Chemical constitutents and cytotoxicity of some Tanzanian wild mushrooms

The sterol ergosterol and ergosta-4,22-diene-3&#946,7&#945-diol, together with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were isolated from the mushroom species Polyporus molluscensis, Cantharellus isabelinus, C. symoensii and a Podaxis species. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. The ethanol extracts of mushroom samples of Agaricus sp. and Termitomyces letestui also showed cytotoxicity against the brine shrimp larvae. Tanzania Journal of Science Vol. 31 (2) 2005: pp. 1-

Biological and phytochemical investigations of synadenium glaucescens pax (euphorbiaceae)

PhD ThesisSynadenium glaucescens is a traditional medicinal plant used in Tanzania for management of various infections and diseases affecting animals including human. The diseases treated include HIV, TB and East Coast fever among others. Despite the recorded traditional utilization, limited scientific information exists regarding its biological and phytochemical importance. This current study, therefore aimed at investigating its toxicological, pharmacological and phytochemical properties. Toxicological studies involved the assessment of dermal toxicities using guidelines stipulated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Acaricidal activity was evaluated using Larval and Adult immersion tests as described by Drummond. In pharmacological assays, an in vitro HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was used for screening of anti-HIV activity using a Roche HIV kit while chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were used in phytochemical studies. Irritation indices from dermal toxicity studies ranged between 3.2 and 0.05. According to Draize, these indices range are considered as mild to moderate irritancy since none of them could reach Primary Irritation Index (PII) of 5 or above which is classified as irritant. On the other hand, acute dermal toxicity tests showed no overt signs of toxicity. Similarly the extracts did not produce any sensitization reaction. Acaricidal studies showed low larvicidal (corrected mortality 37.5%) and adulticidal (corrected mortality 33.33%, LC50 666.91) activities respectively for methanol and ethanol extracts from leaves. Other extracts of this plant were inactive in these tests. Anti HIV tests indicated aqueous root and leaves together with dichloromethane extracts from roots to have high activities with IC50 values of 3.96 µg/mL, 6.04 µg/mL and 11.43 µg/mL respectively. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed low effectiveness in the inhibition of HIV-1 RT as indicated by their very high values of IC50 relative to positive control. From the phytochemical studies, four compounds namely euphol and erythrinacinate C from the root barks and ß-sitosterol and octacosanol from the leaves were isolated. All compounds have been reported from other plant species but are isolated from this plant species for the first time. The findings showed that dried extracts are dermally safe while possessing potential anti HIV activities. The extracts also shows to possess diversity of compounds that could be responsible for anti HIV activities. Further investigations are however, recommended for this plant species especially on anti HIV activities and phytochemistry for discovery of drug leads.AFFNET, COSTECH and NR

Manifestations and reduction strategies of stigma and discrimination on people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

HIV/AIDS-related stigma, and its associated discrimination, is known to negatively affect all aspects of HIV prevention, care and treatment. Studies have revealed the extent to which individuals are stigmatized and discriminated against the health care system. However, there has been limited information on stigma manifestations and reduction interventions. The main objective of the study was to determine the magnitude and factors influencing HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination with a specific focus on the manifestations and reduction interventions. In-depth interviews, exit interviews and focus group discussions were deployed in the study. Results have shown that HIV/AIDS is increasingly conceptualized as a continuum between prevention and care, effects of stigma and discrimination are from both health facilities and communities. While religious leaders isolate people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and consider them as most promiscuous, health workers also have strong negative attitudes and feelings and as a result PLWHAs refrain from counselling and testing services. A stigmatizing social environment was found to pose barriers to all strategies and/or interventions that are aimed at reducing this situation. Because of stigma and discrimination, people living with HIV/AIDS receive inadequate treatment, as such they decline to divulge their status to partners or change their behaviour avoiding depressing reactions. Basing on that therefore, adequate outreach services at both community and health facility levels be established and line up in the fight against stigma and discrimination facing people living with HIV/AIDS

Magnitude of HIV infection among older people in Mufindi and Babati districts of the Tanzania mainland

Vitus Nyigo,1 Andrew Kilale,2 Stella Kilima,1 Elizabeth H Shayo,1 Kesheni P Senkoro,1 Jonathan Mshana,1 Adiel K Mushi,1 Lucas Matemba,1 Julius Massaga11National Institute for Medical Research, 2Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Introduction: According to the 2011–2012 HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey, the prevalence of HIV infection in Tanzania is 5.1%, with limited information on its magnitude among older people, as the community believes that the elderly are not at risk. Consequently, little attention is given to the fight against HIV and AIDS in this group. The present study investigated the magnitude of HIV and AIDS infection among older people in rural and urban areas of the Tanzania mainland. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted in Mufindi and Babati districts of Iringa and Manyara regions, respectively, through multistage sampling procedures. Dried blood spot cards were used to collect blood samples for HIV testing among consenting participants. HIV testing was done and retested using different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: A total of 720 individuals, 340 (47.2%) males and 380 (52.8%) females, were randomly selected, of whom 714 (99.2%) consented to HIV testing while six (0.8%) refused to donate blood. The age ranged from 50 to 98 years, with a mean age of 64.2 years. Overall, a total of 56 (7.8%) participants were HIV-positive. Females had a higher prevalence (8.3%) than males (7.4%), with Mufindi district recording the higher rate (11.3%) compared to the 3.7% of Babati district. The prevalence was higher in the rural population (9.4%) compared to 6.4% of their urban counterparts. Conclusion: Although HIV/AIDS is considered a disease of individuals aged 15–49 years, the overall prevalence among the older people aged 50 years and above for Mufindi and Babati districts was higher than the national prevalence in the general population. These findings point to the need to consider strengthening interventions targeting older populations against HIV/AIDS in these districts while establishing evidence countrywide to inform policy decisions. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, prevalence, elderly, Iringa, Manyara, HIV in the elderly, older populatio