Browsing by Author "Okine, L.K."
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Item Absence of Organ Specific Toxicity in Rats Treated with Tonica, an Aqueous Herbal Haematinic Preparation(African Journal of Traditional, Complement and Alternative Medicines, 2010) Martey, O.N.K.; Armah, G.E.; Okine, L.K.The sub-chronic toxicity of Tonica, an aqueous herbal haematinic prepared from the stem barks of Khaya senegalensis, Mitragyna stipulosa and Kigelia africana, was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats at 28, 280 and 560 mg kg−1 day−1, representing the normal human dose, 10x and 20x that dose, respectively for 6 weeks. The growth rate of animals over the period of treatment and certain serum biochemical and haematological indices as well as urinalysis and weight of selected organs at termination, were determined. Results show that the extract did not affect the weight gain of the animals with time or the mean wet weights of selected organs. Although there were slight but insignificant (p>0.05) elevations in WBC (16–27%) and PLT (8–11%) counts in Tonica-treated animals compared to controls at 10x and 20x the normal dose, most serum biochemical, haematological and urinalysis data indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) between tests and control rats. There were also no changes in the morphology of liver, kidney, lung and heart tissues as a result of Tonica treatment. These findings suggest that Tonica is safe at the dosage regimens administered to the animals in this study, and there appears to be no overt organ specific toxicity associated with it.Item Antitrypanosomal Effects of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & Timler Extracts on African Trypanosomes(Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019-07-14) Dofuor, A.K.; Djameh, G.I.; Ayertey, F.; Bolah, P.; Amoa-Bosompem, M.; Kyeremeh, K.; Okine, L.K.; Gwira, T.M.; Ohashi, M.African trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by the parasitic protozoa of the Trypanosoma genus. Despite several efforts at chemotherapeutic interventions, the disease poses serious health and economic concerns to humans and livestock of many sub- Saharan African countries. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & Timler (Z. zanthoxyloides LZT) is a plant species of important phytochemical and pharmacological relevance in the subtropical zones of the African continent. However, the mechanisms of its antitrypanosomal effects inAfrican trypanosomes remain to be elucidated.The aim of the study was to determine the in vitro effects and mechanisms of action of Z. zanthoxyloides LZT (root) fractions against Trypanosoma brucei. T. brucei (GUTat 3.1 strain), L. donovani (D10 strain), P. falciparum (3D 7 strain), Jurkat cells, and Chang liver cells were cultivated in vitro to the log phase in their respective media at 37∘C. Crude extracts and fractions were prepared from air-dried pulverized plant material of Z. zanthoxyloides LZT (root) using the modified Kupchan method of solvent partitioning. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined through the alamar blue cell viability assay. Effects of fractions on cell death and cell cycle of T. brucei were determined using flow cytometry. Fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the effects of fractions on the morphology and distribution of T. brucei. Antitrypanosomal compounds of fractions were characterized using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. Methanol, butanol, and dichloromethane fractions were selectively active against T. brucei with respective IC50 values of 3.89, 4.02, and 5.70 ��g/ml. Moreover, methanol, butanol, and dichloromethane fractions significantly induced apoptosis-like cell death with remarkable alteration in the cell cycle of T. brucei. Furthermore, dichloromethane and methanol fractions altered the morphology, induced aggregation, and altered the ratio of nuclei to kinetoplasts in the parasite. The HPLC chromatograms and ATR-IR spectra of the active fractions suggested the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons with hydroxyl, carbonyl, amine, or amide functional groups.The results suggest that Z. zanthoxyloides LZT have potential chemotherapeutic effects on African trypanosomes with implications for novel therapeutic interventions in African trypanosomiasis.Item Antiulcer and antioxidant properties of Cassia seiberiana root extract(Revision -Jornal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008) Adiku, T.K.; Nartey, E.T.; Addo, P.G.; Okine, L.K.; Nyarko, A.K.Item The effect of cassia sieberiana root bark extract on various experimental gastric ulcer models in rats(Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics, 2009) Nartey, E.T.; Addo, P.G.; Ofosuhene, M.; Okine, L.K.; Nyarko, A.K.The antiulcerogenic effects of the root bark extract of C. sieberiana were studied using various gastric ulcer models in rats. This was to support the rational phytotherapeutic use of Cassia sieberiana root bark extract in managing gastric ulcer. The cytoprotective ability of the extract was tested using the HCl/ethanol and the indomethacin-HCl/ethanol induced gastric lesion models. The healing ability of the extract was tested using the acetic acid induced model. Ulcer index, gastric HCl output, mucus production, pepsin activity and volume of gastric secretion were measured. Oral administration of the abstract (500-1000 mg/kg body weight) inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers induced by HCl/ethanol (19-61%). This inhibition was significantly (p <0.05) suppressed by pre-treatment of the experimental rats with indomethacin (30 mg/kg i.p). Oral administration of the extract in acetic acid induced ulcers produced significant dose-dependent healing of the gastric ulcers, significantly decreased total gastric HCl output and also significantly increased gastric barrier mucus production but these were not associated with changes in gastric secretion volume or pepsin activity.Item N-(Isobutyl)-3,4-methylenedioxy Cinnamoyl Amide(Molbank, 2019-07-03) Okine, L.K.; Dofuor, A.K.; Kwain, S.; Osei, E.; Tetevi, G.M.; Ohashi, M.; Gwira, T.M.; Kyeremeh, K.Abstract: The plant Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & Timler is one of the most important medicinal species of the genus Zanthoxylum on the African continent. It is used in the treatment and management of parasitic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. These properties have inspired scientists to investigate species within the genus for bioactive compounds. However, a study, which details a spectroscopic, spectrometric and bioactivity guided extraction and isolation of antiparasitic compounds from the genus Zanthoxylum is currently non-existent. Tortozanthoxylamide (1), which is a derivative of the known compound armatamide was isolated from Z. zanthoxyloides and the full structure determined using UV, IR, 1D/2D-NMR and high-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HRESI-LC-MS) data. When tested against Trypanosoma brucei subsp. brucei, the parasite responsible for animal African trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa, 1 (IC50 7.78 M) was just four times less active than the commercially available drug diminazene aceturate (IC50 1.88 M). Diminazene aceturate is a potent drug for the treatment of animal African trypanosomiasis. Tortozanthoxylamide (1) exhibits a significant antitrypanosomal activity through remarkable alteration of the cell cycle in T. brucei subsp. brucei, but it is selectively non-toxic to mouse macrophages RAW 264.7 cell lines. This suggests that 1 may be considered as a sca old for the further development of natural antitrypanosomal compounds.Item Prophylactic or therapeutic administration of Holarrhena floribunda hydro ethanol extract suppresses complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in Sprague Dawley rats(Journal of Inflammation, 2022) Antwi, S.; Oduro-Mensah, D.; Asiedu-Larbi, J.; Oduro-Mensah, E.; Quasie, O.; Lewis, C.; Darko-Obiri, D.; Ocloo, A.; Okine, L.K.Background: A hydro ethanol extract of the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (HFE) has been shown to be effective in the management of acute inflammation. This study was to evaluate usefulness of the extract for the management of chronic inflammation in a murine model. Methods: Arthritis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant. Anti-arthritic effect of the extract was evaluated in prophylactic and therapeutic treatment models at doses of 50, 200 and 500 mg/kg. Parameters assessed included oedema, serology of inflammatory response, bone tissue histology and haematology. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons post hoc test. Results: HFE at 50–500 mg/kg dose-dependently [P ≥ 0.0354 (prophylactic) and P ≥ 0.0001 (therapeutic) inhibited swelling of the injected paw upon prophylactic [≤ 81.26% (P < 0.0001) or therapeutic [≤ 67.92% (P < 0.01) administration — and prevented spread of arthritis to the contralateral paw. The inflammation alleviation activity was further demonstrated by decrease in arthritis score, radiologic score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. HFE at all doses significantly reduced serum interleukin (IL)-1α (P < 0.0197), and 500 mg/kg HFE reduced IL-6 (P = 0.0032). In contrast, serum concentrations of IL-10, protein kinase A and cyclic adenosine monophosphate were enhanced (P ≤ 0.0436). HFE consistently showed better prophylactic than therapeutic activity. Conclusion: HFE strongly suppressed Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-induced arthritis and modulated regulators of inflammation, including IL-1α, − 6 and − 10. Taken together, the data suggest that HFE has potential for use as an agent for modulation of the inflammatory response.Item Screening for Microalbuminuria in Ghanaian Diabetic Patients: Albumin Blue 580 Fluorescence Probe Evaluated(University of Ghana, 2000-07) Beecham, K.A.; Amoah, A.G.B.; Okine, L.K.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular BiologyThe Albumin Blue 580 fluorescent dye was evaluated for the measurement of urine albumin content. The calibration of the assay was linear up to 150.0mg/L with a minimum detection limit of 1.4mg/L. The intraassay CV was 4.3 %( 14.5mg/L), 3.7 %( 50.2mg/L) and 1.4 %( 100.0mg/L), interassay CV was 2.7%, 2.6% and 3.7% for the respective urine albumin concentrations. Recovery of added albumin to urine was 95-112%, reproducibility for 9 replicate analysis of 3 urine samples was 8.2 %( 6.0mg/L), 4.6 %( 62.4mg/L) and 4.9 %( 130.2mg/L). Storage at -20°C and -80°C beyond 14 days may misclassify borderline cases of normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria. In the non-communicable disease survey aliquots of 2hour albustix negative urine were obtained from 47 newly diagnosed diabetic subjects, 52 non-diabetic and non-hypertensive subjects as a control group. The age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and AER were significantly lower in the control subjects (p<0.05 (38.7 ± 8.6 vrs 47.3 + 9.0 yrs;), (119.1 ±10.1 vrs 137.3 ± 22 mmHg); (77.7 ± 7.5 vrs 88.6 ± 13.0 mmHg) and (11.6 ± 1.9 vrs 34.6 ± 2.1/μg/min) respectively. 40 (85.1%) and 7 (13%) of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects respectively had AER ≥20.0 μg/min. There were 7 proposals of UAC cut off values in predicting overnight AER of ≥15.0 μg/min and ≥ 20.0 μg/min. Proposal VI with UAC of 25.0mg/L in predicting overnight AER ≥20.0 μg/min had a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% for the newly diagnosed diabetic subjects and specificity of 87% in the nondiabetic subjects for the absence of microalbuminuria and a positive predictive value of 97.5%. At a lower UAC of 10.0mg/L sensitivity was 100% for both groups but the specificity reduced to 32% and 16.7% for diabetic and non- diabetic subjects respectively. The prevalence of elevated N-AER in 212 diabetic patients providing a single 12hour overnight urine collection was 37.7%. The diagnostic accuracy, Likelihood ratio of a positive test result within this population and the post-test probability were 92%, 7.7 and 82.5% respectively, making the AB 580 assay method a useful and a reliable test for the screening and diagnosis of early diabetic kidney disease in Ghanaian diabetic subjects and for evaluation of risk factors for the progression of intermittent to persistent microalbuminuria.