Cancer: Global Health Perspectives

Chemotherapy to patients with cancer remains an effective mode of treatment of the disease, but it is associated with many side effects including mild or dose-­‐limiting toxicities such as alopecia, myelosuppression, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, neurologic toxicities, and immune suppression which results in infections and cancer cell proliferation. Although economic analysis of treatment in health care systems may be applied to the full range of interventions that make up a cancer service, the economic impact of cancer in health care systems remains one where much attention, in the context of complementary medicine, needs to be directed. Predicting the cost-­‐ effectiveness of developing prevention, screening and treatment strategies continue to be the focus strategies to optimize cancer care. KEY WORDS: Cancer; Global health perspectives; Palliative care; Stem cell cancer; Dietary components and chemopreventio

Phytochemical constituents of Cassia fistula

Since the advent of modern drug treatments, traditional medicine has greatly receded in occidental societies. Moreover, only a limited number of medicinal plants have received detailed scientific scrutiny thereby prompting the World Health Organisation to recommend that this area be comprehensively investigated. Cassia fistula Linn is used extensively in various parts of the world against a wide range of ailments, the synergistic action of its metabolite production being most probably responsible for theplant’s beneficial effects. This paper reviews the primary and secondary metabolite composition of vegetative and reproductive plant parts and cell cultures thereby derived, with emphasis on potent phenolic antioxidants such as anthraquinones, flavonoids and flavan-3-ol derivatives. This paper also appraises the antioxidant and free radical propensities of plant parts and cell culture extracts. The data so far generated clearly sets the basis for a clearer understanding of the phytochemistry of the plant and derived cultures and opens the possibility of the potential utilization of the phenolic rich extracts from medicinal plants in food system or as prophylactics in nutritional/food supplement programs. Thus traditional medicinal plant- derived antioxidants may protect against a number of diseases and reduceoxidation processes in food systems. In order to establish this, it is imperative to measure the markers of baseline oxidative stress particularly in human health and disease and examine how they are affectedby supplementation with pure compounds or complex plant extracts from the traditional medicinal plants

Metabolic Homeostasis, Biomarkers and Medical Education Assessment

No Abstract

Assessing genetic diversity of some Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cut-flower cultivars using RAPD Markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers fingerprinting were used to assess the level of genetic variations among 24 cut-flower Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cultivars. Eight decamer primersproduced a total of 98 reproducible PCR bands that were used to calculate the Nei and Li’s genetic distance (GDNL) coefficients amongst the cultivars. GDNL values ranged from 0.018 to 0.163 with an average of 0.09 (representing an average genetic similarity of 91.34%). This significantly low average genetic distance among the various cultivars indicated that genetic variation among the cultivars was low. A dendrogram, produced using unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), grouped the cultivars into four main clusters. Cultivar ‘Antartica’ was genetically distinct from all the others. ‘Midori’ and ‘Bourgogne’ together formed a cluster whereas the remaining 21 cultivars grouped into two clusters and were closely related to each other. Clusters did not relate to cultivar provenance or origin and were independent of floral colour and spathe category. Finding correlations between these morphological traits to RAPD markers would necessitate extensive primer screening. Nevertheless, RAPD markers fingerprinting allowed a rapid assessment of the level of genetic variation that would otherwise be difficult to evaluate using the limited number of morphological markers present among these closely related  anthurium cultivars

Rethinking conventional approaches to the detection, management and amelioration of disease

The linear-leafed water primrose (Ludwigia hyssopifolia), with its distinctive yellow flowers and matted undergrowth, is easily recognized along paddy fields and tropical wetlands especially in South and South-East Asia. Also known as the seedbox because of its distinctive dimorphic seeds, it has the potential of being an invasive pest and is classed a ‘serious’ or ‘principal’ weed in many countries. It is used locally for composting and in the concoction of traditional remedies in an unscientific and informal manner. In common with other plants of the willow herb or evening primrose family, this weed could turn out to have immense and economically viable pharmaceutical potential. Das et al have reported moderate anti-tumor and antibacterial activities in extracts and in an alkaloid piperine from L. hyssopifolia and Mohammad et al demonstrated anti-­‐diarrheal properties in a methanol extract. It is noteworthy along the same line that the work by Luximon‐Ramma, et al on Mauritian Exotic fruits strongly advocated the use of the red and yellow Psidium cattleianum Sabine ‘Chinese guava’, in nutritional programs due to their exceptionally high antioxidant potencies attributed to their rich vitamin C and phytophenolic profiles. These plants are also generally considered as invasive causing havoc amidst the protected endemics of the island and sing an ecological conservation approach, indeed legitimate, to safeguard threatened plants from extinction, the systematic removal of Chinese Guava trees may deprive us of important sources of active nutritional biofactors. In a study that features in this issue of the Archives Of Medical And Biomedical Research, Scientists at the University Of Dhaka have further formalized the pharmacotherapeutic potential that this much-­‐derided weed may hold. They studied the effects of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of whole plant parts of Ludwigia hyssopifolia on carrageenan-induced paw edema, acetic acid‐induced writhing, and diuresis in mice. The Hexane extract and ethyl acetate extract showed significant inhibition of experimental paw edema. All three fractions significantly inhibited writhing and, in comparison to furosemide, exhibited good diuretic activity

Evaluation of genetic diversity between 27 banana cultivars (Musa spp.) in Mauritius using RAPD markers

Cultivated bananas (Musa spp.) are mostly diploid or triploid cultivars with various combinations of the A and B genomes inherited from their diploid ancestors Musa acuminata Colla. and Musa balbisianaColla. respectively. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to establish the relatedness of 27 accessions in the Mauritian Musa germplasm. 15 decamer primers produced a total of115 reproducible amplification products, of which 96 were polymorphic. Computation of the genetic distances shows that similarities ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 with an average of 0.51. With a few exceptions,cluster analysis differentiated pure A containing cultivars from those containing at least one B genome. This paper answers long standing questions on the taxonomic placement of the cultivar ‘BananeRouge’ by providing the basis for its classification within the homogenomic A cultivars. The results presented here also contribute to narrowing the gaps in our current understanding of the migration path of bananas and the emergence of secondary centers of diversity

Editorial

A Context of Translational Science Researc

Prophylactic antioxidants and phenolics of seagrass and seaweed species: A seasonal variation study in a Southern Indian Ocean Island, Mauritius

The seasonal variations in the polyphenolic contents and potential antioxidant activities of seven seaweed species (Padina gymnospora, Gracilaria salicornia, Palisada papillosa, Galaxaura rugosa, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Codium arabicum and Dictyosphaeria cavernosa) and five seagrass species (Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule uninervis, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Halophila ovalis and Halophila stipulacea) were assessed. In summer, the highest total phenolic content was recorded in the seaweed P. gymnospora and the lowest in G. rugosa. The total phenolic contents in the seagrass species were significantly higher than those observed in the seaweed species during both seasons. The highest flavonoid concentrations (FC) were observed in the seaweed species E. intestinalis in winter and in the seaweed P. gymnospora in summer. All tested species had higher FC in winter. The highest antioxidant activity (assessed using the Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) was in the seaweed P. gymnospora during summer (FRAP: 9.7 ± 0.3 X10¯³ Fe²+mM/g DW). However, the seaweed P. gymnospora extract and the extracts from all 5 seagrass species had significantly different (p<0.01) antioxidant activities (assessed using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay) in winter compared to the summer season. The collective data are indicative of the potential of Mauritian seaweeds and seagrasses as possible sources of secondary metabolites for pharmaceuticals. Further analysis using bio-efficacy models are warranted to justify the phytoceutical capacity of the seaweeds and seagrasses.Keywords: Antioxidant; Total Phenols; Total Flavonoids; FRAP; TEAC; Seagrass; Seaweed; Seasonal variation; Mauritiu

Alterations in the antioxidant status of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular complications

In view of the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, this study aimed at determining the total plasma antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetic patients with and without macrovascular complications. The erythrocyte catalase level was also evaluated because of the implication of catalase as a risk factor in diabetes. 90 age-­‐, gender-­‐ and body mass index-­‐matched subjects were used for this study and divided into healthy subjects (Group I, n=30), diabetic patients (Group II, n=30) and diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications (Group III, n=30). Blood samples collected from 90 eligible subjects were analyzed for glucose, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and  LDL cholesterol levels. Blood antioxidant activity and erythrocyte catalase levels were assessed. The mean antioxidant status values of Groups II and III were found to be significantly lower than that of Group I (p < 0.05). A significant decrease was also observed in the mean catalase level of Groups II and III as compared to Group I (p < 0.05) while a significant increase in fasting blood glucose level, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides and urea was observed in Groups II and III compared to Group I. These data suggest that the in vivo antioxidant defense was highly compromised in patients with diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications although they were on medication, thereby suggesting the potential contributory beneficial effects of exogenous antioxidants. Furthermore, a reduction in catalase level may suggest the role of increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration in the disease progression.KEY WORDS: Antioxidant; Erythrocyte catalase; Cardiovascular complications; Type 2 diabetes mellitu

Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives and Challenges

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is associated with elevated blood glucose level, abnormal abdominal fat deposition, insulin resistance and a number of complications including embryopathy, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, neuropathy, microangiopathy and retinopathy. Complications extending to the central nervous system may have a deteriorating effect on mental health including a decline in cognitive functioning. This could be a reason for depression, lack of compliance towards medication/treatment, and the inability of patients to meet the day-to-day management demands of the disease. Due to the high metabolic demand for energy in the brain, perturbations in glucose metabolism can noticeably impact cognitive performance. This review discusses and enlightens on the factors contributing to cognitive impairment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. An understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes‐related cognitive impairment and the resulting behaviors of patients can help healthcare professionals implement treatments to significantly improve health status and quality of life of patients with diabetes