Performance of food–feed maize and cowpea cultivars under monoculture and intercropping systems: Grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Livestock feeding in Burkina Faso is characterized by a recurrent deficit in both the quality and the quantity of fodder during the dry season, which affects animal performance. To overcome this, quality fodder/forage production is an alternative. Therefore, this study evaluated food- and feed-improved cultivars of maize and cowpea in intercropping trials using the “mother and baby trials” approach with crop–livestock farmers. The mother trial comprised a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replicates: two cowpea (KVx745-11P and Tiligré) and two maize cultivars (Barka and Espoir), and grown under two cropping systems (monoculture and intercropping). Baby trials were established on-farm and involved 30 farmers during two seasons (2019 and 2020) in four villages in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso. Data were collected on (1) weed density and biomass, (2) grain yield and fodder biomass, (3) intercropping efficiency, and (4) fodder nutritive value. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) means separation at a 5% threshold. The results revealed that maize and cowpea intercropping significantly reduced weed biomass (p ≤ 0.05). In monoculture, the maize cultivar Barka produced a greater grain yield (4980 kg/ha) and fodder biomass [6259 kg dry matter (DM)/ha] than the cultivar Espoir, which produced a grain yield of 2581 kg/ha and fodder biomass of 4952 kg DM/ha. The cowpea cultivars, KVx745-11P and Tiligré, were similar (p ≥ 0.05) in terms of fodder biomass (2435–2820 kg DM/ha) and grain yield (1152–1163 kg/ha). For the intercropping system, land equivalent ratios for fodder biomass (1.18:1.41) and grain yield (1.02:1.44) were greater than 1; intercropping also had better productivity system indexes than the monoculture cropping system. The crude protein concentration of fodder was greater for Barka maize (9.5%–9.8%) than for Espoir maize (8.5%–8.7%). The crude protein concentration was greater for cowpea KVx745-11P (19%–21.8%) than for cowpea Tiligré (15%–17%). Intercropping both Barka maize and cowpea KVx745-11P was the most productive cropping system for maximizing grain and fodder production for crop–livestock farmers in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso

Stakeholder engagement in the development of genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria control in West Africa: lessons learned from 10 years of Target Malaria’s work in Mali

From 2012 to 2023, the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC), based out of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), was part of the Target Malaria research consortium working towards developing novel gene drive-based tools for controlling populations of malaria vector mosquitoes. As part of this work, Target Malaria Mali has undertaken a range of in-depth engagement activities with the communities where their research is conducted and with other stakeholders nationally. These activities were meant to ensure that the project’s activities took place with the agreement of those communities, and that those communities were able to play a role in shaping the project’s approach to ensure that its eventual outcomes were in line with their needs and concerns. This paper aims to conduct a critical assessment of those 10 years of stakeholder engagement in order to identify good practices which can inform future engagement work on gene drive research in West Africa. It sets out a range of approaches and practices that enabled the Target Malaria Mali team to engage a variety of stakeholders, to share information, collect feedback, and determine community agreement, in a manner that was inclusive, effective, and culturally appropriate. These can be useful tools for those working on gene drive research and other area-wide vector control methods in West African contexts to ensure that their research is aligned with the interests of the communities who are intended to be its ultimate beneficiaries, and to allow those communities to play a meaningful role in the research process

Antioxidant properties and subchronic toxicity of the standardized extract of LAMIC, a phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from trunk bark of Lannea microcarpa Engl and K. Krause

Aims: This study investigated the antioxidant activity and the 90 days subchronic toxicity of the standardized LAMIC phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from Lannea microcarpa trunk bark. Methods: Three spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluated the antioxidant activity of LAMIC which were 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzolin-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. For the standardized LAMIC subchronic toxicity study, male and female Wistar rats were used by daily oral administration at doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw consecutively for 90 days. Results: The LAMIC extract exhibit better inhibitory activity against DPPH radical than ABTS radical with respective IC50 values of 45.38±3.21 µg/mL and 66.45±18.76 µg/mL, while FRAP assay exhibit antioxidant activity of 211.34±15.92 mmol EAA/g. Subchronic oral administration of LAMIC was well-tolerated at all tested doses. No behavioral and physiological changes and mortality were observed. The LAMIC extract did not present any impact on general hematological parameters and biochemical parameters. Moreover, no significant changes were raised in organ and body weight of treated groups compared to the Control group. Conclusion: These results support that LAMIC prototype was a valuable source of natural antioxidants and no toxicity was associated to its long terms oral consumption in rats indicating a potential application as a cardiovascular protective formulation. Keywords: LAMIC–Lannea microcarpa–Standardization–Antioxidant–Subchronic toxicity. &nbsp

Access to oncology care in Mali: a qualitative study on breast cancer

International audienceAbstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in terms of incidence and mortality among women worldwide, including in Africa, and a rapid increase in the number of new cases of breast cancer has recently been observed in sub-Saharan Africa. Oncology is a relatively new discipline in many West African countries, particularly Mali; thus, little is known about the current state of cancer care infrastructure and oncology practices in these countries. Methods To describe the challenges related to access to oncology care in Mali, we used a qualitative approach, following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Thirty-eight semistructured interviews were conducted with health professionals treating cancer in Mali ( n = 10), women with breast cancer ( n = 25), and representatives of associations ( n = 3), and 40 participant observations were conducted in an oncology unit in Bamako. We used the theoretical framework on access to health care developed by Levesque et al. a posteriori to organise and analyse the data collected. Results Access to oncology care is partly limited by the current state of Mali's health infrastructure (technical platform failures, repeated strikes in university hospitals, incomplete free health care and the unavailability of medicines) and exacerbated by the security crisis that has been occurring the country since 2012. The lack of specialist doctors, combined with limited screening campaigns and a centralised and fragmented technical platform in Bamako, is particularly detrimental to breast cancer treatment. Women's lack of awareness, lack of information throughout the treatment process, stereotypes and opposition to amputations all play a significant role in their ability to seek and access quality care, leading some women to therapeutically wander and others to want to leave Mali. It also leaves them in debt and jeopardises the future of their children. However, the high level of trust in doctors, the involvement of international actors, the level of social support and the growing influence of civil society on the issue of cancer also represent great current opportunities to fight cancer in Mali. Conclusion Despite the efforts of successive Malian governments and the commitment of international actors, the provision of health care is still limited in the country, entrenching global inequalities in women's bodies

C36 - Développement d’un phytomémédicament sous forme de suppositoire à base d’extrait aqueux des écorces de tronc de Parkia biglobosa Jacq. Benth (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) pour la prise en charge de l’inflammation de la maladie hémorroïdaire

Introduction : La maladie hémorroïdaire est un état pathologique caractérisé par une dilatation de la veine recto-anale plexus. Une enquête ethnobotanique a révélé l’utilisation des écorces de tronc de Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) sous forme de pommade ou décoction en lavement anal pour son traitement. L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser l’extrait, confirmer son efficacité et formulé des suppositoires. Méthode : Un screening phytochimique et une caractérisation physico-chimique suivi évaluation de l'activité antioxydante et antiinflammatoire de l’extrait ont été réalisés. Une formulation des suppositoires a été définie à partir d’une stratégie utilisant deux masses à suppositoire (Witerpsol H15 et Suppocire ASX2). Les suppositoires obtenus ont fait l’objet de contrôle qualité et d’évaluation de l’efficacité. Résultat : L’extrait était de couleur marron avec une texture fine. Son taux d’humidité était à 4,67 et le pH de 7,17. Les suppositoires avaient une forme allongée, une texture et un aspect uniforme avec un temps moyen de ramollissement de 8,36min et un point de fusion moyen de 37,3°C. L’étude phytochimique a permis de mettre en évidence des flavonoïdes. L’évaluation de l’activité antioxydante a donné une concentration inhibitrice 50 une IC50 de 9,35 µg/ml Par ABTS, un pourcentage d’inhibition de 54,34% par LPO et l’activité Antiinflammatoire par l’inhibition de la LOX avec une IC50 de 19,01 µg/ml. L’étude préliminaire anti hémorroïdaire a permis de constater une résorption de la suppuration induite par l’huile de croton. Conclusion : Les études réalisées offrent une alternative d’utilisation de l’extrait sous forme de suppositoires pour le traitement de l’inflammation de la maladie hémorroïdaire

C17- Étude phytochimique et tocolytique des macérés éthanolique des feuilles et des écorces du tronc de Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Anacardiaceae) récoltés à Matamèye (Niger)

Introduction : Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst est une plante utilisée comme des précurseurs de composés naturels bioactifs utilisées par l’homme pour ses diverses propriétés telles qu’antihelminthiques, antibactériennes, antioxydantes, antidiabétiques, anti-inflammatoires et éventuellement un effet sur l’utérus gravide. Le but de cette étude était de comparer la composition phytochimique et l’activité contractile sur l’utérus isolé des macérés éthanolique des feuilles et des écorces du tronc de Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst. Méthodes :Les polyphénols et flavonoïdes ont été quantifiés. Les activités biochimiques (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP et 15-LOX) et l’effet contractile de muscle lisse utérin isolé des souris NMRI ont été évalués in vitro. Resultats et Discussion : La plus forte teneur des phénoliques totaux (490,3 ± 2,98 µg EAG/mgEs) a été obtenu avec l’écorce et celle des flavonoïdes (380,6 ± 0,37 µg EQ/mgEs) avec les feuilles. Les plus faibles CI50 en µg/mL, ont été obtenues avec l’extrait des écorces avec 1,94 ± 0,20 contre 4,22 ± 0,19 d’acide ascorbique pour le DPPH ; 34,17 contre 21,43 zileuton pour15-Lypoxygénase et 1,40 ± 0,05 des extraits des feuilles contre 3,08 ± 0,07 d’acide ascorbique pour l’ABTS. Les extraits des écorces et des feuilles avaient inhibés les spasmes utérins de base. L’extrait des écorces s’est révélé plus antioxydant par rapport à l’extrait des feuilles, ceci pourrait être dû à la forte teneur en polyphénols. En effet, l’utilisation traditionnelle de cette plante par les parturientes pourrait être liée à ses effets antioxydant et tocolytique

Countrywide Survey of Plants Used for Liver Disease Management by Traditional Healers in Burkina Faso

International audienceLiver disease is highly prevalent in Africa, especially in the western African country Burkina Faso, due to the presence of multiple biological and chemical aggressors of the liver. Furthermore, diagnosis and appropriate care for liver disease are uneven and usually insufficient. This drives local communities to turn to folk medicine based on medicinal plants from healers. Small scale, ethnopharmacological studies on reputed hepatoprotective plants have been carried out in defined regions worldwide, but so far, no study has been carried out on a countrywide scale. Therefore, we have explored traditional healers’ practices in all thirteen regions of Burkina Faso. We interviewed 575 healers and we compiled a database with 2,006 plant entries. Here, we report results on liver nosology, liver pathologies, medicinal plants used for liver disease, and traditional practices through the lens of Burkinabe healers. Our goal was to give a full inventory of medicinal plants used to treat liver disease and to determine if there was consensus on the use of specific plants for specific symptoms. Analysis of the medicinal plants in use across the whole country provides local communities with a wider evidence base to determine which plants may be more effective in treating liver disease and could provide the scientific community, with a shortlist of plants suitable for chemical and pharmacological investigation to validate the plants’ therapeutic role