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EFFECTS OF COMBRETUM HEREROENSE AND CANTHIUM MUNDIANUM water EXTRACTS ON PRODUCTION AND EXPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-4
Get PDFBackground: Combretum hereroense and Canthium mundianum are two plants commonly used by traditional healers
in the Northern region of Limpopo, South Africa for the treatment of diarrhea and inflammation. In the present study,
the effects of their water extracts on the production and expression of interleukin-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMC’S) from HIV positive and negative individuals was evaluated.
Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from both HIV positive and HIV negative volunteers and were
used for the purification of Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The PBMCs were cultured together with the
water extracts after activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for three days. Solid-phase sandwich ELISA
(MABTECH) kit was used to detect IL-4 on un-stimulated and stimulated PBMC’S with phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and
plant extracts, followed by the isolation of RNA using RNAesy Qiagen mini kit from the cells. Reverse transcriptase
real time PCR was used to evaluate IL-4 gene expression by the cells.
Results: Combretum hereroense showed higher production of IL-4 at three different concentrations and a significant
expression of mRNA with 4-fold amplification increase at 300μg/ml and 2-fold amplification increase at 20μg/ml.
Canthium mundianum also showed increased production of IL-4 at 300μg/ml, but inhibited its production at 20μg/ml.
Both extracts showed no expression at 50μg/ml. The response of the PBMCs from HIV negative individuals was more
pronounced than that of HIV positive individuals who mostly increased production of IL4 at smaller concentrations
unlike their HIV negative counterparts. Although in vitro studies do not necessarily predict in vivo outcomes, the plant
extracts modulated the immune system by enhancing the production and expression of IL-4 in both HIV- and HIV+
individuals at different concentrations.
Conclusions: For the first time we have shown that the immunomodulatory effect of medicinal plants may depend on
the clinical status of the individual. The present study revealed that the effect of the water extracts from the two plants
on IL-4 expression and production is dependent on the microbiological state of the individual and is dose dependent.
Further studies are needed to identify the active components in the extracts and also characterize the patients further for
a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of these extracts
THE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOTs) ANALYSES OF THE EBOLA VIRUS-PAPER RETRACTED
Get PDFBackground: Owing to the extreme virulence and case fatality rate of ebola virus disease (EVD), there had been so much furore, panic and public health emergency about the possible pandemic from the recent West African outbreak of the disease, with attendant handful research, both in the past and most recently. The magnitude of the epidemic of ebola virus disease has prompted global interest and urgency in the discovery of measures to mitigate the impact of the disease. Researchers in the academia and the industry were pressured to only focus on the development of effective and safe ebola virus vaccines, without consideration of the other aspects to this virus, which may influence the success or otherwise of a potential vaccine. The objective of this review was to adopt the SWOT concept to elucidate the biological Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to Ebola virus as a pathogen, with a view to understanding and devising holistic strategies at combating and overcoming the scourge of EVD.
Method: This systematic review and narrative synthesis utilized Medline, PubMed, Google and other databases to select about 150 publications on ebola and ebola virus disease using text word searches to generate the specific terms. Relevant publications were reviewed and compared, findings were synthesized using a narrative method and summarized qualitatively.
Results: Some of the identified strengths of ebola virus include: Ebola virus is an RNA virus with inherent capability to mutate, reassort and recombine to generate mutant or reassortant virulent strains; Ebola virus has a broad cellular tropism; Natural Reservoir of ebola virus is unconfirmed but fruit bats, arthropods, and plants are hypothesized; Ebola virus primarily targets and selectively destroys the immune system; Ebola viruses possess accessory proteins that inhibits the host’ immune responses; Secreted glycoprotein (sGP), a truncated soluble protein that triggers immune activation and increased vascular permeability is uniquely associated with Ebola virus only; Ability to effectively cross the species barrier and establish productive infection in humans, non human primates, and other mammals; Ebola virus attacks every part of the human body; The Weaknesses include: Ebola virus transmission and persistence is severely limited by its virulence; Ebola virus essentially requires host encoded protein Niemann–Pick C1 (NPC1) for host’s cell’ entry; Ebola virus essentially requires host encoded proteins (TIM-1) for cell’ entry; Relative abundance of Ebolavirus Nucleoprotein than the other virion components; The Opportunities harnessed by ebola virus include: Lack of infection control practices in African health-care facilities and paucity of health infrastructures, especially in the endemic zones; Permissiveness of circulating Monocytes, Macrophages and dendritic cells in virus mobilization and dissemination; Collection, consumption and trade of wild games (bushmeats); Pertubation and drastic changes in forest ecosystems present opportunities for Ebola virus; Use of dogs in hunting predisposes man and animals to inter-species contact; Poverty, malnutrition, crowding, social disorder, mobility and political instability; Ease of travel and aviation as potentials for global spread; Possible mechanical transmission by arthropod vectors; No vaccines or therapeutics are yet approved for human treatment; The Threats to ebola virus include: Avoidance of direct contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids of infected patient; Appropriate and correct burial practices; Adoption of barrier Nursing; Improved surveillance to prevent potential spread of epidemic; Making Available Rapid laboratory equipment and procedures for prompt detection (ELISA, Western Blot, PCR); Sterilization or disinfection of equipment and safe disposal of instrument; Prompt hospitalization, isolation and quarantine of infected individual; Active contact tracing and monitoring, among others.
Conclusion: The identified capacities and gaps presented in this study are inexhaustive framework to combat the ebola virus. To undermine and overcome the virus, focus should be aimed at strategically decreasing the identified strengths and opportunities, while increasing on the weaknesses of, and threats to the virus
‘THEY CALL US KILLERS’: AN EXPLORATION OF HERBAL, SPIRITUAL AND WESTERN MEDICAL PRACTICES IN MOMBASA, KENYA
Get PDFBackground: This paper attempts to describe the multi-dimensional perceptions of mganga/waganga (Kiswahili: traditional healers)
by members of their constituencies, patients, government health officials and religious leaders in Mombasa, Kenya. It also seeks to
investigate how these conceptions and perceptions influence the relationships between traditional healers and other stakeholders in
the delivery of public healthcare services in Mombasa.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was employed and
43 research participants were interviewed during the period of two months in the summer of 2010. Data were recorded (video and
audio), transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparison method.
Results: Findings indicate that varied opinions and interpretations of mganga influence both the decision-making process of the
patient and the provision of healthcare by the healer. High tensions exist between mganga and other actors, and furthermore, such
perceptions seem to evidence themselves in the government’s support for waganga, as well as the delineation of healthcare
services—whereby certain stakeholders and participants are relegated to specific tasks.
Conclusions: This research builds upon the growing body of knowledge on how African patients—in general and Kenya in
particular—and healers inhabit a multifaceted arena of healing in order to effectively negotiate their positions and needs to make
complex decisions involving care, contingent upon local economic, social, cultural, and religious factors
THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM SMILAX EXCELSA L. AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN RATS
Get PDFBackground: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases,
dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity
and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l.
Shoots and leaves against acute ccl4-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar
albino rats.
Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for
9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl4 (1 ml/kg) on the 10th day. 24 h after ccl4 intoxication,
biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues.
Results: Ccl4 challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin,
malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced
significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of
ccl4-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl4-treated rats.
Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl4-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl4-induced oxidative stress
probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities
CURATIVE CARE THROUGH ADMINISTRATION OF PLANT-DERIVED MEDICINES IN SEKHUKHUNE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFBackground: Ajuga bracteosa and Viola odorata are frequently used by the native people of Swat-Pakistan for the curing of fever,
malaria, cough, urinary and stomach disorders with slightly different practice of usage like raw powdered, extracts, decoction etc.
Methods and Materials: Disc Diffusion Method was used for determination of antimicrobial activities of both plants. Nutrient Agar
Media was used for the culturing and growth of all microbial strains. Vitamin C and minerals contents were determined by standard
method of AOAC. Na and K were analyzed by using flame photometric technique. Micro minerals i.e. “Ni, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ca, Pb,
and Mg” were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Total Soluble Solid (TSS) was determined by using abbe
refractometer and pH was determined by using pH meter.
Results: The present study demonstrates that both plants exhibited antibacterial activities against P. aeruginos, E. coli, S. typhi, B.
subtilis and S. aureus. The examined plants showed zone of inhibition for aqueous fraction (50.90, 45.90 %) against P. aeruginosa; for
EtOAc fraction (41.37, 57.62%) against C. Albicans and for hexane fraction (25.86, 40.57%) against K. pneumoniae, respectively. Total
of 14 different minerals (Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd) were determined and it was also observed that both the
examined plants contained significant level of these analyzed minerals. The subject plants contained highest level of magnesium (295.75,
145.85 mg 100-1g) and calcium (212.49, 44.00 mg 100-1g) and potassium (152.6, 437.45 mg 100-1g) while moderate level P, Zn, Na and
lower amount of Cd, Ni, Mn and Cu using Atomic Absorption, Flame Photometry and spectrophotometric techniques. V. odorata was
found to contain a higher amount of vitamin C (64.05±12.37mg 100-1g) as compared to A. bracteosa (45.45 ± 7.29 mg 100-1 g).
Conclusion: Findings of this study can persuade researchers for future comprehensive phytochemical study of these plants using state of
art techniques and instruments, which include not only isolation of secondary metabolites from these plants but biological evaluation of
isolated compounds both in vivo and in vitr
ASSESSING EFFECTS OF EQUISETUM RAMOSISSIMUM EXTRACT ON HEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN PREGNANT SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS
Get PDFBackground: As a medicinal herb, Equisetum ramossisemum has been utilized for centuries as a diuretic and has been
recommended for different disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal toxicity of aerial parts of Equisetum
ramosissimum extract on pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats.
Methods: Females were mated and the coupling time was recorded at gestation day 0– E0. Four experimental groups I, II, III, and
IV, received daily gavage doses of 0 mg, 500 mg, 250 mg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively, of Equisetum ramosissimum extract.
Pregnant rats were observed for mortality and toxicological effects during daily treatment. On day E20, samples of blood were
withdrawn from the retro-orbital sinus under light ether anaesthesia for haematological and clinical chemistry examinations.
Results: Data analyses detected significant differences in biochemical and haematological parameters between the control group and
other groups receiving extract.
Conclusion: This study constitutes a first approach to defining adverse effects of using Equisetum ramosissimum as a medicinal
plant during pregnancy. Daily gavage doses of Equisetum ramosissimum extract produced significant differences in biochemical and
haematological parameters in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats as compared to the control group
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS, ETHANOLIC AND METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS FROM ACACIA SPP. AND Eucalyptus nicholii
Get PDFBackground: In Europe, Acacia and Eucalyptus, originate large amounts of biomass, due to their need by industries and other
biological control, that can be used to extract antimicrobial substances.
Materials and Methods: Foliar aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra wattle), Acacia
dealbata (silver wattle), Acacia melanoxylon (black wattle) and Eucalyptus nicholii (narrow-leaved black peppermint) were assessed
for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis, using the disc
diffusion method.
Results: Ethanolic extracts from A. baileyana and A. dealbata showed significant (P< 0.05) antimicrobial activity. Concerning the
microbial species tested, differences were found in A. baileyana (P< 0.01) and E. nicholii (P< 0.0001) extracts. These two extracts
were effective mostly against B. cereus, followed by C. parapsilosis. According to the antimicrobial activity classification, eucalypt
and Cootamundra and silver wattles extracts (both water and ethanol) presented good efficacy against B. cereus, a food poisoning
agent, and moderate efficacy against the remaining microorganisms. E. coli, a Gram negative, exhibited low sensibility to all foliar
extracts.
Conclusion: A. baileyana, E. nicholii and A. dealbata foliar biomass could be used to develop alternative substances in microbial
control
SERUM PROTEIN PROFILE OF MALARIA PATIENTS THROUGH SDS PAGE METHOD
Get PDFBackground: Malaria is a crucial disease that causes huge mortality and morbidity, along with economic losses in term of purchasing
medicines in underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan.
Materials and Methods: A total of 150 human blood samples were collected from the Districts of Karak and Kohat Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, in Pakistan, and were examined through microscopy and then all positive samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE method
for the detection of antibodies against plasmodium.
Result: The overall prevalence of malaria was found to be 18% (27/150). The prevalence of plasmodium species was “21.3% (16/75) and
14.6% (11/75) in the Districts of Karak and Kohat respectively. The prevalence of plasmodium species i.e. P. vivax and P. falciparum, in
the Districts of Karak and Kohat, was found to be 14.6% (22/150) and 3.33% (5/150) respectively. Among these, P. vivax 10.6% (8/75)
and P.falciparum 4% (3/75) were noted in the District of Kohat; while P. vivax 18.6% (14/75) and P. falciparum 2.6% (2/75) were found
in the District of Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan respectively”. The serum protein of malaria patients were 57KDA and 78KDA
bands, which were determined by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Poly-Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) technique.
Conclusion: The SDS page method is the most accurate diagnostic assay and was recognized as a most reliable method in the diagnosis
of antibodies produced against Plasmodium spps. The proteins bands of Serum protein of malaria patients may be undertaken for study to
develop possible future vaccine
PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF LEONOTIS NEPETIFOLIA LINN STEM IN MICE
Get PDFBackground: Leonotis nepetifolia Linn (Lamiaceae) is used in traditional medicine for its calming (tranquilizing) effects. The aim of this
study was to determine whether there is any scientific justification for this use. To achieve this purpose, we investigated the behavioural
effects of the methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia stem (37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg) in mice.
Methods: Acute toxicity studies were carried out on the methanol stem extract of Leonotis nepetifolia to determine the LD50. The
behavioural tests employed were diazepam-induced sleep onset and duration, hole board assay for exploratory activity, mouse beam walk
assay for motor coordination, and the staircase test for the detection of anxiolytic compounds. Preliminary phytochemical screening was
also carried out on the extract.
Results: The intraperitoneal LD50 value was found to be 3.8 g/kg. The results showed that the extract significantly prolonged the duration
of diazepam-induced sleep at the highest dose (150 mg/kg). There was no observable effect on exploratory activity and motor
coordination at the doses tested (37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg). The extract, however, at 150 mg/kg elicited a significant decrease in the
number of rearings in the staircase test, an effect also observed in the group of mice injected with an anxiolytic dose of diazepam. The
preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and triterpenoids.
Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that the crude methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia stem possesses some biologically active
constituents with potential anxiolytic activity and thus may justify its traditional use as a tranquilize
EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS IN A NOVEL WOUND HEALING OINTMENT-CROCODILE OIL BURN OINTMENT
Get PDFBackground: Crocodile oil and its products are used as ointments for burns and scalds in traditional medicines. A new
ointment formulation - crocodile oil burn ointment (COBO) was developed to provide more efficient wound healing
activity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the burn healing efficacy of this new formulation by employing deep
second-degree burns in a Wistar rat model. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of COBO were also studied
to provide some evidences for its further use.
Materials and methods: The wound healing potential of this formulation was evaluated by employing a deep
second-degree burn rat model and the efficiency was comparatively assessed against a reference ointment – (1% wt ⁄ wt)
silver sulfadiazine (SSD). After 28 days, the animals were euthanized and the wounds were removed for transversal
and longitudinal histological studies. Acetic acid-induced writhing in mice was used to evaluate the analgesic activity
and its anti-inflammatory activity was observed in xylene -induced edema in mice.
Results: COBO enhanced the burn wound healing (20.5±1.3 d) as indicated by significant decrease in wound closure
time compared with the burn control (25.0±2.16 d) (