Aim: Schistosoma mansoni is a parasite of medical importance because it is the causative agent of... more Aim: Schistosoma mansoni is a parasite of medical importance because it is the causative agent of intestinal schistosomiasis. The present study was designed to assess the in vivo antischistosomal effects of methanolic extracts of three food plants: Apple (Malus domestica), Lemon (Citrus limon) Original Research Article Muema et al.; EJMP, 9(1): 1-11, 2015; Article no.EJMP.16953 2 and Onion (Allium cepa) on Swiss Albino mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Study Design: Swiss albino mice were infected and randomized into groups of five for plant extract treated groups (high and low dosages), negative control were given a vehicle administered via intraperitoneal route twice daily for five days 7 weeks post-infection after which percentage worm reduction and glutathione levels were evaluated. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Centre of Biotechnology Research and Development (Animal Facility), Kenya Medical Research Institute from July, 2013 to May, 2014. Methodology: Swiss albino mice infected with 90 cercariae each were administered with high and low dosages of plant extracts twice daily for five days (7 weeks post-infection) after which worm densities and hepatic oxidative stress were assessed. Results: In general, upon administration of increased concentration of the plant extracts, there was significant (P<0.05) reduction in worm densities with a concomitant increase in GSH activity. Malus domestica showed significant (P<0.05) antischistosomal activity at concentrations 300 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg giving 85.93% and 72.22% worm reduction respectively, Allium cepa at concentrations 500 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg gave 72.59% and 58.52% respectively, with least worm reduction resulting from treatment with Citrus limon at dosages of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg (42.96% and 29.63% respectively). Conclusion: The data demonstrated that, treatment of mice with plant extracts ameliorated oxidative stress induced by Schistosomiasis as indicated by significant (P<0.05) improvement of GSH level compared to schistosome-infected control group. This is expected to have serious ramifications on the management of this tropical disease which hitherto is solely dependent on the use of drugs.
Background: Vector control remains the mainstay to effective malaria management. The negative imp... more Background: Vector control remains the mainstay to effective malaria management. The negative implications following persistent application of synthetic insecticides geared towards regulation of mosquito populations have necessitated prospection for ecofriendly effective chemistries. Plant-derived compounds have the potential to control malaria-transmitting mosquito populations. Previously, Agerantum conyzoides extracts have demonstrated toxicity effects on disease-transmitting mosquitoes. However, their efficacy in controlling Afrotropical malaria vectors remains unclear. Herein, the toxicity and growth disruption activities of crude methanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides on Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and An. arabiensis larvae were assessed. Methods: Late third (L3) instars of An. gambiae s.s and An. arabiensis larvae were challenged with increasing doses of crude methanolic extract of A. conyzoides. The larval mortality rates were recorded every 24 h and the LC 50 values determined at their associated 95% confidence levels. ANOVA followed by Post-hoc Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test was used to compare results between treatment and control groups. Phytochemical profiling of the extract was performed using standard chemical procedures.
Background: Anopheles arabiensis and A. gambiae (sensu stricto) are the most prolific Afrotropica... more Background: Anopheles arabiensis and A. gambiae (sensu stricto) are the most prolific Afrotropical malaria vectors. Population control efforts of these two vectors have been hampered by extremely diverse larval breeding sites and widespread resistance to currently available insecticides. Control of mosquito larval stages using bioactive compounds of plant origin has the potential to suppress vector populations leading to concomitant reduction in disease transmission rates. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Camellia sinensis crude leaf extract and its fraction against the larvae of A. arabiensis and A. gambiae (s.s.).
Aim: Schistosoma mansoni is a parasite of medical importance because it is the causative agent of... more Aim: Schistosoma mansoni is a parasite of medical importance because it is the causative agent of intestinal schistosomiasis. The present study was designed to assess the in vivo antischistosomal effects of methanolic extracts of three food plants: Apple (Malus domestica), Lemon (Citrus limon) Original Research Article Muema et al.; EJMP, 9(1): 1-11, 2015; Article no.EJMP.16953 2 and Onion (Allium cepa) on Swiss Albino mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Study Design: Swiss albino mice were infected and randomized into groups of five for plant extract treated groups (high and low dosages), negative control were given a vehicle administered via intraperitoneal route twice daily for five days 7 weeks post-infection after which percentage worm reduction and glutathione levels were evaluated. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Centre of Biotechnology Research and Development (Animal Facility), Kenya Medical Research Institute from July, 2013 to May, 2014. Methodology: Swiss albino mice infected with 90 cercariae each were administered with high and low dosages of plant extracts twice daily for five days (7 weeks post-infection) after which worm densities and hepatic oxidative stress were assessed. Results: In general, upon administration of increased concentration of the plant extracts, there was significant (P<0.05) reduction in worm densities with a concomitant increase in GSH activity. Malus domestica showed significant (P<0.05) antischistosomal activity at concentrations 300 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg giving 85.93% and 72.22% worm reduction respectively, Allium cepa at concentrations 500 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg gave 72.59% and 58.52% respectively, with least worm reduction resulting from treatment with Citrus limon at dosages of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg (42.96% and 29.63% respectively). Conclusion: The data demonstrated that, treatment of mice with plant extracts ameliorated oxidative stress induced by Schistosomiasis as indicated by significant (P<0.05) improvement of GSH level compared to schistosome-infected control group. This is expected to have serious ramifications on the management of this tropical disease which hitherto is solely dependent on the use of drugs.
Background: Vector control remains the mainstay to effective malaria management. The negative imp... more Background: Vector control remains the mainstay to effective malaria management. The negative implications following persistent application of synthetic insecticides geared towards regulation of mosquito populations have necessitated prospection for ecofriendly effective chemistries. Plant-derived compounds have the potential to control malaria-transmitting mosquito populations. Previously, Agerantum conyzoides extracts have demonstrated toxicity effects on disease-transmitting mosquitoes. However, their efficacy in controlling Afrotropical malaria vectors remains unclear. Herein, the toxicity and growth disruption activities of crude methanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides on Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and An. arabiensis larvae were assessed. Methods: Late third (L3) instars of An. gambiae s.s and An. arabiensis larvae were challenged with increasing doses of crude methanolic extract of A. conyzoides. The larval mortality rates were recorded every 24 h and the LC 50 values determined at their associated 95% confidence levels. ANOVA followed by Post-hoc Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test was used to compare results between treatment and control groups. Phytochemical profiling of the extract was performed using standard chemical procedures.
Background: Anopheles arabiensis and A. gambiae (sensu stricto) are the most prolific Afrotropica... more Background: Anopheles arabiensis and A. gambiae (sensu stricto) are the most prolific Afrotropical malaria vectors. Population control efforts of these two vectors have been hampered by extremely diverse larval breeding sites and widespread resistance to currently available insecticides. Control of mosquito larval stages using bioactive compounds of plant origin has the potential to suppress vector populations leading to concomitant reduction in disease transmission rates. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Camellia sinensis crude leaf extract and its fraction against the larvae of A. arabiensis and A. gambiae (s.s.).
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Papers by JACKSON MUEMA