Antioxidative properties of Mallotus oppositifolium decoction leaves extract using in vitro models

In an attempt to explain the scientific basis for the medicinal benefits of Mallotus oppositifolium (Euphorbiaceae), the phytochemical constituent and the antioxidative properties of the aqueous decoction leaves extract of the plant versus standard Vitamin C were assessed. The phytochemical analysis (screening and quantitative assay), the 1,1- Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radicalscavenging, the reducing power, ferrous reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the β carotene bleaching of the extract were performed using colorimetric or spectrophotometric methods. Qualitative screening of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, lipids, carbohydrates, mucilages, and proteins. The phytochemical quantitative assay of the decoction extract revealed that the plant depicted flavonols (38.278 mg.g-1 catechin equivalent), tannins (23.13 mg.g-1 tannic acid equivalent), phenolics (13.73 mg.g-1 tannic acid content), flavonoids (10.62 mg.g-1 quercetin equivalent), proanthocyanidins (2.53 mg.g-1 quercetin equivalent) contents. Alkaloids and saponins content were 200 mg.g-1 and 285 mg.g-1, respectively. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of Mo extract and the IC50 of vitamin C were 228±0.4 mg.mL-1 and 592.0±0.8 mg.mL-1 , respectively. The DPPH radicalscavenging properties of IC50 of vitamin C was 480.0±0.8mg.mL-1 and that of Mo extract was 360.0±0.8 mg.mL-1. The IC50 of Mo’s reduce abilities was 39.2±0.8 mg.mL-1 and that of vitamin C was 320.0±0.8 mg.mL-1.The IC50 of the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of Mo was 75.2±0,8 mg.mL-1 whereas that of IC50 of vitaminC was not defined. The nitric oxide radical scavenging activity of IC50 of Mo was 121.6±0.8 mg.mL-1 and that of the vitamin C was 130.4±0.8 mg.mL-1, respectively. The β carotene bleanching gives the IC50 of M. oppositifolium was 12,0±0,0 mg.mL-1 and for the vitamin C was 16.0±0,0 mg.mL-1. The decoction leaves of Mallotus oppositifolium (Mo) exhibited powerful antioxidative properties as vitamin C. The plant can be a source of antioxidative materials.Keywords: Traditional medicine, phytochemical analysis, antioxidan

Reduced dose of stavudine and lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients in Cameroon

Background: This study assessed the effect of stavudine (d4T) 30 mg dosage on lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment. Methods:A total of 243 patients from Cameroon receiving d4T or zidovudine (AZT) in combination with lamivudine and efavirenz or nevirapine for >6 months were clinically assessed for moderate to severe ('strict' definition) and mild to severe ('large' definition) lipoatrophy. Prevalence of lipoatrophy was compared between 69 patients who had received exclusively d4T 30 mg (d4T(30)), 64 patients who had received both d4T 30 and 40 mg dosages since treatment initiation (d4T(30/40)) and 110 patients on AZT-related therapy. Results: Prevalence of lipoatrophy varied from 7% to 24%, according to the definition. After adjustment for gender, age, treatment duration and CD4(+) T-cell count, the risk of lipoatrophy in the d4T(30) group was lower than in the d4T(30/40) group (odds ratio [OR] 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1-0.8 with the large definition and OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.0-0.8 with the strict definition) and was comparable to that of the AZT group (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.2-4.6 and OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.4-2.2 with the large and strict definitions, respectively). The risk was significantly higher in the d4T(30/40) group compared with the AZT group (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3-6.4 with the large definition and OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.3-23.5 with the strict definition). Conclusions: The use of d4T at a lower dosage might increase safety with regard to its effect on lipoatrophy