@article {1373, title = {Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Assay of Bio- Active Compounds and Phytochemical Analyses in Three Species of Apocynaceae}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {13}, year = {2021}, month = {March 2021}, pages = {383-392}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {383}, abstract = {

Objective: Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze for phytochemicals and bioactive compounds in three species of Apocynacae, Gongronema latifolium, Vincetoxicum rossicum and Marsdenia edulis commonly found in tropical rainforest vegetation and used as food and traditional medicine by locals. Methods and Materials: Phytochemical analysis and GC-MS were carried out using leaf samples of the species following standard protocols. Quantitative phytochemical data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significance tested at 5\% level of probability. Bioactive compounds were identified by comparing the retention times with those of authentic compounds and spectral data obtained from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids and phenols. Among the three species, Gongronema latifolium was highest in flavonoids (28.40 \%), Vincetoxicum rossicum was highest in steroids (17.25 \%) while Marsdenia edulis was highest in terpenoids (18.17 \%). GC-MS profiling of the species revealed biologically functional compounds with therapeutic properties including linoleic acid, phytol, neophytadiene, n-hexadecanoic acid, squalene, transfarnesol, 5-pentadecen-7-yne, and mercaptoacetic acid. Conclusion: The array of bioactive compounds present in the three species especially Gongronema latifolium, commonly used as food indicated their utility in pharmacognosy and drug manufacture. This is the first report of GC-MS based metabolite profiling to detect the various bioactive compounds in methanolic extracts of Vincetoxicum rossicum and Marsdenia edulis. We therefore recommend these species for further study in drug discovery trials.

}, keywords = {Drug discovery, Gongronema latifolium, Marsdenia edulis, Phytochemical profiling, Underutilized species, Vincetoxicum rossicum}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2021.13.49}, author = {Peggy Willie and Edak A Uyoh and Peter O Aikpokpodion} } @article {1136, title = {Study on Pharmacognosy Curricula in UAE B. Pharm Programmes and Possible Implications}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {May 2020}, pages = {478-484}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {478}, abstract = {

Introduction: The current Pharmacy Curricula development initiatives in developing countries are focused on the expansion of courses in Patient-oriented Pharmacy Education. This resulted in the decrease of credit hours allotted to Pharmacognosy curricula. Methods: The current curricula for the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) programme of universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were studied. The curricula stated in the Study-Plans of these universities were divided into eight divisions based on the specialty of courses. The divisions: Pharmaceutics; Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Pharmacology; Pharmacognosy; Patient-oriented Courses; Training; Biomedical and University Requirements. Study-Plans data were obtained from related universities{\textquoteright} official websites. The percentage analysis of credit hours allotted to each division was calculated. In addition to UAE, B Pharm programmes of representative universities from Africa and the Middle East were also studied for comparison. Results: Results obtained from UAE Universities show that Pharmacognosy division has (4.7\%); Pharmaceutics (15\%); Pharmaceutical Chemistry (14.4\%); Pharmacology (9.7\%); Patient-oriented Courses (18.8\%); Training (11.5\%); Biomedical courses (10.8\%) and University Requirements (15.7\%). Our analysis of study-plans of other representative universities from Middle East (8.6\%) and Africa (8.9\%) demonstrated a higher percentage for Pharmacognosy compared to UAE (4.7\%) Universities. Conclusion: The inadequate credit hours allotted to Pharmacognosy division may have adverse implications on Drug Industry, Patient Health Care and Herbalism. Recommendations are given on how to amend this inadequacy in Pharmacognosy curricula.

}, keywords = {B. Pharm. Curricula, Drug discovery, Pharmacognosy}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2020.12.74 }, author = {IM Abu-Al-Futuh} } @article {686, title = {In vivo Antibacterial Activity of Green Algae Ulva reticulata against Staphylococcus aureus in Drosophila Model of Infection}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {August 2018}, pages = {993-997}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {993}, abstract = {

Background: Expansion of multi-drug resistant bacteria in social communities and health facilities has been widely reported. To overcome this ever-growing problem, new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action are urgently required. Purpose: This research was carried out aiming to investigate the in vivo antibacterial effect of green algae Ulva reticulata against Staphylococcus aureus in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) model of infection. Methods: Sample was dried and extracted with ethanol using maceration method. Wild type and mutant fruit flies were infected with S. aureus and subjected to survival and bacterial load analysis in the presence or absence of tetracycline or Ulva reticulata extract at different concentrations. All data were statistically analyzed. Results: Infection of D. melanogaster with S. aureus was characterized by two notable trends: reduction of host survival and increasing level of bacterial growth in the host during the course of infection. Such events were further augmented in mutant flies lacking normal immune responses. Nonetheless, improved survival rates and reduction of bacterial load were observed in wild type and immunodeficient mutant flies challenged with S. aureus in the presence of either tetracycline or ethanolic extracts of green algae Ulva reticulata. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that Ulva reticulata yielded antistaphylococcal activity in vivo thus would be a prospective source for harvesting wide spectrum antibacterial compounds.

}, keywords = {Antistaphylococcal, Drug discovery, Fruit flies, Infection model, Marine products}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.5.169}, author = {Firzan Nainu and Rangga Meidianto Asri and Aryadi Arsyad and Marianti Anggreni Manggau and Muhammad Nur Amir} }