Antimicrobial Properties of Some Medicinal Plants of the Luo Community of Kenya

Background: The Luo community of Kenya rely mostly on ethno-medicine to manage human ailments. This study was set to survey, record and report the medicinal plant species they use to manage infectious conditions. Objective of this study was to screen the plants used by this community to treat microbial infections, to demonstrate their in-vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. Methodology: Eight plants namely Lannea stuhlmanii, Carissa edulis, Combretum fragrans, Conyza sumatrensis, Ormocarpum trichocarpum, Sida cuneifolia, Plumbago zeylanica, and Rhoicissus revoilii, used by the Luo for treatment of microbial infections, were studied. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethno-botanical data for each plant. About 3 kg of suitable specimens were harvested, with leaves pressed and preserved for identification at University of Nairobi’s Department of Botany Herbarium. Voucher specimens were also deposited at the University’s School of Pharmacy Herbarium and excess material powdered and kept dry. The pressed specimens were dried at 20 0C to 25 0C using plant blower. Their ethanolic extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumulus. Results: Extracts from Conyza sumatrensis, C. fragrans, C. edulis, S. cuneifolia, R. revoilii and leaf C. sumatrensis had good activity against E. coli. Activity against B. pumulus was observed in all extracts except those of L. stuhlmanii bark and R. revoilii tubers. Good activity against S. aureus was observed with C. fragrans, S. cuneifolia and L. stuhlmanii. Rhoicissus revoilii, L. stuhlmanii, C. fragrans and C. edulis exhibited good antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Conclusion: This work partially supports the traditional antimicrobial use of the various plants, and it is hoped that the results will form the basis for further research that could lead to isolation and/or development of antibacterial and antifungal medicines for use in primary health care. The results also confirm that plants are a potential source of antimicrobial compounds. Key words: Luo; Antimicrobial; Ethanolic extracts; screenin

La Forza del Destino

De cada obra s'ha digitalitzat un programa sencer. De la resta s'han digitalitzat les parts que són diferents.Empresa : Juan Mestres CalvetIntèrprets : Giannina Arangi-Lombardi, Franco Bataglia, Marú Falliani, Apollo Granforte, Mario Gubiani, José Santiago-FontÒpera de Giuseppe Verd

Analysis of shared common genetic risk between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy

Because hyper-excitability has been shown to be a shared pathophysiological mechanism, we used the latest and largest genome-wide studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 36,052) and epilepsy (n = 38,349) to determine genetic overlap between these conditions. First, we showed no significant genetic correlation, also when binned on minor allele frequency. Second, we confirmed the absence of polygenic overlap using genomic risk score analysis. Finally, we did not identify pleiotropic variants in meta-analyses of the 2 diseases. Our findings indicate that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy do not share common genetic risk, showing that hyper-excitability in both disorders has distinct origins

Antimicrobial properties of some medicinal plants of the luo community of kenya

A Poster by Dr. Apollo Maima, the Dean of the School of Pharmacy in USIU-Africa during the FIP Congress in BankokThe Luo of Kenya mostly use ethno-medicine to manage human ailments yet this knowledge remains largely un-documented. Study aim: to screen the plants for their in-vitro antimicrobial activities. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethno-botanical data for each plant. Specimens were harvested, leaves preserved for identification, and Voucher specimens deposited at Nairobi University Herbarium. Plant ethanolic extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumulus. Standard concentrations of nystatin and chloramphenicol were used as positive controls. Different Combretum fragrans extracts were screened for activity againstE. coli and B. pumulus. Results: Extracts of Conyza sumatrensis, C. fragrans, Carrisa edulis, Sida cuneifolia, Rhoicissus revoilii had good activity against E. coli. All extracts showed activity against B. pumulus except those of Lannea stuhlmanii and R. revoilii. C. fragrans, S. cuneifolia and L. Stuhlmanii showed good activity against S. aureus. Rhoicissus revoilii, L. stuhlmanii, C. fragrans and C. edulis exhibited good anticandidal activity. Of C. fragrans extracts, ethanol had highest activity, then the methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts, in that order. Conclusion and Suggestions: This work has validated the use of a mixture of L. stuhlmanii and R. revoilii (diarrhoea and pneumonia), C. sumatrensis (pimples, tinea versicolor and tonsillitis), R. revoilii (tonsillitis), C. sumatrensis (tropical ulcers and sore throat) and C. fragrans (diarrhea). Hopefully these results will for

Excitation of Microwave Surface Plasmons in Low-Loss Metamaterial Slabs

We investigate the excitation of surface plasmons in DNG metamaterial slabs. Analyzing the reflection coefficient and the constant phase plane at air-DNG interface highlights that microwave plasmonic resonances can be obtained introducing low-losses in ultra-thin metamaterial slabs

Optimization of multilayer shields made of composite nanostructured materials

In this paper,we propose a multilayer nanostructured composite for broadband shielding applications. Layers disposal, electrical parameters, and thicknesses are optimized through a winning particle optimization algorithm to achieve the minimization of the transmitted waves. The structures are simulated by including the forward/backward scattering matrix formalism in the optimization code. The adopted algorithm is the recently introduced winning particle optimization. Manufacturing of the composites is grounded on the optimization procedure. Thanks to the macroscopic absorption features of such nanostructured layers, very thin and lightweight composites can be produced. Several weight percentages of multiwall carbon nanotubes are considered in composite base material manufacturing, also including 6wt% and 15wt% in order to enhance the electromagnetic shielding performance. Prototypes are tested in the microwave region, showing the reliability of the optimization procedur

Research Resource: The Endometrium Database Resource (EDR)

Abstract In order to understand the biology of the endometrium and potentially develop new diagnostic tools and treatments for endometrial diseases, the highly orchestrated gene expression/regulation that occurs within the uterus must first be understood. Even though a wealth of information on endometrial gene expression/regulation is available, this information is scattered across several different resources in formats that can be difficult for the average bench scientist to query, integrate, and utilize. The Endometrium Database Resource (EDR) was created as a single evolving resource for protein- and micro-RNA-encoding genes that have been shown by gene expression microarray, Northern blot, or other experiments in the literature to have their expression regulated in the uterus of humans, mice, rats, cows, domestic pigs, guinea pigs, and sheep. Genes are annotated in EDR with basic gene information (eg, gene symbol and chromosome), gene orthologs, and gene ontologies. Links are also provided to external resources for publication/s, nucleic and amino acid sequence, gene product function, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) phase expression graph information. The resource also allows for direct comparison of relative gene expression in different microarray experiments for genes shown in the literature to be differentially expressed in the uterus. It is available via a user-friendly, web-based interface and is available without charge or restriction to the entire scientific community. The EDR can be accessed at http://edr.research.bcm.edu.</jats:p

Estrogens Counteract Platinum-Chemosensitivity by Modifying the Subcellular Localization of MDM4

Estrogen activity towards cancer-related pathways can impact therapeutic intervention. Recent omics data suggest possible crosstalk between estrogens/gender and MDM4, a key regulator of p53. Since MDM4 can either promote cell transformation or enhance DNA damage-sensitivity, we analysed in vivo impact of estrogens on both MDM4 activities. In Mdm4 transgenic mouse, Mdm4 accelerates the formation of fibrosarcoma and increases tumor sensitivity to cisplatin as well, thus confirming in vivo Mdm4 dual mode of action. Noteworthy, Mdm4 enhances chemo- and radio-sensitivity in male but not in female animals, whereas its tumor-promoting activity is not affected by mouse gender. Combination therapy of transgenic females with cisplatin and fulvestrant, a selective estrogen receptor degrader, was able to recover tumor cisplatin-sensitivity, demonstrating the relevance of estrogens in the observed sexual dimorphism. Molecularly, estrogen receptor-&alpha; alters intracellular localization of MDM4 by increasing its nuclear fraction correlated to decreased cell death, in a p53-independent manner. Importantly, MDM4 nuclear localization and intra-tumor estrogen availability correlate with decreased platinum-sensitivity and apoptosis and predicts poor disease-free survival in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. These data demonstrate estrogen ability to modulate chemo-sensitivity of MDM4-expressing tumors and to impinge on intracellular trafficking. They support potential usefulness of combination therapy involving anti-estrogenic drugs

Estrogens Counteract Platinum-Chemosensitivity by Modifying the Subcellular Localization of MDM4

Estrogen activity towards cancer-related pathways can impact therapeutic intervention. Recent omics data suggest possible crosstalk between estrogens/gender and MDM4, a key regulator of p53. Since MDM4 can either promote cell transformation or enhance DNA damage-sensitivity, we analysed in vivo impact of estrogens on both MDM4 activities. In Mdm4 transgenic mouse, Mdm4 accelerates the formation of fibrosarcoma and increases tumor sensitivity to cisplatin as well, thus confirming in vivo Mdm4 dual mode of action. Noteworthy, Mdm4 enhances chemo- and radio-sensitivity in male but not in female animals, whereas its tumor-promoting activity is not affected by mouse gender. Combination therapy of transgenic females with cisplatin and fulvestrant, a selective estrogen receptor degrader, was able to recover tumor cisplatin-sensitivity, demonstrating the relevance of estrogens in the observed sexual dimorphism. Molecularly, estrogen receptor-α alters intracellular localization of MDM4 by increasing its nuclear fraction correlated to decreased cell death, in a p53-independent manner. Importantly, MDM4 nuclear localization and intra-tumor estrogen availability correlate with decreased platinum-sensitivity and apoptosis and predicts poor disease-free survival in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. These data demonstrate estrogen ability to modulate chemo-sensitivity of MDM4-expressing tumors and to impinge on intracellular trafficking. They support potential usefulness of combination therapy involving anti-estrogenic drugs.</jats:p