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    Pharmacognosy Communications
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    Pharmacognosy Communications
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    Research Article

    Health Implications of Using Euphorbia hirta Linn.(Euphorbiaceae) Extracts in the Treatment of ‘Jedi Jedi’ Infection in Newborns (Age one to six months) in Nigeria

    wadmin2By wadmin2December 28, 2012Updated:August 10, 2021No Comments2 Mins Read
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    Cletus Anes UKWUBILE
    Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

    Pharmacognosy Communications,2013,3,1,27-32.
    DOI:10.5530/pc.2013.1.7
    Published:December 2012
    Type: Research Article

    ABSTRACT 

    Objective: To determine the effects of the crude extracts of Euphorbia hirta in treating ‘Jedi Jedi’ infection in newborns, in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The powdered plant material of Euphorbia hirta was extracted in three solvents ethanol, benzene and water using the Soxhlet extraction apparatus 241 (PSAWINDIA). Phytochemical screening was conducted to determine the plant constituents, while acute and chronic toxicity studies were carried out in vivo using nine albino mice. Results: The percentage yields of the extracts were 59 (water), 33 (ethanol), and 16 (benzene). Phytochemical screening of the crude extracts revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, anthraquinones, and alkaloids. The presence of these constituents was linked to the antibacterial activity of the plant, using the agar well-diffusion method against bacteria associated with ‘Jedi Jedi’ infection, namely, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts of E. coli, B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, S. typhi , and P. aeruginosa were 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 25 mg/ml respectively. Toxicity studies revealed that most of the animals were adversely affected on long-term usage of the plant extracts, leading to the death of some of the animals while short-term usage produced organ infl ammation, hypertrophy, ulcers and necrosis of some organs. Conclusion: Although these bacteria were susceptible to the extracts in various solvents that were signifi cantly different from the control drug Cefuroxime Axetil® USP 100 ml (Bharat Parenterals Ltd., India) (p ≤ 0.05), the results suggested that the use of the extracts of E. hirta as an oral medication, both on short -term and long-term was not safe, due to the presence of some toxic constituents.

    Keywords: Benzene extract, Ethanol extract, Euphorbia hirta, Infection, phytochemical, toxicity, water extract.

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    About Journal

    Pharmacognosy Communications [Phcog Commn.] is a quarterly journal published by Phcog.Net. It is a peer reviewed journal aiming to publish high quality original research articles, methods, techniques and evaluation reports, critical reviews, short communications, commentaries and editorials of all aspects of medicinal plant research. The journal is aimed at a broad readership, publishing articles on all aspects of pharmacognosy, and related fields. The journal aims to increase understanding of pharmacognosy as well as to direct and foster further research through the dissemination of scientific information by the publication of manuscripts. The submission of original contributions in all areas of pharmacognosy are welcome.
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