Antimicrobial and toxicological evaluation of the leaves of Baissea axillaries Hua used in the management of HIV/AIDS patients
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Persistent diarrhea is a common endemic disease with high incidence among the Africans including Nigerians. It also represents a frequent opportunistic disease in people living with HIV. Diarrhea represents one of the most distressfu...
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BMC,
2006-06-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Persistent diarrhea is a common endemic disease with high incidence among the Africans including Nigerians. It also represents a frequent opportunistic disease in people living with HIV. Diarrhea represents one of the most distressful and persistent symptoms of HIV/AIDS, which may or may not be accompanied by an infection. The leaves decoction of <it>Baissea axillaries </it>Hua (Apocynaceae) is used by traditional herbalists in Edo state, Nigeria for the management of people living with HIV/AIDS. Determination of its antimicrobial activity and toxicological profile will provide supportive scientific evidence in favour of its continuous usage.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Chemical and chromatographic tests were employed in phytochemical investigations. Inhibitory activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against clinical strains of <it>Escherichia coli</it>, <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>, <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>and <it>Streptococcus faecalis </it>were compared with Togamycin (Spectinomycin). Our report includes minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the test organisms. Toxicological evaluation was determined by administering 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of extracts on male Wister rats for 14 days with normal saline as control. The kidneys, liver, heart and testis tissues were examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and cyanogenetic glycosides. The extracts inhibited the growth of <it>Escherichia coli</it>, <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>and <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>to varying extents, but only the ethanolic extract inhibited growth in <it>Streptococcus faecalis</it>. The LD<sub>50 </sub>of the extract in mice was above 5000 mg/kg body weight when administered intraperitoneally. Toxicological evaluation showed mere ballooning degeneration of the liver at 250 mg/kg while at 500 mg/kg there was tissue necrosis. The low and high doses showed ill-defined leydig cells in the testis and no remarkable changes in the heart and kidneys.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Extracts of <it>Baissea axillaries </it>have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against clinical strains of selected microorganisms. While there is toxicity at the dose of 500 mg/kg, the therapy shows potential for application in the treatment of diarrhoea associated with AIDS/HIV. Further studies of <it>Baissea axillaries </it>on diarrhoea and toxicity are necessary to evaluate its mechanism of action and to fully establish its safety profile.</p> |
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| Item Description: | 10.1186/1472-6882-6-22 1472-6882 |