UnizikSpace Community: Department of Pharmaceutical & Medical Chemistry

Surface Engineering of Recombinant RNA Coliphage Qβ to Display gp41 MembraneProximal External-Region Epitopes from HIV-1

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Surface Engineering of Recombinant RNA Coliphage Qβ to Display gp41 MembraneProximal External-Region Epitopes from HIV-1 Authors: Waffo, Alain Bopda; Ngu, Lovelin N.; Singleton, Rana L.; Egbo, Timothy; Sanders, Carrie A.; Ambada, Georgia E.; Nji, Nadesh N.; Ngoh, Apeh A.; Matthews, QianaL.; Robertson, Boakai K.; Tchouangueu, Thibau F.; Lissom, Abel; Bawage, Swapnil; Tchadji, Colince; Okoli, Arinze S; Esimone, Charles O.; Chukwuanukwu, Rebecca; Mbacham, Wilfred; Kaptue, Lazare; Nchinda, Godwin W. Abstract: The membrane proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-41 (gp41) is targeted by several broadly neutralizing antibodies whose conserved linear epitopes are promising targets for vaccine design. However, a formidable challenge has remained the difficulty to design and deliver MPER based immunogens for the efficient induction of such broadly neutralizing HIV-1 specific antibodies (bnAb). This is mainly because the linear bnAb MPER epitopes are poorly accessible to the immune system. The overall objective of this study therefore was the development of a novel RNA Qβ phage display system not only for monitoring anti-MPER specific antibody responses but equally as potential immunogens in future HIV-1 vaccine designs. Description: Scholarly works

Anti-mycobacterial activity of root and leaf extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis (Loganiaceae) and Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae)

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Anti-mycobacterial activity of root and leaf extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis (Loganiaceae) and Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) Authors: Esimone, Charles O.; Nworu, Chukwuemeka S.; Onuigbo, Ebere B.; Omeje, Justina U.; Nsirim, Kelechi L.; Ogbu, Joy C.; Ngwu, Maria I.; Chah, Kennedy F. Abstract: We screened the aqueous and methanol leaf and root extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis, Diospyros mespiliformis, and their combinations for possible anti-mycobacterial activities using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a surrogate screen. These plants are reputed among folk practices as potent remedy in the management of tuberculosis and leprosy cases. In the sensitivity screening study, only the methanol extracts of A. djalonensis and D. mespiliformis showed anti-mycobacterial activity, while the aqueous extracts exhibited no inhibitory activity on M. smegmatis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the methanol leaf and root extract of A. djalonensis against M. smegmatis were 125 μg/ml. The MIC of the methanol leaf and root extracts of D. mespiliformis is 167 and 250 μg/ml, respectively. In the interaction studies, four out of nine decimal combinations of the two medicinal plant extracts exhibited synergism with fractional inhibitory concentration indices <1 and a negative activity index values. The 8:2 ratio of D. mespiliformis and A. djalonensis exhibited the greatest degree of antimycobacterial synergy against M. smegmatis. The result of this study supports the claims of efficacy reported in the folk use of these plants in mycobacterial infection and the plants could therefore be investigated further and harnessed as potent antimycobacterial agents Description: scholarly works

Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, and Chemical Evaluation of Buchholzia coriacea Seed (Wonderful Kola

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, and Chemical Evaluation of Buchholzia coriacea Seed (Wonderful Kola Authors: Umeokoli, Blessing Ogechukwu; Abba, Chika; Ezeh, Peter; Ajaghaku, Daniel; Onyegbule, Felix Afamefule Abstract: This study investigated the phytochemical content, proximate analysis, acute toxicity test, anti-microbial, and antiinflammatory effect of Buchholzia coriacea (wonderful kola) seed fractions using standard methods. Theantimicrobial activity of the n-hexane, methanol and aqueous extracts of B. coriaceaseeds against Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The proximate composition shows that freshly dried B. coriacea seeds consist of 13% moisture, 88.19% total solid, 0.45% crude fat, 3.92% ash, 1.96% nitrogen, 12.8% protein, 69.8% carbohydrate and 3.5% crude fibre. The acute toxicity study showed that the seed is safe; as no death was recorded.In the assay for antiinflammatory activity, the results showed the aqueous extract to be the most active fractions. The preliminary antimicrobial evaluation, revealed that at the concentrations analysed (6.25-100 mg/mL), the inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) produced by the aqueous extracts against the test isolates ranged from 0-18 mm; the methanol extract recorded IZDsthat ranged from 0-15 mm; and the n-hexane extract recorded IZDs that ranged from 0-7mm. The antimicrobial results of the extracts of B. coriacea showed that the aqueous extract recorded the best antibacterial activity, while the methanol extract showed the best antifungal activity. It can be concluded that the aqueous extract recorded more pharmacological activities than the methanol and n-hexane extracts of B. coriaceaseeds and this confirms the common use of aqueous decoctions of this plant seeds in South-Eastern Nigeria traditional medicine practice. Analysis of the seed oil, revealed the significant presence of Estra-1, 3, 5 [10] -trien-17ßol (35.26%), Oleic acid (6.49%), 1-(+)-Ascorbic acid-2,6-dihexadecanoate (5.98%), Docosanoic acid (2.85%) with other palmitic acid derivatives. Description: Scholarly Work

Improved gastric lesion of ulcerogenic mice treated with bark extracts and fractions of Newbouldia laevis

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Improved gastric lesion of ulcerogenic mice treated with bark extracts and fractions of Newbouldia laevis Authors: Umeokoli, Blessing Ogechukwu; Ekeh, Michah Ngozi; Eze, Peter; Umeyor, Chukwuebuka; Abba, Chika Abstract: Newbouldia laevis is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including gastric ulcer. The present study was undertaken to validate the anti-ulcer potential of N. laevisstem bark. The plant was extracted using ethanol and fractionated using N-hexane, ethyl acetate and water. Phytochemical evaluation of the extract and fractions of the plant was done using standard procedures. The anti-ulcer property of the crude extract and fractions of the plant was investigated against ethanol induced gastric ulcer in white albino rats using Cimetidine (100 mg/kg) as the standard control. Primary screening of the crude ethanol extract of N. laevisstem bark against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined using the agar well diffusion method. Also, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extract on the test organisms were determined using the agar dilution method. The result showed that the crude extract and fractions of the plant significantly (P < 0.001) produced protection in the ethanol- induced ulceration and reduced the ulcer index when compared to the control. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the crude extract and fractions revealed the presence of steroid, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins terpenoids, and tannins while alkaloids were absent. At the concentrations analyzed (15.625 to 500 mg/ml), the inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) produced by the crude ethanol extract against test isolates ranged from 0 to 14 mm. Also, the MICs of the plant extracts on test organisms ranged from 6.25 to 25 mg/ml. The extract recorded best antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae followed by S. typhi. In conclusion, the present study provided preliminary data that the extract and fractions of N. laevis possesses significant anti-ulcer activity in animal models. The gastric anti-secretory and acid neutralizing effect of the plant plus its antibacterial activity reveals the anti-ulcer potential of the plant. Description: Scholarly Work