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This study investigated the general acute, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of methanol extract of Lepidagathis anobrya Nees (Acanthaceae). Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and croton oil-induced ear edema in rats were used for the evaluation of general acute anti-inflammatory effects. Acetic acid-induced writhing response and yeast-induced hyperpyrexia in mice were used to evaluate the analgesic and antipyretic activities respectively. The extract at doses of 10, 25, 50 and 100 mgkg-1 for carrageenan test and doses of 0.5 mg/ear for croton oil test induced a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of paw and ear edemas in rats. In the analgesic and antipyretic tests, the extract has shown a significant inhibition of writhes and hyperpyrexia with all the doses used when compared to the untreated control group. These results clearly show the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of the methanol extract of Lepidagathis anobrya and give the scientific basis for its traditional use. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of action and the components responsible for these pharmacological effects.

Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaf and stem bark of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) Benth. (Mimosaceae) were tested against clinical isolates Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Enterococcus faecalis, and corresponding collection strains E. coli CIP 105 182, Salmonella enterica CIP 105 150, Shigella dysenteriae CIP 54-51 and Enterococcus faecalis CIP 103 907. Discs of Gentamicin, a broad spectrum antibiotic were used as positive controls. The results showed that all the extracts possess antimicrobial activities. A comparative study of the antibacterial activity of the leaves and that of the bark showed that for all the tested microorganisms, the hydroalcoholic extract of the bark is more active than the aqueous extract of the leaf. The hydroethanolic extract of the leaves is as effective as the aqueous extract of the stem bark prescribed by the traditional healer, suggesting it is possible to use leaves other than the roots and bark. The phytochemical screening showed that sterols and triterpenes, saponosides, tannins, reducing compounds, coumarins, anthocyanosides, flavonosides are present in both bark and leaf but in different concentrations.

The antibacterial activity of the stem bark and the leaves of Parkia biglobosa have been tested on four strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients in the National Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The tests revealed the efficacy of the hydroalcoholic and the aqueous extracts. They also revealed that the hydroalcoholic extracts were more active than the aqueous extract prescribed by the traditional healers and that the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves were as active as the bark. The effects of the extracts have been compared to that of the gentamicin, a positive control. The phytochemical screening showed that the extracts of the stem bark were rich in sterols, a triterpenes, tannins, saponosides, anthocyanidins, coumarins, flavonoids and reducing coumpounds. The leaves extracts were rich in tannins, coumarins, anthocyanins, flavones and reducing compounds. Keywords : Staphylococcus aureus, Parkia biglobosa , antibacterial activity African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 3(2) 2006: 74-78

As reproductive disorders were found to be one of the major constraints of livestock improvement in Burkina Faso, an ethno-veterinary survey showed that some plant species are used by traditional veterinary healers as basic components of indigenous recipes to treat them. The ecological locations, the current relative abundance in the area and the acute toxicity of the aqueous extracts of three selected species: Holarrhena floribunda,. Leptadenia hastata and Cassia sieberiana were also investigated. The abundance of the plants was carried out in villages with semi-structured interviews of vet-healers, in-situ observations and then completion with library documentation while the acute toxicity was done in mice. The results showed that LDB50Bs of 495 mg/kg, 24 mg/kg and 1513 mg/kg were observed for Holarrhena floribunda, Cassia sieberiana and Leptadenia hastata respectively. The relative abundance of these species across Burkina Faso is variable. Leptadenia hastata is widely distributed, while Holarrhena floribunda is very scarce because of its high demand. Cassia sieberiana’s case is worrisome because the plant’s root is the basic material required. The LD quotient and LDB50B obtained for Leptadenia hastata show that the plant is safe to use. Although the LDB50 Bobtained for Holarrhena floribunda is higher than that of Cassia sieberiana their LD quotients did not meet acceptable safety calculated value. However, it is more difficult to get enough crude material of Holarrhena floribunda and Cassia sieberiana. There is, therefore, an urgent need to build a sustainable scheme for these endangered species and their preservation.

Total and hydroalcoholic extracts of the stem barks of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) Benth. (Mimosaceae) were tested on strains belonging to three species of Shigellae: S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri and S. boydii collected from hospitals in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The results showed that both extracts were active against Shigellae. The hydroalcoholic extract was more active than the decoction (aqueous one) prescribed by the traditional healer. Both extracts were particularly effective against S. dysenteriae, the most virulent of the three pathogenic species. The effects of the extracts have been compared to that of gentamicin. The phytochemical screening on the extracts revealed the presence of sterols, triterpenes, polyphenolic compounds including tanins, flavonoids, coumarins, anthocyanidins. Other components are saponosides and reducing sugars. Keywords : Shigellae – Hydroalcoholic extract – bark – Parkia biglobosa African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 4 (4) 2007: pp. 392-396