9 research outputs found
Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used as Anti-Obesity Remedies in the Nomad and Hunter Communities of Burkina Faso
No full textBackground: Obesity is a global epidemic that affects both developed and developing countries. According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2014, over 1.9 billion adults were overweight. Burkina Faso, like other countries, faces the problem of obesity, with a prevalence of 7.3%. The main cause is excessive intake of caloric foods combined with low physical activity, although genetic, endocrine and environmental influences (pollution) can sometimes be predisposing factors. This metabolic imbalance often leads to multiple pathologies (heart failure, Type II diabetes, cancers, etc.). Drugs have been developed for the treatment of these diseases; but in addition to having many side effects, locally these products are not economically accessible to the majority of the population. Burkina Faso, like the other countries bordering the Sahara, has often been confronted in the past with periods of famine during which populations have generally used anorectic plants to regulate their food needs. This traditional ethnobotanical knowledge has not been previously investigated. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Burkina Faso in the provinces of Seno (North) and Nayala (Northwest) to list the plants used by local people as an anorectic and/or fort weight loss. Methods: The survey, conducted in the two provinces concerned traditional healers, herbalists, hunters, nomads and resourceful people with knowledge of plants. It was conducted over a period of two months and data were collected following a structured interview with the respondents. The approach was based on dialogue in the language of choice of the respondent and the use of a questionnaire. The data have been structured and then statistically analyzed. Results: The fifty-five (55) respondents of the survey were aged between 40 and 80 years. Sixty-one (61) plant species, belonging to thirty-one (31) families were listed as appetite suppressants and/or for their anti-obesity properties. The main families of plants are Mimosaceae, Rubiaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Cesalpiniaceae. Fruits are the most used part of the plant organs. Consumption in the raw state or as a decoction are the two main forms of preparation. Conclusion: The great diversity of plants cited by informants demonstrates the existence of rich local knowledge to address obesity in Burkina Faso. Evaluation of the biochemical activity of the extracts of the most cited species could allow the development of a phytomedicine economically accessible to the majority of the population. This could allow for the preservation of biodiversity in this region which is weakened by climate change because some of the species cited are in fragile state or are threatened with extinction
Innocuity and antioxidant activities of Pentadesma butyracea (1824) leaves for its use in hormone replacement therapy
No full textPentadesma butyracea is a tall tree of Western Africa commonly called better tree. Leaves are used in the treatment of several diseases including genitourinary, pregnancy and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess toxicity and antioxidant activity of hydroethanolic extract of P. butyracea leaves. The major compounds of the extract were previously identified. Oral acute toxicity was achieved on NMRI mice during 72 h after single oral-administration whereas oral sub-acute toxicity was achieved on Wistar rats during 28-days. Antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, FRAP and lipid peroxidation inhibition. The major phytochemicals identified in the hydroethanolic extract of P. butyracea leaves were tannins, steroids and triterpenoids, anthocyanosids, anthraquinones, saponosids, mucilage and gums. The acute toxicity study showed that the extract did not cause neither sign of toxicity nor mortality until 3000 mg/kg. The subacute toxicity study showed that the extract did not cause signs of toxicity after 28-days consecutive oral administration. Nevertheless, platelets count. total cholesterol and AST level were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Assessment of antioxidant activity revealed that the extract possessed a great potential of scavenging free radical, to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to reduce ferric power. The extract could have hepaprotective activity and may be benefit for cholesterol reduction.Keywords: Pentadesma butyraceae, toxicity, phytochemistry, antioxidan
Studying some neuroprotective effects of Calotropis procera extracts against scopolamine- induced neuropschiatric comorbidities in a rodent model of epilepsy
No full textMany plants are largely used in alternative medicine of Burkina Faso for neuropsychiatric disorders treatment.
However, their neuro-pharmacological properties are less evaluated through scientific studies. The present study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Calotropis procera leaves and root-bark aqueous extract, focusing on a scopolamine-induced model of epilepsy in rodents. In this study, we evaluated this plant extracts possible protective effects on the central nervous system, through the behavioral tests and the enzymes activity assays. Thus, elevated plus-maze test and Y-maze task were used to evaluate animals behavioral and UV/visible spectrophotometer methods were used to evaluate the enzyme’s activities in brain’s supernatant. Our results are showing no significant protective effects of leaves extract, but it revealed a significant neuroprotective effect of root-bark aqueous extract, as well as in the behavioral tests and the brain’s oxidative enzymes specific activity evaluation. Indeed, anti-amnesic and anxiolytic activities were observed through Y maze task and elevated plus maze tests for the groups of animals receiving root-bark extract (100 mg/kg b.w.). In these test, inhibition of disturbances of Time spent in Open Arms, Spontaneous Alternation, and Transfer Latency induced after scopolamine administration were recorded with animals received root-bark extract. Likewise, the superoxide dismutase and catalase activity disturbance induced by scopolamine were also inhibited in root-bark extract pre-administered group. Thus, our study provides biochemical and neuro-pharmacological data for traditional use of C. procera for neuropsychiatric disorders treatment, including scopolamine-induced epilepsy symptoms (mainly referring to the psychiatric comorbidities of this disorder)
The relevance of Asteraceae family plants in most of the neuropsychiatric disorders treatment
No full textMany of the traditional medicinal plants belong to one of the largest plant families: the Asteraceae family. These plants are widely used in alternative medicine due to their effects on the nervous system, being studied both on cellular and animal models. In this way, medicinal plants are preferred in drug therapy research due to the wide population interest. The Asteraceae plants phytochemical composition is mainly consisted in cholinergic, dopaminergic or serotonergic molecules which are involved in the pathophysiology of the neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, autism, anxiety or depression. Therefore, this review aims to comprise all the available information regarding the neurological activity of Asteraceae family plants in order to find further correlations between different components in order to explain their neuropsychiatric potential use
Ethnopharmacological approaches in mood and anxiety disorders. The relevance of the oxidative stress status
No full textAbstractNeurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders are one of the most important pathologies that lead to increased morbidity in populations. Both mood and anxiety disorders include mental disorders not caused by detectable organic abnormalities of the brain. At the molecular level, affective spectrum symptomatology is due to neurotransmitter dysregulation including receptor or transporter impairments and also due to faulty intracellular signaling that generally leads to impaired neurotransmission. Also, recent studies have shown the relationship between oxidative stress and the development of affective disorders. Since classical medication can cause major side effects and alternative approaches tend to be more and more trusted, it seems that plant extracts-based complementary therapies may offer superior yielding and safety compared to traditional medication.</jats:p
Preliminary Biochemical Description of Brain Oxidative Stress Status in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Contention-Stress Rat Model
No full textBackground and objectives: Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in the etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal functional disease. This study aimed to further characterize the contention-stress rat model by exploring a possible correlation between oxidative stress markers measured in brain tissues with behavioral components of the aforementioned model. Thus, it is hereby proposed a possible IBS animal model relevant to pharmacological and complementary medicine studies. Materials and Methods: Wild-type male Wistar rats (n = 5/group) were chronically exposed to 6-hour/day contention, consisting of isolating the animals in small, vital space-granting plastic devices, for seven consecutive days. Following contention exposure, temporal lobes were extracted and subjected to biochemical analyses to assess oxidative stress-status parameters. Results: Our results show increased brain oxidative stress in contention-stress rat model: decreased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and increased malondialdehyde production in the IBS group, as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the biochemical ratios which are used to evaluate the effectiveness of an antioxidant system on oxidative stress could be described in this model. Conclusions: The correlations between the behavioral patterns and biochemical oxidative stress features could suggest that this may be a complex model, which can successfully mimic IBS symptomatology further providing evidence of a strong connection between the digestive system, enteric nervous system, and the central nervous system
Caralluma Acutangula Prevents Body Weight Gain in Rats Feed on Hyperlipidic Diet
No full textCaralluma acutangula (Decne.) (CA) (Asclepiadaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Burkina Faso for the management of weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extract of CA on body weight, food intake, blood biochemistry parameters on experimental obesity rat model. One group received CA 400 mg/kg b.w. per day and was fed on hyperlipidic diet (HD), while the control group received HD only for three weeks long. The phytochemical investigation of extract showed a high total phenolic content (36.21±1.36 mg GAE/100mg of extract) and total flavonoids (4.98 ±0.31 QE/100 mg of extract). In the end, CA-HD treated group had a body weight loss of 2%, compared to HD group who presented a body weight gain of 15%. The CA-HD treated group showed also a lower levels of plasma triglyceride (136.57±13.82 mg/dL) and glycemia (187.74±31.16 mg/dL) compared to HD (206.02±23.82 and respectively 230.96±79.07 mg/dL) (p<0.05). CA extract also showed a good anti-oxidant activity in vivo (effect on antioxydant enzyme (MDA, GPX, SOD) and in vitro (inhibition of DPPH radical, ferric ion reduction). This study showed that CA is a potential natural remedy for the control of body weight and alleviation of obesity related disease
Evaluation de l’activité antibactérienne de l’extrait aqueux de la poudre de gousses de Vachellia nilotica (L) PJH Hurter et Mabb sur des bactéries multirésistantes, criblage phytochimique et contrôle qualité
No full textNowadays, the proliferation of germs resistant to classic antibiotics explains the urgency discovery of new antibiotics molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of eight (8) samples of Vachellia nilotica pods powders collected in the city of Ouagadougou on multiresistant bacteria, to assess their health quality and study the phytochemical composition. The disk diffusion method was used for the study of antibacterial activity, that of complexation and spectrophotometric activity were used for phytochemical characterization. The sanitary quality of vegetable powders has been assessed by research into pathogenic microorganisms. All samples showed diameters of inhibition on test germs. The highest diameter was obtained with the sample of 1200 Logements, 17 ± 1.7 mm on Shigella dysenteria, 14.67 ± 0.50 mm on Salmonella typhimurium, 14 mm on Staphylococcus aureus and 15 mm on Bacillus cereus. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, sterols and polyphenol in the aqueous extracts of the plant. The results of the microbiological analyzes showed that the powder samples were of unsatisfactory quality. However, there is a virtual absence of coliforms and enterobacteria.De nos jours, la prolifération des germes résistants aux antibiotiques classiques explique l’urgence de disposer de nouvelles molécules d’antibiotiques. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’activité antibactérienne d’extraits aqueux de huit (8) échantillons de poudres de gousses de Vachellia nilotica collectés dans la ville de Ouagadougou sur des bactéries multirésistantes, d’apprécier leur qualité sanitaire et d’étudier la composition phytochimique.La méthode de diffusion sur disque a été utilisée pour l’étude de l’activité antibactérienne, celle de complexation et spectrophotométrique ont servi à la caractérisation phytochimique. La qualité sanitaire des poudres végétales a été appréciée par la recherche de microorganismes pathogènes. Tous les échantillons ont présenté des diamètres d’inhibition sur les germes tests. Le diamètre le plus élevé a été obtenu avec l’échantillon de 1200 Logements, de 17,0 ± 1,7 mm sur Shigella dysenteria, 14,67 ± 0,50 mm sur Salmonella typhimurium, 14 mm sur Staphylococcus aureus et 15 mm sur Bacillus cereus. L’étude phytochimique a révélé la présence d’alcaloïdes, de tanins, de glycosides, de stérols et de polyphénols dans les extraits aqueux de la plante. Les résultats des analyses microbiologiques ont montré que les échantillons de poudres étaient de qualité non satisfaisante. Cependant, on remarque une quasi absence de coliformes et d’entérobactéries
Surrealism, photography and the periodical press: an investigation into the use of photography in surrealist publications (1924 - 1969) with specific reference to themes of sexuality and their interaction with commercial photographic images of the period
No full textThis thesis examines the use of photographs in surrealist publications in Paris between 1924 and 1969, analysing how images functioned both in relation to surrealism and a wider cultural, social and political context. The thesis contends that developments in the illustrated press had a substantial impact on surrealist publications and that commercial photographic practices were both exploited and subverted by the group. I defend this assertion by demonstrating how photographers associated with the surrealist movement in its formative years, were closely involved in the process by which the photographic image became a major means of communication. I argue that the surrealists were conscious that photography was central to the circulation of ideas and developed a radical notion of the illustration of text. The thesis examines how photographs used in surrealist publications were integrated into the complex surrealist project and how due to the currency in images in society, the medium offered opportunities for disruption. In each of the five chapters I examine the surrealist deployment of photographic images to articulate cultural and political radicalism. The thesis argues that the photographs published by the surrealists made an important contribution to contemporary discourse on sexuality This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge as it expands the understanding of photographs published by the surrealist group by exploring their relationship to contemporary commercial images circulating in the press. It analyses works that have been marginalised, many of the images in the first two journals in the inter war period, the images in the illustrated books 1929, Banalité, Le septième face du dé and the images in the post war journals have been neglected as subjects of study
