Antisickling activity of three species of Justicia from Kisangani (D.R. Congo): J. tenella,/i>, J. gendarussa and J. insularis

Some medicinal plants have these last years, shown an antisickling activity. What indicates a new therapeutic way to the range of the poor African populations which are affected by this hemoglobinopathy.Justicia secunda is among these plants and it is thus necessary to check whether the other species of Justicia are also active. Emmel and hypoxic induced sickle erythrocyte hemolysis bioassays were used to evaluate theeffect of Justicia gendarussa L., Justicia insularis T. Anderson and Justicia tenella (Nees) T. Anderson leaves and anthocyanins extracts on sickle cells. The results obtained indicate that all these three collected speciesfrom Kisangani and its surrounding, located at the North-East of the D.R. CONGO, showed an antisickling activity. The chemical screening performed on these plants showed in these three species the presence of polyphenols of which anthocyanins. The tests carried out with anthocyanins extracts showed a significant activity of these metabolites with a normalization rate of the form of the sickle cells of 87% for Justicia gendarussa, 92% for Justicia insularis and 80% for Justicia tenella. The minimal concentrations in anthocyanins necessary to have maximal normalization are respectively of 7.2 ìg/mL for Justicia insularis, 7.6 ìg/mL for Justicia gendarussa and 7.7 ìg/mL for Justicia tenella. The results obtained for these three speciesof Justicia confirm those already obtained with species: Justicia secunda. That indicates similarity of these species in their phytochemical  composition and biological activity

Lake Kivu (Albertine Rift) Proximity and Incidence of Cholera at Katana Rural Health Zone

The aim of this work is to determine the impact of cholera risk linked to proximity of the Lake Kivu. Data were collected at the first semester of 2012 in the Rural Health Zone of Katana, coupled with household interviews. Cholera cases reported at the hospital from 2002 to 2011 at the centre for cholera treatment of Katana Rural health zone were collected, coupled with household interviews. During this decade, It was found that the weekly cholera incidence was two folds in the sites in the nearby of the lake then the ones in the mainland (P<0.001). Indeed, the survey revealed that in the Health zone of Katana, proximity to the lake exposes households to cholera two folds than in the mainland (OR= 2,05 ; IC: 1,0913-3,8762; P=0,025) and the consumption of the water from the lake increases the risk from a factor 12 (OR=12 ; IC 95%: 4.365-33.131; P=0.000)

In vitro Antisickling Activity of Anthocyanins from Ocimum canun (Lamiacea)

Some medicinal plants used in Congolese traditional medicine in the management of sickle cell disease have showed interesting antisickling activity in vitro. In the present work, antisickling activity of different extracts from Ocimum canum, a medicinal and aromatic plant used in Congolese traditional medicine, was studied. Aqueous, methanolic, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and dichoromethane extracts were tested using Emmel’s test. Polar extract (Aqueous, methanolic, ethyl acetate) showed antisickling activity when non polar (n-hexane and dichoromethane) were inactive. Anthocyanins extracts from O. canun leaves yielded 8.7 % and showed a strong antisickling activity. This biological activity is dose-dependent and reaches a sickle shape normalization rate of 88.5% at a minimal normalization concentration of 15 µg/ml

Pharmacological screening of some traditionally-used antimalarial plants from the Democratic Republic of Congo compared to their ecological taxonomic equivalence in Madagascar

Hydro-alcoholic extracts of some plant species growing in two different geographical regions (Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on two malaria parasites strains (P. falciparum FcM29 &amp; P. yoelii subsp nigeriensis) and cytotoxicity towards leukaemia P- 388 cell lines. Results indicate that, the antiplasmodial activity of tested plants varied geographically. Plants growing in continent ecosystem are more active in vitro while their ecological equivalence inhabiting island ecosystems are more active in vivo. It would be conclude that, the development of phytomedicines from plants of different geographical regions selected by bioguided fractionation would allow the populations to reduce the health care cost. The chemotaxonomic approach has also permitted us to detect moderate antiplasmodial activities in Neobegua mahafaliensis, a plant species not previously reported as antimalarial in the traditional medicine knowlegde of Madagascar. The use of a pharmacological property such as the antimalarial activity, in this study, in order to establish genetic filiations between the plants species is an original approach. Keywords: Malaria, medicinal plants, cytotoxicity, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Madagascar, phenotypic marker, genetic filiatio

Etudes ethnobotanique et écologique des plantes d’hygiène intime féminine utilisées à Kinshasa (République Démocratique du Congo)

En Afrique, plus de 80% de la population recourent à la médecine traditionnelle en utilisant les espèces végétales pour résoudre le problème de santé primaire. Le but de ce travail a été d'identifier les plantes utilisées par des femmes à Kinshasa/République Démocratique du Congo, pour les soins intimes et de déterminer leurs caractéristiques écologiques. L'enquête ethnobotanique a concerné trois cents personnes comprenant cinquante huit herboristes, habitant Kinshasa. Trente sept espèces, regroupées en vingt deux familles botaniques, ont été identifiées comme plantes pour le soin de la région génitale. Les espèces de Rubiaceae étaient les plantes les plus citées. Au sujet de statut écologique, 32% d’espèces identifiées sont des microphanerophytes, 35% sont des espèces Afro-tropicales et 51% d’espèces sont de la savane. La feuille est la partie la plus utilisée (65%) et les raisons à caractère sanitaire expliquent 54% de cas d'utilisation des plantes tandis que les raisons à caractère érotique comptent pour 46%. Ces divers résultats laissent découvrir la richesse culturelle et traditionnelle que les plantes d’hygiène intime constituent. Elles peuvent servir de matériel pour la production des substances bioactives.Mots clés : Inventaire, plantes, région vaginale, santé primaire, erotique

Étude de l’activité antifalcemiante et de la thermo- et photo-dégradation des anthocyanes de Centella asiatica, Thomandersia hensii et Maesopsis eminii

Lfactivite antifalcemiante des feuilles de Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. et  Thomandersia hensii De Wild. &amp; T. Durand et des ecorces de la tige de Maesopsis eminii Engl. ; trois plantes utilisees en medicine traditionnelle contre la drepanocytose dans la ville de Kisangani (RD Congo), a ete testee en utilisant le test dfEmmel. Les resultats obtenus ont montre une activite antifalcemiante importante in vitro pour les trois plantes. Cette activite serait due aux anthocyanes. Les concentrations minimales de  normalisation des drepanocytes obtenus sont de lfordre de 8µ/ml pour les anthocyanes de ces trois plantes. Les spectres des anthocyanes ont montre une sensibilite a lumiere UV et a la chaleur indiquant que ces pigments sont instables vis-a-vis de ces deux parametres.c 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots cles : Drepanocytose, Test dfEmmel, Concentration Minimale de Normalisation, Taux de normalisatio

Antisickling properties, thermal and photochemical degradations of anthocyanin extracts from Annona senegalensis (Annonaceae)

Anthocyanin crude extracts and fractions of Annona senegalensis leaves were screened for their antisickling properties using a validated in vitro bioassay model of sickle cell anaemia. Preparative thin layer chromatography of acetylated anthocyanin crude extracts carried out with chloroform as solvent provided two active fractions named Ac1 and Ac2. Fraction Ac2 was  quantitatively isolated and submitted to physicochemical investigations. Thermo-degradation kinetics of the above fraction Ac2 at 80 °C and 100 °C revealed first order reaction with the rate constants k (s-1) of 8.10 10-4 and 11.0 10-4, respectively. Anthocyanin crude extracts and the separated fractions showed in vitro antisickling activity. This activity justifies the use of this plant by congolese traditional healers; thus anthocyanins could be the major active principles. However, these natural pigments are unstable towards UV-vis light irradiations and heat. The conservation of this plant should then be performed in the absence of heat and/or light.Keywords: Sickle cell anemia, Annona senegalensis, anthocyanins, light irradiation, thermodegradatio

Evaluation in vitro de l’activité antifalcémiante et effet antioxydant des extraits d’Uapaca heudelotii Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)

En République Démocratique du Congo, comme dans de nombreux pays Africains, la drépanocytose ou anémie SS est l’une des causes majeures de morbidité et de mortalité et constitue un grave problème de Santé Publique. Dans cette partie du continent, la prévalence estimée varie entre 15 et 20% et est parmi les plus élevée en Afrique. En Afrique subsaharienne, plus de 80% d’enfants atteints de l’Anémie SS meurent avant l’âge de cinq ans. A ce jour, bien que quelques moyens thérapeutiques permettent d’améliorer le pronostic de la drépanocytose notamment l’allogreffe, il s’avère que ces moyens sont coûteux et hors de portée des pays pauvres. Les moyens les plus utilisés, notamment les transfusions sanguines répétées, prédisposent les malades à un risque d’infections au VIH/SIDA. Cependant, en RD Congo, plusieurs travaux relatifs à l’utilisation des plantes médicinales contre la drépanocytose ont été rapportés dans la littérature. C’est dans ce cadre que cette étude a été réalisée en vue d’évaluer l’activité antifacémiante des écorces de tige d’Uapaca heudelotii Baill. , une plante médicinale dont la convergence d’utilisation ethnomédicale par l’homme et le bonobo (Pan paniscus) est bien établie, en recourant au test d’Emmel. Les résultats expérimentaux obtenus indiquent un taux de normalisation supérieur à 97% et une nette réduction du taux de méthémoglobine en solution aqueuse. Ceci montre que les extraits totaux méthanoliques d’écorces de tige d’Uapaca heudelotii Baill. possèdent une activité antidrépanocytaire. Ainsi, la pharmacopée des grands singes (Zoopharmacognosie) peut constituer une source des nutraceutiques anti-drépanocytaires.Mots clés: Drépanocytose, Nutraceutiques, Zoopharmacognosie, Uapaca  heudelotii Baill., République Démocratique du Congo

Larvicidal Activity of Some Congolese Plant Extracts against Anopheles Gambiae

Aqueous extracts from leaves of four Congolese plants species were tested for their larvicidal activity against Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes by exposing early 4th instar larvae to a series of concentrations of these plants extracts. Mortality counts were made after 24 hours exposure. Larvicidal effects were found for Canarium schweinfurthii Engl, Lippia multiflora Moldenke and Annona senegalensis Pers with LC50 values of 2.0, 25.1 and 30.2 mg/l respectively. A chemical screening was done on these active plants indicating the presence of alkaloids and polyphenols probable responsible of this activity. Morinda morindoides extract showed no toxicity on larvae