Henry Egharevba | National institute for pharmaceutical research and development Abuja- Nigeria (original) (raw)

Papers by Henry Egharevba

Journal Of Chemical Society Of Nigeria, 2009

International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Jun 8, 2022

Maerua angolensis is a shrub/small tree that grows up to about 10 m tall. The plant is widely dis... more Maerua angolensis is a shrub/small tree that grows up to about 10 m tall. The plant is widely distributed in tropical Africa and used in various ethnomedicinal applications across the region. The objective of this study is to investigate the oral safety profile of the infusion extract of Maerua angolensis (IEMa) in laboratory animals. Hippocratic screening was adopted to evaluate the acute toxicity profile using 2000 mg/kg of IEMa, p.o. in mice. The sub-chronic toxicity was performed by daily oral administration of IEMa (800 mg/kg) in Wistar rats for 28 days and clinical observations and toxicological related parameters were recorded. After the treatment period, blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analysis, and organs were removed for macroscopic analysis. The agent exhibited mild symptoms and no mortality recorded in the Hippocratic screening. In the subchronic test, few changes in urine output, platelets counts and alkaline phosphatase were observed, but are within the physiological ranges for this animal specie. The results shows that IEMa does not present oral toxicity thereby displaying a wide safety margin for therapeutic use.

Journal of complementary and alternative medical research, Mar 23, 2021

Modern drug development strategy involves the use of computer aided in silico studies, bioinforma... more Modern drug development strategy involves the use of computer aided in silico studies, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology, to predict and simulate drug metabolism, safety and efficacy. The entire process requires molecular targeting, isolation, purification, synthesis through biotechnology or chemosynthesis, formulation, and determination of safety, efficacy and process efficiency. This has brought scientist from diverse background together toward a common curse of mutually beneficial innovative research approach. For phytomedicine research, this diversity requires professionals from different field such as the botany, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacy and medicine. Each of these fields also contains various specializations and specific research focus. This study looked at Expert opinion on multidisciplinary approach to innovative phytomedicine R&D in Nigeria. The analysis presented represents the Original Research Article

African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Sep 6, 2010

Cola nitida (Vent).Schott & Endl, a tropical dicotyledonous tree (family-malvaceae and sub-family... more Cola nitida (Vent).Schott & Endl, a tropical dicotyledonous tree (family-malvaceae and sub-family-stercullioideae), is a well known plant in the sub-Saharan Africa and renowned for its socioeconomic importance in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. The plant was examined for the nut's starch composition and its physicochemical properties compared with corn starch. The starch was isolated using 1 % w/v sodium metabisulphite and the proximate analysis (in %) was found to be 4.60 protein, 0.54 crude fibre, 0.54 fat, 1.06 ash, 67.57 total starch and 10.42 moisture. The starch percentage solubility was 7.48 % with a swelling capacity of 8.85 % and an amylose/amylopectin content of 24:76. It has a pasting temperature of 74.5 ºC, gelatinization temperature of 74 ºC hydration capacity of 88.59 %, emulsion and foam capacities of 5.22 % and 1.87 % respectively. The Rapid Visco Analysis (RVA) of the cola starch has a peak viscosity of 314.42 RVU and the results of the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed peak temperature of 321 ºC and onset temperature of 300.7 ºC. The photomicrograph indicates that the starch granule is oval in shape, generally small sized with occasional large ones, loose granules with no aggregation and had a mean particle size distribution of 15.33 % at 710 µm. The mineral content composition gave: iron 0.263mg/100g; phosphorus 67.43mg/100g; potassium 4.36mg/100g; calcium 9.40mg/100g; zinc 0.48mg/100g; magnesium 3.78mg/100g; copper (trace), and sodium 1.55mg/100g. Generally, the values obtained for the physicochemical and functional properties compared favorably with that of corn starch, and suggest that cola starch in the unmodified form can be used as a gelling agent, a fat replacer in the food industries where low fat is required and in the manufacture of noodles. It however cannot be used as an emulsifier as a result of its low emulsion and foam capacities.

Flavonoid contents were investigated in alcoholic extract of fresh leaves in some species belong ... more Flavonoid contents were investigated in alcoholic extract of fresh leaves in some species belong to family of Fabaceae grown in Iraq which collected randomly from various fields in Hillah city. Flavonoids compounds were isolated by using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) in n-Butanol: Acetic acid: Water (BAW) and Ethyl acetate: Methanol: Water (EMW) solvents systems. These compounds were classified according to their Retention factor (R f) value, color under Ultraviolet (UV) and some references. TLC profiling of leaves extract give an idea about the presence of various phytochemicals. Different R f value of various phytochemicals provide valuable clue regarding their polarity and selection of solvents for separation of phytochemicals.

Journal of applied life sciences international, Jan 10, 2017

The main aim of this study is to determine the levels of soil pollution with heavy metals in the ... more The main aim of this study is to determine the levels of soil pollution with heavy metals in the vicinity of a railway station in Minna, Niger state, Nigeria. In this study, 15 soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-15 cm from the vicinity of Minna railway station, Niger State, Nigeria, and analyzed at the chemistry department, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria between May 2009 and November, 2009. The soil samples were acid digested using a mixture of three acids namely, perchloric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid in the ratio 2:10:1. The heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb) levels in the digested soils were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The soil pH was determined by glass electrode pH meter using soil water suspension (1:1). Particle size

Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) ... more Introduction: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) are key to achieving effective and sustainable integration of all forms of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and health services towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In this study, the operational and psychological readiness of Traditional Medicine Practitioners towards integration with the conventional health system was examined by critically considering the various factors central to traditional medicine integration as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Traditional Medicine strategy (2014–2023). Methods: Paper based questionnaires were administered to Traditional medicine practitioners from three geo-political zones in Nigeria along with Key Informant Interviews. Qualitative – thematic and content analysis using both iterative and interpretative processes, and quantitative –descriptive and inferential analysis were done using statistical pac...

Journal of Biophysical Chemistry

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem, family Meliaceae) is a reputable medicinal plant. Various parts... more Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem, family Meliaceae) is a reputable medicinal plant. Various parts of the plant are used as a remedy against different ailments, as a natural pesticide, as raw material in the cosmetic industry, and for marking other commodities. The seed oil is a major product of the plant and its quality depends on the seed quality and extraction methods employed. In this study, the chemical profile of NIPRDNEEM oil is compared with that of other brands of neem seed oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemometrics. The fatty acid identified in NIPRDNEEM oil were: oleic acid (34.09%), stearic acid (11.4%), linoleic acid (15.94%), palmitic acid (23.4%), arachidic acid (0.73%), and the other compounds were: 1-Monolinoleoylglycerol trimethylsilyl ether (0.95%) and farnesyl alcohol (13.20%). The branded oils were composed predominantly of oleic acid (13.50%-26.76%), palmitic acid (6.88%-11.99%), linoleic acid (7.32%-11.17%), stearic acid (4.29%-13.08%), and arachidic acid (0.53%-1.27%). The unbranded oil contained oleic acid (30.04%), stearic acid (14.91%), linoleic acid (14.62%), palmitic acid (12.34%), and arachidic acid (0.93%). Stigmasterol, stigmasterol acetate, and sitosterol were the sterols identified in the oils. Characterization of the fatty acid profile of neem seed oil is vital for industrial and economic purposes. The fatty acids profile of the NIPRDNEEM oil and other neem seed oil were comparable. Both PCA plots and HCA dendrogram from the chemometric analysis shows three main grouping of all samples. While NIPRDNEEM and the local neem oil were grouped, suggesting a high degree of resemblance of both samples.

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, 2021

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by bees with a wide range of medicinal uses. It is coll... more Propolis is a resinous substance produced by bees with a wide range of medicinal uses. It is collected by bees from buds, leaves and bark exudates of several plants in both tropical and temperate regions. Propolis is sometimes referred to as "bee glue" as it is produced by bees for sealing and protection of their hives. Exploration and research into propolis and its biologically active constituents is increasing. Bee farming has become a popular commercial venture in several Nigerian communities and propolis which is a by-product of the bee hive is increasingly being produced and wasted as the economic benefits are completely unknown to the farmers or bee keepers. Propolis production has proven to be economically viable and sustainable. Phytochemical investigations of propolis had yielded several biologically active compounds which are potential drug candidates. This review examines local production and under-exploitation of propolis as a potential source of sustainable wealth creation in Nigeria.

International Journal of Bioassays, 2015

Medicinal plants have been used for food, shelter, clothing and medicine for survival by humans s... more Medicinal plants have been used for food, shelter, clothing and medicine for survival by humans since ancient times. However, over the last few decades, there appears to be renewed increase in demand for medicinal plant resource following WHO support for herbal medicine development, increase awareness of its social and economic significance, research validation of herbal remedies efficacy claims, etc. This renewed exploitation has led to depletion and endangerment of some species, and therefore unsustainable. This article discussed the current trend in the utilization of medicinal plants and highlights the challenges of unsustainable exploitation of medicinal plants. It also suggested solutions and way forward towards achieving a more sustainable use of medicinal plant resources as way of supporting the sustainable development goals.

Nigerian Journal of Chemical Research, 2009

Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Sch. Bip. aerial part was extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acet... more Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Sch. Bip. aerial part was extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The ethyl acetate extract was subjected to chromatography to give a pentacyclic triterpenoid ester which was identified as taraxasteryl acetate based on spectroscopic evidence. The triterpenoid exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella ozaenae, Bacillus cereus, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherica.coli and Streptococcus faecalis with MICs ranging from 25-50μg/ml. This is the first time taraxasteryl acetate has been isolated from the genus, Laggera.

Journal Of Chemical Society Of Nigeria, 2018

Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. citriodora are two Eucalyptus species that are very rich in essen... more Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. citriodora are two Eucalyptus species that are very rich in essential oil and are often used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of different ailments. However, the leaves of E. camaldulensis and E. citriodora are very similar in structure and can be very difficult to distinguish when dry or in fragments. Hence, comparative phytochemical screening, elemental, pharmacognostic and GCMS analyses were carried out on the leaves and leaves extracts of two Eucalyptus species harvested from a garden in order to establish some distinguishing physicochemical and pharmacognostic characteristics. The leaf essential oils of the two species were extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed on GC-MS. The results of phytochemical screening revealed presence of saponins, carbohydrates and sterols in both species. Elemental analysis indicated that the levels of the elements in the two samples differ. Chromium (Cr) was below detectable limit in the two samples while Pb, ...

Australian Journal of French Studies, 2020

Most of the apples consumed across Nigeria are imported from South Africa, Europe and United Stat... more Most of the apples consumed across Nigeria are imported from South Africa, Europe and United States of America. Despite the epicuticular hydrophobic wax naturally produced by the fruit which makes it resistant to external spoilage factors, extra coating is usually employed by producers for protection against biotic and abiotic attack during storage in order to extend shelf-life. Nowadays, Nigerians have raised concerns on the nature, level and safety of these wax coatings in apples available in Nigerian market. The results of organoleptic, physicochemical and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses suggested that the epicuticular waxes of apples in Abuja markets are mainly from petrochemical sources with adulterants from waxes of vegetable sources or beeswax. The mineral concentration of Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and Pb in waxes per average sized apples (mg/g) ranged from 1.73 to 15.66, 10.80 to 1357, 26.46 to 173.12, 0.11 to 0.22, 2.05 to 41.80 and 3.78 to 11.66 mg/g, respec...

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2021

The people of Edo State of Nigeria have a long history of dependence on traditional medicine as a... more The people of Edo State of Nigeria have a long history of dependence on traditional medicine as a primary source and first line of action for their healthcare needs. Efforts have been made by various national and subnational governments towards integrating the TM practice for the benefit of its citizens with little progress. The slow progress is partly because of dearth in the knowledge, attitude and practice of the practitioners. A descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at highlighting the demography, attitude and approach as well as the exposing the key gaps in the practice and expectation of the practitioners from the different stakeholders, was carried out. The survey study was conducted using a standardized structured questionnaire. The outcome showed that 90% of practitioners were within the age bracket of 25 and 65 years, and majority (66%) were of male gender and, about 94% and 78% were literate and self-employed, respectively. About 30% have being in practice for less than...

International Journal of Sciences, 2017

The global demand for phytopharmaceutical products is on the upward trend and will probably conti... more The global demand for phytopharmaceutical products is on the upward trend and will probably continue to rise in the next few decades. This demand is fuelled by the growing acceptability, availability and affordability and the growing scientific evidence of efficacy. However, while great progress is being made in research and development of these products in the developed world, very little progress has been made in research, development and documentation of possible leads/products in developing countries of Africa. The challenges range from dearth of capacity to develop implement appropriate research protocols and tools. This article is an attempt toward providing a guide to the chemical and biologiocal screening approaches in the research and development of phytopharmaceuticals. Approaches towards achieving quality products that meets basic regulatory requirements are discussed.

Egyptian Journal of Food Science, 2020

S PICES are reported to be helpful against diseases of oxidative stress such as cardiovascular di... more S PICES are reported to be helpful against diseases of oxidative stress such as cardiovascular diseases and exhibit antimicrobial properties. The potential for their use as adjuvants in tuberculosis cases have not been explored. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant and antituberculosis activities of nine Nigerian spices (Syzigium aromaticum, Thonnigii sanguinea, Piper nigrum, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, Zingiber officinale, Cyperus articulatus, Xylopia aethiopica, Lepidum sativum, and Nigella Sativa) along with their phenolic contents, including total phenolics, total flavonoid and total tannin contents were evaluated. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH scavenging and nitric oxide inhibitory assays. The anti-tuberculosis activity against Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium smegmatis was evaluated using the broth micro-dilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The ranges for the total phenolics, total flavonoids and total tannins contents were 7.3-193.9 mgGAE/g, 0.0-12.5 mgQE/g, and 0.0-44.4 mgTAE/g, respectively, in all spices. The extracts presented strong DPPH scavenging and nitric oxide inhibitory activities with IC 50 values ranging from 4.2-1098 µg/mL and 0.0025-28.65 µg/mL, respectively. S. aromaticum and T. sanguinea showed significant DPPH scavenging activities with IC 50 of 4.2 and 7.7 µg/ mL, respectively, which were comparable to that of ascorbic acid (3.6µg/mL)(p≤0.05). Z. zanthoxyloides and S. aromaticum also exhibited significant nitric oxide inhibitory activities (p≤0.05) with IC 50 of 0.0025 and 0.0051 µg/mL, respectively, which were comparable to the gallic acid value of 0.00088 µg/mL. A weak anti-tubercular activity was however observed with MIC values ranging from 25000-781 µg/mL and 12500-781 µg/mL for M. bovis and M. smegmatis, respectively. A correlation between anti-tubercular and antioxidant (NO and DPPH) activities of the spices was found for M. bovis and M. smegmatis (R =0.8957, 0.8241; R= 0.7681, 0.7030,p≤0.05) respectively. The anti-tuberculosis properties of Thonnigii sanguinea and Lepidum sativum are being reported for the first time.

Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2020

Kola seeds are highly valued in most African communities due to their medicinal benefits and soci... more Kola seeds are highly valued in most African communities due to their medicinal benefits and sociocultural application during ceremonies. Apart from their neuro-stimulatory effect, the other health benefits such as antioxidant activities which are closely associated with the level of phenolic constituents have also been widely reported. The main purpose of this study is to determine the quantity of quercetin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, rutin and chlorogenic acid in Cola nitida, Garcinia kola and Buchholzia coriacea using HPLC-DAD. Ethanolic extracts of the selected kola plants was obtained by cold maceration and analysed by HPLC-DAD in accordance with standard methods. The regression coefficient (r 2) from the calibration curve for caffeic acid = 0.999, chlorogenic acid = 0.998, gallic acid = 0.999, ferulic acid = 0.998, quercetin = 0.996 and rutin = 0.997. The repeatability gave % RSD of 0.6, 1.63, 0.44, 1.55, 3.65 and 4.67 for caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin and rutin respectively. The quantity of these compounds in C. nitida was caffeic acid (101.24 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (36.35 mg/g), gallic acid (16.99 mg/g) ferulic acid (1.47 mg/g) while quercetin and rutin were not detected. In Garcinia kola, caffeic acid was (0.84 mg/g), gallic acid (1.02 mg/g), ferulic acid (21.83 mg/g), quercetin (53.24 mg/g), rutin (0.49 mg/g) and chlorogenic acid was not detected. B. coriaceae had caffeic acid (1.03 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (0.33 mg/g), gallic acid (1.07 mg/g) while ferulic acid, quercetin and rutin were not detected. Using this analytical method, the quantities of some phenolics and flavonoids compounds were determined, and the most abundant compound in the three species of kola was caffeic acid in C. nitida and quercetin in Garcinia kola. This study also showed that C. nitida contains high amounts of phenolics compounds as compare to the other species of kola seeds investigated in the study.

Microbiology Research Journal International, 2019

The emergence of multi-drug resistance in bacteria has led to call for research and development o... more The emergence of multi-drug resistance in bacteria has led to call for research and development of new leads as antibiotics from medicinal plants. Acacia nilotica (Linn) is a plant of multipurpose medicinal uses, three bioactive flavonoids (methyl gallate, gallic acid and catechin) were isolated from its fruit pulps through a bioassay guided fractionation technique and characterized based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectra and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra. Antibacterial activity of these compounds was determined by microplate tetrazolium dye assay of broth microdilution technique against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis. Catechin, methyl gallate and gallic acid at 19.5, 39 and 39 µg/ml respectively caused a significant bio-reduction in cells of test organisms. Time kill kinetic study of the extract sh...

PLOS ONE, 2019

A confounding factor for healthcare programmes in African countries is the inability of essential... more A confounding factor for healthcare programmes in African countries is the inability of essential health tools to reach targeted locations and populations, due to poor Logistics Management Information System (LMIS). In a bid to contribute towards addressing these challenges, a pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the tracking ability, reliability and applicability of EASE App, a novel Smart Phone based Application. The App is designed to provide real-time tracking and tracing of commodities as well as curation of data in a cloud based database with restricted access which can be linked with other databases. In this study, NIPRIMAL was labelled with QR codes, and tracked within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, using the smartphone based EASE App. Data collected showed that the "EASE App" tracking had accuracy of 100% for date and time of scan, operators' codes and product identity; and 92.83±1.69% and 99.83±0.27% accuracy for GPS mapping label for the city and country, respectively. The GPS mapping label for specific streets, roads or districts, gave an accuracy of about 64.28±3.14%. The technology was able to provide realtime data on user unique identity, user location as well as date/time of use, and the feedback report indicated that it was readily deployable and easy to use. The results demonstrate that the "EASE App" is a promising technology that can support supply chain and related data management challenges in resource poor settings. The potential benefit of the EASE App in strengthening LMIS and distribution chain system in Africa as well as future optimization of the App are discussed.

Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2019

Aristolochic acids are naturally occurring biomolecules found in plants of the genus Aristolochia... more Aristolochic acids are naturally occurring biomolecules found in plants of the genus Aristolochia and Asarum belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae. They are reported to be carcinogenic and nephrotoxic; and are implicated in kidney diseases, aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) which may result in kidney failure, other health complications and possibly death. Aristolochic acids are highly genotoxic and are linked to upper urothelial cancer in animals and humans. Some Aristolochia species are used in traditional medicine practice in Nigeria and other West African countries without regard to safety concerns. Several countries, especially in the Western world, have banned the use and importation of herbal products containing aristolochic acids. There is need for warning and strict regulation on the importation and consumption of aristolochic acids-containing botanical products in Nigeria. This study aims to review the availability of aristolochic acids, their toxicity, circulation, as well as the quantitative analytical techniques and regulations. It analyzes the herbal products containing aristolochic acids, and aristolochaceae plants grown in Nigeria in respect to public health implications. It highlights the importance of doing an extensive study on indigenous plants producing aristolochic acids and imported herbal products used as weight loss supplements marketed in Nigeria. There is need to emphasize the labeling of herbal products containing aristolochic acids.