Antibacterial, Anti-HIV-1 Protease and Cytotoxic Activities of Aqueous Ethanolic Extracts from Combretum Adenogonium Steud. Ex A. Rich (Combretaceae).

\ud \ud Records have shown that Combretum adenogonium Steud. Ex A. Rich (Combretaceae) is used in traditional medicine systems of several tribes in Tanzania. This study focused on the investigation of antibacterial activity, anti-HIV-1 protease activity, toxicity properties and classes of phytochemicals in extracts from C. adenogonium Steud. Ex A. Rich (Combretaceae) to evaluate potential of these extracts for development as herbal remedies. Dried plant material were ground to fine powder and extracted using 80% aqueous ethanol to afford root, leaf and stem bark extracts. The extracts were assayed for anti-HIV-1 protease activities, antibacterial activities using microdilution methods and cytotoxicity using brine shrimps lethality assay. Screening for major phytochemical classes was carried out using standard chemical tests. All extracts exhibited antibacterial activity to at least one of the test bacteria with MIC-values ranging from 0.31-5.0 mg/ml. Two extracts, namely, root and stem bark exhibited anti-HIV-1 PR activity with IC50 values of 24.7 and 26.5 μg/ml, respectively. Stem bark and leaf extracts showed mild toxicity with LC50 values of 65.768 μg/ml and 76.965 μg/ml, respectively, whereas roots were relatively non-toxic (LC50 = 110.042 μg/ml). Phytochemical screening of the extracts indicated presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides and saponins. These results provide promising baseline information for the potential development of C. adenogonium extracts in treatment of bacterial and HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections

"After my husband's circumcision, I know that I am safe from diseases": Women's Attitudes and Risk Perceptions Towards Male Circumcision in Iringa, Tanzania.

While male circumcision reduces the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission and certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), there is little evidence that circumcision provides women with direct protection against HIV. This study used qualitative methods to assess women's perceptions of male circumcision in Iringa, Tanzania. Women in this study had strong preferences for circumcised men because of the low risk perception of HIV with circumcised men, social norms favoring circumcised men, and perceived increased sexual desirability of circumcised men. The health benefits of male circumcision were generally overstated; many respondents falsely believed that women are also directly protected against HIV and that the risk of all STIs is greatly reduced or eliminated in circumcised men. Efforts to engage women about the risks and limitations of male circumcision, in addition to the benefits, should be expanded so that women can accurately assess their risk of HIV or STIs during sexual intercourse with circumcised men

Availability, Awareness, Attitude and Knowledge of Emergency Contraceptives in Dar Es Salaam

Contraceptive methods are useful in family planning and prevention of unwanted pregnancies. Studies done in different countries however have reported poor knowledge and low use of these contraceptives especially the emergency contraceptive pills (ECP). In Tanzania, the awareness and knowledge of women about ECP is not well documented. The aim of this study was to assess awareness, knowledge and attitude of female university students on ECP and the availability of these pills in selected medicines outlets located in Dar Es Salaam city. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out using a self administered questionnaire to assess knowledge and attitude towards emergency contraceptive pills among female university students. The simulated client method was used to assess availability of the pills in pharmacies and part II shops in the city. A total of 350 female students participated in this study of whom, 57 % were aware of ECP and only 14 % had used them. About half (49%) of the participants had poor knowledge on ECP. The study revealed that 42.3 % of the pharmacies and 30 % of Part II shops surveyed stock only one brand of ECP which was not registered by the regulatory Authority. To conclude, low awareness and poor knowledge on ECP was observed among the study population. Only one brand of emergency contraceptive pills was available in both Pharmacies and Part II shops. Unfortunately this brand was not registered by the regulatory authority. Key words: attitude, awareness, emergency contraceptives, knowledge, unwanted pregnancy

Screening of Tanzanian medicinal plants against Plasmodium falciparum and human immunodeficiency virus.

noMedicinal plants used to treat infectious diseases in Bunda district, Tanzania, were screened for activity against Plasmodium falciparum and human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1, IIIB strain) and Type 2 (HIV-2, ROD strain). Antiplasmodial activity was observed for the 80% MeOH extract of Ormocarpum kirkii (root; MIC = =31.25 ¿g/mL). Combretum adenogonium (leaves), Euphorbia tirucalli (root), Harrisonia abyssinica (root), Rhyncosia sublobata (root), Sesbania sesban (root), Tithonia diversifolia (leaves), and Vernonia cinerascens (leaves; MIC value of 62.5 ¿g/mL). With regard to HIV, 80% MeOH extracts of Barleria eranthemooides (root), Cambretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark), Elaeodedron schlechteranum (stem bark and root bark), Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark), Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark), Acacia tortilis (stem bark), Ficus cycamorus (stem bark) and Indigofera colutea (shoot), as well as H2O extracts from Barleria eranthemoides (root), Combretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark)and Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark) exhibited IC50 values below 10 ¿g/mL against HIV-1 (IIIB strain). The highest anti-HIV-1 activity value was obtained for the B. eranthemoides 80% MeOH root extract (IC50 value 2.1 ¿g/mL). Only a few extracts were active against HIV-2, such as the 80% MeOH extract from Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark) and Elaeodedron schlechteranum (root bark), showing IC50 values < 10 ¿g/mL