO and increased the levels of GSH compared to acetic acid-induced colitis group. It seems that MSM as a natural product was able to give a nearly complete protection against acetic acid-induced colitis.

99-111

Authors: Komsok T. Joël, Chelea Matchawe, Kouamouo Jonas, Sipowo T. V. Raissa, Fekam Fabrice, Ngoupayo Joseph

For decades, plants have been a source of inspiration for new drugs. Almost all ancient civilisations and cultures depended entirely or partially on phytotherapy because of its effectiveness, accessibility, availability and dose-related low toxicity. Thus, the know-how of traditional healers is a starting point for phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of these natural medicines. Therefore, the present study was aimed at studying phytochemical, cytotoxic, anti-haemolytic and antioxidant activities of leaf and bark extracts of Azadirachta indica. The leaves and bark of A. indica were harvested, dried and reduced to powder. Then the powder was extracted in different solvents (distilled water, ethanol and ethanol/water 70% (v / v)). The resulting extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis by colorimetric reactions followed by the cytotoxicity test on the Vero cell line using colorimetric method at MTT. The antihemolytic activity of the promising extracts was performed on the red blood cells and the antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by the DPPH radical scavenging method and Ferric ion reduction. The results show that the extraction yields ranged from 5.02 to 20.7%. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenols, saponosides and steroids. All the extracts were non-cytotoxic with CC50 values ranging from 169.73 to greater than 1000 μg/ml and two of these exhibited antihemolytic activities with 62% and 57% protection percentages. The extracts had DPPH IC50 values ranging from 14.933 to 95.360 μg/mL. The ferric ions reducing power (OD) of the different extracts ranged from 0.15805 to 3.40545. The activities of Azadirachta indica extracts indicate that this plant is a potential source of active compounds.

116-124

Authors: Kelechi E. Onwuka, Kalu S. Eze, Christopher U. Aghalibe, Igwe J.C., Ezeaku I.I.

The effect of temperature on the equilibrium adsorption of Malachite green dye from aqueous solution using rectorite was studied. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using three widely applied isotherms; Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson isotherm. A nonlinear method was used for comparing the best fitting of the isotherms. Best fits were found to be Redlich-Peterson isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°, were calculated using adsorption equilibrium constant obtained from the Langmuir isotherm. Results suggested that the Malachite green adsorption on rectorite was an endothermic and spontaneous process.