Terpenoids of Boswellia neglecta oleo-gum resin

Oleo-gum resin exudate from Boswellia neglecta afforded a new ursane-type triterpene characterized as 3α-acetoxy-28-hydroxy-11-oxours-12-en-24-ioc acid (1) together with twelve known compounds. Their structural elucidation was accomplished using physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods.                                                                                              KEY WORDS: Boswellia neglecta, Burseraceae, Oleo-gum rein, Triterpenes Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2016, 30(2), 317-323.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v30i2.1

Effect of wheat bran supplementation with fresh and composted agricultural wastes on the growth of Kenyan native wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]

Nutrient supplements and agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation are important in improving establishment and production of mushrooms. Agricultural wastes such as sawdust, grass, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and maize cobs have successfully been used for the production of Kenyan wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]. However, the effect of varying concentrations of wheat bran supplements on their productivity has not been fully researched. In this study, fresh and composted agricultural wastes were supplemented with wheat bran at concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 20%. The cultivation experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data was collected on days to spawn run, days to primordial initiation, primordial concentration quality and biological efficiency. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.1. Mean separation was done using least significant difference (LSD) and effects were declared significant at 5% level. Key words: Wood ear mushrooms, fresh and composted agricultural wastes, wheat bran, Kenya

Provider knowledge of treatment policy and dosing regimen with artemether-lumefantrine and quinine in malaria-endemic areas of western Kenya

BACKGROUND: Due to widespread anti-malarial drug resistance in many countries, Kenya included, artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) has been adopted as the most effective treatment option against malaria. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first-line ACT for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Kenya, while quinine is preferred for complicated and severe malaria. Information on the providers’ knowledge and practices prior to or during AL and quinine implementation is scanty. The current study evaluated providers’ knowledge and practices of treatment policy and dosing regimens with AL and quinine in the public, private and not-for-profit drug outlets. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using three-stage sampling of 288 (126 public, 96 private and 66 not-for-profits) providers in drug outlets was conducted in western Kenya in two Plasmodium falciparum-endemic regions with varying malarial risk. Information on provider in-service training, knowledge (qualification, treatment policy, dosing regimen, recently banned anti-malarials) and on practices (request for written prescription, prescription of AL, selling partial packs and advice given to patients after prescription), was collected. RESULTS: Only 15.6% of providers in private outlets had received any in-service training on AL use. All (100%) in public and majority (98.4%) in not-for-profit outlets mentioned AL as first line-treatment drug. Quinine was mentioned as second-line drug by 47.9% in private outlets. A total of 92.0% in public, 57.3% in private and 78.8% in not-for-profit outlets stated correct AL dose for adults. A total of 85.7% of providers in public, 30.2% in private and 41.0% in not-for-profit outlets were aware that SP recommendations changed from treatment for mild malaria to IPTp in high risk areas. In-service training influenced treatment regimen for uncomplicated malaria (P = 0.039 and P = 0.039) and severe malaria (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.002) in children and adults, respectively. Most (82.3%) of private outlets sell partial packs of AL while 72.4% do not request for written prescription for AL. In-service training influenced request for written prescription (P = 0.001), AL prescription (P < 0.0001) and selling of partial packs (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Public-sector providers have higher knowledge on treatment policy and dosing regimen on recommended anti-malarials. Changes in treatment guidelines should be accompanied by subsequent implementation activities involving all sector players in unbiased strategies

Genetic variability of tissue cultured Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench as revealed by morphological traits and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers

To evaluate their performance for seedling traits at seedling stage (under hydroponics), plant water relations under water stress and ultimately grain yield, and to estimate the genetic variability of the regenerates, the parent plants of local sorghum cultivars in Kenya using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were analyzed. The research involved Seredo, El Gardam and Mtama 1 sorghum cultivars. The TC (Tissue culture) regenerates were produced through somatic embryogenesis in Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) media augmented with an osmoticum, NaCl (100 mM) in attempt to improve the parent plant for water stress tolerance. The genetic variability was investigated using five SSR markers and seven morphological traits associated with water stress tolerance. The amplified DNA fragments were screened by gel electrophoresis using 2% agarose. Cluster and principal component analysis (PCA) were done using NTSYS-pc version 2.2. The SSR detected 11 alleles with an average of 2.2 alleles per locus. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to three and the allelic polymorphism information content (PIC) value ranged from 0.344 for Xcup14 to 0.730 for Xgap72 with an average of 0.559. These results show that the cultivars differed for morphological and SSR markers. The average genetic similarity based on the morphological traits (0.922 with a range of 0.845 to 0.989) was higher than SSR markers (0.625 with a range of 0.306 to 0.944). The results also show that the classification of these sorghum cultivars may be useful to the breeders to plan crosses for preferred traits. The results also show that the sorghum microsatellites can be used to distinguish the cultivars and to estimate genetic diversity due to somaclonal variation. Overall, this study shows that tissue culture technique might not add value in producing somaclonal variation in sorghum.Key words: Cultivars, tissue culture regenerates, water stress tolerance, simple sequence repeats

Village Baseline Study: Site Analysis Report for Kagera Basin – Rakai, Uganda

The village baseline study of Kyengeza village in the CCAFS site Kagera Basin – Rakai in Uganda took place from 4 to 6 July 2011. Study participants are aware that their food security depends on protecting and appropriately managing natural resources. Nonetheless, there is a general decline in the state of natural resources such as rivers, lakes and forests, and the current use of the same resources is not sustainable over time. The main drivers of such changes in the region are population growth and government policies that have privatised forests and other natural areas previously managed by the village, effectively disempowering the community. There are more organisations operating beyond the locality than those operating in the community. The external organisations started delivering food, tools, medicines and other resources in response to HIV/AIDS. Their ability to mobilise resources, however, is undermining self-help capacity within the village, which is not conducive to sustainable rural development. Radio and organisations are the most frequently used sources of information for agricultural decision- making. There is a relatively active information network compared to other CCAFS sites, and a fair amount of consultation with all kinds of sources of information. This may be linked to high levels of uncertainty associated with climate change and food security

Determining efficient extraction procedure of phytochemicals from the fruit paste of Ziziphus abyssinica and Tamarindus indica.

Objective: To determine the most effective method of extracting metabolites from the two herbs Ziziphus abyssinica and Tamaridus. Indicus.Methodology and results: The methods used included cold and soxhlet extraction using methanol as the solvent and hot extraction using distilled water. To determine the efficiency in which compounds are extracted TLC was performed on silica gel aluminium plates using ethyl acetate: formic acid: glacial acetic acid: water (100:11:11:27). To determine the quantity of phenolic compounds in the extract, the Folin and Ciocalteau’s method (1927) was used, using Gallic acid in various concentrations. For the total quantity of flavonoid compounds, the method of Miliauskas et al. (2004) was used. To determine the Proanthocyanidin content in the extract a method previously reported by Ayoola et al, 2006 was used. To measure the antioxidant capacity of the extracts the hydrogen donating or free radical scavenging activity, was measured using the stable radical DPPH. The compounds extracted by all the methods were about seven but the difference was noted when the individual compounds were analysed. The cold extraction on the herb extract of Z. abyssinica had significantly high amount of total phenols 1.99g/100g of sample than both soxhlet and water extraction with 1.51g and 0.61g/100g of sample respectively. The results of T. indicus indicate that the extracts from the soxhlet and cold extraction methods contained a significantly low amount of all the three compounds compared to the water extractsConclusion and application of results: The method best suited for obtaining extracts from the two herbs T. indicus and Z. abyssinica is, cold method of extraction with methanol as the solvent for Z. abyssinica and hot extraction using distilled water for T. indicus. The results obtained give guidance to the fact that using both herbs would result in a better preservative than using one herb since the identified compounds would complement each other.Key words: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, phytochemicals and Radical scavenging activity

Critical analysis of tillage practices with fertility levels in maize and populations in beans as adaptation measures to climate change to enhance food security at Kabete

Trials were carried out in 2012/2013 short and 2013 long seasons at Kabete site representing a warm and wet environment in Kenya to determine, the appropriateness of combining fertilizer levels for maize and population levels with tied ridges for beans, as adaptation measures under changing climate. The maize experiment consisted of three fertilizer levels of 0, 20 and 40 kg/ha N while the bean experiment had three spacings of 12, 15 and 20 cm in a split plot design. The experiments were replicated thrice and consisted of conventional tillage and tied ridges as main plots representing the two soil water management practices while the three soil fertility levels (in maize N0, N20 and N40) or spacing options (12, 15 and 20cm) were sub plots in a Completely Randomized Block Design. The ridges were tied at intervals of 1 m and spaced at recommended crop spacings (i.e. 75cm for maize and 45cm for beans) and the crop planted on the slope of the ridge in 6 by 5 m plots. Basal phosphate (P205) fertilizer in the form of Triple Superphosphate was applied at planting time at the rate of 40kg/ha. Nitrogen in the form of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate was applied at 20 Kg/ha in the 20 and 40 N treatments at planting and further 20kg/ha N top dressed in the 40 treatment level. Harvesting was done at physiological maturity of grain which was air dried. Statistical analysis was done of the treatments and comparisons done of the adaptation advantages of the treatments. Tied ridging increased maize yields at the medium fertilizer level of 20 (+5.22%) but were negative under both zero (-15.56%) and 40 kg/ha application of fertilizers (-5.42%). In the short season, increased bean spacing from 12 to 20 decreased yields under normal (-13.6%) and tied ridges (-37.3%) but remained higher at populations of 12 and 15. In the long season increasing bean population from spacing of 12 cm to 20 had no advantage and under tied ridging compared to normal tillage. Tied ridging as a climate change adaptive measure should not be instituted as a blanket recommendation across rainfall regimes, crops, fertilization levels or plant populations and is more advantageous in drier seasons

Evaluation of malaria rapid diagnostic tests among children in a malaria endemic region in coastal Kenya

Background: In Kenya, malaria case management is based on clinical suspicion and detection of parasite in blood by parasitological or confirmatory diagnosis. Confirmatory diagnosis can be achieved with either microscopy or Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). RDTs are relatively new technologies, and their performance in actual conditions of use needs to be evaluated to provide information for appropriate use and to support decision making in procurement. Objectives: To evaluate performance and operational characteristics of three malaria RDTs: CareStart™, First Response®, and SD Bioline™ in the field for diagnosis of infection by Plasmodium falciparum monospecies as well as mixed infections with P. ovale and P. malariae. Methodology: A prospective study with blind comparisons to a gold standard was carried out at Pingilikani dispensary in Kilifi County, Kenya. Blood samples were obtained from 500 febrile children. Three RDTs: CareStart™, First Response® and SD Bioline™ were evaluated against microscopy of Giemsa stained blood films for detection of Plasmodium falciparum and non-falciparum malarial parasites. RDTs specific for P. falciparum only (HRP2 RDTs) and non-falciparum malarial parasites (HRP2/pLDH (Pf/pan) RDTs) were evaluated. Results: Plasmodium sp were detected by microscopy in 242 (48.40%) study participants. Plasmodium falciparum species were the most prevalent (93.3%) in comparison with other Plasmodium species: P. ovale and P. malariae whose prevalence were 2.89% and 3.71% respectively. Compared to microscopy the sensitivities of CareStart™, SD Bioline™, and First Response® RDTs for Plasmodium falciparum using Pf (mono species) kits were: 95.04% (95% CI: 92.34 - 97.73), 95.04% (95% CI: 92.34 - 97.73) and 94.21% (95% CI: 91.3 - 97.11) respectively while the specificities were 78.12% (95% CI: 72.98 - 83.25), 81.10% (95% CI: 76.23 - 85.96) and 78.74%  (95% CI: 73.65 - 83.82) respectively. Sensitivities of CareStart™, SD Bioline™ and First Response® RDTs for Plasmodium falciparum using Pf/Pan kits were: 99.02% (95% CI: 98.92 - 99.15), 99.04% (95% CI: 98.92 – 99.15) and 97.56% (95% CI: 97.78 – 97.99), respectively while the specificities were 78.46% (95% CI: 77.61 - 79.30), 78.46% (95% CI: 75.78 - 81.13) and 80.28% (95% CI: 76.73 - 83.82) respectively. CareStart™, SD Bioline™, and First Response® RDTs for non-falciparum sp using Pf/Pan kits both had 100% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Data from this study demonstrate that CareStart™, SD Bioline™ and First Response® RDTs have good operational characteristics and are reliable alternatives to microscopy for diagnosing malaria in children. Key words: malaria, rapid diagnostic tests, microscopy, Plasmodiu

Determinants of Appropriate Antibiotic Dosing in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in a Kenyan Referral Hospital

Background: Reduced renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) necessitates appropriate dose alterations to avoid drug accumulation. Objectives: The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic dosing in patients with CKD in the largest referral hospital in eastern Africa. Variables associated with inappropriate dosing were identified. Methods: The design was a retrospective review of patients’ records. The study population was adult patients, with CKD admitted between January, 2006 and December, 2010.  Data was abstracted from patient files. Logistic regression was used to determine variables associated with appropriate antibiotic dosing. Results: Ceftriaxone and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Dose adjustment was required for 379 (59.9%) antibiotic prescriptions. Of these, 105 doses (27.7% [95% CI: 23.2 – 32.2%]) were appropriate and 274 (72.3% [95% CI 67.8 – 76.8%]) were inappropriate.  The resultant dosing errors were: 271 (98.9%) and 3 (1.1%) cases of over and under dosing respectively. Key explanatory variables for appropriate dosing were: stage of renal disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.159 [95% CI: 0.082, 0.309]); administration; (adjusted OR 1.724 [95% CI:1.185, 2.508]); and treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (adjusted OR 0.101 [95% CI 0.024, 0.420]. Conclusion: Antibiotic doses in patients with CKD were often inappropriate. Keywords: Antibiotic, dose adjustment, chronic kidney diseas