Cyathula prostrata (Blume) L, a member of the Amaranthaceae family, has long been used in tropical regions of the world for a variety of diseases, and study has shown that it is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism, dysentery, wounds, and urethral discharges. The goal of this study was to use standard conventional methods to investigate the phytochemical content of this plant's leaf and root parts. The presence or absence of several secondary metabolites was examined qualitatively and quantitatively in the crude extract. Phytochemical components were discovered to be more abundant in the leaves of Cyathula prostrata than in the root, according to the findings. Flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, and terpenoids were found in the leaf and root sections of the plant. These phytochemicals were found to be higher in the leaf than in the root, according to quantitative analysis of the leaf and root parts. Flavonoids were discovered to have the highest concentration of phytochemicals, followed by tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, and terpenoids in that order. The findings revealed that the leaf and root of Cyathula prostrata have excellent nutritional and therapeutic values, suggesting that it could be used for medical purposes.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential for optimal infant nutrition and health, yet its uptake remains suboptimal in Nigeria. Although the Accelerating

Background: This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum (B. pinnatum) in ketamine-induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats, focusing on neurochemical and oxidative stress markers, as well as histological changes in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 received normal saline (2ml), Group 2 was administered ketamine (20mg/kg), and Group 3 received risperidone (0.5mg/kg). Groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated with B. pinnatum at 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, and 200mg/kg, respectively for a duration of 21 days after induction of toxicity. Neurochemical markers (dopamine, glutamate, GABA, serotonin, noradrenaline, acetylcholine), oxidative stress markers (GSH, MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx), and histological analysis of brain tissues were evaluated after treatment periods of one, two, and three weeks. Results: Ketamine administration significantly reduced dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and noradrenaline levels while increasing acetylcholine and glutamate levels (p<0.05). B. pinnatum treatment reversed these effects in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at high doses. Oxidative markers showed reduced GSH and increased MDA levels with ketamine, which B. pinnatum mitigated significantly (p<0.05). Histologically, ketamine caused neuronal degeneration and microstructural distortion in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, which were markedly reduced by B. pinnatum, especially at 200mg/kg, showing well-preserved neuronal structures. Conclusion: B. pinnatum demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against ketamine-induced neurotoxicity by modulating neurochemical and oxidative markers and preserving histological integrity in brain tissues, suggesting its potential therapeutic application in neurotoxic conditions.

This study investigated the effect of Acalypha wilkesiana on oxidative stress biomarkers as well as liver and kidney histopathology. 54 Albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 9 animals each including group 1 animals received only feed and water ad libitum; group 2 received 160mg/kg alloxan by the intraperitoneal route; group 3 received 0.07mg/kg of glibenclamide follow alloxan induction, while animals in groups 4, 5 and six received the aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana at doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg following the induction. Three animals from each group were anaesthetized with diethyl ether and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture on days 5, 10 and 15 into sample bottles containing anticoagulant for evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. Liver and Kidney samples were also collected from these animals and transferred into 10% formalin solution for the histological studies. Results revealed a significant increase in oxidative stress marked by decrease in oxidative stress markers such as CAT, SOD, GSH, GPx and increase in MDA values and pathological changes of liver and kidney following alloxan administration when compared with normal control. These changes were reversed by the extract in a dose dependent manner.

Background: Human-centered design (HCD) is vital for crafting impactful and successful health interventions. This approach has been effective in enhancing the uptake of health services, especially in rural areas. The Routine Immunization Buddy System (RIBS) is an HCD-driven intervention designed to support economically disadvantaged caregivers by empowering them to take greater responsibility for their own health and the immunization of their children. Objective: Through a community-based participatory research (CBPR), this study seeks to understand the economic, social, and health lifestyles and the impact on the health-seeking attributes of the potential beneficiaries of the project. This ensures that the identified intervention and its strategy will be implemented in a way that is of utmost benefit to the users. Methods: Using a 3-step HCD process—discovery, ideation, and formulation—the study conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews for caregivers and stakeholders capable of influencing the woman’s decision within a health setting. Semistructured interviews facilitated an in-depth exploration of participants’ experiences. Data collection used audio and video recordings, detailed notes, and observation sessions. Data analysis encompassed transcription, descriptive analysis, and thematic analysis to inform evidence-based interventions. Results: Four key interconnected barriers to routine immunization were identified from the formative research: (1) vaccine hesitancy, which is driven by safety concerns and inconsistency in vaccine-related messaging; (2) gender-based decision-making constraints, where male approval often influenced access to care; (3) financial limitations affecting transport and medical costs; and (4) unequal access to health care due to geographic disparities. Caregivers emphasized the need for economic empowerment and trusted community-based health education. These findings informed a critical redesign of the intervention from a 2-arm to a 3-arm model, with peer support groups and financial empowerment components added to address both economic barriers and vaccine misinformation through culturally tailored approaches. Conclusions: The use of HCD-informed formative research has helped identify tailored women’s empowerment strategies, such as economic support, community-led advocacy, and peer networks, that show promise in addressing health disparities among caregivers. These approaches are hoped to enhance caregivers’ ability to make informed health decisions, ultimately contributing to improved immunization uptake and broader community well-being. The insights from this research are actively informing the design of our upcoming cluster randomized controlled trial, which aims to strengthen women’s decision-making power around immunization services.

This study investigated the effects of Lime on Diarrhoea in Wistar rats. A total of 60 Wistar rats were procured and randomly divided into 3 groups of 20 animals each for each of the three t-test models. The twenty healthy Wistar rats for each diarrhoea model were fasted for 6 hours prior to the experiment but allowed free access to water. The twenty animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each for each experiment. Established antidiarrhea models were followed. The test groups received various doses (97.65mg/kg, 195.3mg/kg, and 390.6mg/kg) of Citrus aurantiifolia juice extract; whereas positive controls received Loperamide (2.5mg/kg) and negative controls received distilled water (1ml/kg). The administration was done once daily for 15 days, and the faeces of each animal was collected on the 5^th, 10^th and 15^th day. The result of this study showed that medium and high dose Citrus aurantiifolia has an anti-diarrhoeal effect on castor oil-induced diarrhoea over repeated administration for a minimum of 15 days as it prolonged the onset of diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defecation and gastrointestinal transit time in Wistar rats. This study shows that Citrus aurantiifolia demonstrates significant anti-diarrhoeal activity and can be used as an anti-diarrhoea agent.