Cytotoxicity of selected medicinal plants used in Mt. Frere District, South Africa

Background: In South African traditional medicine, some are plants known to combat pediatric diseases and are commonly used by traditionalhealers. The aim was to evaluate cytotoxicity effects of plants.Materials and methods: The ground plant material was exhaustively  extracted using methanol, acetone and water separately for 72 hrs. Theseorganic solvents were removed from filtrates using a rotavapour. Stock  solutions were prepared at 40 mg/ml Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and testsolutions were transferred into vials and 10 brine shrimps introduced in  each. The number of dead shrimps was counted to ascertain toxicity. Ten A. salina nauplii (larva) were transferred into each sample vial and filtered brine solution was added to make 5 ml. The nauplii were counted macroscopically in the stem of the pipette against a lighted background. A drop of dry yeast suspension was added as food to each vial. Probit  analysis was used to determine the concentration at which lethality to brine shrimp represents 50 % (LC50).Results: All the tested extracts showed that the concentration is directly proportional to death of brine shrimps. Fifty percent lethality (LC50) of thetested crude extract ranged between 4.1 and 4.6 µg/ml with methanol  extract of B. abyssinica being the lowest and T. acutiloba the highest.Conclusion: This study revealed that 100% of plant crude extracts screened for activity against Artemisia salina larvae showed strong cytotoxicitybelow 10 µg/ml and plant species with LC50 values < 1000 µg/ml may not make good paediatric remedies due to their inherent toxicity.Key words: Medicinal plants, traditional pediatrics, cytotoxicit

In-vitro cytotoxicity, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of ecklonia radiataand jania verrucosafrom Eastern Cape, South Africa

Seaweeds are marine floras constituting in part to over 90% of the oceanic biomass. Despite the enrichments of seaweeds, their potentials are largely unexplored. Hence, this study evaluated the phytochemical screening, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities of methanolic extracts of Ecklonia radiata and Jania verrucosa. E. radiata and J. verrucosa were collected from sites on the rocky shores of the Mbashe and Port St. John rivers on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa during spring low tides. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out using standard protocol. The assessment of anti-inflammatory activity was done by inhibition of albumin denaturation assay and antimicrobial analysis was performed against six different pathogenic clinical isolates. The cytotoxicity effect of the methanolic extracts were further investigated on MDA-MB-231, HepG2, CaCo-2 and KMST-6 by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay (MTT assay). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, phenols, glycosides, and alkaloid for both extracts. The methanolic extracts of both seed weeds also possess anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting albumin denaturation

Communication in SeSotho: EDU 1265

Examination on Communication in SeSotho: EDU 1265, Nov/Dec 201

Male circumcision: the determinant of social acceptance

The aim of this article is to explore social acceptance as a determinant that needs consideration when developing a circumcision health-promotion program in rural communities in Libode, South Africa.

Vulnerability of growing cities to solid waste-related environmental hazards: the case of Mthatha, South Africa

The rising prevalence of the failure of fast-growing cities’ waste authorities to account for solid waste service function and provide effective solid waste systems poses serious environmental hazards and health risks. Household solid waste mismanagement in Mthatha, a fast-growing city in South Africa with a rapid population increase, is emerging as a major environmental hazard. An effective solid waste audit system could reduce the extent of this problem. This study aimed at categorising and quantifying household solid waste generation and determining the drivers of waste generation and mismanagement that have the potential to increase risk and/or vulnerability to household solid waste-related environmental hazards. Stratified random sampling was used to select 248 sample households and to categorise them according to upgraded high-density informal residential settlements (64), high-density formal residential settlements (62), middle-density residential settlements (61) and low-density residential settlements (61). The results revealed that the waste generation rate increased one moves from informal settlements (1.84 bags of waste per household per week) to low-density, low socioeconomic statuses (2.26 bags), middle-density settlements (2.39 bags) and low-density residential settlements (2.84 bags). Food waste was the most commonly generated type of waste for more than 50% of the respondents. Approximately 89% of the most common types of waste reported across all settlements had the potential to be recycled, reused or composted. Only four factors emerged as significant determinants (p < 0.05) of the volume of solid waste generated per household per week: household socio-economic status, household size, knowledge of waste management and household participation in waste separation. Results on drivers of household solid waste generation and variations across residential settlements could be utilised when designing growing cities’ waste management plans, with the objective of reducing the volume of solid waste sent to landfill sites, illegal dumping and open burning of waste, thus reducing the associated negative impacts that mismanaged waste poses to the environment. Enforcing waste separation at the household level could promote reuse and recycling, which in turn would reduce waste volumes

Evaluation of attempted-suicide management in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal

Objectives. Critical aspects in the management of attempted-suicide patients have been identified in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine which of these aspects were included in the management of patients who attempted suicide in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. The two hospitals in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal. Subjects. Attempted-suicide patients admitted to the above two hospitals between 1 June 2001 and 31 March 2002.Outcome measures. Patients were interviewed regarding how they were managed and were followed up until 3 months after the attempted suicide. Results. Medicine was given to 41% of participants on admission and 64% were counselled by a doctor. A no-suicide contract was entered into in 42% of counselled cases. Family therapy, social worker involvement and psychiatric referral were very low and there was no involvement of friends, teachers or priests. Conclusion. Management of patients who attempted suicide in this district is inadequate as there are no proper policy guidelines. It is important that health caregivers be trained in psychiatry

Disentangling exploitation of the intertidal grazer Phorcus sauciatus

Harvesting of intertidal grazers such as topshells is known to affect negatively the exploited populations by altering population structure and decreasing abundance. Phorcus sauciatus has a wide geographic distribution in the North‐eastern Atlantic Ocean and is subject to increasing levels of harvesting pressure due to the expansion of human population on coastal areas. The effect of proximity to human settlements and coastal accessibility on the size structure and abundance of P. sauciatus popula‐ tions was examined in Madeira archipelago. Mean size, proportion of reproductive individuals, and abundance of this species were generally smaller in areas closer to human settlements and in more accessible coastal areas. Marine protected areas re‐ turned the highest mean sizes evidencing their effectiveness in preserving the size structure of this species. The results highlight the necessity to regulate the harvest of P. sauciatus in Madeira archipelago, as well as the implementation of management measures aiming at the sustainable exploitation and conservation of this species, ex‐ ploited in this region since the early 15th century.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estrategia educativa para mejorar la calidad de vida de pacientes con enfermedad mental grave

El modelo de atención integral en salud abre una visión del abordaje multiprofesional para la necesidad por la recuperación de las personas con trastorno mental grave desde una vertiente educativa más allá del planteamiento médico-clínico se vea reflejada en una estrategia funcional aplicable. Se revisa la bibliografía de diversos programas de educación como eje central de intervención en la comunidad. Se evidencia un mejor funcionamiento personal y social, mayor satisfacción en la atención a los pacientes mentales y el mejoramiento en su calidad de vida. Es decisiva la configuración de una política pública de acción educativa que promueva las condiciones óptimas para conseguir una justicia social y estrategias inclusivas. Se concluye la relevancia de la articulación educativa para el logro de este objetivo mejorando la calidad de vida en pacientes con enfermedad mental grave y motivando su propio espacio social en cualquier ámbito que se desempeñen

El cambio climático y su incidencia en enfermedades tropicales

El desarrollo de las sociedades a ayudado a generar nuevas tecnologías en busca de minimizar las necesidades de la humanidad. Estos cambios han generado efectos colaterales produciendo daños al ecosistema y por ende disminución de la calidad de vida de las sociedades. Unos de los principales problemas a los cuales se ha visto afectado es la salud y sobre todo en esta parte del continente debido a los factores socioculturales y económicos que no han permitido un avance en esta materia. El objetivo general de esta investigación es analizar el efecto del cambio climático y su incidencia en enfermedades tropicales. La metodología utilizada se basó en una investigación de campo con carácter descriptivo, explicativo y exploratorio. Los resultados se desglosaron en base a el cambio climático y la salud, los tipos de enfermedades que provienen del cambio climático y como mitigar las enfermedades tropicales producto del cambio climático. Como conclusión se determinó que se debe producir un quiebre en los paradigmas de las sociedades y poder afianzar una nueva cultura ecológica que permita solventar el cambio climático, pero también contrarrestar las enfermedades que son producto de este terrible problema global