Gervason Moriasi

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Faculty at Mount Kenya University

Background Despite the advances in modern medicine, anticancer therapies are still faced with numerous challenges, including prohibitive costs, resistance, and severe side effects. This study explored the cytotoxic, and anti-prostate cancer properties and phytochemistry of the dichloromethane stem bark extract of Acacia gerrardii (Benth.) (AG-DCM),...

Tea undergoes intricate processing in factories, generating substantial effluents that pose significant environmental challenges. This study explored the proximate and elemental composition of tea effluents obtained from various factories to determine their potential benefits, especially in agriculture and health. The proximate composition analysis...

Background The antioxidant and anticancer potential of natural compounds, particularly from medicinal plants, is increasingly being explored as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants and chemotherapeutics. Boascia coriacea (Pax) has been traditionally used for treating various ailments, including oxidative stress-related diseases and prostate cance...

Background Prostate cancer is a significant global health concern, particularly among ageing male populations, with a disproportionately higher burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional treatments, though effective, are costly and cause devastating side effects which limit their clinical benefits. Hence, this study evaluated the in vitro antiprost...

Background: Prostate cancer is a significant global health concern, particularly among ageing male populations, with a disproportionately higher burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional treatments, though effective, are costly and cause devastating side effects which limit their clinical benefits. Hence, this study evaluated the in vitro antipros...

Metformin (MET) is a preferred drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent studies show that apart from its blood glucose-lowering effects, it also inhibits the development of various tumours, by inducing autophagy. Various studies have confirmed the inhibitory effects of MET on cancer cell lines' propagation, migration, and invasion...

Glaucoma, an irreversible optic neuropathy, primarily affects retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and causes vision loss and blindness. The damage to RGCs in glaucoma occurs by various mechanisms, including elevated intraocular pressure, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other neurodegenerative processes. As the disease progresses, the loss of RGCs lead...

The rise of resistant strains poses a significant public health risk, particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 50% of global infectious disease-associated deaths occur, highlighting the urgent need for novel, safe, affordable, and accessible antimicrobials. Accordingly, we investigated the antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and qualitativ...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and highly metastatic cancer affecting people worldwide. Drug resistance and unwanted side effects are some of the limitations of current treatments for CRC. Naringenin (NAR) is a naturally occurring compound found in abundance in various citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and tomatoes. It possesses a di...

In light of the enduring obstacles encountered in analgesia and anti-inflammatory therapeutics despite the strides made in contemporary medical sciences, the quest for alternative efficacious strategies is an imperative pursuit. Thus, this study investigated the safety profiles, as well as the analgesic and anti-inflammatory attributes, of aqueous...

Prunus africana, a widely utilized medicinal plant in various African ethnic communities, continues to hold significant importance in traditional healing practices. Research has identified phytochemical compounds in this plant, exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities that offer potential for pharmaceutical development. Notably, P. africana is...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and highly metastatic cancer affecting people worldwide. Drug resistance and unwanted side effects are some of the limitations of current treatments for CRC. Naringenin (NAR) is a naturally occurring compound found in abundance in various citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and tomatoes. It possesses a di...

The escalating global challenge of antibiotic resistance demands exploration into alternative sources for antimicrobials. This study investigated the often-overlooked tea waste samples generated during tea processing from Kenyan processing factories to uncover novel resources containing potent and effective antimicrobial compounds. In this study, w...

Forest cover loss is one of the major challenges facing Kenya; and there is insufficient data to guide sustainable biodiversity conservation stratagems. We determined the floristic and growth characteristics, plant species diversity, evenness, relative density, frequency, dominance, important value index, and indicators of biodiversity disturbance....

Metformin (MET) is a preferred drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent studies show that apart from its blood glucose-lowering effects, it also inhibits the development of various tumours, by inducing autophagy. Further, various studies have confirmed the inhibitory effects of MET on cancer cell lines’ propagation, migration, and...

Cervical cancer is a significant global health challenge and necessitates the search for innovative and patient-friendly therapies due to the limitations and challenges posed by conventional treatments. This study explored the largely overlooked potential of Camellia sinensis processing wastes as a natural source for developing effective and safe a...

Background. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially through the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), limits therapeutic options and poses a significant public health threat. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the phenotyp...

Although medicinal plants have been used by ethnic communities since ancient times to prevent and treat various diseases, only a few have been scientifically documented. Therefore, due to their rare availability and lack of comprehensive scientific information, we reviewed the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of p...

Although medicinal plants have been used by ethnic communities since ancient times to prevent and treat various diseases, only a few have been scientifically documented. Therefore, due to their rare availability and lack of comprehensive scientific information, we reviewed the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of p...

Background Launaea cornuta is a vegetable with therapeutic advantage for human diseases. Objective Evaluate nutritive and non-nutritive components, antioxidant activity, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy profile of L. cornuta leaves. Methods Proximate, nutri, non-nutrient, percentage phenolic, flavonoid, alkaloid, and saponin contents w...

Background: The high morbidity and mortality associated with microbial infections and the ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics due to inappropriate use and resistance warrant alternative stratagems. Aim: We investigated the antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemical composition of the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of P...

The Abagusii people of Western Kenya have rich traditional medicine practices which have remained scantly documented. The current study sort to review relevant ethnomedicinal information which was extracted from relevantbooks, journals and theses that were published before March 2021. Also, online electronic databases accessed between April 2020 to...

Background The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially through the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), limits therapeutic options and poses a significant public health threat. Objective The aim of this study was to phenotypically and g...

At present, there is no cure for dementia or its related cognitive impairments. Available treatments only provide symptomatic relief and do not alter the disease’s progression and they suffer serious drawbacks limiting their clinical use, hence the need for alternative therapies. Although Launaea cornuta has been used traditionally to treat cogniti...

Currently, there is no cure for dementia and associated complications like cognitive impairment, and those available only offer symptomatic relief without altering the course of the disease. The currently utilised armamentaria suffer various drawbacks, such as low- efficacy, adverse effects, unaffordability, and inaccessibility which limit their cl...

Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehistoric times. However, the pharmacologic efficacy and safety of many plants currently used in traditional medicine have not been explored empirically, which raises serious public health concerns, derailing further research and their integration into the...

Cucumis dipsaceus is used to treat diarrhoea, microbial infections, among other diseases across the world; however, there is insufficient empirical data to validate its efficacy, toxicity, and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and toxic effects of the aqueous and methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of C. dipsaceu...

The Phytexponent is used to treat pain and inflammation in complementary and alternative medicine practices; however, empirical data supporting its pharmacological efficacy and safety is scanty, hence the present study. We used the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and the acetic acid-induced writhing techniques to determine the anti-inflammatory and...

The root and leaf extracts of Launaea cornuta have been locally used in traditional medicine for decades to manage inflammatory conditions and other oxidative-stress-related syndromes; however, their pharmacologic efficacy has not been scientifically investigated and validated. Accordingly, we investigated the in vitro antioxidant activity, anti-in...

Introduction: Plants are used in the treatment of diseases by various cultural groups since antiquity. Different ethnic groups of Kenya use plants for medicinal purposes, and over 90 % of Kenyans have used medicinal plants once in their lifetime because they are accessible, affordable, and associated with fewer side effects. The Abagusii people of...

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a life-threatening global public health problem affecting over 2.7 million persons annually, with a bigger burden lying in the developing world. Despite the successful management of SBE by antivenom therapy in conventional medicine, it is of low efficacy due to the diverse venom composition across snake types, which...

Introduction: Microbial infections cause high morbidity and mortality in humans globally. Antimicrobial resistance, the emergence of new strains, high costs of antibiotics, inaccessibility-especially in remote areas, and adverse effects, impede the successful eradication of pathogens, hence the need for novel strategies. Bridellia micrantha is used...

Persistent hyperglycaemia is the hallmark of diabetes and is accountable for the devastating complications, which cause high morbidity and mortality. Conventional anti-diabetic agents are only palliative and characterised with limited efficacy, adverse effects, high costs, inaccessibility, prompting the need for better alternatives. Therefore, we i...

Persistent hyperglycaemia is the hallmark of diabetes and is accountable for the devastating complications, which cause high morbidity and mortality. Conventional anti-diabetic agents are only palliative and characterised with limited efficacy, adverse effects, high costs, inaccessibility, prompting the need for better alternatives. Therefore, we i...

Oxidative stress causes and drives many agonising inflammatory conditions, which cause disability, financial burden, and emotional stress. The current anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant agents are associated with adverse effects, inaccessibility, high costs, and low efficacies, thereby warranting the need for alternatives, especially fro...

Pain is the most widely diagnosed and managed symptoms of human diseases, with various debilitating effects. Current analgesics agents have shown low efficacy, are inaccessible, unaffordable, and elicit deleterious side effects which limit their use, thereby warranting the need for alternative and complementary strategies. Mystroxylon aethiopicum i...

Pathogenic microbes are the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally, especially in children and in immunocompromised individuals. Despite the successes of antimicrobial therapy, various challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, therapeutic failure, deleterious side effects, high costs, and inaccessibility, hinder health and wellbeing...

Microbial infections are feared to cause over 10 million deaths by the year 2050, whereby 50% of the global burden squarely lies in less developed countries of Africa and Asian continents. The current drugs have suffered resistance by previously susceptible strains, are associated with severe side effects, among other therapeutic and economic drawb...

There are over 500 species in the Hypericum genus worldwide. Crude extracts from Hypericum species have been reported in folkloric medicine as analgesics, anthelmintics, astringents, antidepressants, diuretics, and anti-inflammatories. The current review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of local uses, pharmacological activities, and phytochemic...

Oxidative stress is a critical etiologic factor and driver of inflammatory responses, witnessed in chronic and persistent conditions. The current anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with detrimental effects, high dependence, high costs, inaccessibility, among other drawbacks; therefore, a need for alternatives is impera...

Oxidative stress is a critical etiologic factor and driver of inflammatory responses, witnessed in chronic and persistent conditions. The current anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with detrimental effects, high dependence, high costs, inaccessibility, among other drawbacks; therefore, a need for alternatives is impera...

Oxidative stress is a critical etiologic factor and driver of inflammatory responses, witnessed in chronic and persistent conditions. The current anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with detrimental effects, high dependence, high costs, inaccessibility, among other drawbacks; therefore, a need for alternatives is impera...

A checklist of plant species occurring at Mount Kenya University Botanic Garden is presented. The purpose of this study was to develop a check list of plants that could be used for education, research and as a conservation guide. Two methods of study were used; first was physical identification and enumeration of the plants and secondly, line-trans...

Over 50 million persons are living with cognitive deficits worldwide, with over 80% of these individuals living in the developing world. The number of affected persons is projected to go over 152 million by the year 2050. Current drugs used for cognitive impairment are debatably ineffective, costly, inaccessible, and associated with undesirable eve...

Poultry keeping is the most widespread of all livestock enterprises, it plays a great role in food security improvement, socio-cultural and economic development in most countries. While broiler production is a source of income, it is a good source of protein and a profitable investment. In developing world, high feed to gain ratio and high feed cos...

Inflammation and pain are devastating conditions characterizing many diseases. Their manifestation ranges from mild body discomfort, to a debilitating experience, which may culminate in organ failure or death. In conventional medicine, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and adjuvants are utilized to manage symptoms rela...

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a key driver of many ailments affecting humankind. Free radicals attack biologically important biomolecules, impairing their functioning, thereby initiating and exacerbating diseases. As a comeback, antioxidant therapies have been proposed as novel approaches to ameliorating oxidative stress–associated diseas...

Malaria is a deadly disease caused by a protozoan parasite whose mode of transmission is through a female Anopheles mosquito. It affects persons of all ages; however, pregnant mothers, young children, and the elderly suffer the most due to their dwindled immune state. The currently prescribed antimalarial drugs have been associated with adverse sid...

The species of Moringa are native to India and Africa. However, they are cultivated in Tropical and subtropical countries mainly for nutrition and health products. In Kenya, most research has been done on M. oleifera and little on M. stenopetala. The paucity of consistent information of comprehensive chemical composition of the two species is gener...

Oxidative stress is a metabolic disorder characterised by overproduction of the highly reactive free radicals that damage body tissues. Such radicals include the unstable and destructive reactive oxygen and nitrogen species among other free radicals. A reduction in the immunological antioxidant defences of the body coupled to a declining tissue ant...

Cognitive impairment (CI) is among the leading causes of disability in humans. It is estimated that over 35.6 million people are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease- (AD-) associated cognitive deficits globally with these statistics projected to rise over 115.4 million by the year 2050. There is no specific etiology for this cognitive impairment; ho...

Aims: To evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant and phytochemical composition of Combretum tanaense extracts. Study Design: Laboratory-experimental design was used in this study. Place and Duration of Study: Fresh roots of Combretum tanaense were obtained from Mount Original Research Article Jared et al.; EJMP, 23(4): 1-8, 2018; Article no.EJMP.40...