Browsing by Author "Okine, L.K.N."
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Item Adverse effects of mosquito coil smoke on lung, liver and certain drug metabolising enzymes in male wistar albino rats(Ghana Medical Journal, 2004-09) Okine, L.K.N.; Nyarko, A.K.; Armah, C.E.Item The Anti-dyslipidemic Effects of Milled Root Bark Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpus in Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases(Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2018-01) Saka, P.; Osafo, K.E.; Antwi, S.; Martey, O.N.K.; Quasie, O.; Antwi-Adjei, M.; Asiedu-Larbi, J.; Takyi, N.K.; Donkor, K.N.; Okine, L.K.N.Dyslipidaemia is a major risk factor of the onset of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Sirappac, the milled root bark of C. erythrocarpus has been reported to significantly reduce body weight and sizes of Sprague-Dawley rats with possible effects on the alteration of lipid metabolism. The present study was thus, aimed at determining the effects of sirappac on the body weight, food intake, serum lipid levels and blood pressures in rats. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with sirappac at doses of 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg for a period of three months. Rats body weight and feed intake values were recorded daily. Serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) and leptin levels were determined monthly throughout the study period. At the end of the treatment period, there were significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in body weight, food intake, serum levels of TC, LDLC, TG and serum leptin. However, the levels of HDLC increased significantly (p < 0.05) over the study period. Sirappac also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced rat systolic blood pressure without effect on the diastolic blood pressure. The results indicate that sirappac exerts anti-lipidaemic effects and could be indicated in management of cardiovascular diseases, whilst preventing obesity by reducing feed intake and the rate of increase in body weight in Sprague-Dawley rats.Item Antidiabetic activity of aqueous stem bark extract of Annickia polycarpa in alloxan-induced diabetic mice(Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2021) Lartey, N.L.; Asare-Anane, H.; Ofori, E.K.; Antwi, S.; Asiedu-Larbi, J.; Ayertey, F.; Okine, L.K.N.Background and aim: There is a growing need to develop new drugs for type II diabetes mellitus (DM) from plant sources due to the high cost and adverse side effects of current drug therapies. To this end, the antidiabetic activity of aqueous stem-bark extract of A. polycarpa (APE) in alloxan-induced diabetic ICR mice was investigated. Experimental procedure: The effect of APE (20, 100 and 500 mg/kg), glibenclamide and metformin as positive controls, were determined over 4 weeks on fasting blood glucose (FBG). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also conducted. The effects of these treatments on the morphology of the pancreas were assessed. In addition, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of APE were determined. Results and conclusion: APE, like glibenclamide and metformin, showed significant hypoglycaemic effect. The OGTT supported the hypoglycaemic effect. The destroyed pancreatic beta-cells in diabetic control mice were restored to normal by APE or drug treatment. APE showed antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH free radicals; this may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids. Thus, APE may act by restoring pancreatic beta-cell integrity through mopping of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with the diabetic state, and thereby improving pancreatic function and consequently, the lowering of FBG levels. These findings provide ample evidence to validate the traditional use of A. polycarpa in the management of DM. © 2021 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Item Antidiabetic activity of aqueous stem bark extract of Annickia polycarpa in alloxan-induced diabetic mice(Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2020-02-05) Okine, L.K.N.; Lartey, N.L.; Asare-Anane, H.; Ofori, E.K.; Antwi, S.; Asiedu-Larbi, J.; Ayertey, F.Background and aim: There is a growing need to develop new drugs for type II diabetes mellitus (DM) from plant sources due to the high cost and adverse side effects of current drug therapies. To this end, the antidiabetic activity of aqueous stem-bark extract of A. polycarpa (APE) in alloxan-induced diabetic ICR mice was investigated. Experimental procedure: The effect of APE (20, 100 and 500 mg/kg), glibenclamide and metformin as positive controls, were determined over 4 weeks on fasting blood glucose (FBG). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also conducted. The effects of these treatments on the morphology of the pancreas were assessed. In addition, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of APE were determined. Results and conclusion: APE, like glibenclamide and metformin, showed significant hypoglycaemic effect. The OGTT supported the hypoglycaemic effect. The destroyed pancreatic beta-cells in diabetic control mice were restored to normal by APE or drug treatment. APE showed antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH free radicals; this may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids. Thus, APE may act by restoring pancreatic beta-cell integrity through mopping of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with the diabetic state, and thereby improving pancreatic function and consequently, the lowering of FBG levels. These findings provide ample evidence to validate the traditional use of A. polycarpa in the management of DM.Item The antidiabetic activity of the herbal preparation ADD-199 in mice: A comparative study with two oral hypoglycaemic drugs(Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2005) Okine, L.K.N.; Nyarko, A.K.; Osei-Kwabena, N.; Oppong, I.V.; Barnes, F.; Ofosuhene, M.The antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the herbal preparation ADD-199 were investigated in STZ-induced diabetic C(3)H mice and results were compared with two allopathic hypoglycaemic drugs, glibenclamide and metformin. Plasma glucose, insulin and lipids as well as liver glycogen, lipids and lipid peroxidation were measured following treatment for 8 weeks. The results indicated that plasma insulin levels in normal controls at termination were about 76 micromol/L compared to trace levels in untreated diabetic mice. Glibenclamide and ADD-199 increased insulin levels in diabetic mice up to 70% of levels in untreated non-diabetic mice whilst metformin had no effect. Basal plasma glucose levels in diabetic controls (18.8 mM) were reduced to 14.0 mM by 100 mg/kg ADD-199 in <2 weeks compared to 4 and 6 weeks for glibenclamide and metformin, respectively. This hypoglycaemic effect of ADD-199 appeared to be associated with the alkaloidal content of the extract. Treatment with ADD-199 or the hypoglycaemic agents reversed the observed elevation in plasma lipids but increased hepatic glycogen, triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels. Treatment also increased glucose uptake by isolated diaphragms and attenuated hepatic lipid peroxidation. These antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant actions of ADD-199 at a dose of 100mg/kg/day are comparable to those of the maximum daily therapeutic doses of glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) and metformin (50 mg/kg). These could explain the basis for use of this plant extract to manage diabetes mellitus (DM).Item The application of Westcott Formalism k 0 NAA method to estimate short and medium lived elements in some Ghanaian herbal medicines complemented by AAS(Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2012-04) Ayivor, J.E.; Okine, L.K.N.; Dampare, S.B.; Nyarko, B.J.B.; Debrah, S.K.The epithermal neutron shape factor, α of the inner and outer irradiation sites of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) was determined obtaining results of 0.105 for the inner (Channel 1) Irradiation site and 0.020 for the outer (channel 6) irradiation site. The neutron temperatures for the inner and outer irradiation sites were 27°C and 20°C, respectively. The α values used in Westcott Formalism k 0 INAA was applied to determine multi elements in 13 Ghanaian herbal medicines used by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) for the management of various diseases complemented by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. They are namely Mist. Antiaris, Mist. Enterica, Mist. Morazia, Mist. Nibima, Mist. Modium, Mist. Ninger, Mist Sodenia, Mist. Tonica, Chardicca Powder, Fefe Powder, Olax Powder, Sirrapac powder and Lippia Tea. Concentrations of Al, As, Br, K, Cl, Cu, Mg, Mn, Na and V were determined by short and medium irradiations at a thermal neutron flux of 5×10 11ncm -2s -1. Fe, Cr, Pb, Co, Ni, Sn, Ca, Ba, Li and Sb were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Ba, Cu, Li and V were present at trace levels whereas Al, Cl, Na, Ca were present at major levels. K, Br, Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, Fe and Sb were also present at minor levels. Arsenic was not detected in all samples. Standard Reference material, IAEA-V-10 Hay Powder was simultaneously analysed with samples. The precision and accuracy of the method using real samples and standard reference materials were evaluated and within ±10% of the reported value. Multivariate analytical techniques, such as cluster analysis (Q-mode and R-mode CA) and principal component analysis (PCA)/factor analysis (FA), have been applied to evaluate the chemical variations in the herbal medicine dataset. All the 13 samples may be grouped into 2 statistically significant clusters (liquid based and powdered herbal medicines), reflecting the different chemical compositions. R-mode CA and PCA suggest common sources for Co, Mg, Fe, Ca, Cr, Ni, Sn, Li and Sb and Na, V, Cl, Mn, Al, Br and K. The PCA/FA identified 3 dominant factors as responsible for the data structure, explaining 84.5% of the total variance in the dataset. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.Item Assessent of Tonica, an aqueous herbal haematinic, in the modulation of rat hepatic microsomal CYP-mediated drug metabolizing enzymes: Implications for drug interactions(Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2009-02) Martey, O.N.K.; Ocloo, A.; Koomson, E.; Okine, L.K.N.The effects of Tonica (TN), an herbal haematinic prepared from the stem barks of Khaya senegalensis, Mitragyna stipulosa and Kigelia africana, on the activities of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. TN was administered to rats, by oral gavage, at the normal human dose (28 mg/kg/day), 10x and 20x that dose for 6 weeks. Activities of certain hepatic CYP drug-metabolizing enzymes and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time were datermined in control and TN-treated animals. There were insignificant (p>0.05) increases in the microsomal protein content (3.25-31%) at all doses of TN in a non-dose-dependent fashion. However, there was a general insignificant attenuation of NADPH cytochrome c (P450) reductase activity in TN-treated animals compared to control (8.9-26.1%). p-Nitrophenol hydroxylase (pNPH) activity was insignificantly (p>0.05) elevated (14.8-23%) in the TN-treated rats compared to control. The activities of aminopyrine-N-demethylase (AmD) and nitroanisole-O-demethylase (NOD) at the normal and 10x the normal dose of TN were not significantly different from controls, but at 20x the normal dose these enzyme activities were insignificantly (p>0.05) elevated above controls (11.7 and 39.8% for AmD and NOD, respectively). Pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in TN pre-treated animals were insignificantly (p>0.05) inhibited compared to control (3.7-9.5%). These results suggest that TN by insignificantly elevating certain CYP isozymes may have the potential of modulating the metabolism of substances other than pentobarbital. © 2009 Academic Journals Inc.Item Biochemical Toxicology of Desmodium Adscendens(University of Ghana, 2001-09) Quaye, O.; Addy, M.E.; Nyarko, A.K.; Okine, L.K.N.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular BiologyAqueous crude extract of Desmodium adscendens, as dispensed at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), was freeze-dried into a powder and used in this study to evaluate its toxicological effects in rats. For acute toxicity studies, high doses of the freeze-dried extract, were administered orally as single doses to rats, and the behaviours of the animals and organ toxicity were noted. Low, medium and high doses of the plant extract, representing 3, 10, and 30% of the dose that caused 50% lethality over the period of observation were administered to another group of rats in subchronic toxicity studies, and certain biochemical parameters measured as indices of liver and kidney toxicity. In order to investigate possible drug-drug interaction with other drugs, the effects of the plant material on zoxazolamine paralysis time, thiopentone sleeping time and the induction/inhibition of isozymes of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme systems were studied. From the results of the acute toxicity studies, the dose of the plant extract that caused 50% lethality was estimated to be 1125mg/kg body weight and this is about 456 times the prescribed dose in humans. When the extract was chronically administered, no significant differences were observed in levels of γ-glutamyltransferase activity, total protein, total bilirubin, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations in sera of test and control animals, irrespective of the doses of the extract administered. There were however increases in alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and direct bilirubin concentration with increasing dose levels of the plant extract. Suggesting a possible hepatocellular damage, and hepatic excretory dysfunction or increased RBC haemolysis respectively. The plant extract caused a decrease in zoxazolamine paralysis time and prevented thiopentone from causing sleep in test animals as compared to controls. Results of the studies on the hepatic microsomal CYP isozymes suggest that CYP2B1/2B2 are involed in the metabolism of zoxazolamine and thiopentone. This study has indicated that the doses that caused lethality are much higher than the effective therapeutic dose of the extract of D. adscendens. Chronic administration also showed minimal signs of hepatotoxicity at doses 15-150 times higher than the effective therapeutic dose, suggesting that the plant extract may be safe at the therapeutic dose. Thus although D. adscendens may be safe, its induction of CYP2B1/2B2 and inhibition of CYP2E suggest that when the plant extract is co-administered with other drugs, may lead to possible drug interaction which may cause increase in /loss of therapeutic effectiveness or toxicity of the co-administered drug.Item A Chronic toxicity study of the ground root bark of Capparis erythrocarpus (Cappareceae) in male Sprague-dawley rats(Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 2013-12) Okine, L.K.N.; Martey, O.N.K.; Armah, G.E.; Sittie, A.A.The safety evaluation of Capparis erythrocarpus (CE) on chronic administration at 18 and 180 mg kg-1 body weight for 6 months was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of CE on certain serum biochemical, haematological, urine and histopathological determinations were used as indices of organ specific toxicity. Also the effects of CE on rat blood clotting time and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time were determined. Results indicate that CE had no effect on urine, haematological and serum biochemical indices at termination of treatment with the exception of serum ALT level which was significantly (p<0.05) attenuated in a dose-dependent fashion (21-35%). There were also no differences in blood clotting time and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time between CE-treated and control animals. Histopathological studies showed that CE did not adversely affect the morphology of the liver, kidney and heart tissues. However, lungs of CE-treated animals showed slight but insignificant inflammatory response in alveolar areas and Clara cell hyperplasia without the thickening of alveolar septa and bronchiolar epithelial wall. Organ weights were not adversely affected by CE treatment. There were significant (p<0.05) changes in weight of CE-treated animals with duration of treatment compared to control. These results suggest that there is no organ specific toxicity associated with chronic administration of CE in rats and its ability to reduce body weight may be useful for slimming in obese persons. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information.Item Concurrent administration of aqueous extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta reduces the effectiveness of Artesunate against Plasmodium berghei in rats(Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2014) Ocloo, A.; Okpattah, W.E.; Quasie, O.; Sakyiamah, M.M.; Okine, L.K.N.Concurrent administration of aqueous extract of C. sanguinolenta was earlier reported to alter the pharmacokinetics of artesunate consequently resulting in an increase in the clearance rate, which could cause sub-therapeutic levels of dihydroartemisinin of artesunate leading to reduced efficacy. In the present study, the effect of aqueous extract of C. sanguinolenta (Cryp) on the effectiveness of artesunate (Art) against Plasmodium berghei in male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Twenty (20) female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four (4) treatment groups (1 to 4). Groups 2 (Cryp) and 3 (Cryp/Art) served as test groups, which were pretreated with aqueous extract of C. sanguinolenta for two weeks whilst groups 1 (no drug) and 4 (Art) served as negative and positive controls, respectively and were given water. The rats were inoculated with P. berghei after the two weeks pretreatment period and were either not treated (no drug) or treated with artesunate (Art) or C. sanguinolenta (Cryp and Cryp/Art) 2 days post-inoculation. Parasitemia and chemosuppression were then determined in 4 and 6-day suppressive tests. The parasitemia in group 3 rats (Cryp/Art) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (270%) than in group 4 (Art) on day 8. Consequently, the chemosuppression of artesunate only group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (133%) than that of the concurrently administered Cryp/Art group. The findings show that concurrent usage of C. sanguinolenta and artesunate reduces the effectiveness of artesunate as an antimalarial. Therefore, patients should be advised on the implication of the practice of taking C. sanguinolenta and artesunate concurrently. © 2014 Augustine Ocloo et al.Item Modulation of penile erection in rabbits by mondia whitei: Possible mechanism of action(African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2010) Quasie, O.; Martey, O.N.K.; Nyarko, A.K.; Gbewonyo, W.S.K.; Okine, L.K.N.Mondia whitei root was evaluated to validate its anecdotal use and determine its possible mode of action in the management of erectile dysfunction. Rabbits were administered with daily oral doses of 100–400 mg kg−1 crude ethanolic extract of M. whitei and sildenafil (50 mg kg−1) as positive control for 6 weeks. Cavernosal tissue NOS activity and levels of NO and cGMP, and NOS and PDE protein expressions were investigated. The effect of the crude extract, chloroform and petroleum ether fractions in vitro on cavernosal tissue NOS activity and levels of NO and cGMP at 0.01 and 0.10 mg g−1 tissue were also investigated. Results indicate that the crude extract increased NOS activity by 7% at 200 mg kg−1 with corresponding increases in NO (88%) and cGMP (480%) levels. No significant changes in these measurements were observed with the 100 and 400 mg kg−1 doses whilst sildenafil slightly reduced them (15.9–37.5%). NOS and PDE protein expressions in test animals were not different from controls. Pre-incubation of cavernosal tissue in vitro with the crude extract of M. whitei and its chloroform fraction markedly increased NOS activity (26–132%) and levels of NO (25%) and cGMP (50–400%) at 0.01 mg g−1 tissue but these were reduced to near control levels when their concentrations were increased to 0.10 mg g−1 tissue whilst the petroleum ether fraction had no effect. These findings suggest that M. whitei may influence erectile function through activation/stimulation of NOS with corresponding increases in tissue NO and cGMP levels and that certain chemical constituents present in the chloroform fraction may be responsible for biological activity.Item Prospects of croton membranaceus for prostate Health(ACS Symposium Series, 2013-10) Appiah, A.A.; Asomaning, W.A.; Oppong, I.V.; Duker-Eshun, G.; Clement, J.; Okine, L.K.N.; Achel, G.; Gyampo, O.; Adjei, S.; Nyarko, A.K.; Aboagye, F.A.; Edoh, D.A.Croton membranaceus is used by Ghanaian traditional medical practitioners in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Preparations of the root of this plant have been observed to relieve symptoms of BPH and enhance urination without the accompanying difficulty. There are no observable adverse effects associated with the clinical use of preparations of C. membranaceus. While medicinal significance has generated scientific interest in the plant there is real concern relative to the longer tem availability of this indigenous plant in its natural habitat. The objective of this review is to highlight the prospects of C. membranaceus for prostate health. © 2013 American Chemical Society.Item Subchronic toxicity studies of the antidiabetic herbal preparation ADD-199 in the rat: Absence of organ toxicity and modulation of cytochrome P450(Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2005) Nyarko, A.K.; Okine, L.K.N.; Wedzi, R.K.; Addo, P.A.; Ofosuhene, M.The subchronic toxicity of the aqueous antidiabetic herbal extract ADD-199, prepared from Maytenus senegalensis, Annona senegalensis, Kigelia africana and Lanneawelwitschii, and administered at a daily dose of 100 or 500 mg/kg body weight over 30 days, was investigated in male Wistar albino rats. Certain haematological, urine and plasma biochemical parameters, and modulation of some hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes were measured as indices of organ specific toxicity or potential for drug interactions. ADD-199 did not affect plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin or creatinine kinase (CK) levels. It also did not affect plasma creatinine and urea levels. Furthermore, ADD-199 neither affected PCV nor blood Hb, RBC, reticulocytes, platelets, lymphocytes and granulocyte levels. It, however, caused significant dose-dependent reductions in WBC counts at day 15 with varying degrees of recovery by day 30. It also reduced the rate of body weight increases after week 3. However, no changes were observed in organ weights at termination. ADD-199 did not significantly affect zoxazolamine-induced paralysis and pentobarbital-induced sleeping times as well as certain CYP isozyme activities in rats. These findings suggest that ADD-199 had no overt organ specific toxicity and did not demonstrate a potential for drug interactions via CYP-mediated metabolism in the rat on subchronic administration.