Walter Sisulu University
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Optimization, and analysis of carbon supported VS2 nanocomposites as potential electrodes in supercapacitors
Get PDFThe psycho-social and clinical profile of women referred for psycho-legal evaluation to forensic mental health units in South Africa
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Pesticidal activity of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray and Tephrosia vogelii (Hook f.); phytochemical isolation and characterization: A review
Get PDFSouth African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study: a 14-day prospective, observational cohort stu
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Gender stereotyping in traditional healing practices
Get PDFPeople residing in rural areas use traditional medicines as their primary health care. They consult traditional healers. Traditional healing is a gender-based practice, although both men and women engaged in this practice. In some communities there are more female traditional healers than male traditional healers, including Mhlontlo Local Municipality. The main aim of the study was to investigate gender stereotyping in traditional healing in Mhlontlo Local Municipality. This study also investigated the relationship between male and female traditional healers, challenges faced by female traditional healers, transfer of traditional knowledge by female traditional healers and traditional healers’ unions. Snowball sampling was used to identify and select 79 traditional healers from Mhlontlo Local Municipality. Data was gathered using a questionnaire. The majority of traditional healers in the study area were females. Most of them have primary education, some with secondary education, and others with no formal education, and few with tertiary school. Most traditional healers were between 46-60 years. Female traditional healers constitute 70% of the study. The majority of them see between 11 and 20 patients per month. Most of the traditional healers had an experience of 21-30 years in traditional healing. The study also revealed that female traditional healers experience challenges in traditional healing. Diviners and herbalists work together, this denotes a relationship between them. Female traditional healers also have a problem in transferring their knowledge and registering under traditional healers’ unions. In conclusion, the study found out that traditional healing is gender stereotyped. There are more diviners than herbalists, where most diviners are females and herbalists are males. There is no transfer of knowledge among diviners, as being a diviner is an ancestral calling
The protective effect of aqueous extract of Typha capensis rhizomes on cadmium-induced infertility in rats
No full textAntioxidant and Anticholinesterase Activities of Macrosphyra Longistyla (DC) Hiern Relevant in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease.
Get PDFPhytochemical Analysis and Biological potential of leaves and peels of three Eastern Cape Citrus Species
Get PDFCitrus sinensis, Citrus reticulata and Citrus clementine are citrus species that belong to a large family Rutaceae. Citrus leaves and peels are often regarded as waste products. In view of the environment pollution impact, the search for end use of citrus waste products for economic value and medicinal purposes was sort after. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical composition of citrus waste products (leaves and peels) essential oils and determine biological active volatile compounds from Citrus sinensis, Citrus reticulata and Citrus clementine Leaves and peels of Citrus sinensis, Citrus reticulata and Citrus clementine collected twice from citrus farm were extracted for essential oils using hydrodistillation method and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for plant samples collected in 2016 and, gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS) for plant samples collected in 2017. The oil yield for Citrus sinensis was 0.19 - 0.85 %v/w for fresh and dried leaf and peels for samples collected in 2016 and 0.26 – 0.87% v/w for those collected in 2017. Analysis of the essential oils analyses identified sabinene (20.4% GCMS, 22.6% GCMSMS), terpinen-4-ol (13.2% GCMS, 6.8% GCMSMS) and linalool (7.6% GCMS, 19.3% GCMSMS) as major compounds in fresh leaves essential oils while β-elemene (16.3% GCMS, 21.4% GCMSMS) and sabinene (10.7% GCMS, 20.8% GCMSMS) were major compounds characterized in dried leaves essential oils. Fresh and dried peels essential oils had limonene as the major constituent (49.6% GCMS, 87.1% GCMSMS) and (73.6% GCMS, 88.3% GCMSMS) respectively. Citrus reticulata essential oils percentage yield range between 0.44-0.80% v/w for fresh and dried leaf and peel oils. Analyses of the GCMS and GCMSMS chromatogram of the volatile oils analyses revealed linalool (33.4% GCMS, 19.6% GCMSMS), (+)-spathulenol (15.2% GCMS, 10.1% GCMSMS) and terpinene-4-ol (4.5% GCMS, 11.9% GCMSMS) as major compounds in fresh leaf essential oils while, sabinene (20.8% GCMS, 32.5% GCMSMS) and linalool (17.2% GCMS, 20.4% GCMSMS) were the major compounds found in dried leaf essential oils. Limonene (55.2%, 75.4% GCMS; 39.5%, 80.8% GCMSMS) was the major prominent compound identified in the C. reticulata peel essential oils in fresh and dried peels respectively, followed by linalool (12.8%, 2.9% GCMS; 48.4%, 7.4% GCMSMS). Percentage yields for the essential oils from C. clementine fresh and dried leaves and peels ranges from 0.40-0.62% v/w for. Fresh and dried leaves volatile oils had sabinene (22.7-27.1%) for GCMS and GCMSMS respectively), linalool (18.5- 20.9% GCMS and GCMSMS) and terpinene-4-ol (6.5- 11.8% GCMS and GCMSMS) as main compounds while fresh and dried peels oils were dominated by limonene (38.9- 86.5% GCMS and GCMSMS). Phytochemical screening experiment of the three citrus species leaves and peels aqueous extract reveal the prominent presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in high concentrations. C. reticulata and C. clementine peels and leaves volatile oils exhibited higher antioxidant activity as DPPH free radical scavengers and Ferric reducing power (FRAP) ability, when compared to C. sinensis essential oils which exhibited minimum antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of leaves and peels essential oils maybe due to the presence of oxygenated monoterpenes and high limonene content. C. sinensis peels oils showed non-toxic to extremely very low toxicity effect at highest dose 2000 mg/kg. C. reticulata and C. clementine peels oils showed toxicity effect in mice at high dose levels. It is suggested that citrus volatile oils could be safe to use at lower dose levels. Citrus species peels and leaves volatile compounds limonene linalool and sabinene exhibited antiinflammatory activity by significantly reducing rats paw oedema size induced by fresh egg albumin. The study suggests the use of Citrus waste products (leaves and peels) as natural antioxidants with antiinflammatory properties for medicinal value and volatile oils compounds for aroma in beverages and cosmetic industries