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Introduction
Newman Osafo is a senior lecturer and researcher with the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi Ghana. He holds PhD in Pharmacology with research interests in inflammation and cancer. He is a member of various international scientific societies in the area of natural drug and pharmacology research.
Current institution
Publications
Publications (80)
Introduction
Aurantio‐obtusin is a trihydroxyanthraquinone found in the seeds of Cassia tora and Cassia obtusifolia. Its neuroprotective, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐allergic, and antioxidant potential has been documented in multiple studies. While previous reports mention its potential as an antiasthma agent, its effects on allergen‐induced airway inf...
Asthma is a chronic disease associated with airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. In developing countries morbidity and mortality remain high, mainly due to issues with affordability and availability of treatment options and disparities in healthcare delivery. With the increasing dependence on herbal medicines, research focus has shifted to...
Picralima nitida possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiulcerogenic properties, among others. The crude alkaloidal extract from the seeds of Picralima nitida (PNE) has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect in some rodent models. This study aims to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of PNE in rats with bowel i...
In Africa, Alstonia boonei is used folklorically for the management of the multitude of conditions including cataract, which accounts for 50% of cases of blindness in the region. Te current study set out to probe the traditional use of the aqueous extract of Alstonia boonei stem bark (ABE) as an anticataract remedy using Sprague Dawley rat models....
In Africa, Alstonia boonei is used folklorically for the management of the multitude of conditions including cataract, which accounts for 50% of cases of blindness in the region. Te current study set out to probe the traditional use of the aqueous extract of Alstonia boonei stem bark (ABE) as an anticataract remedy using Sprague Dawley rat models....
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is an androgen-independent variant of prostate cancer (PCa) associated with significant mortality, with a mean survival time of 16–18 months. This has necessitated the continuous search for novel and effective compounds, including those of natural origin, for the treatment of CRPC. One of such natural sou...
Purpose: The total crude alkaloidal extract of Picralima nitida seeds (PNE) is known to possess anti-inflammatory activity among other therapeutic benefits although its benefits in colitis has not been investigated. The current study therefore seeks to investigate the anti-colitis potential of PNE using acetic acid-induced colitis model in rats. Me...
Background:
The use of Aspilia africana in traditional medicine for the management of ocular diseases has been reported in India and some indigenous communities of Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the aqueous extract of the flowers of A. africana (AAE) as an anticataract remedy using murine models of diabetic and senile cataracts....
Background:
Cordia vignei Hutch and Dalziel (Fam. Boraginaceae) is a woody plant found in west tropical Africa. The aim of this research is to find out if the leaf extract of this plant prevents oedema in animal models.
Methods:
(a) Inflammation was induced in the animals by injecting 100 µl of 2% lambda carrageenan into the subplantar tissue of...
Until the 1980s surgery remained the only treatment option for cystic echinococcosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with tapeworms of the genus Echinocococcus. Following the development of the benzmidazoles, there has been an increase in the use of chemotherapy over the years, especially as an adjunct to surgery or in the managem...
Background:
In Ghana, decoctions of various parts of Psydrax subcordata, Bridson (Rubiaceae) are employed in the management of inflammatory conditions. However, not much scientific data is available to back such folkloric use of the plant. This study, therefore, seeks to investigate the chronic anti-inflammatory activity of hydroethanolic root ext...
Airway inflammation in asthma is managed with anti-inflammatory steroids such as dexamethasone (DEX). However, about 20% of asthmatics do not respond to this therapy and are classified as steroid-resistant. Currently, no effective therapy is available for steroid-resistant asthma. This work therefore evaluated the effect of a plant sterol, stigmast...
Bombax costatum (Bombacaceae) is traditionally used as a decoction of the leaves, stem, and root to treat headaches, fever, and oedema that may be associated with inflammatory conditions. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 70%v/v ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Bombax costatum on acute and chronic inflammation. The effe...
Psydrax subcordata (DC.) Bridson (Rubiaceae) is traditionally used to treat pain and inflammatory conditions in Ghana. There is, however, little scientific evidence to support its use in Ghanaian Traditional Medicine. This study, therefore, evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroethanolic root extract of Psydrax subcord...
It has long been recognized that there exists a unique interaction between the peripheral immune system and the brain, an interaction that is increasingly proving to be critical in the normal physiology of the brain and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. One such peripheral factor that alters brain function is systemic inflammation. O...
For a long time, non-resolving inflammation has been the bane of our existence [1]. Currently, there are varying treatment and management options for inflammatory conditions. However, the search for newer, alternative management options continues unabated. A key focus of our research is the identification of lead compounds and therapeutically viabl...
Background
Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) T.Durand & Schinz stem bark has anecdotal use in Ghanaian folk medicine for the management of inflammatory conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the bark extract using models of acute inflammation in male Sprague Dawley rats, C57BL/6 mice and ICR mice....
Background
Xylopic acid (XA) is the principal constituent obtained from the biofractionation of the dried fruits of Xylopia aethiopica. Our initial reports have established the acute anti-inflammatory activity of this kaurene diterpene.
Objective
Currently, we investigate the chronic anti-inflammatory activity of xylopic acid.
Method
The adjuvant...
Xylopic acid (XA) is a kaurene diterpene which naturally exists in African plants such as Xylopia aethiopica. It has been established to exhibit acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activities from our earlier studies. This current work sets out to shed light on the potential molecular target(s) of xylopic acid. Selection of investigated targets (NF...
Traditionally, Xylopia aethiopica is used to manage pain disorders such as neuralgia, colic pain, rheumatism and headache. Using animal models, this study aimed to investigate the ability of Xylopic Acid (XA), a kaurene diterpene obtained from Xylopia aethiopica, to cause tolerance when administered alone or combined with morphine. Development of w...
Chemoresistance develops in triple negative breast cancer cells during prolonged therapy with chemotherapeutic drugs, diminishing the benefits of these drugs in breast cancer patients. Palmatine, a natural alkaloid extracted from several medicinal plants in West Africa, has been studied in vitro and found to be a promising anticancer agent for trea...
Xylopic acid is a kaurene diterpene isolated from the dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica. It has been identified to exhibit analgesic activity and also demonstrates acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed at investigating its potential anti-allergic activity using rodent models. To investigate this, antihistaminic study using...
Natural products and their bioactive constituents have been investigated for centuries and recognized as a source of valuable therapeutic candidates in the development of contemporary anticancer drugs. Triple negative breast cancers are a sub type of malignant cells formed in the breast tissue caused by uncontrolled and abnormal division. Palmatine...
Following the high treatment gap and massive impact of epilepsy on global health particularly in low- and middle-income countries, our study aims to investigate cryptolepine, the major alkaloid of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta as well as its solid-lipid nanoparticle formulation for potential antiseizure activity. Cryptolepine was isolated and a solid-l...
The discovery of endogenous cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and their endogenous ligands has generated interest in the endocannabinoid system and has contributed to the understanding of the role of the endocannabinoid system. Its role in the normal physiology of the body and its implication in pathological states such as cardiovascular diseases,...
Interferons are cytokines that possess antiviral activity and defend the body against viral infection. Dysfunctional type I IFN expression causes sustained type I IFN activity, which is a hallmark of a group of autoimmune diseases such as SLE, RA and SS, which are collectively known as type I interferonopathies. An increased expression of interfero...
Background: Holarrhena floribunda stem bark has anecdotal use in Ghanaian folk medicine for management of inflammatory conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the bark extract using models of acute inflammation in male Sprague Dawley rats, C57BL/6 mice and 36 ICR mice.
Methods: A 70 % hydro-eth...
The leaf of Physalis angulata L. is widely used in Ghana by rural and urban dwellers for the treatment of wounds. This study sought to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of methanol leaf extract of Physalis angulata L. (PAL). Preliminary phytochemical screening was used to determine the phytochemical constituents in this pl...
Background:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation on the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. Leaf decoctions of Cordia vignei have been used in traditional medicine either alone or in combination with other plant preparations to treat the disease.
Aim:
In this study, w...
Parkinson’s disease (PD), a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta resulting in reduced dopamine levels in the striatum. The available treatments target either dopaminergic or nondopaminergic pathways of motor activity control, and are for relieving s...
Microglia are important in the regulation of the inflammatory response in regulating the release of proinflammatory mediators in the brain. Through their phagocytic actions, microglia are significant in the CNS when it comes to the body's response to physiological insults by promoting repair of impaired brain function. They do so by engulfing and d...
Background/aims:
Xylopic acid (XA) has been reported to exhibit analgesic activity, alleviate neuropathic pain in rodents, and demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects. Intrarectal challenge of rats with acetic acid induces colitis that bears resemblance in terms of its pathogenesis, histopathology, and inflammatory profile to that in humans. Reactiv...
The surge in antimicrobial resistance coupled with the decline in the antimicrobial drug pipeline calls for the discovery and development of new agents to tackle
antibiotic resistance and prevent a return to a post-antibiotic era. Several factors
account for resistance of microbes; some are natural and others are acquired.
Natural selection, presen...
Bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen, 5-MOP) is a plant-derived furocoumarin with demonstrated anti-inflammatory action. The present study investigated its effects on allergic inflammation in two related pathways of mast cell degranulation. Compound 48/80 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to activate the IgE-independent pathway while bovine serum albu...
Neurons are the building units of the nervous system and are therefore critical units for the health of the brain and the spinal cord. This is necessitated by their inability to be either replaced or reproduced once lost. Their losses are implicated in a number of conditions which have been elaborated in this chapter. Oxidative stress has been stro...
The prevalence of conditions that eventually result in poor wound healing abounds as humans advance in age. With the increased possibility of wounds not healing comes a leap in morbidity and mortality with its accompanying socioeconomic impact. It is therefore relevant to understand what accounts for aberrant wound healing and more importantly the...
Background
Our earlier studies had given evidence of the traditional application of Xylopia aethiopica in the management of inflammation. The principal constituent obtained from its bio-fractionation is xylopic acid. It is a crystalline diterpene that belongs to the class of kauranes. This work sets out to investigate the anti-inflammatory potentia...
The therapeutic potential of stigmasterol, a natural steroid alcohol with established immune-modulatory properties, was assessed on allergic cutaneous responses. We examined its suppressive effect on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA), compound 48/80 (C48/80)-induced pruritus, and irritant dermatitis induced by 12-O-...
Maerua angolensis has been used traditionally in the management of pain, arthritis, and rheumatism in Ghana and Nigeria but no scientific evidence is currently available to give credence to its folkloric use. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a stem bark extract of Maerua angolensis DC (MAE) in acute i...
Neurons are the building units of the nervous system and are therefore critical units for the health of the brain and the spinal cord. This is necessitated by their inability to be either replaced or reproduced once lost. Their losses are implicated in a number of conditions which have been elaborated in this chapter. Oxidative stress has been stro...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder (ND) that primarily comprises the neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. The unique neuropathologic findings include anterior horn cell degeneration producing muscle atrophy or amyotrophy, degeneration, and sclerosis of the corticospinal tracts....
Xylopic acid (XA) is the principal constituent isolated by bio-fractionation from the dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica, a known anti-inflammatory plant [1, 2]. The anti-inflammatory activity of xylopic acid has been investigated. In a previous publication, we established that the observed anti-inflammatory effect of Xylopic acid in H2S-induced paw...
Ethnopharmacological Relevance
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is a scrambling thin-stemmed shrub found in Africa. Traditionally in West Africa, it is employed in the treatment of malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory conditions. This review discusses the traditional importance as well as the phytochemical, ethnomedical, pharmacological, and toxicological i...
The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) dates back to thousands of years when man used natural sources of these agents in a lot of pain and inflammatory conditions. The tone for modern day discovery and use of NSAIDs was set with the discovery of aspirin. Today in addition to aspirin, a host of other NSAIDs of varying potency and e...
We investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a 70% v/v ethanol extract of the stem bark of Antrocaryon micraster on murine models of carrageenan-induced pleurisy and paw oedema. Rat pleural fluid was analysed for volume, protein content, and leucocytes, while lung histology was assessed for damage. Lung tissue homogenates were a...
Plant-derived compounds have been an integral component in man's quest to discover ideal anticancer agents. A number of new agents are currently in clinical development with promising selective activity against cancer cell lines and cancer-related molecular targets. This book chapter discusses 14 of such compounds isolated from African plants from...
We explored the potential benefits of stigmasterol in the treatment of asthma, an airway disorder characterized by immune pathophysiology and with an ever-increasing worldwide prevalence. We assessed the modulatory effect of the intraperitoneal administration of stigmasterol on experimentally induced airway inflammation in guinea pigs. The effect o...
The aim of the study was to assess the supply chain management of anti-malarials in the five district hospitals in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area (KMA) including the Regional Medical Store (RMS) and also to assess the level of knowledge of respondents on malaria in these facilities. Cross sectional study was conducted at the facilities and purposeful...
In the form of a decoction, X. aethiopica is traditionally employed in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, arthritis and rheumatism in Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. This study establishes the inhibitory effect of X. aethiopica and its principal constituent, xylopic acid, on the arachidonic acid pathway of inflammation. Hydrogen sulphide is endogeno...
Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dissotis rotundifolia (Sm.) Triana, commonly called 'pink lady', is employed in West and Eastern African folkloric medicine for managing a number of infections including dysentery, cough and sexually transmitted infections. The review aims at highlighting the traditional benefits, ethno-medical, phytochemical, pharma...
Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Lannea welwitschii (Hiern) Engl. (Synonyms: Calesiam welwitschii, Lannea acidissima, Lannea amaniensis), of the family Anacardiaceae is a woody plant that is employed in African traditional medicine to treat various diseases. The study aimed to highlight the folkloric importance, phytochemical composition and reporte...
The aqueous stem bark decoction of Triplochiton scleroxylon is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes, lumbago, oedema and lactation failure. Aim of the study: To investigate the therapeutic value of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Triplochiton scleroxylon(TS) in allergy and asthma. Materials and methods: The inhibitory effect of...
Non-communicable diseases which were often thought to be public health problems of only high income countries is now a living reality in low-income countries. The changing disease landscape and increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly in the African Region, threatens to overwhelm already over-stretched health services1. It is es...
Inflammation which is a normal phenomenon involved in healing of injurious tissue can be complicated with reactive oxygen resulting in chronic inflammatory state and subsequent tissue damage. Since there are reports on severe side effects associated with the use of synthetic anti-inflammatory medications, there is the need to search for new medicat...
Various parts of Margaritaria discoidea find use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pain and oedema. This study evaluated the anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of a 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of the stem bark of Margaritaria discoidea, MDE in rodents.
Systemic anaphylaxis was induced by the injection of com...
Over a long period of time, several medicinal plants have been used for the treatment and management of various forms of inflammatory conditions by African traditional healers and herbalists. But most of these plants are not documented as compared to the Chinese or Indian (Ayurveda) traditional medicines. About 5000 plant species have been used for...
Background. Various parts of Glyphaea brevis (Spreng) Monachino (Tiliaceae) find a use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pain and oedema among others. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and antiarthritic effects of a 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of the stem bark of Glyphaea brevis in murine models. Materials an...
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Xylopia aethiopica has been traditionally used in the form of the dried fruit decoction to treat bronchitis, asthma, arthritis and rheumatism in Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. Aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory effects of a 70% aqueous ethanol extract of the fruits of Xylopia a...
Objective: Various parts of Lanneawelwitschii find use in traditional medicine in the treatment of pain and oedema. This study evaluated the anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of a 70 % (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of the stem bark of Lanneawelwitschii, LWE in mice. Methods: IgE-mediated anaphylaxis in a local allergic reaction...
