Background. Most traditional medicines were prepared from plant origins. These plants could be contaminated by heavy metals, pesticides, and/or toxins. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the level of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) in frequently used traditional herbal preparations sold in Northeast Ethiopia and to estimate their health risks associated with their daily intake. Methods. A total of 6 traditional herbal preparations were randomly collected from local herbal shops of Dessie and Kombolcha town, Northeast Ethiopia. The samples were prepared for analysis by wet digestion method using nitric acid and hydrochloric acid treatment. The accuracy of the method was analyzed by the spike recovery test. Determination of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu by microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was made in herbal preparations traditionally used in Dessie and Kombolcha town, Northeast Ethiopia. By calculating estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotients (HQ), and Hazard Index (HI) of metals, the health risk associated with the consumption of the analyzed herbal preparations was also evaluated. Results. The levels of heavy metals were in the range of 3.03.92mg/kg for Pb, 5.3510.7mg/kg for Cr, and 0.81512.3mg/kg for Cu. However, cadmium was not detected in any of the traditional herbal preparations. This study revealed that the level of Pb and Cu in all analyzed samples was within the WHO maximum permissible limit of 10mg/kg and 40mg/kg, respectively. The level of Cr in all traditional herbal preparations was beyond the WHO maximum permissible limit (2mg/kg). From the health point of view, the HQ value of Cr for KD-03 and KD-04 is greater than 1, suggesting potential health risk. Furthermore, the HI value had revealed that the consumption of KD-02, KD-03, and KD-04 samples had the potential of posing health risks to consumers over long-term consumption of herbal preparations. Conclusion. This study showed that most of the metal concentration levels in the herbal products were within the WHO maximum permissible limits. However, all samples had Cr levels above the WHO maximum permissible limit. Based on the results of this study, there would be a noncarcinogenic health risk to the consumer associated with the consumption of some herbal preparations marketed in Northeast Ethiopia.

Background: Inappropriate self-medication is a public-health problem worldwide. Major problems associated with self-medication include wastage of resources, increased resistance of pathogens, and adverse drug reactions. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess self-medication practices and associated factors among undergraduate Wollo University students in Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 341 undergraduate university students using a pretested and self-administered questionnaire from January to February 2019. Simple random sampling was used to select study participants. Data were collected using the self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Multiple logistic regression was employed in data analysis, with P< 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of self-medication in this study was 64.98%. Mildness of disease (57, 34.13%) and dissatisfaction with health-care services, (44, 26.34%) were the main reasons for self-medication practice. The most common types of diseases for self-medication were headache (80, 47.9%), gastrointestinal infections (74, 44.31%), and respiratory tract infections (48, 28.74%). Analgesics (94, 56.28%) and antibiotics (60, 35.9%) were the leading classes of medicine used in self-medication. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that agriculture students (AOR 0.163, 95% CI 0.049– 0.545) were 84% less likely to practice self-medication than medicine and health-science students. Conclusion: This study revealed that self-medication practices are common among study participants and significantly associated with their field of study. Awareness promotion on the risk of inappropriate self-medication for university students is highly recommended.

Background: The use of ineffective and poor quality drugs endangers therapeutic treatment and may lead to treatment failure. For desired therapeutic effect, drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient and the required physical characteristics. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality as well as physicochemical bioequivalence of different brands of furosemide tablets marketed in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Five different brands of furosemide tablets were purchased from community pharmacies in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia. The quality control parameters of furosemide tablets were determined by identification, weight variation, disintegration, assay and dissolution tests and the results were compared with USP and BP pharmacopoeial standards. Difference (f1) and similarity (f2) factors were calculated to assess in vitro bioequivalence requirements. Results: Identification test results revealed that all samples contained the stated active pharmaceutical ingredients. The results of weight variation tests indicated that all samples complied with USP specification limits. The active pharmaceutical ingredients quantitative assay showed that all the brands of furosemide tablets were between the 90% and 105% limit of label claim. Similarly, all samples fulfilled disintegration time (i.e., ≤ 30 min) and dissolution tolerance limits (i.e., Q ≥ 80% at 60 min). Hence, none of the samples were found to be counterfeit and/or substandard. Difference factor (f1) values were < 15 and similarity factor (f2) values were > 50 for all the tested brands of furosemide tablets. Conclusion: This study revealed that all the furosemide brands met the quality specification of weight variation, hardness, friability, dissolution, disintegration and assay. The study also indicated similarity in the dissolution profile of the brands of furosemide tablets with the innovator product. Hence, all of these generic brands could be substituted with the innovator product in clinical practice.

Background: Disposal of pharmaceutical waste among patients is a global challenge especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Improper medication disposal can lead to health problems and environmental contaminations. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess disposal practices of unused medications among patients in public health centers of Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 patients in four public health centers of Dessie town, Ethiopia from March to June, 2019. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were used to collect data from each study subject. Results: The majority of the respondents, 224 (85.17%) had unused medications at their home during the study period. The most commonly reported disposal method in the present study was flushing down into a toilet 66 (25.09%). None of the respondents practiced returning unused medications to Pharmacy. Moreover, 85 (32.31%) of the respondents reported never disposing their medications and believed that it is acceptable to store medications at home for future use. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a high practice of keeping medications at home and most of the disposal practices were not recommended methods. In addition, most of the respondents did not get advice from pharmacists and other health care professionals on how to dispose off unused medications. Hence, there is a need for proper education and guidance of patients regarding disposal practices of unused medications.

Background. Emergence of drug resistance and lack of therapeutic efficacy of modern antimalarial drugs are the most triggering factors for the searching of new lead compounds with different mechanisms of action. Medicinal plants with documented traditional uses are a viable option for treatment of malaria. Traditionally, the leaf latex ofAloe weloensishas been used in the treatment of malaria in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was undertaken to investigate the antimalarial activity of the leaf latex ofAloe weloensisinPlasmodium berghei-infected mice.Methods. A four-day suppressive test was employed to evaluate the antimalarial effect of the leaf latex of the plant againstP.bergheiin Swiss albino mice. Mice were randomly assigned in five groups of five animals in each and given 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the leaf latex, chloroquine 25 mg/kg, and distilled water. The level of parasitemia, packed cell volume, survival time, temperature, and body weight was used to determine the antimalarial activity.Results. The acute toxicity study indicated that the leaf latex ofA.weloensiscaused neither mortality nor signs and symptoms of toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Furthermore, the 4-day suppressive test indicated that the latex ofthe plantexhibited a significant parasitemia reduction in a dose-dependent manner as compared to negative control. The leaf latex of the plant exhibited a percent inhibition of 13.05%, 41.87%, and 66.84% at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The chemosuppression of the antimalarial activity was statistically significant at 100 mg/kg (p<0.05), 200 mg/kg (p<0.01), and 400 mg/kg (p<0.01) as compared to negative control. All doses of the leaf latex prevented weight loss and reduction in temperature and packed cell volume and increased the survival time of infected mice.Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrated that the leaf latex ofAloe weloensispossessed antiplasmodial activity confirming the genuine traditional use of the plant as an antimalarial agent.

Background: Disposal of pharmaceutical waste among patients is a global challenge, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Improper medication disposal can lead to health problems and environmental contamination. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess disposal practices of unused medications among patients in public health centers of Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 263 patients in four public health centers of Dessie town, Ethiopia from March to June 2019. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were used to collect data from each study subject. Results: The majority of the respondents, 224 (85.17%), had unused medications at their home during the study period. The most commonly reported disposal method in the present study was flushing down into a toilet, 66 (25.09%). None of the respondents practiced returning unused medications to the pharmacy. Moreover, 85 (32.31%) of the respondents reported never disposing of their medications and believed that it is acceptable to store medications at home for future use. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a high practice of keeping medications at home and most of the disposal practices were not recommended methods. In addition, most of the respondents did not receive advice from pharmacists and other health-care professionals on how to dispose of unused medications. Hence, there is a need for proper education and guidance of patients about disposal practices of unused medications.