Abstract

Niprisan is a dry extract preparation of five components: the seeds of Piper guineense; flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata; stem parts of Pterocarpus osun; leaf stalk of Sorghum bicolor and trona. The product was developed in our Institute from a traditional recipe used in Nigeria for treating sickle cell crises. This study aims to provide for the components, the following specifications: foreign matter; loss on drying; total ash; and water extractable matter, using the methods prescribed by the WHO (1998) for quality control of medicinal plant materials. The trona was analyzed with methods adapted from BP (2004). The results suggest the existence of one variety of E. caryophyllata; but two varieties of S. bicolor and trona, differing in loss on drying; and two varieties of P. guineense and P. osun, differing in both total ash and water extractable matter. The implications of the results for good manufacturing practice are discussed.

Key words: Standardization, specifications, components, niprisan, phytomedicine, sickle cell disease.