In vitro and in vivo antimalarial and cytotoxic activity of five plants used in Congolese traditional medicine.

peer reviewedAIM OF THE STUDY: The in vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of methanolic and dichloromethane extracts from five Congolese plants were evaluated. The plants were selected following an ethnobotanical survey conducted in D.R. Congo and focusing on plants used traditionally to treat malaria. The in vivo antimalarial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts active in vitro was also determined in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei berghei. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The growth inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum strains was evaluated using the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity. The extracts (aqueous, CH(3)OH, EtOH and CH(2)Cl(2)) were prepared by maceration and tested in vitro against the 3D7 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2 (chloroquine resistant) strains of Plasmodium falciparum and against the human normal fetal lung fibroblasts WI-38 to determine the selectivity index. Some extracts were also used at the dose of 300mg/kg to evaluate their activity in mice infected since 4 days by Plasmodium berghei. RESULTS: Two plants presented a very high activity (IC(50)10, Anisopappus chinensis). Anisopappus chinensis and Physalis angulata were also active in vivo

UV Visible Spectrophotometric Determination of the Quality of Antiretroviral Drugs Distributed in Kinshasa

peer reviewedBackground: Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are the molecules used in the fight against infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Their main objective is to stop the virus from replicating and thus allow the immune system to recover. In 2001, the program to fight against HIV/AIDS United Nations (UNAIDS) and its partners has decided to strengthen the pharmaceutical channel and improve access to good quality care. Thus ARV quality control is recommended. Objective: The objective of this work was to monitor the quality of ARVs distributed in Kinshasa. Methodology: In this work, UV-visible spectrophotometry is used for the analysis of ARVs presented in simple form distributed in the city of Kinshasa. Results: The results of this work show that the stated and analyzed ARVs contain active ingredients; there is no placebo. Ten percent of these ARVs are non-compliant with regard to dosing of the active test. Conclusion: These results confirm the need to control these drugs to protect patients from adverse consequences related to their poor quality

Isolation, pharmacological activity and structure determination of physalin B and 5[beta],6[beta]-ep­oxy­physalin B isolated from Congolese Physalis angulata L.

Physalis angulata L., an annual herb from the Solanaceae family, is widely used in popular medicine in tropical countries to treat a variety of diseases. Two products, (X) and (Y), were isolated from a crude CH2Cl2 extract of dried Congolese Physalis angulata L. plants and crystallized from acetone for structure elucidation. Compound (X) corresponds to a physalin B dimer acetone solvate hydrate (2C28H30O9·C3H6O·0.22H2O), while compound (Y) crystallizes as a mixed crystal containing two physalin B mol­ecules which overlap with 5[beta],6[beta]-ep­oxy­physalin B, also known as physalin F, and one acetone mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit (1.332C28H30O9·0.668C28H30O10·C3H6O). Anti­­plasmodial activity, cytotoxic activity and selectivity indices were determined for crude extracts and the two isolated products (X) and (Y)

Comparative study of the methane production based on the chemical composition of Mangifera Indica and Manihot Utilissima leaves

Leaves of Mangifera Indica (MI, mango leaves) and Manihot Utilissima (MU, cassava leaves) are available in tropical regions and are the most accessible vegetal wastes of Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. These wastes are not suitably managed and are not rationally valorized. They are abandoned in full air, on the soil and in the rivers. They thus pollute environment. By contrast, they can be recuperated and treated in order to produce methane (energy source), organic fertilizer and clean up the environment simultaneously. The main objective of this study was to investigate methane production from MI and MU leaves by BMP tests at 30°C. The yields achieved from the anaerobic digestion of up to 61.3 g raw matter in 1 l medium were 0.001 l/g and 0.100 l CH4/g volatile solids of MI and MU leaves, respectively. The yield of MU leaves was in the range mentioned in the literature for other leaves because of a poor presence of bioactive substrates, and low C/N ratio. This methane yield corresponded to 7% of calorific power of wood. By contrast, the methane yield from MI leaves was almost nil suggesting some metabolism inhibition because of their rich composition in carbon and bioactive substrates. Whereas classical acidogenesis and acetogenesis were recorded. Therefore, methane production from the sole MI leaves seems unfavorable by comparison to MU leaves at the ambient temperature in tropical regions. Their solid and liquid residues obtained after anaerobic digestion would be efficient fertilizers. However, the methane productivity of both leaves could be improved by anaerobic co-digestion.Thèse : Etude de la biodégradation anaérobie des feuilles de Mangifera Indica (manguier) et Manihot Utilissima (manioc