THE IMMUNOSTIMULATORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF TWO HERBAL DECOCTIONS USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HIV/AIDS IN GHANA

Authors

  • George Asumeng Koffuor Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Rita Dickson Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Stephen Yao Gbedema Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Edmund Ekuadzi Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Gabriel Dapaah Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Lydia Francisca Otoo Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Keywords:

Cyclophosphamide, Levamisole, Lymphocyte count, Total WBC count, Viral load, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Micro-well dilution assay

Abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS is a pandemic retarding economic growth and destroying human capital globally. This study therefore investigated the perceived efficacy of Betula alba (BA) and Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) decoctions used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. Materials and Methods: A study on the records of HIV/AIDS patients attending Habibi Herbal Clinic, Kumasi, Ghana, was conducted to obtain information on the initial viral load presented during their maiden visit and results after treatment with the herbal decoctions. The decoctions were assessed for immunostimulatory property in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed ICR mice. Total white blood cell count, as well as lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were determined and their effects compared with Levamisole. The decoctions were also screened for antimicrobial activity by the micro dilution method. Results: The two herbal decoctions used significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.001) the patients’ viral loads (47.42 ± 17.28 % to 13.69 ± 12.42 %; n=16). BA (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) and SF (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mg/kg) caused significant increment (P ≤ 0.001) in total WBC and lymphocyte count in mice comparable to that produced by 2.5 mg/kg Levamisole. The decoctions also exhibited antimicrobial activity against gram negative and gram positive bacteria as well as Candida albicans (MIC 0.607 to 3.062 mg/ml). Phytochemicals present in both plants include saponins, terpenoids and coumarins. Conclusion: The Betula alba and Sutherlandia frutescens decoctions have interesting immunostimulatory and antimicrobial properties and hence could be useful in the management of HIV/AIDS and associated opportunistic infections.

Author Biographies

George Asumeng Koffuor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Department of Pharmacology, Senior Lecturer

Rita Dickson, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Department of Pharmacognosy, Senior Lecturer

Stephen Yao Gbedema, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Department of Pharmaceutics, Senior Lecturer

Edmund Ekuadzi, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Department of Pharmacognosy, Lecturer

Gabriel Dapaah, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

MPhil Student

Lydia Francisca Otoo, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

MPhil Student

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Published

2014-03-29

How to Cite

Koffuor, G. A., Dickson, R., Gbedema, S. Y., Ekuadzi, E., Dapaah, G., & Otoo, L. F. (2014). THE IMMUNOSTIMULATORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF TWO HERBAL DECOCTIONS USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HIV/AIDS IN GHANA. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 11(3), 166–172. Retrieved from https://athmsi.org/journals/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/2171

Issue

Section

Research Papers

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