Effect of Moringa oleifera lam. leaves powder on the evolution of hemogram profile in Togolese undernourished children: evaluation on HIV-positive patients

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) leaves have exceptional nutritional qualities and they are used against malnutrition in Africa and Asia. The deficiency corrected by M. oleifera leaves powder administration into daily meal of HIV positive and negative patients has been determined during 14 weeks nutritional recovery by measuring their weight, height and carried hemogram analysis. The study population included infants (20 HIV-positive and 21 HIV-negative) aged from 12 to 30 months and children (26 HIV-positive and 20 HIV-negative) aged 30 months to 9 years. The patients, male and female had anemia or low BMI (body mass index). Results showed that M oleifera use increased significantly BMI (p<0,0001). Weight varied from 1,5 to 2kg and height from 1,8 to 4 cm on the patients. On pilot subjects, variations were very low (p < 0,05). The increase in BMI was significantly different for patients on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (p < 0,0001) compared to patients without ARV (p <.0,001). Hemogram analysis revealed that M oleifera consumption allowed significant increase (p≤ 0,001) of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT) mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and (p ≤ 0,01) for mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (CHCM) values. On the other hand, white blood cell parameters were not significantly modified. Hypochromic anemia decreased from 40% to 84% while microcytic anemia decreased from 30% to 84%. On pilot subjects, hemogram parameters did not significantly vary. M. oleifera leaf powder would correct moderate hypochromic anemia better than normochromic anemia whose etiology is folate and vitamin B12 deficit. In addition, these results showed that using M oleifera alone could not correct inflammatory status by reduction of infections on patients. Despite phytates in their leaves, M oleifera powder can be regarded as nutritional supplement and would allow improvement of nutritional status, accelerate immunological recovery and also reinforce the effectiveness of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs on HIV/AIDS patients. Consuming only M oleifera leaves powder, despite its exceptional nutritional benefit, is not a miracle cure. These leaves are neither a drug nor a substitute for antiretroviral drugs

Effet De La Poudre De Feuilles De Moringa Oleifera Lam. Sur L&Apos;Evolution Du Profil De L&Apos;Hemogramme Des Enfants Malnutris Au Togo: Evaluation Chez Les Sujets Hiv Positifs

Moringa oleifera Lam. ( Moringaceae ) leaves have exceptional nutritional qualities and they are used against malnutrition in Africa and Asia. The deficiency corrected by M. oleifera leaves powder administration into daily meal of HIV positive and negative patients has been determined during 14 weeks nutritional recovery by measuring their weight, height and carried hemogram analysis. The study population included infants (20 HIV-positive and 21 HIV-negative) aged from 12 to 30 months and children (26 HIV-positive and 20 HIV-negative) aged 30 months to 9 years. The patients, male and female had anemia or low BMI (body mass index). Results showed that M oleifera use increased significantly BMI (p<0,0001). Weight varied from 1,5 to 2kg and height from 1,8 to 4 cm on the patients. On pilot subjects, variations were very low (p < 0,05). The increase in BMI was significantly different for patients on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (p < 0,0001) compared to patients without ARV (p <.0,001). Hemogram analysis revealed that M oleifera consumption allowed significant increase (p≤ 0,001) of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT) mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and (p ≤ 0,01) for mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (CHCM) values. On the other hand, white blood cell parameters were not significantly modified. Hypochromic anemia decreased from 40% to 84% while microcytic anemia decreased from 30% to 84%. On pilot subjects, hemogram parameters did not significantly vary. M. oleifera leaf powder would correct moderate hypochromic anemia better than normochromic anemia whose etiology is folate and vitamin B12 deficit. In addition, these results showed that using M oleifera alone could not correct inflammatory status by reduction of infections on patients. Despite phytates in their leaves, M oleifera powder can be regarded as nutritional supplement and would allow improvement of nutritional status, accelerate immunological recovery and also reinforce the effectiveness of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs on HIV/AIDS patients. Consuming only M oleifera leaves powder, despite its exceptional nutritional benefit, is not a miracle cure. These leaves are neither a drug nor a substitute for antiretroviral drugs.Les feuilles de Moringa oleifera Lam. ( Moringaceae ) possèdent des qualités nutritionnelles exceptionnelles et elles sont utilisées dans la lutte contre la malnutrition en Afrique et en Asie. Le type de carence que M. oleifera permet de corriger après son introduction dans les menus quotidiens a été déterminé après 14 semaines de récupération nutritionnelle, par la mesure des paramètres anthropométriques et la réalisation de l&apos;hémogramme chez des sujets séropositifs et séronégatifs au VIH. La population d&apos;étude est constituée de nourrissons (20 séropositifs et 21 séronégatifs) âgés de 12 à 30 mois et d&apos;enfants (26 séropositifs et 20 séronégatifs) âgés de plus de 30 mois à 9 ans. Les sujets sont des deux sexes anémiés et/ ou présentant un IMC faible Les résultats montrent que l&apos;utilisation de M. oleifera augmente significativement (p ≤ 0,0001) l&apos;IMC. Le poids et la taille (longueur) varient respectivement de 1,5 à 2kg et de 1,8 à 4 cm chez les sujets. Chez les témoins les variations très faibles (p < 0,05). L&apos;augmentation de l&apos;IMC est significativement différente chez les sujets sous ARV (p < 0,0001) et les sujets non ARV (p< 0,001). L&apos;analyse de l&apos;hémogramme révèle que la consommation de M. oleifera a permis une élévation significative (p≤ 0,001) des valeurs des globules rouges (GR), du taux d&apos;hémoglobine (THb), de l&apos;hématocrite (Hte), du volume globulaire moyen (VGM), de la teneur corpusculaire moyenne en hémoglobine (TCMH) et (p ≤ 0,01) pour la concentration corpusculaire moyenne en hémoglobine (CCMH). En revanche, les paramètres de la lignée leucocytaire ne sont pas significativement modifiés. L&apos;anémie hypochrome a diminué de 40% à 84% tandis que l&apos;anémie microcytaire a diminué de 30% à 84% chez les sujets. Chez les sujets témoins les paramètres de l&apos;hémogramme n&apos;ont pas significativement variés. La poudre de M. oleifera corrigerait mieux les anémies modérées hypochromes que les anémies normochromes dont l&apos;étiologie est un déficit en folates et vitamine B12. Par ailleurs, les résultats de notre étude indiquent que l&apos;utilisation seule de M. oleifera ne peut pas corriger l&apos;état inflammatoire par diminution des infections chez les sujets. Malgré la présence de phytates dans les feuilles, la poudre de M. oleifera peut être considérée comme complément alimentaire. Elle permettrait l&apos;amélioration de l&apos;état nutritionnel, accélérerait la récupération immunologique et renforcerait aussi l&apos;efficacité des médicaments ARV chez les sujets vivant avec le VIH/SIDA. La consommation des feuilles de M. oleifera, seules malgré leurs qualités nutritionnelles exceptionnelles, n&apos;est pas une cure miracle. Ce légume n&apos;est ni un médicament et ne constitue pas un substitut aux antirétroviraux

Effect of Spirulina platensis powder on metabolic syndrome in sprague dawley rats

In Benin folk medicine, Spirulina platensis a blue–green alga has a reputation to treat diabetes. The present study was investigated to evaluate the effect of Spirulina platensis powder on some markers of metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, glucose intolerance, obesity and oxidative stress). The syndrome was induced by high fructose and fat diet in Sprague Dawley rat. The rats received fructose and fat diet (10ml/kg per day) during 29 days. At 15th day to 29th day 30 minutes before, the first group (high-fructose diet control) received distilled water, the second and third groups (treated groups) received respectively Spirulina platensis powderat 75 and 150 mg/kg per day. The normal control group received only distilled water during the experiment. After 29 days of experiment, fasting blood glucose, body weight gain, intra abdominal grease and serum triglycerides (TG) in treated groups were significantly (p &lt; 0.01) lower than that of high-fructose diet control group. In the oral glucose tolerance test, rats in treated group had a significant (p &lt; 0.001) reduction of blood glucose level during 180 minutes after glucose load, indicating that Spirulina platensis powder improved glucose tolerance. S. platensis inhibits also hemolysis of erythrocytes induced by AAPH. In conclusion, S. platensis powder prevent metabolic syndrome induced by high fructose and fat diet. These results justify the use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes in Benin.Keywords: Spirulina platensis, metabolic syndrome, fructose, diabetes, fat diet

Hemmung humanpathogener Pilze durch ethnobotanisch ausgewählte Pflanzenextrakte

Herbario Juvenal Valerio RodríguezIn this study, 36 extracts derived from 29 plant species selected using an ethnobotanical approach were tested for antifungal activity against a taxonomically diverse group of 13 human pathogenic fungi. We compared the inhibitory characteristics of these plant extracts with those of the commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and the plant-derived antifungal, berberine. Several plant extracts, notably those from Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Juglans cinerea (butternut), had pronounced antifungal activity against a wide variety of fungi, including strains that were highly resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Further exploration of Z. officinale as an antifungal is warranted as this species is generally regarded as safe for human consumption.En este estudio, se probaron 36 extractos derivados de 29 especies de plantas seleccionadas mediante un enfoque etnobotánico para determinar la actividad antifúngica contra un grupo taxonómicamente diverso de 13 hongos patógenos humanos. Comparamos las características inhibidoras de estos extractos de plantas con las de los antifúngicos de uso común, anfotericina B y ketoconazol, y el antifúngico derivado de plantas, berberina. Varios extractos de plantas, en particular los de Zingiber officinale (jengibre) y Juglans cinerea (butternut), tenían una actividad antifúngica pronunciada contra una amplia variedad de hongos, incluidas cepas que eran altamente resistentes a la anfotericina B y al ketoconazol. Se justifica una mayor exploración de Z. officinale como antifúngico, ya que esta especie se considera generalmente segura para el consumo humano.Es wurden 36 Extrakte von 29 Pflanzenarten auf ihre antimyzetische Aktivita ̈ t gegen 13 humanpathogene Pilzarten untersucht. Die Hemmcharakteristik dieser Pflanzenextrakte wurde mit der von Amphotericin B, Ketoconazol und Berberin verglichen. Mehrere Pflanzenextrakte, besonders die von Zingiber officinale (Ingwer) und Juglans cinerea (Butternuss) zeigten eine deutliche antimyzetische Aktivita ̈ t gegen ein breites Pilzspektrum einschließlich solcher Sta ̈ mme, die hochresistent gegen Amphotericin B und Ketoconazol waren. Die weitere Untersuchung der antimyzetischen Aktivita ̈ t von Z. officinale erscheint vielversprechend, da diese Art allgemein als sicher fu ̈ r menschlichen Konsum angesehen wird.Carleton University, CanadaUniversity of Ottawa, CanadaUniversidad Nacional, Costa RicaUniversité du Bénin, TogoEscuela de Ciencias Ambientale

Sanitary Risks Connected to the Consumption of Infusion from Senna rotundifolia L. Contaminated with Lead and Cadmium in Cotonou (Benin)

This study carried out an assessment of sanitary risks connected to the consumption of Senna rotundifolia Linn. contaminated with lead and cadmium. This plant was collected and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results revealed a contamination of plants from markets of Dantokpa, Vossa, and Godomey with heavy metals. Senna from Vossa was higher in cadmium and lead levels (Pb: 2.733 mg/kg ± 0.356 mg/kg; Cd: 0.58 mg/kg ± 0.044 mg/kg) compared to the two other places (Pb: 1.825 mg/kg ± 0.133 mg/kg, Cd: 0.062 mg/kg ± 0.015 mg/kg and Pb: 1.902 mg/kg ± 0.265 mg/kg, Cd: 0.328 mg/kg ± 0.024 mg/kg), respectively, for Dantokpa and Godomey. In terms of risk assessment through the consumption of Senna, the values recorded for lead were nine times higher with children and six times higher with adults than the daily permissive intake (Pb: 3.376 × 10−2 mg/kg/day for children and 2.105 × 10−2 mg/kg/day for adults versus 3.6 × 10−3 mg/kg/day for DPI). With respect to cadmium, there was no significant difference between the recorded values and the DPI (Cd: 1 × 14 10−3 mg/ kg/day for children and Cd: 0.71 × 10−3 mg/ kg/day for adults versus Cd: 1 × 10−3 mg/kg/day for adults). This exposure of the population to lead and cadmium through the consumption of antimalarial healing plants could pose public health problems