Assessing tree effect on total soil carbon in agroforestry parklands systems along a rainfall gradient in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Trees contribution in improving soil carbon is well established, but few works addressed how this was affected by a climatic gradient. This research investigated effects of Vitellaria paradoxa C. F Gaertn and Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth on total soil carbon in parklands along a rainfall gradient for recommendations of tree species which better improve soil carbon under specific climatic conditions for parklands adaptation to climate change. Total soil carbon at topsoil and subsoil layers measured using spectrophotometry infrared method, was higher when rainfall increased and were respectively (1.598 ± 0.040; 1.033 ± 0.022; 0.834 ± 0.014; 0.857 ± 0.016%). It was higher at topsoil (0.529 ± 0.015%) and subsoil (0.282 ± 0.019%) under V. paradoxa when rainfall decreased while it was higher under P. biglobosa and V. paradoxa when rainfall increased slightly. Its improvement was higher under V. paradoxa and P. biglobosa when rainfall respectively decreased and increased. A decrease trend of total soil carbon under both tree species from trunk to outside the canopy whatever rainfall levels and soil layers was observed. Tree species choice could play an important role in improving total soil carbon and crop productivity according to rainfall level for parklands adaptation to climate change

Innocuité d’une recette médicinale traditionnelle utilisée pour l’infertilité masculine en Côte d’Ivoire

Male infertility is incriminated in 50% of cases of couple infertility. This is a real public health problem in Africa. The present work aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a traditional medicinal recipe used to treat male infertility in the Autonomous District of Abidjan/Côte d'Ivoire. This study was carried out as part of the promotion of the African pharmacopoeia. The plant material consisted of the medicinal recipe and the biological material of 42 male volunteers selected purposively as posteriori. The volunteers underwent treatment over three months. The variables studied were blood sugar, urea, creatinine, transaminases, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Side effects and undesirable effects were reported. The average age of the study population was 41.78 years (± 7.73). After three months of use of the medicinal recipe, the statistical analysis of biochemical variables revealed blood sugar p = 0.12; transaminases p = 0.75; creatinine p = 0.26; urea p = 0.04; triglycerides p = 0.95 and total cholesterol p = 0.64 versus p < 0.05. The main side effect reported was polyuria (97.5%). These results affirm the safety of the medicinal recipe for the user. They encourage its use in infertile men and medical monitoring of people on antihypertensive medication. The medicinal recipe is good safety and tolerability.L’infertilité masculine est incriminée dans 50% des cas d’infertilité du couple. C’est un réel problème de santé publique en Afrique. Le présent travail avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’innocuité et la tolérabilité d’une recette médicinale traditionnelle utilisée pour la prise en charge de l’infertilité masculine dans le District Autonome d’Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire. Cette étude a été réalisée dans le cadre de la valorisation de la pharmacopée africaine. Le matériel végétal était constitué de la recette médicinale et le matériel biologique de 42 volontaires de sexe masculin sélectionnés sur une base raisonnée à postériori. Les volontaires ont été soumis à un traitement sur trois mois. Les variables étudiées étaient : la glycémie, l’urée, la créatinine, les transaminases, les triglycérides et le cholestérol total. Les effets secondaires et indésirables ont été notifiés. L’âge moyen de la population d’étude était de 41,78 ans (± 7,73). Aux termes des trois mois d’utilisation de la recette médicinale, l’analyse statistique des variables biochimiques a révélé : la glycémie p = 0,12; les transaminases p = 0,75 ; la créatinine p = 0,26 ; l’urée p = 0,04 ; les triglycérides p = 0,95 et le cholestérol total p = 0,64 contre p< 0,05. Le principal effet secondaire notifié était la polyurie (97,5%).Ces résultats affirment la sécurité de la recette médicinale pour l’utilisateur. Ils encouragent son utilisation chez les hommes infertiles et un suivi médical des personnes sous antihypertenseur. La recette médicinale présente une bonne innocuité et une bonne tolérabilit

Innocuité d’une recette médicinale traditionnelle utilisée pour l’infertilité masculine en Côte d’Ivoire

Male infertility is incriminated in 50% of cases of couple infertility. This is a real public health problem in Africa. The present work aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a traditional medicinal recipe used to treat male infertility in the Autonomous District of Abidjan/Côte d'Ivoire. This study was carried out as part of the promotion of the African pharmacopoeia. The plant material consisted of the medicinal recipe and the biological material of 42 male volunteers selected purposively as posteriori. The volunteers underwent treatment over three months. The variables studied were blood sugar, urea, creatinine, transaminases, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Side effects and undesirable effects were reported. The average age of the study population was 41.78 years (± 7.73). After three months of use of the medicinal recipe, the statistical analysis of biochemical variables revealed blood sugar p = 0.12; transaminases p = 0.75; creatinine p = 0.26; urea p = 0.04; triglycerides p = 0.95 and total cholesterol p = 0.64 versus p < 0.05. The main side effect reported was polyuria (97.5%). These results affirm the safety of the medicinal recipe for the user. They encourage its use in infertile men and medical monitoring of people on antihypertensive medication. The medicinal recipe is good safety and tolerability.L’infertilité masculine est incriminée dans 50% des cas d’infertilité du couple. C’est un réel problème de santé publique en Afrique. Le présent travail avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’innocuité et la tolérabilité d’une recette médicinale traditionnelle utilisée pour la prise en charge de l’infertilité masculine dans le District Autonome d’Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire. Cette étude a été réalisée dans le cadre de la valorisation de la pharmacopée africaine. Le matériel végétal était constitué de la recette médicinale et le matériel biologique de 42 volontaires de sexe masculin sélectionnés sur une base raisonnée à postériori. Les volontaires ont été soumis à un traitement sur trois mois. Les variables étudiées étaient : la glycémie, l’urée, la créatinine, les transaminases, les triglycérides et le cholestérol total. Les effets secondaires et indésirables ont été notifiés. L’âge moyen de la population d’étude était de 41,78 ans (± 7,73). Aux termes des trois mois d’utilisation de la recette médicinale, l’analyse statistique des variables biochimiques a révélé : la glycémie p = 0,12; les transaminases p = 0,75 ; la créatinine p = 0,26 ; l’urée p = 0,04 ; les triglycérides p = 0,95 et le cholestérol total p = 0,64 contre p< 0,05. Le principal effet secondaire notifié était la polyurie (97,5%).Ces résultats affirment la sécurité de la recette médicinale pour l’utilisateur. Ils encouragent son utilisation chez les hommes infertiles et un suivi médical des personnes sous antihypertenseur. La recette médicinale présente une bonne innocuité et une bonne tolérabilit

Étude Phytochimique et activité antifongique d'extraits de quelques Euphorbiaceae médicinales utilisées chez les Baoulé du District de Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire)

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the District of Yamoussoukro (Central Côte d’Ivoire) in order to evaluate the biocontrol potential against fungal plant pathogens, of Euphorbiaceous plants used as medicines by the native population. Twelve (12) species were collected. The antifungal activity was assessed using the two-fold dilution method on PDA medium with ethanolic and aqueous extract derived from leaves of six plants. Results pointed out that only 70% ethanolic extracts from Alchornea cordifolia (EE13) possess fungicidal properties on both Fusarium sp. and Phytophthora sp. The antifungal activities are more effective with ethanolic extracts than aqueous extracts. With a minimal inhibitory concentration MIC = 25±0.0 mg/ml, a minimal concentration for 50% of inhibition IC50 = 10±0.05 mg/ml and a minimal fungicide concentration MFC = 200±0.0 mg/ml Fusarium sp. appears to be the most sensitive. Phytophthora sp. is less sensitive with a MIC = 50±0.0 mg/ml, an IC50 = 12±0.05 mg/ml and a MFC = 200±0.0 mg/ml. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of seven major groups of compounds among which saponins and catechin are the most abundant in aqueous extracts. Polyphenols, flavonoids, polyterpenes and sterols as well as tannins are present in both alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia. These compounds could justify its antifungal activity and traditional use

Activité anti-toxoplasmose, screening phytochimique et étude de la cytotoxicité de l’extrait éthanolique 70% de Hunteria eburnea Pichon (Apocynaceae)

Hunteria eburnea is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in the Sassandra Region (Ivory Coast) in the treatment of malaria and skin diseases. The aim of this study is to study the inhibitory effect of 70% ethanolic extract of Hunteria eburneaa stem bark on Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite such as Plasmodium falciparum that causes toxoplasmosis. The 70% ethanolic extract was obtained from the parts of the plant that are used by traditional health practitioners in the Haut-Sassandra Region (Ivory Coast).The 70% ethanolic extract of Hunteria eburnea stem bark revealed high anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity with an estimated IC50 of 0.72 mg / mL and no cytotoxicity to HFF cells. (Human Foreskin Fibroblasts). Also, the phytochemical screening of this extract revealed the presence of sterols / triterpenes as well as alkaloids. This result indicates a promising source of new anti-Toxoplasma drugs from Hunteria eburnea, a West African medicinal plant

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Investigating the Effects of Drought on Anacardium occidentale L. (Cashew) and Adaptation Options to Climate Change in Burkina Faso (West Africa): A Review

The objective of this review was to investigate the effects of drought on cashew and to identify options for cashew adaptation to drought in the aim to maintain and/or improve its productivity in plantation and in agroforestry under climate change in Burkina Faso. The methodology used was the review of the scientific literature through the analyse of the findings of 51 studies to explore the effects of drought on the cashew. Drought is a major factor causing land degradation and limiting crop productivity in the Sahel and particularly in Burkina Faso. The cashew contributes in creating jobs and generating revenues mainly for women employed in the cashew nuts processing units established in Burkina Faso. The cashew sensitivity to drought was reported through changes in some physiological parameters under water stress conditions. In order to maintain and/or improve cashew productivity in plantations and in agroforestry systems and the rural households socio-economic conditions under drought with climate change, it is urgent to develop and implement cashew adaptation options. This manuscript recommended adaptation actions to reduce the vulnerability of the effect of cashew to drought under climate change

Urethrovaginal Fistula in a 5-Year-Old Girl

Urethral fistulas are rare in girls. They occur most of the time during trauma. The case presented here is an iatrogenic fistula. The treatment was simple and consisted of a simple dissection and suture of urethra and vagina

Étude botanique, tri phytochimique et évaluation de l’activité antifongique de l’extrait éthanolique des feuilles de Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae) sur la croissance in vitro de trois souches fongiques

Objectif: Établir des bases scientifiques de l’action antifongique de E. prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae), une plante médicinale fréquemment utilisée contre les infections cutanées en médecine traditionnelle et recensée lors d’une enquête ethnobotanique réalisée dans le district d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).Méthodologie et Résultats: Après le tri phytochimique par réactions colorées, l’extrait éthanolique 70 % issu de cette plante a été testé sur la croissance in vitro de trois champignons par la méthode de double dilution en tubes penchés sur gélose Sabouraud. Les résultats ont révélé la présence de divers métabolites secondaires et ont montré que cet extrait a une activité antifongique dose-dépendante. Cependant, il a un meilleur potentiel antifongique sur T. mentagrophytes (CMF= 6,25 mg/ml et CI50 = 0,54 mg/ml) que sur C. neoformans (CMF = 25 mg/ml et CI50 = 0,75 mg/ml) et C. albicans (CI50 = 6,25 mg/ml et CMF>50 mg/ml).Conclusion et application des résultats: Ce travail justifie l’utilisation en milieu traditionnel de cette plante comme antifongique. En outre, cet extrait peut servir à la mise au point d’un phytomédicament contre les dermatophytoses à Trichophyton.Mots clés: Antifongique, dermatophytose, Eclipta prostrata, extrait éthanolique, tri phytochimiqueEnglish AbstractObjective: to establish scientific bases of the antifungal action of E. prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae), a medicinal plant frequently used against cutaneous infections in traditional medicine and collected during an ethnobotanical survey carried out in the Abidjan district (Côte d’Ivoire).Methodology and Results: After the phytochemical sorting by color reactions, the 70% ethanolic extract from this plant was tested on the in vitro growth of three fungi by the double dilution method in tubes bent on Sabouraud agar. The results revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites and showed that this extract has a dose-dependent antifungal activity. However, it has a better antifungal potential on T. mentagrophytes (CMF = 6.25 mg/mL and IC50 = 0.54 mg/mL) than on C. neoformans (CMF = 25 mg/mL and IC50 = 0.75 mg/mL) and C. albicans (IC50 = 6.25 mg/mL and CMF > 50 mg/mL).Conclusion and application of the results: This work justifies the use in traditional environment of this plant as anti-fungal. In addition, this extract can be used for the development of a phytomedicine against Trichophyton dermatophytosis.Keywords: Antifungal, dermatophytose, Eclipta prostrata, ethanolic extract, phytochemical sortin