Evaluation of 100 most cited research articles on African medicinal plants

The mission for drug discovery and progress has prompt researchers to scientifically validate the therapeutic uses of medicinal plants available worldwide, of which, African medicinal plants serve as a great reservoir. Despite the extensive work in the field of medicinal plants of African origin, however, bibliometric report on the work conducted on African medicinal plants is scarce, and hence, the present study aimed at evaluating the top 100 most cited articles on medicinal plant wealth of Africa. The literature data used for the bibliometric analysis was explored from Web of Science (WoS) while RStudio and VOSviewer software were used for data analysis and collaboration network visualization, respectively. The most prolific authors were Van Staden J, Jager AK, Teklehaymanot T whereas, the top 3 journals were Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, and South African Journal of Botany. Most cited journals were Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Phytotherapy Research. The topmost institutions in terms of the number of articles were the University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Addis Ababa and Pretoria. South Africa was the most cited country followed by Nigeria. Single country publications dominated the field and therefore, multiple country collaboration should be a focus of social networks among the researchers in the field

P01.50. Influence of dietary red palm oil on antioxidant status in male Wistar rats

Journal articleAntioxidant status in male rats following the dietary consumption of red palm oil (RPO) was investigated. Male wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n=5) received no RPO supplementation and served as the control while group 2 (n=6) and 3 (n=6) received 2ml and 4ml RPO respectively. Plasma total polyphenols, plasma antioxidant capacity i.e. oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) as well as liver and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] levels were determined using established techniques. Our results showed no significant differences (p<0.05) in total polyphenols, ORAC and FRAP in palm oil fed groups when compared with the control group. Catalase levels significantly increased (p<0.05) at both 2ml and 4ml RPO in the liver and erythrocyte. There was no significant difference in the liver GPx levels in palm oil fed groups while erythrocyte GPx level significantly increased at 4ml RPO when compared with the control group. Red palm oil did not significantly increase (p<0.05) liver and erythrocyte SOD levels in all the groups when compared with the control group. In conclusion, red palm oil increased the levels of liver and erythrocyte catalase as well as erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase level and hence, its dietary consumption could help to boost antioxidant status in the body and thus promote good health

Red Palm Oil and Its Antioxidant Potential in Reducing Oxidative Stress in HIV/AIDS and TB Patients

Scientific evidence has shown that HIV infection is caused by a retrovirus, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus so designated because of its genome that encodes an unusual enzyme, reverse transcriptase (RT) that enables the virus to make copies of its own genome as DNA in its host’s cells (human T4 helper lymphocytes) (Oguntibeju et al., 2008). The drastic increase in the number of people infected with HIV is not peculiar to a particular racial group, country or community despite multidimensional efforts which have been made to combat this scourge (Weiss, 1996; Oguntibeju et al., 2007a). It is reported that the virus selectively attacks and depletes T-lymphocyte bearing CD4+ cells (T-helper cells) causing a predisposition to opportunistic infections and malignancies (Weiss, 1996) and ultimately resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The cellular receptors to HIV are cells that express the CD4+ T cell receptor (CD4+ T-cells or T4-cells) as well as other white blood cells including monocytes and macrophages. Glial cells in the central nervous system, chromaffin cells in the intestine and Langerhans cells in mucous membranes and skin that express CD4+ T cell receptors can also be infected (Paxon et al., 1996). The possibility that there are other cellular targets apart from CD4+T-cells is proved by the likelihood of neurons that can be infected. This creates the possibility of the presence of co-receptors in addition to CD4+ T cells to mediate fusion between HIV and its target cells (Grossman and Heberman, 1997). Recognition of the CD4+ T-cells by HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) to which the virus binds and enters host cells to initiate rapid replication cycles (Oguntibeju et al., 2007b) depicts significant cytopathic consequences of HIV infection of CD4+ T-cells (Bartlett, 1998) and is an important factor in the initiation of HIV infection. The shed virions which are immunogenic, stimulate B cells to produce humoral antibodies and plasma cells through lymphoid hyperplasia that ultimately results in decreased number of infected cells as the CD4+ T-cells migrate through the germinal cells. The depletion in the number of CD4+ T-cells exceeds the formation of new cells and may maintain this phase for many years resulting in general disorganization of the lymphoid nodes, loss of lymphoid function and integrity

Cadmium, lead, arsenic and selenium levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace metals are altered in diabetes mellitus and these micronutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of toxic elements: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) levels in whole blood and selenium (Se) (an antioxidant element) in serum of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fifty diabetic patients and 40 apparently healthy non-diabetic individuals were recruited into this study. After an overnight fasting, blood was collected from each subject and blood/serum concentrations of these elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer after acid digestion. The mean value of Pb and Cd were significantly higher in the serum of diabetic patients when compared with the control (p &lt; 0.01) but there was no significant difference in the concentration of As (p &gt; 0.05). The serum concentration of Se was significantly lower in diabetic patients than in healthy control group (P &lt; 0.01). Also, the concentration of the toxic elements showed positive correlation with fasting plasma glucose (Cd r = 0.378, Pb r = 0.425, p &lt; 0.01) and inverse correlation with serum selenium (r = -0.599, p &lt; 0.01). This study showed that, increased toxic metals are associated with diabetes mellitus. Thus, these elements may play a role in the development and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. In addition, depression in antioxidant concentration (especially, Se) may further aggravate this effect.Key words: Toxic elements, antioxidant, diabetes mellitus, adult Nigerians

An alternative health crop for South Africa: Purple potato mini tuber production as affected by water and nutrient stress

Food security in South Africa ranks as one of the top ten priorities in the country. Potato is a fundamental staple food crop in South Africa, providing essential nutrition. While there are several cultivars currently in production for the potato market, there is a need to explore cultivars that are available, but not utilised within the country. Pigmented potatoes are not regarded as high value on the South African market; however, yield prospects as well as health-promoting benefits could have a positive contribution on the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and on the population’s health. Potato cultivar (cv.) Salad blue (SB) seems to be a drought-tolerant crop with the ability to produce reasonable yields under severe environmental conditions. In order to promote cv. SB as a possible food security option for South Africa, there is a critical need for empirical information, describing some basic horticultural as well as&nbsp; biochemical information and vitamin C presence. This study investigated the potential of pigmented potato SB tubers as an alternative to high yielding white potato for the South African market. Tubers of Solanum tuberosum cv. BP1 and SB, were used for this research. The high amounts in phenolic compounds in SB can be considered to be health-promoting phytochemicals. Anticarcinogenic,&nbsp; antibacterial, antiviral properties have been reported. A greenhouse, bag trial with virus-free plantlets of BP1 and SB cultivars was conducted using three water and nutrient levels and favourable root zone temperature (100% without heat, 100% heated, 50% heated, 25% heated) all grown in coco peat. Cultivar SB showed nearly two-fold yield compared to the control BP1. Methanol extracts of the tubers were assessed for their total polyphenolic, flavanol, and flavonol contents as well as 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)&nbsp; scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), anthocyanin and Lascorbic acid assays. The aqueous extract of the SB tubers was found to contain higher level of total polyphenols (320 mg GAE/g), and flavonol (85 mg QE/g) than the extract of the BP1 tubers with values of 173 mg GAE/g (total polyphenol), and 67 mg QE/g (flavonol). Similarly, the methanol extract of the tuber skins also exhibited higher DPPH (818,86 IC50 mg/mL), FRAP (18,19 μmol AAE/g), and TEAC (911,12 μmol TE/g) than the extract of the BP1 with DPPH (595,99 IC50 mg/mL), FRAP (10,86 μmol AAE/g) and TEAC (435,44 μmol TE/g). The present study provides useful information for farmers and health professionals in respect to increased yield and health-promoting benefits of an underutilized potato variety. Key words: Drought tolerant, Food security, Potato, Root Zone Temperature, water, nutrien

Effect of Taraxacum officinale Leaf Extract on Liver Antioxidant Status in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

The study aimed at evaluating liver antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats following treatment with aqueous Taraxacum officinale leaf extract. The rats were divided into six groups of 6 rats each: Normal control, Diabetic control, Non-diabetic rats + 100 mg/kgbw extract, Non-diabetic rats + 200 mg/kgbw extract, Diabetic rats + 100 mg/kgbw extract and Diabetic rats + 200 mg/kg-bw extract. After the treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and the liver was collected, homogenized for biochemical analyses. Biochemical assays such as the levels of nitrite, lipid peroxidation product (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GPx) as well as Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were determined using established techniques. Lipid peroxidation and nitrite level decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control. There was no significant difference in FRAP value in diabetic groups treated with 100mg/kgbw and 200mg/kgbw when compared with the diabetic control. Reduced GSH concentration as well as SOD activity increased significantly in diabetic groups treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control while GPx activity decreased significantly in the treated diabetic rats. The results indicate that Taraxacum officinale leaf extract could enhance liver anitioxidant status, hence, suggest its usefulness in ameliorating diabetic-induced liver injury

The relationship between body mass index and physical activities among medical students

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and physical activities among preclinical medical students at the Spartan Health Sciences University in St. Lucia, West Indies. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study. Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed, 194 were correctly completed, resulting in a response rate of 78%. Body mass index was calculated by using self-reported height and weight. Results: The results showed that 20.1% spend more than seven hours per week in some form of active motion. Twenty four (14.4%) of the respondents indicated that they are smokers and ninety four (48.5%) said that they consume alcohol. The mean BMI of the students was 21.9 Kg/m 2 . Conclusion: This study demonstrates that students participate less in organised physical activity. It is therefore suggested that students should be encouraged to become more engaged in physical activities to prevent future possible health risks associated with sedentary lifestyle

Anti-Diabetic Effects of Nigerian Indigenous Plant Foods/Diets

Book ChapterPlease refer to full tex

Utilization of the Primary Health Care Services in the Tshwane Region of Gauteng Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, the provision of primary health care is a basic service designed to be cost effective and bring healthcare as close as possible to the population, particularly to those people of low economic status. It is a service which is provided free of charge by the South African government and as part of the millennium health goals, it is intended that the service should be accessible to the populace and be effectively utilized. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the accessibility and utilization of the primary health care services in three community health care centres in the Tshwane of the Gauteng Province, South Africa. METHODOLOGY: Data were obtained from participants attending three Community Health Care Centres in the Tshwane Region using self-administered structured questionnaires. A document review of the Community Health Care Centres records was conducted to investigate the utilization trends of the services provided and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data obtained. RESULTS: The results showed that the Community Health Care Centres in the Tshwane Region are accessible to most participants who lived within 5 km of such centres and who traveled 30 minutes or less to the clinic. Using a taxi or walking were found to be the most common means of transport used to gain access to such a clinic. The findings showed that generally, participants were satisfied with the services provided. CONCLUSION: Participants of this study have access to the community health care centres in the Tshwane Region and there seems to be effective utilization by patients attending them