Ambrose Barasa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ambrose Barasa

Research paper thumbnail of Safety and antidiarrheal activity of Priva adhaerens aqueous leaf extract in a murine model

Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is repor... more Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is reported in central Uganda to be an effective traditional remedy for diarrhea. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the ethnopharmacological utility of this plant whose aqueous leaf and shoot extract was evaluated for acute toxicity and antidiarrheal activity using a murine model. Materials and methods-Acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assessed after determining the major phytochemicals present in the extract. The aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assayed against castor oil-induced diarrhea, transit time, and enteropooling, in comparison to loperamide, a standard drug. Results-The oral LD 50 value obtained for Priva adhaerens aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats; the aqueous leaf and shoot extract possessed several important phytochemicals. Furthermore, the aqueous extract significantly, and dose-dependently, reduced frequency of stooling in castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. Conclusion-This murine model shows that it is relatively safe to orally use the aqueous leaf and shoot extract of Priva adhaerens. The aqueous extract contains phytochemicals that are active for the treatment of diarrhea in a rat model.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Adult Patients with Type II Diabietic Mellitus at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala Municipality in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania

prevalence of metabolic syndrome among type II diabetic patients , 25

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a pattern of metabolic disturbances including centra... more Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a pattern of metabolic disturbances including central obesity, insulin resistance with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (Alexander and Isomaa, 2001). Although the prevalence and associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome have been extensively studied in other parts of the world, little work has been done on this subject in Tanzania. The study determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala municipality of Dar es salaam region in Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study. The study area was Amana Referral Hospital. The participants were randomly selected from type II diabetic adult patients attending diabetes clinic at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala municipality. Questionnaires with questions on Anthropometric data were used. 12 hours fasting blood glucose level was determined by use of glucometer and Five milliliters (5mls) of blood was collected by vein puncture method using a syringe and needle for the spectrophotometric analysis of lipid profile. Results: The sample size was 202. Most of the participants (48%) were aged 36-50 years, 129(64%) were females, most (55.4%) of the participants were obese while 26.7% had a healthy weight. The females who had a waist: hip ratio of over 0.8 were classified as centrally obese (55%) while 49% of the males had a waist: hip ratio of 0.9, which was also classified as central obese. Most of the participants were hypertensive (60%) while 9% had hypertensive emergencies. Most of the participants (65.3%) had blood sugar above normal while only 34.7% of the respondents had normal blood sugar. The HDL levels were normal in 55% while the LDL levels were significantly increased in 60% of the participants. Conclusions: The participants had mostly two indicators of metabolic syndrome present. 36.7% of the participants had 3 and 4 indicators and thus fit the classification of Metabolic Syndrome.

Research paper thumbnail of Factors contributing to puerpersal sepsis at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Ishaka Bushenyi Uganda

Kampala International University, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Protein–Energy Malnutrition Among Children Under Five Years of Age Attending Kigoma District Hospital, Tanzania

Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Safety and antidiarrheal activity of Priva adhaerens aqueous leaf extract in a murine model

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014

Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is repor... more Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is reported in central Uganda to be an effective traditional remedy for diarrhea. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the ethnopharmacological utility of this plant whose aqueous leaf and shoot extract was evaluated for acute toxicity and antidiarrheal activity using a murine model. Materials and methods-Acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assessed after determining the major phytochemicals present in the extract. The aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assayed against castor oil-induced diarrhea, transit time, and enteropooling, in comparison to loperamide, a standard drug. Results-The oral LD 50 value obtained for Priva adhaerens aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats; the aqueous leaf and shoot extract possessed several important phytochemicals. Furthermore, the aqueous extract significantly, and dose-dependently, reduced frequency of stooling in castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. Conclusion-This murine model shows that it is relatively safe to orally use the aqueous leaf and shoot extract of Priva adhaerens. The aqueous extract contains phytochemicals that are active for the treatment of diarrhea in a rat model.

Research paper thumbnail of Determination, knowledge and prevalence of pregnancy-induced hypertension/eclampsia among women of childbearing age at Same District Hospital in Tanzania

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Safety and antidiarrheal activity of Priva adhaerens aqueous leaf extract in a murine model

Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is repor... more Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is reported in central Uganda to be an effective traditional remedy for diarrhea. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the ethnopharmacological utility of this plant whose aqueous leaf and shoot extract was evaluated for acute toxicity and antidiarrheal activity using a murine model. Materials and methods-Acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assessed after determining the major phytochemicals present in the extract. The aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assayed against castor oil-induced diarrhea, transit time, and enteropooling, in comparison to loperamide, a standard drug. Results-The oral LD 50 value obtained for Priva adhaerens aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats; the aqueous leaf and shoot extract possessed several important phytochemicals. Furthermore, the aqueous extract significantly, and dose-dependently, reduced frequency of stooling in castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. Conclusion-This murine model shows that it is relatively safe to orally use the aqueous leaf and shoot extract of Priva adhaerens. The aqueous extract contains phytochemicals that are active for the treatment of diarrhea in a rat model.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Adult Patients with Type II Diabietic Mellitus at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala Municipality in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania

prevalence of metabolic syndrome among type II diabetic patients , 25

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a pattern of metabolic disturbances including centra... more Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a pattern of metabolic disturbances including central obesity, insulin resistance with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (Alexander and Isomaa, 2001). Although the prevalence and associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome have been extensively studied in other parts of the world, little work has been done on this subject in Tanzania. The study determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala municipality of Dar es salaam region in Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study. The study area was Amana Referral Hospital. The participants were randomly selected from type II diabetic adult patients attending diabetes clinic at Amana Referral Hospital in Ilala municipality. Questionnaires with questions on Anthropometric data were used. 12 hours fasting blood glucose level was determined by use of glucometer and Five milliliters (5mls) of blood was collected by vein puncture method using a syringe and needle for the spectrophotometric analysis of lipid profile. Results: The sample size was 202. Most of the participants (48%) were aged 36-50 years, 129(64%) were females, most (55.4%) of the participants were obese while 26.7% had a healthy weight. The females who had a waist: hip ratio of over 0.8 were classified as centrally obese (55%) while 49% of the males had a waist: hip ratio of 0.9, which was also classified as central obese. Most of the participants were hypertensive (60%) while 9% had hypertensive emergencies. Most of the participants (65.3%) had blood sugar above normal while only 34.7% of the respondents had normal blood sugar. The HDL levels were normal in 55% while the LDL levels were significantly increased in 60% of the participants. Conclusions: The participants had mostly two indicators of metabolic syndrome present. 36.7% of the participants had 3 and 4 indicators and thus fit the classification of Metabolic Syndrome.

Research paper thumbnail of Factors contributing to puerpersal sepsis at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Ishaka Bushenyi Uganda

Kampala International University, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Protein–Energy Malnutrition Among Children Under Five Years of Age Attending Kigoma District Hospital, Tanzania

Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Safety and antidiarrheal activity of Priva adhaerens aqueous leaf extract in a murine model

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014

Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is repor... more Ethnopharmacological relevance-Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is reported in central Uganda to be an effective traditional remedy for diarrhea. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the ethnopharmacological utility of this plant whose aqueous leaf and shoot extract was evaluated for acute toxicity and antidiarrheal activity using a murine model. Materials and methods-Acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assessed after determining the major phytochemicals present in the extract. The aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assayed against castor oil-induced diarrhea, transit time, and enteropooling, in comparison to loperamide, a standard drug. Results-The oral LD 50 value obtained for Priva adhaerens aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats; the aqueous leaf and shoot extract possessed several important phytochemicals. Furthermore, the aqueous extract significantly, and dose-dependently, reduced frequency of stooling in castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. Conclusion-This murine model shows that it is relatively safe to orally use the aqueous leaf and shoot extract of Priva adhaerens. The aqueous extract contains phytochemicals that are active for the treatment of diarrhea in a rat model.

Research paper thumbnail of Determination, knowledge and prevalence of pregnancy-induced hypertension/eclampsia among women of childbearing age at Same District Hospital in Tanzania

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2018