PHLOROGLUCINOL DERIVATIVES AND FLAVONES FROM HELICHRYSUM PARONYCHIOIDES

Investigation of Helichrysum paronychioides afforded a total of nine compounds: 4 phloroglucinol derivatives, 2 of which are novel natural products, and 5 flavone derivatives. Structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, IR, CD) and by comparison with literature data for the known compounds. The four phloroglucinols, trans-(2R,3R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-4-chromanone (1), 2-butanoyl-4-prenyl-1-methoxy phloroglucinol (2), 2-(2-methylpropanoyl)-4-prenylphloroglucinol (3) and 2-(2-methyl- butanoyl)-4-prenylphloroglucinol (4) were screened for antioxidant activity against Cu-induced LDL oxidation. Compound 4 was found to be the most active inhibiting LDL oxidation at all concentrations (0.5-10 μM) while the other three showed moderate to no activity. KEY WORDS: Helichrysum paronychioides, Asteraceae, Phloroglucinol derivatives, CD spectroscopy, Synthesis Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2006, 20(1), 61-68

Isolation and characterisation of novel antioxidant constituents of Croton zambesicus leaf extract

A 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-activity-directed fractionation was used to target antioxidant constituents of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from a 20% aqueous methanol crude extract of Croton zambesicus leaf. Repeated column chromatography of the fraction on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 led to the isolation of a new natural product, identified as quercetin-3-O-β-6″(p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside-3'-methyl ether, helichrysoside-3'-methyl ether (1), along with kaempferol-3-O-β-6″(p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside, tiliroside (2) and apigenin-6-C-glucoside, isovitexin (3) as the antioxidant constituents. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques, namely NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 and 2 are reported from this species for the first time. In the qualitative antioxidant assay, the three isolated compounds instantly bleached the DPPH (0.2% MeOH) purple colour indicating antioxidant activity. In the quantitative antioxidant assay, all the isolated compounds demonstrated weak antioxidant activity compared to quercetin and rutin used as positive control antioxidant agents. The compounds displayed little to no cytotoxicity against Vero cells in an in vitro assay. The presence of these antioxidant compounds in the leaf extract of C. zambesicus could provide a rationale for the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in the management of oxidative-stress-related diseases in folk medicine.Aderogba is grateful to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for a Research Fellowship to the University of Botswana. McGaw acknowledges the University of Pretoria for a Research Fellowship.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/gnpl20hb2016Paraclinical Science

In vitro antifungal activity of the acetone extract and two isolated compounds from the weed, Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum

Invasive and weedy species such as Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum may serve as a source of biologically active extracts or compounds with application in crop and ornamental plant protection, among other uses. The acetone crude extract of P. luteoalbum leaves had strong antifungal activity when tested against a selection of plant pathogenic fungi in vitro. Fractionation of the crude extract to isolate, characterize and evaluate the antifungal constituents afforded two compounds. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out using spectroscopic techniques: mass spectrometry and NMR (1D and 2D). The compounds were identified as: 5,4′-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-O-β-glucopyranosideflavone (hispidulin-7-O-glucopyranoside) (1) and stigmasterol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (2). These compounds are reported from P. luteoalbum for the first time. The crude extract and isolated compounds were moderately to highly active against a selection of phytopathogenic fungal organisms with MIC values ranging from 0.02 to 1.25 mg/mL. No cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds against Vero kidney cells was observed at 200 μg/mL, the highest concentration tested.National Research Foundation (NRF), grant number NRF 47346, provided funding in the Southern Africa Regional Development Cooperation between Botswana and South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajbhb201

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2•72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2•66–2•79) in 2000 to 2•31 (2•17–2•46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134•5 million (131•5–137•8) in 2000 to a peak of 139•6 million (133•0–146•9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135•3 million (127•2–144•1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2•1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27•1% (95% UI 26•4–27•8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67•2 years (95% UI 66•8–67•6) in 2000 to 73•5 years (72•8–74•3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50•7 million (49•5–51•9) in 2000 to 56•5 million (53•7–59•2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9•6 million (9•1–10•3) in 2000 to 5•0 million (4•3–6•0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25•7%, from 6•2 billion (6•0–6•3) in 2000 to 7•7 billion (7•5–8•0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58•6 years (56•1–60•8) in 2000 to 63•5 years (60•8–66•1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019. Interpretation: Over the past 20 years, fertility rates have been dropping steadily and life expectancy has been increasing, with few exceptions. Much of this change follows historical patterns linking social and economic determinants, such as those captured by the GBD Socio-demographic Index, with demographic outcomes. More recently, several countries have experienced a combination of low fertility and stagnating improvement in mortality rates, pushing more populations into the late stages of the demographic transition. Tracking demographic change and the emergence of new patterns will be essential for global health monitoring. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990�2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk�outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk�outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk�outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95 uncertainty interval UI 9·51�12·1) deaths (19·2% 16·9�21·3 of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12�9·31) deaths (15·4% 14·6�16·2 of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253�350) DALYs (11·6% 10·3�13·1 of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0�9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10�24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25�49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50�74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity study of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de wit leaf extract constituents

Antioxidant activity of the solvent fractions obtained from a 20% aqueous methanol dried leaf extract of Leucaena leucocephala was evaluated using a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) TLC assay. The more polar fractions ethyl acetate and butanol fractions demonstrated strong activity. A DPPH activity-guided fractionation procedure was used to isolate the antioxidant constituents of these active fractions. Separate fractionation of the fractions led to the isolation of epicatechin-3-O-gallate (1) along with two quercetin glycosides: quercetin-3-O-arabinofuranoside (2) and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (3) together with apigenin (4). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 and 4 are reported for the first time from this species. In the qualitative antioxidant TLC assay, isolated compounds instantly bleached the DPPH (0.2% in MeOH) purple colour indicating strong antioxidant activity. The antioxidant quercetin glycosides were not cytotoxic at the highest concentration tested (200 ìg/ml), and apigenin was not isolated in sufficient quantity to test for cytotoxicity. Epicatechin-3-O-gallate showed slight cytotoxicity against Vero cells (LC50 = 92 μg/ml).Keywords: Leucaena leucocephala, Fabaceae, antioxidant, DPPH, cytotoxicity.

<b>Phloroglucinol derivatives and flavones from <i>Helichrysum paronychioides</i></b>

Investigation of Helichrysum paronychioides afforded a total of nine compounds: 4 phloroglucinol derivatives, 2 of which are novel natural products, and 5 flavone derivatives. Structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, IR, CD) and by comparison with literature data for the known compounds. The four phloroglucinols, trans-(2R,3R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-4-chromanone (1), 2-butanoyl-4-prenyl-1-methoxy phloroglucinol (2), 2-(2-methylpropanoyl)-4-prenylphloroglucinol (3) and 2-(2-methyl- butanoyl)-4-prenylphloroglucinol (4) were screened for antioxidant activity against Cu-induced LDL oxidation. Compound 4 was found to be the most active inhibiting LDL oxidation at all concentrations (0.5-10 μM) while the other three showed moderate to no activity

Quinones and other phenolic compounds from marketed African plants

A conference paper on marketed medicinal African plants.Almost all traditional markets in Africa have sections where plants are sold for a variety of uses. A closer look at even modem shopping centers will reveal that there are thriving businesses of native plants. These uses include medicinal, culinary, fragrance, majico-medical, etc. In each region one finds indigenous plants that have emerged from the local culture and tradition as established items of commerce for that particular community. It is worth noting that many clients have established the utility and efficacy of these plants out of personal previous experiences and so simply proceed to buy them in very much the same way as one would buy common over-the-counter drugs and other personal hygiene aids. We have been studying plants that are sold in African markets. We have conducted surveys in such markets in several countries in Africa, especially in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania (Abegaz and Demissew 1992) and Botswana. This report will deal with our recent findings in which we have identified novel anthraquinone and naphthalene glucosides from Rhammts prinoides (Rhamnaceae) and bianthraquinone pigments from Senna (Fabaceae) species