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Drug resistant tuberculosis remains one of the major challenges associated with treatment and management of tuberculosis (TB) in the public health system and in clinical settings. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 186,772 people died from drug-resistant tuberculosis out of the 500000 reported cases and this is alarming. There is a pressing need from every angle in drug discovery to develop novel compounds that could possess diverse mechanisms of action to tackle drug-resistant tuberculosis. The Crinum asiaticum bulbs extract are used ethno medicinally to treat upper respiratory tract infections and as well as wound healing agent. The aim of this work is to investigate the in-vitro anti-tuberculosis effect of Crinum asiaticum bulbs extracts and to assess the inhibitory properties against bacteria efflux pumps expression and biofilm formation. The results obtained showed that the Crinum asiaticum bulbs extracts (CAE) were effective in inhibiting Mycobacterium smegmatis (NCTC 8159) and Mycobacterium aurum (NCTC 10437) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 μg/ml and 250 μg/ml against M. smegmatis and M. aurum respectively. The CAE markedly inhibited the efflux pumps of both M. smegmatis and M. aurum from expressing with the chloroform extract producing the greatest inhibition. The CAE (ethanol, methanol, chloroform and hexane) significantly (***ρ˂0.005) inhibited M. smegmatis’ and M. aurum’s biofilm formation in-vitro. Among the various extracts of Crinum asiaticum, the chloroform extract exhibited the greatest inhibition against M. smegmatis and M. aurum biofilm formation with significance levels of ***ρ˂0.005 and ***ρ˂0.005. In conclusion the CAE has anti-tuberculosis effect and could tackle drug resistant TB as exhibited through the anti-efflux and anti-biofilm forming properties of the extract against the selected Mycobacterium species.

Crinum asiaticum bulbs are widely distributed in parts of Africa and Asia, most evidence suggest this plant is an Asian in origin with some occurrence in the Indian Ocean islands. In Ghana, it is mostly found in the southern part and used ethno-medicinally to treat upper respiratory tract infection, severe cough, skin infection and healing of wounds. In spite of the usage among the indigenous people, there is very little published research on toxicity pertaining to the short or long term use of the bulbs of Crinum asiaticum. The aim of this study is to assess the acute and sub-acute toxicity profile of the chloroform extract of Crinum asiaticum bulbs (CCAE) in ICR mice. In the acute toxicity test, healthy male and non-pregnant female ICR mice (15-20 g) were used. Mice were given single low dose of CCAE orally (2000 mg/kg) in one group and 5000 mg/kg in another group as the highest dose and the control group recieved 1 ml/kg of normal saline (p.o). Gross observation from the acute toxicity study was made for seven days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, doses of 500 and 1500 mg/kg of CCAE were administered orally for 14 days consecutively and observations made throughout the period. In both studies, the animals were closely observed for clinical behavioral changes such as fixed posture, vasodilatation, irritabilities, change in body weight, loss of appetite, hair loss and mortalities. The toxic effect of the extract on liver, kidneys, haematological, and biochemical parameters were assessed including histopathological examination to assess the integrity of the cells of kidney and liver. In conclusion the toxicity study of CCAE showed no significant toxic effect on the liver, kidney, body weight, neurological functions, haematological and biochemical parameters in oral acute toxicity test followed by sub-acute oral toxicity test. Histopathological studies on the cells of kidney and liver appeared normal. The LD50 was determined to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. Hence the chloroform extract of Crinum asiaticum bulbs are not toxic when the dosing is below 5000 mg/kg.

Introduction: Natural products since time immemorial have been the source of traditional medicine. A number of well-known anxiolytic agents currently used have several side effects that limit their use. Among medicinal plants, leaves of Annona muricata (AM) are being recommended by traditional healers for the management of anxiety. This study is performed to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and bark of Annona muricata. Methodology: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and bark of Annona muricata were prepared and assessed for anxiolytic effect using the elevated plus maze (EPM) model. The antianxiety activity of the extracts were compared to the control (distilled water 10ml/kg) and standard drug Diazepam (5mg/kg). Results and discussion: All doses of the aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata exhibited significant increase in mean entries into open arms (P

Background: Diarrhea continues to be a public health problem in Ghana. The fruit and leaves of Annona muricata are used traditionally for the management of gastro-intestinal disorders. This study aims to investigate the ethanolic seed extract of Annona muricata for anti-diarrheal activity in rats. Method: Three different models were used to test for anti-diarrheal activity; gastrointestinal motility test, castor oilinduced diarrhea, and castor oil-induced gastro enteropooling. The observed effect of the extract at various doses (150mg/kg, 300mg/kg and 650mg/kg) was compared to both negative (distilled water 10ml/kg) and positive control (Loperamide hydrochloride 2mg/kg). Results: Annona muricata extract showed a dosedependent reduction in diarrhea compared to the standard antidiarrheal drug, Loperamide hydrochloride and distilled water. The percentage inhibition in gastrointestinal motility calculated in reference to the controls was 58.98%, 67.34% and 14.69% for the highest concentration of the extract, Loperamide hydrochloride, and distilled water respectively. The percentage inhibition in defecation compared to the controls was 35.59% and 38.98% for 650mg/kg Annona muricata, and Loperamide hydrochloride respectively. The extract was able to inhibit intestinal fluid accumulation which was greater than the effect observed by Loperamide hydrochloride. Conclusion: The results obtained confirm the antidiarrheal activity of the seed extract of Annona muricata and thus provides the scientific justification for the traditional use of this plant for the management of diarrhea.

Objective: Cola nitida has been used in traditional medicine to treat diverse ailments including diarrhea. This study is carried out to investigate the antidiarrheal activity of the ethanol and chloroform seed extract of Cola nitida in Wistar albino rats. Methods: The ethanol and chloroform extracts of Cola nitida were evaluated with different doses (100mg/kg, 300mg/kg and 650mg/kg of animal weight) orally for antidiarrheal activity using castor oil induced-diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility test and castor oil-induced gastroenteropooling in Wistar albino rats. The observed activity was compared to standard antidiarrheal drug Lopermaide hydrochloride (2mg/kg) and to distilled water (10ml/kg) which served as the negative control. Results: Cola nitida ethanol extract at 150, 300 and 650mg/kg showed 55.64%, 59.73%, and 71.34% inhibition in gastrointestinal motility respectively. A significant reduction in diarrheal episodes (p

The plant Dialium guineense (DAG) has been claimed by local users, to be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcers, especially, when taken as an aqueous decoction. The present study assessed the antiulcer activity of the plant, as well as explored the possible mechanisms of action of the herbal drug, aside identifying some of the various phytoconstituents, which could be responsible for its antiulcer activity. Different ulcerogens (ethanol 99.9 %, indomethacin 50 mg/kg, cysteamine 400 mg/kg, glacial acetic acid) and the pylorus ligation-induced ulcers were used to induce acute and chronic ulcers, with doses of 100, 300 and 750 mg/kg DAG and the standard drugs relative to each model, while assessing drug activity through ulcer scoring and comparing it with both the negative and positive controls. The extract, which has an LD50 of 1584.89 mg/kg when administered intraperitoneally, recorded a significant (p

Amaryllidaceae is a significant source of bioactive phytochemicals with a strong propensity to develop new drugs. The genera Allium, Tulbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum biosynthesize novel alkaloids and other phytochemicals with traditional and pharmacological uses. Amaryllidaceae biomolecules exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects. Traditionally, natural products from Amaryllidaceae are utilized to treat non-communicable and infectious human diseases. Galanthamine, a drug from this family, is clinically relevant in treating the neurocognitive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, which underscores the importance of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Although Amaryllidaceae provide a plethora of biologically active compounds, there is tardiness in their development into clinically pliable medicines. Other genera, including Cyrtanthus and Tulbaghia, have received little attention as potential sources of promising drug candidates. Given the reciprocal relationship of the increasing burden of human diseases and limited availability of medicinal therapies, more rapid drug discovery and development are desirable. To expedite clinically relevant drug development, we present here evidence on bioactive compounds from the genera Allium, Tulgbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum and describe their traditional and pharmacological applications.