Musa

Infections caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a major worldwide health problem with high morbidity and mortality in developing countries especially Sudan. The incidence of the disease has amplified since the emergence of AIDS. Since the discovery of the first drugs for Leishmaniasis treatment (i.e., pentavalent antimonials), up to now the search for substances with antileishmanial activity, without toxic effects, and able to overcome the emergence of drug-resistant strains still remains as the current goal. Moreover, in the absence of a vaccine there is a crucial need for effective drugs to replace/supplement those in current use. The plant kingdom is undeniably treasured as a source of new medicinal agents.   A thorough review of the literature on Sudanese plant extracts of natural origin either showing antileishmanial activity or expected to have, depending on the phytochemical screening is presented in this article. The review include 12 plants, their geographical distribution, the parts utilized, the type of extract, and the organism tested. The level of activity exhibited by the extracts depended largely on the type of solvent used for the extraction and the plant part used. Tannins demonstrated to be the key element of the antileishmanial properties and it is highlighted as potential source through the search for new Sudanese antileishmanial medicinal plants. The array of Sudanese medicinal plants that have demonstrated antileishmanial activity suggests that the hope to discover novel antileishmanial drugs is high.

The aim of this study was to determine the ABO and Rhesus D Blood group and CMV Status of blood donors in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Two hundred and ninety (290) consecutively –recruited blood donors, consisting of 287 males and 3 females aged 19 – 55 years with mean age 39 ± 21 years were screened for their ABO and Rh D blood group and CMV antibodies status using the Lorne Laboratories (UK) antisera and CTK Biotech (U.S.A.) Onsite CMV IgG/IgM Duo rapid test for CMV-IgG and IgM detection. The result shows that 57.9% of the donors were CMV positive for IgM only, 3.1% were positive for both IgM and IgG and 4.82% were positive for IgG only while the remaining 34.18% were negative. The prevalence of CMV positivity was higher among blood group O donors (30.7%) compared to blood group A (16.2%), B (15.5%) and AB (0.34%). CMV positivity was higher among blood donors  in the 25-29 years age group (16.6%) compared to those in the 19-24 years (16.2%), 30-35 years (12.1%), 36-40 years (10.3%), 41-45 years (8.7%), 46- 50 years (1.40%) and 51-55 years age group (0.70%). This present study indicates mild endemicity of CMV infection among blood donors in Sokoto, Nigeria. There is need to routinely screen blood donors for CMV particularly for donor units intended for use in neonates, pregnant women, AIDS patients, immunosuppressed and transplant patients. The use of leucocyte- rich whole blood transfusion should be discouraged in Nigeria. Effort should be made to implement universal leucodepletion of donated units. There is also the need to educate clinical staff to ensure that CMV negative units are requested for patients in whom CMV negative units are indicated.

In this study, the compactability and compressibility of modified starches obtained from the tuber Plectranthus esculentus were evaluated in comparison with the standard microcrystalline cellulose (MCC 101). Starch was extracted from the fresh tubers of P. esculentus by wet milling. Three modifications of the starch were made, acid hydrolysis (APS), pregelatinization (PPS), and ethanol dehydrated pregelatinization (PPE). Tablet’s compaction characteristics were studied using models of Heckel and Kawakita equations, while compressibility index were evaluated using tablet’s density measurements. The percentage recovery yields for the three modifications revealed that PPS has the highest yield in comparison to PPE and APS. Compaction and compressibility evaluation demonstrate that modification by acid hydrolysis (APS) and ethanol dehydration of the pregelatinized starch (PPE) produced directly compressible filler/binder that can plastically deform on compression base on their mean yield pressure Py and the inverse measure of plastic deformation Pk values were lower in comparison to the pregelatinized modification (PPS). Compressibility index also revealed that APS and PPE are more compressible and better comparable to mcc 101 than PPS.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of mucilage on the material and physico-chemical properties of native and modified starches obtained from Ipomoea batatas. Ipomoea batatas starch were pregelatinized and acid modified, subsequently, dispersions of mucilage with native, pregelatinized and acid modified starches in a ratio of 1:20, 1:10, 2:10, 3:10 and 4:10 respectively were produced. The order of magnitude pregelatinized starch > acid modified starch > native starch were seen for parameters such as moisture sorption, hydration capacity and swelling capacity, while native starch > pregelatinized starch > acid modified starch for porosity and angle of repose. These orders were also observed respectively with the dispersion of the various starches in mucilage. Generally an increase in particle size, flow properties, moisture sorption capacity, true densities and a decrease in hydration capacity, swelling capacity and porosity were observed as the mucilage concentration increased.

This study aimed at comparing the disintegrant properties of three potato starches with Maize starch BP as well as effect of method of incorporation of disintegrant on release of paracetamol tablet formulation. The disintegrant property was assessed by both disintegration and dissolution times of the formulation. The results showed that tablets produced with potato starch were similar in disintegration and dissolution times with those formulated with Maize starch BP. Disintegrants employed extra-granularly showed better disintegration than intra-granular or intra-extra-granular. Therefore the potato starches can be used as a disintegrant in paracetamol tablets formulation

The study was aimed at comparing the mechanical strength and lamination tendencies of three local potato (Sweet, Kaffir and Irish) starches. The compressional properties of the formulation were analysed using density measurement and assessed by Heckel and Kawakita equations while the lamination tendencies were assessed by the brittle fracture index (BFI).Tablets produced with potato starches have higher mechanical strength as seen in their tensile strengths. Sweet potato starch showed superiority over other potato starches in that respect. The lamination tendency was lower with corn starch BP than the potato starches.Starches obtained locally from potato tubers produced stronger tablets and hence can be used in formulation of tablets. Key words: potato starches, lamination tendency, tensile strength, Heckel equation

The glidant and binding properties of starches extracted from three local potato tubers have been evaluated and compared with corn starch BP. The glidant properties studied include angle of repose, flow rate and flow factor while the binding properties were assessed by crushing strength and friability. The result indicated that potato starches employed as glidant were not as efficient as talc or corn starch but produced tablets with higher crushing strength and lower friability values. The results indicate that potato starches can be employed as an alternative binder to corn starch BP in the formulation of paracetamol tablets.