Evaluation of the anti-mycobacterial, anti-oxidative and anti-proliferative activities of Rubia cordifolia ethanolic leaf extract sub-fractions in human lymphocytes and neutrophils

Background.  Rubia cordifolia has been used to treat various diseases and exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antidiarrheal activities. The plant has not been investigated for its anti-mycobacterial activity against virulent tuberculosis strains as well as cytotoxic and anti-oxidant activities in mononuclear cells and neutrophils.Methods. Ethanolic and dichloromethane leaf extract fractions of Rubia cordifolia (0.2- 125μg/ml) were screened for anti-mycobacterial activity using a fluorescent microplate assay. The anti-oxidant activity of the fractions was tested using the radical scavenging assay, while their cytotoxicity to lymphocytes was measured using the WST-8 assay. Reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils exposed to fractions was tested using Cell Meter™ Fluorimetric ROS Assay kit.Results. The ethanolic leaf fractions exhibited overall superior anti-mycobacterial activity than the dichloromethane group and were further screened for anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activities. Ethanolic sub-fractions K2F-3.2, K2F-3.3 and K2F-3.4 showed significant antioxidant activities at concentration of 50 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml and higher in both the cell free-based radical scavenging activity and total reactive oxygen species production assays. For lymphocytes, the test agents showed anti-proliferative activity at 25 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml for sub-fraction K2F-3.3B and 50 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml for agents K2F-3.2 and K2F-3.4.Conclusion. The current study is the first to record the in vitro anti-mycobacterial, anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activities of Rubia cordifolia plant leaf extract sub-fractions using the given experimental setups and further research activities to identify the bioactive components are to be pursued.Keywords: Rubia cordifolia, DPPH, Mycobacteria, cell proliferation, antioxidant activity, RO

EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-MYCOBACTERIAL, ANTI-OXIDATIVE AND ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF RUBIA CORDIFOLIA ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT SUB-FRACTIONS IN HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES AND NEUTROPHILS

Background. Rubia cordifolia has been used to treat various diseases and exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antidiarrheal activities. The plant has not been investigated for its anti-mycobacterial activity against virulent tuberculosis strains as well as cytotoxic and anti-oxidant activities in mononuclear cells and neutrophils. Methods. Ethanolic and dichloromethane leaf extract fractions of Rubia cordifolia (0.2- 125μg/ml) were screened for anti-mycobacterial activity using a fluorescent microplate assay. The anti-oxidant activity of the fractions was tested using the radical scavenging assay, while their cytotoxicity to lymphocytes was measured using the WST-8 assay. Reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils exposed to fractions was tested using Cell Meter™ Fluorimetric ROS Assay kit. Results. The ethanolic leaf fractions exhibited overall superior anti-mycobacterial activity than the dichloromethane group and were further screened for anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activities. Ethanolic sub-fractions K2F-3.2, K2F-3.3 and K2F-3.4 showed significant antioxidant activities at concentration of 50 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml and higher in both the cell free-based radical scavenging activity and total reactive oxygen species production assays. For lymphocytes, the test agents showed anti-proliferative activity at 25 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml for sub-fraction K2F-3.3B and 50 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml for agents K2F-3.2 and K2F-3.4. Conclusion. The current study is the first to record the in vitro anti-mycobacterial, anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activities of Rubia cordifolia plant leaf extract sub-fractions using the given experimental setups and further research activities to identify the bioactive components are to be pursued

Public and outpatients’ awareness of calling emergency medical services immediately by acute stroke in an upper middle-income country: a cross-sectional questionnaire study in greater Gaborone, Botswana

Objectives In this cross-sectional study from Botswana, we investigated awareness of calling emergency medical services (EMS) and seeking immediate medical assistance by acute stroke among stroke risk outpatients and public. Method Closed-ended questionnaires on awareness of calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance by acute stroke, were administered by research assistants to a representative selection of outpatients and public. Results The response rate was 96.0% (93.0% for public (2013) and 96.6% for outpatients (795)). Public respondents had mean age of 36.1 ± 14.5 years (age range 18–90 years) and 54.5% were females, while outpatients had mean age of 37.4 ± 12.7 years (age range 18–80 years) and 58.1% were females. Awareness of calling EMS (78.3%), and of seeking immediate medical assistance (93.1%) by stroke attack was adequate. For calling EMS by acute stroke, outpatients had higher awareness than the public (p < 0.05) among those with unhealthy diet (90.9% vs 71.1%), family history of both stroke and heart diseases (90.7% vs 61.2%), no history of psychiatric diseases (93.2% vs 76.0%) and sedentary lifestyle (87.5% vs 74.8%). Predictors of low awareness of both calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance were no medical insurance, residing/working together, history of psychiatric diseases, and normal weight. Male gender, ≥50 years age, primary education, family history of both stroke and heart diseases, current smoking, no history of HIV/AIDS, and light physical activity were predictors of low awareness of need for calling EMS. Conclusion Results call for educational campaigns on awareness of calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance among those with high risk factor levels

The Survival Interactional Strategies Toward Sustainable Livelihoods Amongst the Migrants in the Rural Areas of Limpopo Province

Survival interactional strategies are important for migrants towards sustainable livelihoods. The purpose of the study was to describe the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants in the selected areas of South Africa. This research was qualitative and used descriptive design to zoom into the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants. Researchers used purposive and convenient sampling techniques to sample the migrants' youth. Data was collected through telephonic individual interviews to comply with COVID-19 national regulations and analyzed thematically. The study considered research ethics and trustworthiness as a research quality criteria. Findings showed that there is a need for effective social networks, sense of togetherness, entrepreneurial network, emotional support and economic support which are not&nbsp;&nbsp; easily realized by people from foreign countries as some of the South African policies are unfavorable to immigrants. Without those mentioned above, the immigrants face challenges when engaged with established relationship with people in the same business, support from spouses and fellow countrymen, functional reciprocal referral system, credit sales of goods, and teamwork as survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the immigrants. The survival interactional strategies are not easily realized by immigrants as some of the South African Policies and realities are unfavorable to the conditions of the people from the foreign countries. Social workers are thus, required to provide awareness on human diversity, and the impacts of xenophobic attacks to the South African community. Social work practitioners should also be mandated to develop and run an awareness programme on the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants.&nbsp