Phytochemical investigation and structural elucidation on seed extracts of Datura Stramonium

Datura Stramonium is found in the family Solanaceaeand and it is available throughout the world. It grows like a weed on loam soil in an Ethiopian context. It is used as a traditional medicine for toothache, skin diseases, and asthma in southern Ethiopia, especially in the Halaba zone. However, there was no research conducted in the study area in this regard. This study aims to isolate and purify alkaloids from Datura Stramonium seeds. Alkaloids are the biologically active substances in this species. Hence, in this study, alkaloid extraction methods were used. Substances besides alkaloids were removed by exhaustive liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl and petroleum ether. The final chloroform extract was tested for alkaloid by Dragendorff's spray reagent. It gave a positive result for alkaloids. The fractionation was done using column chromatography. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol were used as eluents. It was done by increasing the polarity of solvents. A total of 26 fractions were obtained. The purity of each sample fraction was checked by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The fractions that showed the same color and the same Rf value were mixed. The pure fractions with sufficient amounts were studied by 1H NMR, 13 C NMR and DEPT-135 for structural elucidation. In this study, the structures of two compounds, DSA-15 and DSA-21, were identified using IR 1HNMR, 13C NMR, and DEPT-135. Both of them are alkaloids. From this study, it was found out that both DSA-15 and DSA-21 are new compounds

Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Associated Factors among Mothers Attending Private Pediatric and Child Clinics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is globally low (35%) in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas it is 58% in Ethiopia. Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential to prevent 11.6% of under-five deaths in developing countries. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors on mothers attending private pediatric and child clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 380 samples were obtained. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used. Results. From 380 mothers, only 44.2% of the mothers practiced EBF. Two hundred (52.6%) mothers started breastfeeding within 1 hour of delivery; 161 (42.4%) of the mothers gave extra food before six months, and 244 (64.2%) believed that exclusive breastfeeding was sufficient. Moreover, 288 (75.8%) mothers breastfed their children eight or more times per day. Spontaneous vaginal delivery was a significant factor to practice EBF (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.19–2.89). Conclusion. EBF practice in this study was low. Spontaneous vaginal delivery was a significant factor for EBF; hence, it is very crucial to promote EBF

Iridoid glycosides from the root of Acanthus sennii

Context: Acanthus sennii is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of antifungal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, insecticidal, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-viral potential. Aims: To investigate the phytochemical constituents of roots of Acanthus sennii. Methods: Phytochemical screening tests were conducted to identify the class of compounds present in the root extract. Silica gel column chromatographic technique was applied to separate the constituents of the extracts. Various spectroscopic techniques (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT-135, COSY, gHSQC, and gHMBC) were applied to determine the structures of isolated compounds. Results: Phytochemical screening of the dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) and methanol (100%) root extract of the plant revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, and terpenes. Chromatographic separation of dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) root extract of Acanthus sennii yielded two iridoid glycosides (1, 2). Conclusions: The roots of Acanthus senni contain various class of constituents such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, tannins, and iridoid glycosides identified through phytochemical screening test and purification process, which might be responsible for the traditional use of the plant. To the best of our knowledge, these compounds are isolated for the first time from this genus

Bacteriological Contamination of Drinking Water Supply from Protected Water Sources to Point of Use and Water Handling Practices among Beneficiary Households of Boloso Sore Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

The quality of drinking water is a powerful environmental determinant of health. Water becomes contaminated with faecal material due to inadequate protection of the source, unhygienic practices of the community at the source, and poor household handling practices. The objective of this study was to assess the level of bacteriological contamination of drinking water supply from protected water sources to point of use and water handling practices among beneficiary households of Boloso Sore woreda, Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey and bacteriological analysis of water were conducted in January 2019. The study included 545 households for water handling practices, and 75 samples from stored water from households and eighteen water sources were included for faecal coliform test. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21.0. Descriptive and logistic regression statistical models were used. Sixty percent of shallow wells, 60% of protected hand-dug wells, and 25% of protected on-spot springs were found positive for faecal coliform. In general, 44% of water source samples and 91% of household water samples were positive for faecal coliform. In general, 38% of households were practicing unsafe water handling practices. High school and above level of education (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.03, 11.57), getting higher monthly income (AOR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.96, 5.85), households with small family size (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.83), frequency of water collection twice a day (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI:1.56, 5.33), and presence of water payments (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.72) were significantly associated with water handling practice. Unsafe water handling was a common practice in the study area, and water sources and household water storage were not free of faecal coliform, indicating noncompliance with the World Health Organization water quality guideline. Hence, capacity building is mandatory for the protection and management of water sources and safe water handling practices in the household and community

Evaluation of chlorination efficiency on improving microbiological and physicochemical parameters in water samples available in Sheble Berenta district Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract Chlorination is the most common method of water disinfection of pathogens before discharged into receiving streams, rivers, or oceans. This study evaluates chlorination efficiency in improving microbiological and physicochemical parameters in water samples available in the Sheble Bernta district, Amhara region, from May 2020 to June 2020. Water samples were collected from selected five sampling points from unprotected springs, groundwater, hand-dug well, and river in five kebele from the district. All samples were undergone sample preparation. The chlorination process was made by calcium hypochlorite and then analyzed for bacteriological and physicochemical parameters before and after chlorination using standard procedures. The results of this study before chlorination showed that total coliform (TC) of water ranged between 71 and 127,000 (CFU)/100 ml, pH = 6.89-.35, turbidity = 196–270 NTU, and total dissolved solid (TDS) = 315–404 mg/l. Then the result of the microbiological and physicochemical parameters of water after chlorination was changed into total coliform ranging between1 50 (CFU)/100 ml, pH = 7.25–8.10, and turbidity = 2.9–5.6 NTU, TDS = 93–134 mg/l. Finally, the result confirmed that the removal efficiency of chlorination in total coliform (TC), turbidity, and TDS was ranged between 98.29 and 99.99%, 97 and 92-98.61%, and 62.03 and 73.31%, respectively. It was observed that there is a significant difference in removing turbidity, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) before and after chlorination, but the pH test did not show a significant difference (p < 0.05). The efficiency of chlorination in removing total coliform and impurity of water is very efficient. It plays a vital role in the bactericide effect, reducing turbidity, and water's total dissolved solids. However, chlorinated compounds' (Ca(OCl)2) increased the pH of water after treatments. This study concluded that the efficiency of chlorination in improving the quality of water is highly significant (p < 0.05) and made water under permeable level compared to the World Health Organization standard. Hence, the chlorination water treatment process in a household can be granted to get quality water at the household level