MOLLUSCICIDAL ACTIVITY OF CERTAIN SUDANESE MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN FOLK – MEDICINE

Objectives: In view of the promising potential of plant molluscicides, 10 plants indigenous to Sudan and of common use in Sudanese folk-medicine, were screened for their molluscicidal activity, using two local snail vectors, Bulinus truncates and Biomphalaria pfeifferi. Results: At different concentrations up to 500 ppm., seven plant samples were found to be lethal to both of the snail species. The pet. ether/CHCH3 (1:1) extracts of 6 plants were lethal as molluscicidal agents while only two plants showed 100% mortality to the snails as methanol extracts. The two most active plants that killed both snail hosts ( ≤ 50 ppm.), were obtained from the whole plant of Ambrosia maritimae (Asteraceae) and the fruits of Croton zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae). These two plants when phytochemically screened for their active constituents, they showed the presence of sterols and cardenolides. Conclusion: Vegetable molluscicides can be grown and can be used by communities in endemic areas to combat schistosomiasi

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF URINARY STONES IN PATIENTS REFERRED TO GEZIRA HOSPITAL FOR RENAL DISEASES AND SURGERY IN GEZIRA STATE CENTRAL SUDAN

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform the chemical analysis of stones to know the pattern of biochemical composition of stones in Sudanese subjects. Methods: 169 renal stones were analyzed during the period from February to December 2008. 96 patients were referred to Gezira Hospital for Renal diseases and Surgery (GHRDS), Gezira state, central Sudan. The stones were analyzed by semi quantitative method in the Gezira central laboratory. Kits were used for chemical analysis of stones. Calcium, phosphate, oxalate, uric acid, carbonate and cystine were determined. Results: Male to female ratio was 2:1. Calcium, oxalate and uric acid were the most common forms of stones (90.5%), followed by phosphate (4.7%), carbonate (3.0%) and cystine which accounted for 1.8% of the study subjects. Conclusion: The relative frequency of calcium oxalate stones in our study about 65.1%,outnumbers other types which is compatible with the international literature. While there is relative high percentage of uric acid stones which can be explained by the high animal protein consumption in Sudan together with the hot weather which can be a cause of a highly concentrated urine . Other types phosphates (4.7%), carbonate (3.0%), and cystine which account only ( 1.8%)