In Vitro Assessment Of The Antiplasmodial Activity Of Three Plants Extracts Used In Local Traditional Medicine In Saloum (Senegal)

Against the scourge of malaria in Africa and the development of chemo-resistance, discovering new natural cures is a major concern for many researchers. As a consequence, the present study was carried out in order, first, to identify the phytochemical compounds, and second, to assess the antiplasmodial activity, of three medicinal plants extracts, selected from an ethno-botany survey conducted in Senegal. The parts of the plants used were Strychnos spinosa (Strychnaceae) leaves and stems, Combretum glutinosum (Combretaceae) barks, and the whole aerial part of Pennisetum polystachion (Poaceae). Among these plants, the hydromethanolic extracts of Strychnos spinosa stems showed the most important activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains, with a IC50 of 15 μg/ml, followed by the leaves chlorophormic extracts and the ethyl acetate extracts of Pennisetum polystachion, with respective IC50 of 20 μg/ml and 21 μg/ml. Combretum glutinosum extracts showed the least important activity, in all tests

Mesure de l’efficacité technique des riziculteurs du bassin du fleuve Sénégal

Ce travail a pour objectif de mesurer l’efficacité technique des riziculteurs du bassin du fleuve Sénégal et d’analyser les déterminants de leur inefficacité. Les estimations ont montré que, s’il avait été efficace, le riziculteur moyen aurait pu accroître sa production actuelle de 30 % sans inputs additionnels, contre une marge de progrès potentielle de 86 % pour le riziculteur le moins performant. Les facteurs qui impactent significativement l’efficacité sont le lieu de résidence, le genre, la taille du ménage, le niveau d’instruction, l’ethnie, la distance entre la maison et la parcelle, et le nombre de parcelles cultivées.This article aims at investigating whether rice producers in Senegal have reached their maximal production regarding their available inputs and what are the determinants of their inefficiency. The estimations show that, if he were efficient, the mean producer would increase his actual output by 30% without further inputs while the less performant producer would record a potential margin of progress of 86%. The efficiency determinants are mainly the place of residence, the gender, the household size, the level of education, the ethnicity, the walking distance between the house and the plot and the number of plots farmed

Evaluation de l’activité antioxydante des extraits des feuilles de Aphania senegalensis (Sapindaceae) et de Saba senegalensis (Apocynaceae)

Les plantes traditionnelles présentent généralement de nombreuses propriétés thérapeutiques. L’objectif de la présente étude consistait à évaluer l’activité antioxydante des extraits des feuilles de Aphania senegalensis et de Saba senegalensis par spectrophotométrie moléculaire au moyen des méthodes de piégeage des radicaux libres 2,2-diphényl-1-picryl-hydrazyle (DPPH•) et acide 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-éthylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonique) (ABTS+•). Une extraction éthanolique des feuilles de ces deux plantes a été effectuée au Soxhlet. Les deux extraits secs, redissouts dans de l’eau, ont été fractionnés en utilisant successivement l’hexane, le dichlorométhane et l’acétate d’éthyle. Les propriétés antioxydantes des extraits et celles de leurs différentes fractions ont été évaluées à différentes concentrations : 5, 10, 25 et 150 μg/ml. Les pourcentages d’inhibition (PI) expriment l’effet antioxydant mesuré. Une activité de piégeage des deux radicaux libres a été associée aux deux extraits et à l’ensemble des fractions. Pour les tests d’inhibition de l’absorbance du radical DPPH•, les PI ont varié de (22,20±0,03)% à (91,30±0,08)%. Avec le radical ABTS+•, les PI ont varié de (54,37±0,02)% à (99,13±0,01)%. Les extraits éthanoliques des feuilles de Aphania senegalensis et de Saba senegalensis et leurs différentes fractions présentent ainsi un pouvoir antioxydant.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Plante médicinale, ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid)), DPPH (2,2- diphényl-1-picryl-hydrazyle), spectrophotométrie moléculaireEnglish Title: Antioxidant activity of leaves extracts of Aphania senegalensis (Sapindaceae) and Saba senegalensis (Apocynaceae)English AbstractSeveral therapeutic properties are often associated with traditional plants. The antioxidant properties of Aphania senegalensis and Saba senegalensis leaf extracts were evaluated by molecular spectrophotometry and using two radical scavenging methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 2,2’-azino bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The leaves of each plant were extracted with ethanol  using a Soxhlet extractor apparatus. The two dry ethanolic extracts were dissolved in water then fractionated using successively hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The antioxidant activities of the extracts and their different fractions were determined at various concentrations: 5, 10, 25 and 150 μg/ml. The antioxidant capacity was expressed as percent inhibition (PI). The extracts and their different fractions scavenged DPPH• and ABTS+• free radicals. The DPPH assay showed PI varying from 22.20±0.03% to 91.30±0.08%. With the ABTS+• radical, the PI varied from 54.37±0.02% to 99.13±0.01%. The ethanolic extracts of Aphania senegalensis and Saba senegalensis as well as their fractions showed antioxidant capacities.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Medicinal plant, ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), molecular spectrophotometr

The microhabitat preferences of water beetles in four rivers in Ourense province, Northwest Spain

We analysed the microhabitat preferences of water beetle species in four rivers in Northwest Spain. In each river, we sampled 5 sites with different types of substrate. These sites were characterised in situ according to the predominant material type (macrophytes, moss, pebbles and sand). The occurrence of a substrate preference was verified from a comparative study of species richness and abundance among different microhabitats. The differences in abundance and richness between substrates and in the abundance of each species were tested with an ANOVA. The similarity between microhabitats was tested with non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and the correlation between fauna and substrates was verified with a correspondence analysis (CA). We observed different species distribution patterns, and these patterns reflected the microhabitat preference of each species. Both the ecological parameters and the correspondence analysis indicated that the preferred substrate for most of the species was moss, followed by pebbles.Se analiza la preferencia de microhabitat de especies de coleópteros acuáticos en cuatro ríos del noroeste de España. En cada río se muestrearon 5 puntos en diferentes tipos de sustrato caracterizados in situ en función del tipo de material predominante (macrófitas, musgo, cantos-gravas y arena). La preferencia de sustrato fue verificada mediante un estudio comparado de riqueza y abundancia de especies entre los diferentes microhábitats. Las diferencias entre los diferentes sustratos para la abundancia yriqueza,asícomoparala abundanciade cadaespeciefueron testadasmediante unanálisisANOVA.Lasimilitud entre microhábitats fue testada mediante un NMDS, mientras que la correlación entre la fauna y los sustratos, se verificó a partir de un análisis de correspondencias (CA). Se observaron diferentes patrones de distribución de las especies según su preferencia por determinados microhábitats. Tanto los parametros ecológicos de riqueza y abundancia como el análisis de correspondencias indican que el sustrato preferido por la mayoría de las especies fue el musgo, seguido de los cantos-gravas

Validation of an UV-Visible spectrophotometry assay method for the determination of chlorpheniramine maleate tablets without prior extraction

Methods proposed by pharmacopeias to check the quality of chlorpheniramine maleate tablets are multi steps methods which involve extraction and present issues with repeatability. An alternative method is proposed with a sensitive, reliable, simple and rapid UV-VISIBLE spectrophotometry method developed for the determination without extraction of chlorpheniramine maleate in tablets. The method was validated using the accuracy profile approach with an accuracy ranging from 99.70 to 100.46%. Analysis was done using 0.25 mol/L sulfuric acid, distilled water, and raw material in a room at 23 °C for 25 to 30 minutes. Chlorpheniramine maleate concentration varied from 0.018 to 0.03 mg/mL. The method was found to be specific with the appearance of the corresponding maxima at 265 nm and a correlation coefficient (R2 ) of 0.9993. Limits of detection and quantification were respectively 1.39 × 10-4and 2.26 × 10-3 mg/mL. The tolerance limits for the different concentration levels (75, 100 and 125%) were respectively: 88.37; 92.74 and91.62% for lower limits and 111.03; 108.17 and 108.02% for upper limits. It was observed that the tolerance limits were within the limits of acceptability set at 20%. Consequently, the method was declared valid and reliable for routine analysis of chlorpheniramine maleate in tablets containing chlorphenamine as active principle.Keywords : Chlorpheniramine maleate, tablets, accuracy profile, assay method without extraction, validatio