Department of Chemistry

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https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/1405
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Browsing Department of Chemistry by Author "Andima, Moses"

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    In vitro antiplasmodial activity, acute toxicity and phytochemical quantification of selected medicinal plants used in symptomatic management of malaria in eastern Uganda.
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2025) Obakiroa, Samuel Baker; Nabitandikwa, Catherine; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Ocan, Moses; Gavamukulya, Yahaya; Andima, Moses; Lukwago, Tonny Wotoyitide; Maseruka, Richard; Mercy, Chebijira; Opio, Moses; Hokello, Joseph; Kibuule, Dan; Nabatanzi, Alice; Orenah, Stephen; Waako, Paul; Owor, Oriko Richard
    Ethnopharmacological relevance: The emergence of artemisinin resistance alongside limited antimalarial access in Uganda has intensified the use of herbal medicines as complementary and alternative therapies. Whereas there is widespread indigenous use of Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Albizia coriaria, Entada abyssinica, Maytenus senegalensis, and Kigelia Africana in treatment of malaria, there was limited scientific evidence of efficacy and safety. Aim of the study: This study assessed the in vitro antiplasmodial activity, acute toxicity, and phytochemical composition of the five plants so as to identify alternative sources of antimalarial drugs. Materials and methods: Phytochemical screening and quantification was conducted on ethanolic extracts from dried samples using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The acute toxicity testing was conducted in Wistar albino rats using limit dose test and the antiplasmodial efficacy evaluated using a 72-hour SYBR Green assay on Plasmodium falciparum laboratory and clinical isolates. Results: Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids were present in all the samples. Z. chalybeum was the most potent, with IC50 values as low as 0.90 and 1.54 µg/ml against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) strains respectively. Albizia coriaria and Entada abyssinica also displayed moderate activity, with IC50s ranging from 30.26 to 101.26 µg/ml. Acute toxicity studies indicated that most extracts were relatively safe in Wistar albino rats, except for A. coriaria and M. senegalensis, which were moderately toxic with median lethal less than 2000mg/kg. Conclusion: Z. chalybeum, A. coriaria and E. abyssinica are promising medicinal plants for developing novel and effective antimalarial drugs, especially against drug-resistant strains that warrant more phytochemical and pharmacological studies. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Malaria, Antiplasmodial activity, Phytochemicals, Drug resistance
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    Phytochemical profile, antibacterial activity and acute toxicity of rhoicissus tridentata used to manage dog bites.
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2025) Mukasa, Paul; Ogwang, Patrick Engeu; Adaku, Christopher; Andima, Moses; Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Lejju, Julius Bunny; Ntulume, Ibrahim; Byamugisha, Denis; Ntambi, Emmanuel; Ren, Yuhao; Owor, Richard Oriko
    Dog bites often result into polymicrobial wound contamination, which pose several health risks including bacterial infections. In Uganda, Rhoicissus tridentata is traditionally used to manage dog bites, yet its secondary metabolite profile, antibacterial efficacy, and in-vivo toxicity had remained unexplored. Thus, the metabolites and the scientific evidence to validate the antibacterial activity and safety of the plant was limited. Identification of potent antibacterial agents could be crucial to manage dog-bite-related bacterial infections. The root extracts were analyzed using UHPLC–HRMS/MS—qTOF, followed by MZmine processing, and the metabolites characterized with GNPS Feature-Based Molecular Networking. For the first time, the high-resolution metabolomic approach resulted into annotation of 15 bioactive polyphenols like flavonoids, tannins. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated against standard strains of the zoonotic oral bacteria commonly associated with dog bites, namely: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29,212), Streptococcus aureus (ATCC 25,932), Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25,175), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 25,933), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700,603), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922). The extracts exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against all the strains. The MIC and MBC ranged from (0.78 to 6.25) and (1.56 to 12.5) mg/mL respectively. The MBC/MIC ratios were between 1.9 and 2, signifying bactericidal extracts. In vivo acute toxicity testing, the extract showed no adverse signs of toxicity at doses up to 5000 mg/kg (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg), suggesting a favorable safety margin. These findings support the ethnopharmacological use of R. tridentata in managing dog bite-related bacterial infections and merit further investigations on its bioactive constituents identified for future antibacterial discovery Keywords: Rhoicissus tridentata, Phytochemicals, Antibacterial compounds, Toxicity