Vol. 6 No. 4 (2017): African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

This issue focuses entirely on ethnopharmacology, natural product chemistry, and experimental therapeutics. The collected studies systematically evaluate the traditional medicinal uses of various African plants, utilizing rodent models to scientifically validate their healing properties, active chemical components, and safety profiles.

The primary theme running through the issue is the exploration of natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relief agents. One study investigates the residual aqueous fraction of Carissa edulis root bark, demonstrating its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental animals. Similarly, another research paper screens a broader selection of indigenous medicinal plants from western Kenya, specifically mapping out their combined antioxidant capacities and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

The remaining articles delve into specific organ-system pharmacology and neuropharmacology. Researchers evaluate the methanol stem-bark extract of Ximenia americana, confirming its rich phytoconstituent profile and its ability to offer gastroprotection against stomach ulcers in rats. Shifting toward behavioral pharmacology, another study investigates the central nervous system effects of Setaria megaphylla leaf extracts, detailing its distinct psychopharmacological profile in mice models. Together, these papers provide crucial laboratory evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of traditional African herbal medicines.