The mystery behind muthi : a survey of bulbous and perennial herbs traded at the Faraday Medicinal Market in Johannesburg using DNA barcoding as an identification tool

Abstract : Please refer to full text to view abstract.M.Sc. (Botany

Anti-Schistosomal Activity of Chenopodium ambrosoides Extracts in Adult Worms In vivo and In vitro

Plants may contain ingredients that have anti-parasitic activity against parasites of medical significance. Chenopodium ambrosoides (Wormseed) a wide spread herb in the Family Chenopodiacea was investigated for anti-schistosomal activity using, the human trematode parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, as the target. The plant is well known for its vermifuge and anti-helminthetic properties. The root, stem, leaves and fruit of the plant were extracted sequentially using n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and distilled water as solvents and tested for anti-schistosomal activity. The crude extracts of leaves and fruits wereremarkableand showedsignificant activity that resulted in significant egg counts reduction, compared to untreated controls (P < 0.05). Among the plant extracts (n – hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous), aqueous (leaf) and methanol (fruit) extracts showed responses closest to PZQ. Aqueous (leaf) had 46% worms reduction, methanol (fruit) had 23% worms reduction and Praziquantel had 34% worms reduction (P > 0.05). The in vitro results showed methanol (fruit) extract killed more adult worms of S. mansoni than the aqueous (leaf) extract. The effect of both methanol (fruit) and aqueous (leaf) extracts on S. mansoni adult worms showed that methanol (fruit) extract had better potency than aqueous (leaf) extract.  The killing effect of methanol (fruit) and aqueous (leaf) extracts were statistically similar to Praziquantel. Keywords:Chenopodium ambrosoides (Wormseed),  In vivo and  In vitr

Determination of Anti-schistosomal Finger Profiles of Chenopodium ambrosoide Crude Extracts in BALB/c Mice Using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Plants may contain ingredients that have anti-parasitic activity against parasites of medical siginificance. Chenopodium ambrosoides (Wormseed) a wide spread herb in the Family: Chenopodiacea was investigated for anti-schistosomal activity using, the human trematode parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, as the target. The plant is well known for its vermifuge and anti-helminthetic properties. The root, stem, leaves and fruit of the plant were extracted sequentially using n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and distilled water as solvents and tested for anti-schistosomal activity. TLC finger profiles mobile of C. ambrosoides extracts showed aqueous (leaf) extract had  more Rf spots than methanol (fruit) extract but they were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that Chenopodium ambrosoides aqueous (leaf) and methanol (fruit) extracts has remarkable anti-schistosomal properties, and should be investigated to determine their toxicity and also tested against other parasites as a source novel anti-parasitic compounds. Keywords: Rf - Mobility Relative to front TLC - Thin Layer Chromatograph

Anti-Schistosomal Activity of Chenopodium ambrosoides Extracts in Adult Worms In vivo and In vitro

Plants may contain ingredients that have anti-parasitic activity against parasites of medical significance. Chenopodium ambrosoides (Wormseed) a wide spread herb in the Family Chenopodiacea was investigated for anti-schistosomal activity using, the human trematode parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, as the target. The plant is well known for its vermifuge and anti-helminthetic properties. The root, stem, leaves and fruit of the plant were extracted sequentially using n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and distilled water as solvents and tested for anti-schistosomal activity. The crude extracts of leaves and fruits remarkable and significant activity that resulted in significant egg counts reduction, compared to untreated controls (P < 0.05). Among the plant extracts (n – hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous), aqueous (leaf) and methanol (fruit) extracts showed responses closest to PZQ. Aqueous (leaf) had 46% worms reduction, methanol (fruit) had 23% worms reduction and Praziquantel had 34% worms reduction (P > 0.05). The in vitro results showed methanol (fruit) extract killed more adult worms of S. mansoni than the aqueous (leaf) extract. Methanol (fruit) extract potency depended on concentration. The higher the concentration, the faster the killing. The effect of both methanol (fruit) and aqueous (leaf) extracts on S. mansoni adult worms showed that methanol (fruit) extract had better potency than aqueous (leaf) extract.  The killing effect of methanol (fruit) and aqueous (leaf) extracts were statistically similar to Praziquantel. Keywords: Chenopodium ambrosoides (Wormseed),  In vivo and  In vitr

Long-Term Mental Health and Quality of Life Outcomes of Neonatal Insults in Kilifi, Kenya

We examined the mental health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and their correlates of school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and a comparison group. The Child Behavior Checklist and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were administered to assess the mental health and QoL of 375 children (134 with NNJ, 107 with HIE, and 134 comparison group) aged 6 to 12 years [Median age 9 (interquartile range 7 to 11)]. The results showed that survivors of NNJ and HIE have mental health problems and QoL similar to the comparison group. Maternal mental health was the predominant covariate of mental health and QoL in survivors of NNJ and HIE. This result could indicate that mothers with mental health problems are more likely to have children with mental health issues, but also that caring for children with these adversities may affect mental health well-being of the caregivers. There is a need for early mental health screening and psychosocial intervention for caregivers and their children to enhance both their mental health and QoL

Standards of aminoglycoside therapeutic drug monitoring in a South African private hospital: perspectives and implications

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is essential to ensure that aminoglycoside peak concentrations are high enough for effective antimicrobial treatment and trough levels are low enough to minimise toxicity. Inappropriate utilisation of TDM may lead to suboptimal therapy, toxicity and waste of resources. This study aimed to investigate the standard of aminoglycoside TDM performed in adult hospitalised patients.Design: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study.Setting: A 221-bed private hospital.Participants: All patients, older than 18 years, on intravenous aminoglycosides for more than 48 hours were included.Interventions: None, was observational. A computerised database and patient files were used to obtain the information required for this study. Descriptive statistical analysis was used.Main outcomes measures: Aminoglycoside blood levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the patients.Results: One hundred and three (103) patients were included: 65 on gentamicin and 38 on amikacin. Blood levels were performed in only 19 gentamicin (29.23%) and 22 amikacin (57.89%) patients. Trough levels were taken more than 2 hours before the next dose in 12 gentamicin (63.16%) and 12 amikacin (54.54%) patients. The majority of patients (96.92% on gentamicin and 84.21% on amikacin) received once daily doses. TDM was performed in all patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than 60 mL/min/1.73m2 and in 23.31% of gentamicin patients and 56.76% of amikacin patients with an eGFR higher than 60 mg/min/1.73m2.Conclusions: Incorrect sampling times and unnecessary levels taken in patients with normal renal function indicate a need for aminoglycoside treatment guidelines in the private hospital.Funding: NoneKeywords: Aminoglycosides, Dosing considerations, South Africa, Therapeutic DrugMonitoring, Sampling time