Evaluation de l’activité analgésique de l’extrait aqueux des feuilles de Mitracarpus scaber Zucc (Rubiacées), une plante médicinale de Côte d’Ivoire

Le recours constant et même grandissant par les populations économiquement faibles à la pharmacopée traditionnelle n’est plus discutable puisque de nombreuses recettes traditionnelles font et continuent de faire leurs preuves d’efficacité dans plusieurs pathologies comme le paludisme, les infections virales, le cancer, les infections bactériennes et fongiques. C’est dans ce but que notre équipe a étudié l’activité analgésique centrale et périphérique de l’extrait aqueux des feuilles de Mitracarpus scaber (EAMS) une plante utilisée en médecinetraditionnelle pour soulager des maux de tête et des douleurs des membres. Nous avons testé les concentrations suivantes : 10 mg/kg de poids corporel (PC); 1 mg/kg PC et 0,1 mg/kg PC du lyophilisat issu du macérât aqueux des feuilles de Mitracarpus scaber sur des souris de type Mus musculus par le test d’Amour et Smith et le writhing test à l’acide acétique. Les résultats obtenus montrent que l’extrait de feuilles de Mitracarpus scaber à la dose de 10 mg/kg PC possède d’une part une activité analgésique centrale comparable à celle de la morphine après administration aux souris, et d’autre part une activité analgésique périphérique supérieure à celle du ketoprofène dosé à 10 mg/kg PC. Nos résultats confirment l’utilisation traditionnelle des feuilles deMitracarpus scaber comme analgésique. © 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reservedMots clés : Extrait de plante, douleur, souris

Preclinical research and development of a herbal antipyretic drug based on leaves of Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae)

Background: Faced with the limits of synthetic antipyretic substances, in particular their involvement in the occurrence of numerous and often serious adverse effects; the challenge is in search of new antipyretics especially from the African traditional pharmacopoeia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract and a formulation of Ceiba pentandra, with a view to designing an herbal antipyretic drug.Methods: Trials of formulation of an antipyretic syrup with leaves extract of Ceiba pentandra were carried out. The antipyretic activity was investigated by the bewer's yeast induced pyrexia. Physicochemical and microbiological stability tests were carried out on the syrup.Results: It was found with the extract an antipyretic activity at doses of 125 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg. The effect was greater for the 125 mg/kg dose with inhibition percentages ranging from 27.58% to 71.25%. This antipyretic activity was early (from 30 minutes) and was preserved during the four hours of the experiment. The syrup dosed at 125 mg/kg gave an activity similar to that of the extract by significantly reducing the hyperthermia in the rats. Regarding the stability tests, the syrup remained stable both physico-chemically and microbiologically throughout the study period (28 days) both when exposed to low temperature (5 °±3 ° C) and at high temperature (40°±2° C).Conclusions: Ceiba pentandra leaves have antipyretic activity and could be used for the development of an herbal antipyretic drug

Identifying hotspots of chimpanzee group activity from transect surveys in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

Locating activity hotspots - areas of higher density, more intense use, or distinct social units - is a prerequisite for answering many questions in animal ecology. However, for many species, carrying out such research from direct observations in tropical habitat is time-consuming and unrealistic for non-habituated animals. This study aimed to locate chimpanzee home ranges from transect nest counts. For validation purposes, 233 line transects were sampled within the home ranges of four habituated social groups of chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. In total, 373 km of transects were surveyed over 188 days and 683 nests of chimpanzee were recorded. First, we characterized heterogeneity of nest distribution patterns, including variation in density and group size within the area. Second, we used scan statistics, a likelihood-based cluster technique to locate chimpanzee social groups and compared them with the known home range boundaries. Chimpanzee nest distribution was characterized by a positive density and group-size gradient away from the range periphery. Furthermore, nest distribution clusters corresponding to the four groups could be successfully identified, although additional clusters for, for example, low-density areas between social groups seem to be an unavoidable by-product. The approach taken can be extended to a wide spectrum of data stemming from direct observations, camera traps, acoustic or genetic sampling to derive information about structure and patchiness of wild animal population

Hyperglycaemia lowering activity and hypoglycaemic risk assessment of Sarenta, an Ivorian traditional herbal remedy

Background: Diabetes remains a major public health problem for which traditional medicine is a better therapeutic alternative for low-income populations, including African populations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Sarenta, an herbal preparation used in Ivorian traditional medicine as anti-diabetic, on hyperglycaemia and on basic glycaemia.Methods: Hyperglycaemia lowering activity was led in rats receiving glucose at 5 g/kg body weight by gavage after oral pre-treatment with either Sarenta at 125, 206 or 209.5 mg/kg b. wt., either glibenclamide at 10 mg/kg b. wt., or physiological saline solution. Hypoglycaemic risk was assessed by administering the same doses of Sarenta to native i.e. NaCl-treated rats. For both tests, blood glucose was measured before any substance was administered and then every hour for 4 hours.Results: After 4 hours, Sarenta at 206 mg/kg b. wt. and 209.5 mg/kg b. wt. significantly reduced the induced hyperglycaemia in rats by 33.87% and 37.39%, respectively. The degree of the hyperglycaemia lowering effect of the remedy at these two doses was not significantly different from that of glibenclamide. In addition, Sarenta at 209.5 mg/kg b. wt. resulted in a significant reduction of basic blood sugar to 29.78% four hours after administration.Conclusions: The remedy Sarenta has a hyperglycaemia lowering activity that could partially justify its traditional use in the treatment of diabetes. However, considering its hypoglycemic effect, precautions should be taken when using this traditional medicine

Purification and physicochemical properties of - amylase from cockroach, Periplaneta americana (LINNAEUS), for starches saccharification

An -amylase was purified from the American cockroach Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) to homogeneity by four steps purification via ammonium sulphate crude extract precipitation, SephacrylS-100 HR gel permeation chromatography, anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl Sepharose CL-4B. The purification was approximatively 38.42 fold with a 24.31% yield. Optimums pH and temperature of the purified -amylase were found to be 5.6 and 55°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable up to 55°C and its pH stability was in range of 5.6 - 6.6. The KM and Vmax of the enzyme with soluble starch as substrate were 5 mg/ml and100 ìmol/min/mg, respectively, and the energy of activation (Ea), was 50.32 Kj/mol. The -amylase was inhibited by Tris, Fe3+, Ba2+, Mo+ and EDTA. While Ca2+, K+, Cu2+, Mg2+ and  para-hydroxymercuribenzoate (pHMB) activated the enzyme. Analysis of the amylolytic reaction products by HPLC showed thepresence of maltose and maltodextrin but not glucose in the starch hydrolysate (2 h of reaction). This result indicated that the amylolytic enzyme of P. americana is an -amylase (an endoamylase). Thepurified -amylase hydrolysed maltopentose, maltohexose and maltoheptose. Maltose, maltotriose and maltotetrose were not hydrolysed by this enzyme. Therefore, the purified -amylase is active only on substrates with more than four residues of glucose

Variations biochimiques et morphologiques au cours de la conservation des vivo plants de trois varietes de bananier plantain [Musa x Paradisiaca, (musaceae)]

Les pousses feuillées de trois variétés (CORNE1, PITA3 et FHIA21) obtenues après multiplication sur souche décortiquée ont été sevrées puis conservées dans des sachets en plastique pendant 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 heures dans un carton fermé. Des modifications morphologiques ont été observées et les dosages biochimiques ont été réalisés avant leur repiquage. Certains paramètres de croissance ont été mesurés après 30 jours. Aucune différence significative n’a été enregistrée au niveau de la masse des pousses feuillées. Les teneurs en composés phénoliques ont varié à 48 et 96 heures pour la variété Corne1. Pour les variétés PITA3 et FHIA21, les valeurs maximales ont été enregistrées respectivement à 24 et 72 heures et, à 0 et 24 heures. Pour tous les cultivars étudiés, les protéines ont été massivement synthétisées au cours des 48 et 96 heures de conservation. La quantité de sucres totaux a diminué. Les plantules conservées durant 0, 24 et 72 heures ont eu le taux de reprise le plus élevé chez PITA3 et FHIA 21. Chez Corne1, un taux de 55 % a été relevé pour les pousses feuillées conservées 24 heures. Cette étude montre que les pousses feuillées peuvent être conservées.Mots clés: plantain, souches décortiquées, composé biochimique, conservationEnglish Title: Biochemical and morphological variations during the conservation of the vivo plants of three varieties of plantainEnglish AbstractThe broken into leaf growths of three varieties (CORNE1, PITA3 and FHIA21) obtained after multiplication on peeled stock were separated then preserved in plastic sachets during 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours in a closed paperboard. Morphological modifications were observed and biochemical proportionings were carried out before their road repair. Certain parameters of growth were measured after 30 days. No significant difference was recorded on the level of the mass of the broken into leaf growths. The contents of phenolic compounds varied to 48 and 96 hours for the Corne1 variety. For the maximum varieties PITA3 and FHIA21, values were recorded respectively to 24 and 72 hours and, to 0 and 24 hours. For all the studied cultivars, the proteins were massively synthesized during 48 and 96 hours of conservation. The quantity of total sugars decreased. The seedlings preserved during 0, 24 and 72 hours had the highest rate of recovery at PITA3 and FHIA 21. At Corne1, a rate of 55 % was raised for the preserved broken into leaf growths 24 hours. This study shows that the broken into leaf growths can be preserved.Keywords: plantain, peeled stocks, biochemical compound, conservatio

Nitrogen and Fiber Digestion in Sheep Fed Fresh-Frozen and Field-Dried High and Low Tannin Sericea Lespedeza

Field-drying reduces extractable condensed tannin (CT) of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], but effects on specific bound and unbound forms of CT and the relationship to protein and fiber digestion in ruminants are unclear. Intake and digestibility of fresh-frozen and field-dried high- and low-tannin sericea were investigated in a feeding trial with sheep (Ovis spp.). Field-drying had no effect on crude protein (CP) and fiber content of sericea, but shifted CT from extractable to bound forms. Digestion coefficients for CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower for high-tannin sericea than the low-tannin type. Field-drying had no effect on fiber digestibility but increased CP digestibility and N retention in sheep fed high-tannin forage. Apparent digestion of CT was high for all treatments, but this is likely due to difficulty in analyzing CT in fecal material. Nutritional effects of CT in sericea lespedeza are related to both total CT and proportion of bound and unbound CT in the forage