FACULTY OF PHARMACY

Objectives: To assess and compare the decomposition performance of carboxymethylated and acid-hydrolyzed bitter sweet potato starch in the formulation of Paracetamol tablets. Method: Bitter sweet potato starch, extracted from African bitter sweet potatoes, was subjected to modifications through carboxymethylation and acid hydrolysis. Subsequently, various concentrations (5% w/w, 7.5% w/w, and 10% w/w) of carboxymethylated acid-hydrolyzed bitter sweet potato starch were utilized to prepare distinct batches of Paracetamol tablets employing the direct granulation method. The granules were subjected to an evaluation of flow properties, including angle of repose, Carr index, and Hausner ratio, while the tablets underwent assessment for weight uniformity, crush resistance, fragility, disintegration time, wetting time, and solubility. Results: All particles exhibited free-flowing characteristics with an angle of repose of less than 33 (< 33°), a Hausner ratio of less than 1.5 (< 1.0%. Wetting times were consistently < 2 minutes, and decomposition times were < 5 minutes. Dissolution studies revealed that tablets containing bittersweet potato starch hydrolyzed at 10°Fexhibited a drug release rate of 100%, while those with starch hydrolyzed at 10°F displayed drug release rate of 96.39%. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both carboxymethylated and acid-hydrolyzed starches result in shorter decomposition times and improved solubility properties. This implies that acid hydrolysis and carboxymethylation enhance the decomposition and solubility characteristics of starch, making it a cost-effective alternative to sodium starch glycolate in pharmaceutical applications.

Background: Fumarate is an organic salt derived from fumaric acid, a dicarboxylic acid found in many fruits and vegetables. It plays a role in the citric acid cycle, which is a series of chemical reactions that occur in cells to produce energy. Fumarate is also used as a food additive and medication for treating certain medical conditions such as iron-deficiency anemia, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of acute and subacute administration of fumarate. Methods: The experiment involved the use of Wistar rats as the test animals. For the 28-day exposure to fumarate, the rats' body weight, blood, and organs were monitored and collected. A separate acute toxicity study was conducted in mice to determine the LD50 of fumarate. Afterward, a sub-acute toxicity study was performed on rats, in which the animals were given different doses of fumarate for a period of time and their body weight, blood, and organs were monitored and collected. The data collected was analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. Results: The LD50 in the acute toxicity study in mice was found to be 3,807.89 mg/kg. The body weight of rats exposed to Fumarate did not significantly change throughout the study. Fumarate administration led to significant changes in some white cell parameters and did not significantly affect the red blood cell indices. Normal levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides was observed as well as albumin and total protein levels in both male and female rats. Histological examination of the different organs revealed Fumarate to be hepatotoxic. Conclusion: Fumarate possess a wide margin of safety in mice whereas subacute furmarate exposure in rats had significant effects on haematological parameters, and white blood cels, suggesting potential health risk, the aoita, heart and kidney tissues were normal. However, care must be taken due to it effects on the liver. Keywords: Fumarate, Acute toxicity, Subscute toxicity, Hematological parameters Histopathological examination.

Vaccines remain one of the most successful and cost-effective measures for combating COVID-19. However, vaccine hesitancy which refers to delay in acceptance of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services (MacDonald NE and SAGE working group, 2015), could pose a serious problem for COVID-19 prevention and control. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff of the institution and factors associated with it. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional retrospective study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was shared to the staff in their various offices. The outcome measures were participants’ demographics, participants’ knowledge of the disease, and of course the proportion of participants already vaccinated, vaccine hesitancy rates and reasons for this hesitancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and Minitab version 19. Bivariate analysis was performed by the chi-square test, and statistical significance was accepted when p-value is < 0.05. Results: Only 140 of the study responses were analyzed. Results showed that only 42, representing just 30% of the surveyed participants have been vaccinated, whereas, 98 participants representing 70% of the study respondents have not been vaccinated/ hesitant to get vaccinated. Vaccine safety concerns (31.4%), vaccine effectiveness (27.1%) and availability (15.7%) major of their hesitancy towards getting vaccinated. Nature of job (whether academic or non-academic) with p=0.032, years of experience with p=0.004, and educational level with p=0.002 may have significantly influence participants decisions towards the vaccine. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is high among staff of the University of Benin, and this is attributable to concerns surrounding the vaccine safety, effectiveness and availability. Keywords: Corona virus, vaccine, hesitancy

Peptic ulcer disease is due to hyperacid secretion. Various factors and agents have been linked to these disease conditions and as such these factors and agents have been the target of major conventional drugs used in the treatment and management of these conditions. This study aims to assess the therapeutic potentials of the phytoconstituents of some plants used in the treatment of
peptic ulcer disease using in silico techniques. The phytoconstituents of Ocimum gratissimum(275), Scoparia dulcis(102), Solanum
nigrum(192), and Asparagus racemosus(86) were obtained from literature sources; The 3D structure data file format of the phytoconstituents were obtained from PubChem and prepared using the ligrep domain of Maestro. Proteins with cocrystallized ligands were obtained from a protein data bank (RCSBPDB)and then prepared using the protein preparation domain of Maestro. These prepared ligands were docked against the proteins using Maestro 12.8. The drug￾likeness and toxicity profiles of the ligands with similar binding affinities as the reference standards were assessed using the Admetlab 3.0 web server. The post-docking analysis was done using Maestro12.8. Phytoconstituents from these plants; A. racemosus (1), O. grattisimum (11) S. dulcis (1), and S. nigrum (10) had a comparable binding affinity with the standard soraprazan (9.01kcal/mol) when docked against proton pump 7W49. Also, phytoconstituents from these plants; A. racemosus (6), O. grattisimum (17) S dulcis (4), and S. nigrum (6) had comparable docking score values with the standards famotidine (-6.86kcal/mol) and ranitidine (-7.49kcal/mol) when docked against
proton histamine H2 receptor 7UL3. For the phytoconstituents from these plants; A. racemosus (2), O. grattisimum (6) S, dulcis (5), and S. nigrum (6) had comparable docking score values with the standard pirenzepine (-9.07kcal/mol) when docked against muscarinic M1 receptor 5CXV. Further analysis of pharmacokinetics profiles yielded six ligands active against 7W49; eleven for
15 7UL3 and four for 5CXV as potential leads for the treatment of gastrointestinal acid disorders. However, more in silico studies like molecular dynamics simulation and pharmacophore modeling as well as in vivo and in vitro studies need to be done to validate the claim.

Uterine leiomyoma commonly termed uterine fibroid, a benign smooth muscle neoplasm, constitutes a significant reproductive threat in women worldwide. It is a benign monoclonal tumor of the smooth muscle cells found in the uterus. Tetrapleura tetraptera pod has various ethnomedicinal properties which are used against different diseases and ailments which may include convulsion, leprosy, inflammation and rheumatic pains. This research work was carried out to determine preventive effects on fibroid activity of the ethanol extract of T. tetraptera pods using female wistar rats as test subject. The anti-fibroid activity of the plant was ascertained by inducing fibroids in female wistar rats using 800mg/kg concentration of Monosodium glutamate and concomitant administration of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg of plant extract. Hormonal assays and histopathology investigations were
then carried out after a 30-day period. The plant extract showed anti-fibroid activity by reducing major markers for fibroid development including cholesterol, total protein and estradiol levels. The histology results also displayed the plant’s ability to prevent fibroid growth as MSG resulted in endometrial epithelium distortion and lamina propria fibrosis with plant extract ameliorating the distortion observed in the uterus. This study establishes the ability of T. tetraptera pods to preventing MSG-induced uterine
leiomyoma.

INTRODUCTION: Community pharmacies play a crucial role in providing healthcare services to the general population including students but there is limited research on how this particular demographic perceives and engages community pharmacies. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate university students’ perception towards community pharmacies and their health services in Ekosodin community, Benin City, Edo state. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 university students living in the Ekosodin community. A self-administered questionnaire was the primary tool for data collection and consisted of 3 sections: respondent’s demographics, reasons for/frequency of pharmacy visits and assessment of satisfaction levels and action able feedback. Collected data were analyzed through both descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical software such as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). RESULTS: Out of 400 respondents, 344 (86%) identified medicine purchases as the main reason for visiting the community pharmacy. The role of the pharmacist was seen as satisfactory with a mean score of 4.10 (maximum of 5) while commonly expected health screening services were blood pressure measurements and malaria parasite tests (253, 63%). The majority (273, 68.3%) were willing to discuss medicines prescribed for them with the pharmacist with a lack of privacy often cited as the main barrier to communication (239, 59.8%). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the majority of university students were satisfied with the provided health services and perceive community pharmacists as drug experts whom they can willingly discuss medication issues with. However, the lack of privacy in the pharmacy hindered effective communication.

Multi-Drug Resistance developed by pathogens to most of the antibiotics present in the world today has led to an increase in the interest on plant derived compounds as substitute. In this study the antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract of hrysophyllum albidum cotyledon was determined, as well as the phytochemical constituents, proximate parameters and chemical constituents of C. albidum cotyledon. The antimicrobial activity of the seed extract was evaluated against clinical isolates (Stapyhlococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella spp, Aspergillus nigans) using agar-well diffusion method, Proximate analysis and phytochemical studies were carried out using standard method as described by Association of Official Analytical Chemist(AOAC). A two phase (liquid:oil) brown coloured extract with a yield of 2.530% was
obtained. The extract inhibited the growth of all test bacteria with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 25mm – 20.5mm. The phytochemical result revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolic, flavonoid, tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrate, proteins, reducing sugars, phytosterol and amino acids.

Background: Fadogia cienkowskii is used as a herb for treating inflammation Aim: To evaluate the acute toxicity profile of Fadogia cienkowskii and determine the antiinflammatory properties of Fadogia cienkowskii. Method: the acute toxicity profile was evaluated using lorkes model, the antiinflammatory effect of the extract Fadogia cienkowskii (stem bark) was determined using the carrageenan induced paw edema and dextran induced paw edema models. Results: Oral administration of the extract produced no mortality and acute toxicity and also produced significant (p<0.05) antiedematogeni effect with the dose of 100,200 and 400mg/kg in the carrageenaninduced edema model. In the dextran-induced edema model significantly inhibited dextran-induced edema sustained through the experiment. Conclusion: The result indicates that ethanol extract of Fadogia cienkowskii stem bark has no potential for sure Toxicity and possess acute antiinflammatory activity mediated by either blocking release of
histamine and prostaglandins. Thus supporting the usage of the plant in traditional medicine treatment of inflammation.

Alcohol has been reported to be frequently used among commercial drivers
in western societies. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use among long
distance commercial drivers in Benin City. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among commercial drivers
from randomly selected parks in major local government (Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba Okha) in
Benin City. Data was collected using a well-structured, questionnaire developed from
previous literatures review. The instruments consist of different parts, namely demographic;
prevalence of use of alcohol and reasons for alcohol use, analysis was mainly descriptive. Results: Majority (83.78%) used alcohol. Most of the reported alcohol used was spirit
(67.57%), beer (15.54%). Those (77.7%) with income rate less than N50,000 tends to
consume spirit while those (9.5%) with income rate of N100,000 and above tends to consume
more of beer. Less than half (42.6%) of the respondents reported to have injured as a result of
drinking. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that large population of drivers consume
alcohol prior to driving and this has negative impact on the safety and health status of the
drivers. It should be recommended that the sale of alcohol in the bus parks should be
prohibited and defaulters should be punished.

Fadogia cienkowskii is a medicinal plant traditionally used for pain relief and other therapeutic purposes. Despite its widespread ethnobotanical use, scientific validation of its safety and analgesic properties remains limited. This research investigated the acute toxicity and analgesic properties of the ethanol extract from F. cienkowskii stem bark in mice. The acute toxicity study was conducted using Lorke’s method, with oral administration of the extract at doses up to 5000 mg/kg to assess toxicity signs and determine the median lethal dose (LD₅₀). The analgesic activity was evaluated using two pain models: the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the tail immersion test. Mice were treated with F. cienkowskii extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, and their responses were compared to those of control and standard drug groups. The result of the acute toxicity study revealed no mortality or significant behavioral changes, indicating that the extract is well-tolerated at 5000 mg/kg. In the mice writhing test, the extract significantly reduced the number of writhes in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a potent peripheral analgesic activity. However, in the tail immersion test, the extract did not significantly prolong pain response latency, unlike morphine, indicating a lack of central analgesic action. In summary, the results indicate that F. cienkowskii stem bark extract has strong peripheral painrelieving effects, possibly by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, but lacks central analgesic activity. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated a favorable safety profile. These results support the plant’s traditional use for pain relief and warrant further studies to isolate and characterize its active compounds.