Browsing by Author "Nabatanzi, Alice"

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    In vitro antiplasmodial activity, acute toxicity and phytochemical quantification of selected medicinal plants used for the management of uncomplicated malaria in eastern Uganda.
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2025) Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Nabitandikwa, Catherine; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Ocan, Moses; Gavamukulya, Yahaya; Andima, Moses; Lukwago, Tonny Wotoyitide; Maseruka, Richard; Chebijira, Mercy; Opio, Moses; Hokello, Joseph Francis; Kibuule, Dan; Nabatanzi, Alice; Orena, Stephen; Waako, Paul; Owor, Richard Oriko
    Ethnopharmacological relevance The emergence of artemisinin resistance and limited antimalarial drug access in Uganda has increased reliance on herbal medicines as complementary and alternative therapies. Indigenous use of Albizia coriaria, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Entada abyssinica, Maytenus senegalensis, and Kigelia Africana for malaria treatment is widespread but scientific evidence of their efficacy and safety was limited. Aim of the study This study aimed to validate the traditional antimalarial use of the five medicinal plants by evaluating their phytochemical composition, acute toxicity, and in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7), chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) and clinical P. falciparum isolates. Materials and methods Phytochemical screening and quantification was conducted on 70 % hydroethanolic extracts from dried plant samples using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The acute oral toxicity testing was conducted in Wistar albino rats using OECD 423 limit dose test. The antiplasmodial efficacy was evaluated using a 72-h SYBR Green assay on Plasmodium falciparum laboratory strains (3D7, Dd2) and clinical isolates. Results Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids were present in all the plant samples in varying quantities. Z. chalybeum was the most potent extract (IC50 0.81–1.28 μg/ml), followed by A. coriaria and E. abyssinica (IC50 10–50 μg/ml). M. senegalensis showed weak activity while K. africana was largely inactive (IC50 > 100 μg/ml). A. coriaria and M. senegalensis showed moderate acute toxicity (LD50 < 2000 mg/kg), while the other extracts showed no severe signs of acute toxicity in Wistar albino rats (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg). Conclusion Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Albizia coriaria and Entada abyssinica demonstrated promising antiplasmodial activity that supports their traditional use in management of malaria. However, more efficacy studies using in vivo models, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity studies particularly on A. coriaria and advanced phytochemical profiling are needed to delineate their therapeutic potential before being prioritized for development of standardized herbal remedies and novel antimalarial drugs.
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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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    Knowledge and practices of traditional treatment of chicken diseases using medicinal plants by indigenous communities in Najjembe sub-county, Buikwe district central Uganda.
    (BMC, 2025) Nabatanzi, Alice; Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Walusansa, Abdul; Nambejja, Cissy; Anywar, Godwin
    Background: For centuries, farmers in central Uganda have used diverse medicinal plants in ethnoveterinary medicine for treating chicken diseases. However, the unique plant species used, and associated ethnoveterinary knowledge had not been well documented. Hence this research reports the medicinal plants used in the management of chicken diseases in Najjembe sub-county, Buikwe District, Central Uganda to guide the advancement and sustainable use of these plants in the future. Methods: An ethnoveterinary survey was conducted among 150 chicken farmers who were purposively sampled from ten villages within Najjembe sub-county, Buikwe district from January to September 2021. Voucher specimens of the plants were prepared, identified and authenticated at Makerere University Herbarium. Numerical data summarized using percentages, frequencies, Informant Consensus factor (ICF) and paired comparisons. Results: All farmers (150), atleast used medicinal plants to treat chicken diseases, with majority of them aged 25 to 44 years (65.3%) and acquired this indeginous knowledge from family members (48%). Fifty-nine plant species were reported with the most cited or preferred being; Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., (64), Capsicum frutescens L., (60), Nicotiana tabacum L. (55),Cannabis sativa L. (50), Bidens pilosa L.(12), Momordica foetida Schumach.(10). The plants belonged to 59 genera and 31 families: mostly Asteraceae (n=8, 13.6%), Fabaceae (n =5, 8.5%), Rosaceae (n=5, 8.5%), Myrtaceae (n=4, 6.8%) and Lamiaceae (n=4, 6.8%). Most medicinal plants were herbs (45.8%) and trees (25.4%). Leaves (66.1%) were the most used parts and were largely prepared as decoctions (38.9%). Most plant species had ICF greater than 0.7 for given chicken disease implying a high consensus in the community. Nicotiana tobacum L. had ICF values of 0.98, 0.98, 0.90, 0.98, 0.86 and 0.88 for swollen eyes, manson’s eye worm, eye infections, diarrhea, fowl typhoid and flue. The major challenges reported were failure to determine doses and scarcity of medicinal plants due to the escalating deforestation of Mabira Central Forest Reserve. Conclusion: There is widespread use of herbal medicines in the treatment of several chicken ailments in Najjembe sub-county, Buikwe District. The rich diversity of medicinal plants provides good prospects for development of novel ethnopoultry drugs that might provide a solution to the escalating global resistance against conventional chicken drugs. Although some of the species are exotic in Uganda, there is an urgent need to conserve the threatened plant species against increasing deforestation, climate change, human settlement and agricultural expansion. Keywords Ethnobotany, Ethnoveterinary, Medicinal plants, Poultry, One health BMC Veterinary Research (2025) 21:551
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    Unraveling the therapeutic potential of tephrosia linearis : anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity, and molecular docking approaches.
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Opio, Moses; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Nabitandikwa, Catherine; Maseruka, Richard; Wotoyitidde, Tony Lukwago; Andima, Moses; Chebijira, Mercy; Edeya, Sharon Tracy; Nabatanzi, Alice; Gavamukulya, Yahaya; Kibuule, Dan; Waako, Paul; Owor, Richard Oriko; Obakiro, Samuel Baker
    Background Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis affect over 300 million people globally. The current treatment mainly involves the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) which possess several adverse drug reactions that are sometimes life threatening. This has prompted many patients to gain interest in plant-based remedies. Tephrosia linearis (Willd.) Pers (Fabaceae) is widely used in Uganda to manage symptoms of inflammation. However, there was a paucity of information concerning its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and acute toxicity effects of ethanolic extracts from the aerial parts of Tephrosia linearis in Wistar albino rats. Methods Plant samples were collected from Katakwi District, Eastern Uganda and extracted using 70 % ethanol. Quantitative phytochemical analysis was conducted using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Acute toxicity was assessed using Lorke’s method, while analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated through Complete Freud’s Adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Three doses of T. linearis (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) were compared with a control group receiving 20 mg/kg of diclofenac. Three marker compounds were assessed using in silico modeling to predict their pharmacokinetic properties, organ toxicity, and binding energy against selected protein targets involved in inflammation. Results The ethanolic extract contained significant concentrations of flavonoids (82.9 ± 0.1 mg/g), tannins (140.2 ± 0.9 mg/g), alkaloids (93.4 ± 1.0 mg/g), and triterpenoids (76.1 ± 1.5 mg/g). No toxic effects were observed at doses below 2000 mg/kg, with an estimated LD50 of 2692 mg/kg. The extract exhibited a non-dose dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities that were significantly lower than that of diclofenac (p < 0.05). Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities for apigenin, luteolin, and velutin with COX2, PLA2, and TNFα. Conclusion This study supports T. linearis as a safe herbal remedy for managing inflammation, suggesting further optimization through active ingredient isolation for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.