Misuse of antibiotics is the main cause for resistance development. The objective of this study is to assess patterns of antibiotics use and associated problems at Jimma Health Center. The study was conducted from February 25, 2016 to March 25, 2016. For the analysis of prescribing indicators retrospectively 295 patient charts that fulfills inclusion criteria were systematically selected from a total of 9800 charts from the health center registry department (from March 8, 2015 to March 25, 2016). Prospectively 120 patients were interviewed. The average number of drugs per encounter was 2.2 and percentage of encounter with antibiotics was 32%. 98.9% of medication was prescribed by their generic name and injection encounter was 9%. Amoxicillin was a commonly prescribed antibiotic during the study period (26%). The average consultation and dispensing time were 5.1 and 1.3 min, respectively and 73% of drugs dispensed were adequately labeled. There was a copy of Ethiopian essential drug list and standard treatment guidelines (STG - 2014). There was no drug formulary during the study period and some antibiotics were not available. Result of this study revealed prescribing practices and average number of drugs per prescription slightly deviate from World Health Organization standard. But generic and injection prescribing as well as use of Ethiopian essential drug list was not a problem. Key words: WHO guideline, antibiotics, prescribing indicators, Jimma Health Center.

The 24-h area under the curve concentration (AUC24 h) is associated with better clinical and bacteriological response to vancomycin in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus who achieve the target AUC24 h between 400 and 700 mg×h/L. Recent consensus recommends maintaining trough concentrations between 15 and 20 mg/mL as a convenient target  to reach an AUC/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 400. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between a calculated AUC24 h and a measured trough vancomycin concentration (C0). We conducted a retrospective observational study. Hospitalized patients prescribed vancomycin for a presumed or documented invasive staphylococcal infections were evaluated. A formula based on the relationship between dose, vancomycin clearance and creatinine clearance was used to determine each patient's AUC24 h. 161 patients were included in the study. Median age was 34 years. The mean daily dose of vancomycin was 28 mg/kg/day. The median vancomycin C0 was 12.2 mg/mL, 17.3% were in the therapeutic range. The median AUC was 246.84 mg×h/L, only 8% achieved the target AUC24 h between 400 and 700 mg×h/L. Of these, 3 patients had C0 between 15 and 20 mg/mL and 9 patients had C0> 20 mg/mL. A poor correlation was found between C0 and AUC24 h = 0.37; r2 = 0.14; p<0.0001. In conclusion, vancomycin C0 correlated poorly with AUC24/MIC targets. C0 seems to underestimate AUC24 h. So, a patient specific AUC24/MIC may serve to predict efficacy while C0 can be used as indicators of possible nephrotoxicity and development of resistance. Key words: Vancomycin, area under the curve (AUC), trough concentration, minimum inhibitory concentration, therapeutic drug monitoring.

Picrasma javanica Blume. is locally known as Nilghanta. Traditionally, the plant is used as an anti-pyretic. The aim of this study was to determine the biological properties of P. javanica leaf extract. The writhing test and tail flick response were determined to assess peripheral and central analgesic activities, respectively. Castor oil was fed orally to induce diarrhea in the test animals. Paw edema method was followed to determine the anti-inflammatory potential. Neuropharmacological property of the extract was determined using phenobarbitone sodium. 400 mg/kg body weight dose of P. javanica leaf extract inhibited 70.41% writhing which was comparable to that of diclofenac sodium (75.71% inhibition). The extract also reduced diarrheal feces by 63.10% and carrageenan induced rat paw edema by 91.49% at the same dose. On the other hand, P. javanica extract increased the duration of phenobarbitone sodium-induced sleep. P. javanica leaf extract is a suitable future candidate for phytochemical screening. Key words: Acetic acid, writhing, castor oil, paw edema, carrageenan.

To some Cannabis is antisocial anathema, to others it is a harmless sedative-hypnotic, or narcotic analgesic and to others it occupies a cultural position as religious sacrament. Some fear its use leads to psychosis and addiction; to others still it is a legal anomaly and should be decriminalized. Whatever the case may be, in Africa where Cannabis is a recreational drug. It is caught in a bizarrely legal and regulatory maze. Regulations are changing internationally and the Cannabis industry is growing. African, National Medicines Regulatory Authorities, NMRs, have to catch up. But unfortunately some lack competent professionals who require to understand regulatory science, RS, in general, and in particular as it pertains to cannabis products with complex pharmacology. RS is “a range of scientific disciplines that are applied - intellectually and practically - to the quality, safety and efficacy assessment of medical products and that inform regulatory decision making, throughout the life cycle of a medical/health product”. RS helps to answer the following questions: Is there a pathway that will lead cannabis to mainstream medicine in Africa? Will cannabis as a botanical agent have to follow the same time-honoured process that any pharmaceutical must attain to receive regulatory approval? There is no doubt the cannabis and regulatory sciences are going to influence the future shaping and implementation of pharmaceutical medicine laws and regulations in Africa. The aim of the article is to highlight the key regulatory science challenges, in Africa, that belong to either a societal or a biomedical sphere regarding Cannabis for adult use or medicinal purposes or nutrition. Key words:  Cannabis, regulatory science, challenges, Africa.

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is involved in the production of prostaglandins that sustain the inflammatory process. Inflammatory cells release a number of reactive species. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species can initiate intracellular signaling cascades and enhance the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The objective was to study the cyclooxygenase and protein denaturation inhibition and antioxidant activity of ten extracts from five plants. Cyclooxygenases inhibitory activity of the extracts was measured using the Cayman Kit method and the protein denaturation inhibitory activity using the bovine serum albumin. Ferric reducing antioxidant power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts. COX-2 inhibition was more important with the hydroethanolic extract of X. americana (IC50 = 11.13 ± 1.24 µg/ml) and T. macroptera (IC50 = 12.79 ± 0.56 µg/ml). COX-1 was strongly inhibited with the hydroethanolic extract of S. senegalensis. The hydroethanolic extracts of C. tinctorium and X. americana showed the strongest inhibitory activities of protein denaturation with 86.61 ± 1.22% and 84.5 ± 0.56% respectively. The greatest effects on iron reduction were observed with the hydroethanolic extracts of X. americana (R2 = 0.996; IC50 = 29 µg/ml) and T. macropteria (R2 = 0.990; IC50 = 35.46 µg/ml). The hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the extracts varied from 39.31 ± 3.6 to 77.37 ± 2.16 µg/ml. The present study concluded to an important antioxidant activity, protein denaturation and COX-2 inhibitory activities of the hydroethanolic extracts of X. americana, T. macroptera and C. tinctorium. Further studies are needed to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of these extracts in vivo. Key words: X. Americana, T. macroptera, cyclooxygenases, antioxidant, protein denaturation.

Elaeis guineensis Jacq. is an arborescent monocotyledon of the Arecaceae family. It is a plant originated from tropical rainforest of West Africa. For centuries, it has been a source of food and a natural remedy against several pathologies. The aim of the present research was to evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanolic extract E. guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae) leaves and phytochemical groups. Extraction with methanol and various liquid-liquid fractionations were carried out. These extract and fractions were administered orally at different doses. The experiments were performed on models of carrageenan-induced inflammatory edema in rat and acetic acid-induced pain in mouse. The extraction protocols gave a methanolic extract and different fractions, methanolic tannins free, alkaloid, terpenoid, and flavonoid. The methanolic extract administered at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg significantly prevents inflammatory edema. The percentages of increase in edema 5 h after induction are 38.31±3.55, 37.48±4.98, 40.82±4.14 versus 92.72±6.05 in the control group. The same profiles are observed with the methanolic fractions tannins free, flavonoid and terpene. However, the latter show dose-dependent activities between 1 and 3 mg/kg. The methanol fraction tannins free at 3 mg/kg is better in preventing inflammatory edema. Oral tannin-free methanolic fraction significantly prevents acetic acid-induced pain in mice. Elaeis guineensis leaves possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties on models of carrageenan-induced inflammatory edema in rat and acetic acid-induced pain in mouse. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities could be linked to the combined action of alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes, on the different targets of the inflammatory reaction. Key words: Elaeis guinensis Jacq., anti-inflammatory, analgesic, methanolic extract, alcaloïds, flavonoïds, terpenes

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has been used for decades in traditional medicine across West African countries to treat several ailments such as malaria and pain. However, sometimes it is used without information on its toxicity level. This present work aimed to explore the toxicity level of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides bark aqueous extract (AZZ) on albino Wistar rats after single and repeated administrations. For the acute toxicity evaluation, a single dose of the extract at 3, 5 and 7.5 g/kg of the extract was administered orally, and the animals were kept under observation for mortality and clinical signs for the first four hours, and then once every day for 14 days. For the sub-acute toxicity evaluation, the extract was administered to the animals orally at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1 g/kg daily for 28 days. On the 15th day (acute evaluation) or 29th day (sub-acute evaluation), the animals were weighed and anaesthetized and then blood was collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. Vital organs (liver, kidneys and lungs) were removed and weighed. No mortality or toxicological behavior was observed, and there was no statistically significant difference between the treated and control groups for whole body weight and organ weights. Also, the results showed no statistically significant effects on haematological and biochemical parameters. Thus, AZZ may be considered as nontoxic both after single and repeated administrations. Key words: Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, bark extract, toxicity level, clinical signs, Wistar rats, hematology, biochemical parameters.

In the last decade, there have been different mental health challenges among students due to academic stress, especially during examinations. This has led to the need to explore the relationship between psychoactive ingredients, behavioral responses and academic stress in relation to the use of hair creams. The objectives of the study were to identify hair creams containing psychoactive ingredients in use by female students, assess behavioral responses manifested by female students due to use of these hair creams and compare behavioral responses due to the use of these hair creams across the different departments as it relates to academic workload. The study was a cross-sectional survey of four hundred female students (100 to 500 levels) of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, in the Faculties of Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences, Administration and Social Sciences. The sample size was determined and randomly obtained from the population. A semi-structured questionnaire which was used as a data collection instrument was pretested. The data was subsequently organized with descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages and analyzed with inferential statistics like Chi Square, Kruskal-Wallis tests and Mann Whitney test for post-hoc determinations. Twelve percent of the respondents confirmed using hair creams containing psychoactive ingredients. The hair products that contain psychoactive ingredients were Morgan hair cream (4.2%), Dax (2.8%), Mega growth (2.8%), Kuza Indian Hemp (1.4%) and Bergamot (0.8%). The behavioral responses (Anxiety (p=0.217), Mood disorders (p=0.14) and Depression (p=0.234)), were not significantly manifested due to psychoactive ingredients of hair creams. Also, there was no significant relationship existing between academic workload and behavioral responses from the use of hair creams (Anxiety (p=0.079), Mood disorders (p=0.141) and Depression (p=0.169)). The study concluded that only 12% of hair creams contain psychoactive ingredients and these hair creams are Morgan Dax, Mega growth, Kuza Indian Hemp and Bergamont hair creams. Data gathered indicated that there was insufficient evidence linking female students' usage of hair products containing psychoactive chemicals with their behavioral responses, and also, that academic workload did not have a role in the behavioral responses that were being displayed. Key words: Psychoactive ingredients, behavioral responses, academic stress, hair creams.

The leaves of Crossepteryx febrifuga (Euphorbiaceae) are commonly used in the Republic of Congo in traditional medicine as a laxative. The present study aims to justify the traditional use of C. febrifuga in the treatment of constipation. The acute toxicity of the aqueous extract was evaluated at the doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg in mice in accordance with the OECD (2001) guideline no. 423. The laxative activity of the aqueous extract   at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg was evaluated in normal rats, in rats made constipated rats by loperamide hydrochloride as well as on the accumulation of liquid intestinal. The results obtained showed that the aqueous extract at a dose of 2000 mg/kg does not modify the general behavior of mice and does not cause mortality. However, sedation and mortality were observed at the dose of 5000 mg/kg of the aqueous extract. Thus, the aqueous extract would be weakly toxic, with an LD50 > 4000 mg/kg. Furthermore, it appears from this study that loperamide caused constipation in all normal rats during the three days of treatment, which resulted in a significant decrease (p?0.01 and p?0.001) in fecal parameters except the body weight of the animals which increased significantly (p ?0.01) compared to the control group. In addition, Normacol* and aqueous extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (p?0.001) increase faecal parameters compared to control group. In addition, the aqueous extract significantly increases (p<0.001) the accumulation of intestinal fluid and stimulates the excessive secretion of Na+ ions. These results show that C. febrifuga has laxative properties which could be justified by the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponosides highlighted in this plant. Key words: Crossopteryx febrifuga, aqueous extract, acute toxicity, laxative activity.