Browsing by Author "Mwonjoria, John K."

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    Antipyretic Properties of Dichloromethane: Methanolic Leaf and Root Bark Extracts of Carissa edulis in Rat
    (Literati Scientific and Publishers, 2015) Gitahi, S. M.; Mwangi, B. M.; Njagi, J.M.; Mworia, J. K.; Juma K. Kelvin; Umar, Aliyu; Mwonjoria, John K.; Njoroge, A. W.; Piero, N.M.; Mburu, D. N.
    Although pyrexia benefits the nonspecific immune response to invading microorganisms and tissue damage, it is also viewed as a source of discomfort and hence is commonly suppressed with some medication. However, conventional medications are expensive and arguably associated with various severe adverse side effects hence the need to develop herbal agents that are effective, cheaply available as alternative and complementary to conventional therapeutic drugs. Today herbal remedies are gaining popularity because the efficacy of conventional medicine is on the wane. Through ages Carissa edulis has been used as folklore remedy for various common ailments afflicting people in various parts of the world. However, although C. edulis (Forssk.)Vahl is widely used for pyrexia in the traditional medicine, an extensive search of the literature reveals no scientifically investigated report of its described effects. Thus, this study was to scientifically evaluate the ethnomedicinal importance of C. edulis (Forssk.)Vahl as an alternative and complementally intervention for the treatment of fever. The experimental groups were treated with leaf and root bark extracts at concentration of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg. Antipyretic activities in rats were compared with aspirin (100mg/kg) as the standard conventional drug. The leaf extracts reduced the rectal temperature by between 0.02% - 2.98% while the root bark extracts reduced it by between 0.15% - 2.55%. Aspirin reduced the elevated rectal temperature by between 1.08% - 2.53%. Results indicate that both leaf and root bark extracts of C. edulis have profound antipyretic activities comparable to the conventional antipyretic drug, aspirin
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    Cardio Protection and Antiatherosclerotic Effects of Solanumincanum (Lin.) Extracts in Animal Models
    (John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2025) Mburu,Stephen Ngigi; Ngugi,Mathew Piero; Mwonjoria, John K.
    Solanum incanum is a bushy perennial herb which is used for treatment of various ailments in East Africa including stomach pain, toothaches, ulcers, and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is scarcity of data on its safety, and its efect on the physiology of the cardiovascular system. Hence, this study envisaged evaluating the efect of methanol extract of the herb on myocardial action atherosclerotic tendency and safety. Myocardial activity assay involved determination of the heart rate and force of contraction using an isolated rabbit heart in an organ bath and kymograph, while antiatherosclerotic efects were assayed on blood obtained from white Wistar rats fed on high lipid diet where the levels of low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins and total cholesterol were determined. Assays of the toxic efects of the extract were carried out on Swiss albino mice while qualitative phytochemical analyses were carried out using one-way Anova and Tukey as the post hoc test, a value of (p < 0.05) was taken as the limit of signifcance. Te plant extracts exhibited an increase in the force of contraction of the heart and decrease in heart rate. It also caused signifcant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum low-density lipoproteins and total cholesterol as well as elevation of HDL but no efect on hematological parameters. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins favonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and phenolics. Hence, the S. incanum root extract may contain compounds with antiatherosclerotic efects that are cardioprotective and therefore a potential source of novel remedies for the ailment
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    Ethno medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of solanum incanum (lin.)
    (Science Publishing Corporation, 2014) Wambugu, Stanley N.; Sagini, Micah N.; Githinji, Charles G.; Kariuki, Helen N.; Ngeranwa, J.J.N.; Mwonjoria, John K.
    Solanum incanum is used in Africa and other parts of world as a folklore remedy for various ailments that include; sore throat, angina, stomach ache, ear inflammation, snake bites, wounds, liver disorders, skin ailments (ringworm), warts, inflammatory conditions, painful periods and fever. Phytochemical studies of this herb indicate that it contains substances such as steroidal alkaloids, glyco-alkaloids, antioxidants (flavo-noids and chlorogenics), saponins and even carcinogenic substances. The herbal extract posses’ antinociceptive, antipyretic, anti-spasmolytic, orexic, anorexic, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, anti-schistosomal, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activity. The herb is therefore likely to be a major source of novel, affordable and effective therapeutic substances against myriad ailments afflict-ing people in the world. This review explores the phyto-pharmacological effects of the S. incanum and compiles vital information that may assist researchers on what is known about this herb and gaps for further investigation.
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    Evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxic effects of lantana camara l.
    (2017-07) Sore, Millycent A.; Mwonjoria, John K.; Juma, Kelvin K.; Ngugi, Piero M.; Mwaniki, Njagi E.N.
    Lantana camara has been used traditionally to manage several diseases such as wound healing, inflammation and pain. However, its efficacy and safety has not been scientifically evaluated and clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity as well as toxicity of aqueous extract of the plant using animal models. The anti-inflammatory activity assay was carried out using carrageenan induced lung edema and pleurisy mice. Analgesic effect assay was carried out using formalin pain test while the safety of this aqueous plant extracts was determined by intraperitoneal administration of 450, 670 and 1000 mg daily for 28 days after which the changes in selected organ and body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters were determined. Both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition was determined using standard procedures. The doses showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and minimal toxic effects. Phytochemical analysis showed that the extract contained various amount of tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Therefore, the extract may possess substances with antiinflammatory, analgesic and minimal toxic effects. The result from this study supports traditional use of this plant for pain and inflammatory ailments. It also serves as awake up call for researchers to do more and establish its mode of action and to elucidate the metabolites responsible for theses effects in hope of developing a novel remedy for these signs and symptoms. Key words: Lantana camara, Analgesic, Antinociceptive, Anti-inflammatory, Phytochemical, Pain.
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    Evaluation of antinociceptive, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of Euclea divinorum, Solanum incanum and Craterostigma plantagenium in animal models
    (2014-08-12) Mwonjoria, John K.; Ngeranwa, J.J.N.; Githinji, C. G.; Wafula, Alphonse Wanyonyi
    Inflammation, pain and fever are key signs and or symptoms associated with various pathological processes in the body. All over the world people continue to experience chronic pain and inflammation (particularly in developing countries) because of the exorbitant prices of the synthetic conventional drugs that alleviate these conditions. To date, pain has captured the attention of researchers and is considered a major health problem, while chronic inflammation is associated with cancer development. In East Africa, there are several herbs with therapeutic potential for pain, inflammatory process and/or fever. For instance, Euclea divinorum, Solanum incanum and Craterostigma plantagenium are some of the known herbs. Nevertheless, little or no scientific study has been conducted to validate these claims. This proposed work therefore aims at evaluating the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of purified extracts of these plants using animal models. This study underscores the significance of developing a potent, safer and cheaper alternative drug(s) for pain, fever and inflammation management. The antinociceptive assay will be carried out using acetic acid writhing method, formalin, hot plate and tail flick tests on mice. The anti-inflammatory study will involve measurement of change in; paw edema volume, COX-2 activity, Interleukin-If (IL-IP), tumor necrotic factor-a (TNF-a) and white blood cell migration assays. In the antipyretic assay, fever will be induced in Sprague Dawley rats using lipopolysaccharide from-E. coli. Rectal (core) temperature measurements will be taken using a thermocouple with the thermister probe inserted in the rectum. In this study international standards of ethical principles for animal research will be followed strictly. Data for each set of experiment will be analysed using Windows Kwikstat sda 7.0.3 and Excel statistical software. One way ANOVA with Scheffe post hoc test will be used to compare the test and control group values. A value of p < 0.05 will beconsidered significant.
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    Potential Anti-diabetic Effects and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Urtica dioica Collected from Narok County, Kenya
    (OMICS International, 2017) Mukundi, Mwangi J.; Mwaniki, Njagi E.N.; Ngugi, M.P.; Murugi, Njagi J.; Juma, Kelvin K.; Yusuf, Abdirahman A.; Mwonjoria, John K.; Ngetich, Alex K.; Agyirifo, Daniel S.; Gathumbi, Peter K.; Muchugi, Alice N.
    Drug bio screening for potential anti-diabetics is scientifically motivated by the desire to discover newer, safer and affordable drugs that complement conventional strategies for management of diabetes. Urtica dioica grows naturally in many parts of Africa with a wide variety use in traditional medicine and diet. However, scientific validation for use of U. dioica has not been done for anti-diabetic activity. The aim of the study was to determine the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extracts of U. dioica in alloxan induced mice and the safety of U. dioica on mice models. The plant extracts were administered orally at doses of 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg which is the common route used in traditional herbal medicine administration. Evaluation for toxicity was determined at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of U. dioica. The results from the study indicated that the plant extracts exhibited insulin mimetic anti-diabetic activity. Evaluation for toxicity also indicated that a dose of 1000 mg/kg bw preserved the integrity of liver, kidney and lipid profiles for biochemical markers. Moreover, there was no significant change in the hematological and leucocyte counts. There was no significant change in gross body weight, organ body weight and histopathological changes on tissues of the body organs in this study. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extracts of U. dioica indicated the presence of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Various levels of different mineral elements were also recorded. In conclusion, this study confirmed that U. dioica at a dose of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weights possessed anti-diabetic activity. It is also safe for use at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. More studies should be explored on the potential anti-diabetic effects using other routes of administration.