Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
continents as a remedy for malaria, there is apparently no laboratory evidence to confirm its efficacy.
An alkaloid-rich extract obtained from the New Guinea species was found to significantly inhibit
(
in vitro
) the growth of W-2 and D-6 clones of
Plasmodium falciparum
.
175
An
in vivo
antimalarial
evaluation of extracts of
A. scholaris
s showed no significant activity.
176
An evaluation of
A
.
congensis
in Nigeria showed that the methanol of the species suppressed early infection chloroquine- sensitive
Plasmodium berghei
in mice but had no effect when infection was already established.
177
A combi-
nation therapy with
Khaya ivorensis
has been found to be effective in malaria prophylaxis.
178
The
herbal mixture, when given to mice subjected to the 14-day repeated-dose toxicity test (subacute
toxicity test), did not cause any serious toxicity, such as weight loss, liver or kidney morphological
modifications, significant alterations in locomotor activity, or any other sign of illness.
A major component of
Alstonia
, the indole alkaloid alstonine, has been evaluated for its possible
use in the treatment or management of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Negative symptoms of
schizophrenia are particularly problematic due to their deleterious impact on a patient's social life.
The indole alkaloid exhibited an antipsychotic-like profile in mice, as well as anxiolytic properties.
Subchronic (but not acute) treatment with alstonine at 0.5 mg/kg (but not 1.0 mg/kg) significantly
increased social interaction in mice. Moreover, MK801-induced social withdrawal was completely
prevented by sulpiride (10 mg/kg) and alstonine 1.0 mg/kg and was partially prevented by alstonine
0.5 mg/kg. The study indicated that alstonine not only increased social interaction in normal mice
but also averted social deficits attributable to negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
179
ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE
(CaShEW)
Botanical Name —
Anacardium occidentale
L.
Synonyms —
Acajuba occidentalis
Gaertn.,
Cassuvium pomiferum
Lam.,
Anacardium micro-
carpum
Ducke
Family —
Anacardiaceae
Common Name —
Cashew
African Names —
Krio: kushu; Mende: kusui; Temme: e-lil-e-potho; Yoruba: kaju; Hausa:
kadinnia; Kanuri (Hausa): kanju; Igbo: kashu
Description —
Cashew is a small tree, with leaves that are alternate, simple, entire, obtuse, and
borne on short leafstalks. The flowers are abundant, small, and fragrant and are produced in terminal,
