Title: Primary Dysmenorrhea: Associated Symptoms, Impact and Management among Females in the Menoua Division of the West Region of Cameroon. Cross-sectional Study Running Title: Primary Dysmenorrhea in the Menoua Division

Primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology is a common and often debilitating gynecological condition that affects between 45% and 95% of women at reproductive age. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated menstrual symptoms and their self-management techniques among females. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Menoua Division, which has six subdivisions namely: Fokoue, Dschang, NKongni, Penka Michel, Santchou and Fongo tongo .For this purpose, 668 women aged from 12 to 38 years were considered. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The main results revealed that dysmenorrhea was reported on almost two-thirds of the women (66.17%). In the 442 girls who reported dysmenorrhea Severe pain was reported by 20.71 % of respondents. More than one-third of the respondents (39.75%) reported using pain relief medications with 23.38 % of herbal medicine and 76.54 % of synthetic medicines. The gastrointestinal problems (diarrhoea and vomiting were the most common symptoms experienced. Less than 19.41% of respondents reported having consulted a doctor for their dysmenorrhea, while most of them consulted friends and family.Dysmenorrhea is a very common problem among university students. A number of symptoms were related to dysmenorrhea. Even though it is common, and may not have a pathological cause, few women seek medical advice. Increasing the awareness might help in relieving the burden of this common health problem

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia. 

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia.