An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Babungo, Northwest Region, Cameroon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to record information on medicinal plants from traditional medical practitioners in Babungo and to identify the medicinal plants used for treating diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMP's) who were the main informants were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended conversations. Field trips were made to the sites where TMP's harvest plants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The survey identified and recorded 107 plants species from 54 plant families, 98 genera used for treating diseases in Babungo. The Asteraceae was the most represented plant family while herbs made up 57% of the total medicinal plants used. The leaf was the most commonly used plant part while concoction and decoction were the most common method of traditional drug preparation. Most medicinal plants (72%) are harvested from the wild and 45% of these have other non medicinal uses. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines remains mostly with the older generation with few youth showing an interest.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A divers number of plants species are used for treating different diseases in Babungo. In addition to their use as medicines, a large number of plants have other non medicinal uses. The youth should be encouraged to learn the traditional medicinal knowledge to preserve it from being lost with the older generation.</p

The Paleozoic Sedimentary Rocks of the Ouachita Mountains and their Genetic Relationship to the Mississippi Valley-Type Mineralization in the Southern Ozark Region: Insights from Radiogenic Pb Isotopes and Trace Elements Studies

Cluster of Pb and/or Zn deposits of the well-known Tri-State and Northern Arkansas Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) districts located north of the Arkoma basin and the Ouachita fold-thrust belt in north America are genetically connected to the Pennsylvanian-Permian Ouachita orogeny which triggered a South-North topographic gradient flow of basinal brines, leaching metal rich sediments en route. The objective of the research is twofold. First, to ascertain whether the organic-rich shales and sandstones from the study area provided metals during the mineralization event, which was coeval with the Ouachita orogeny. Second, to assess the depositional environment of the potential source rocks, which will shed light on their ability to sequester metals. The Pb isotope compositions of the ores (sphalerite) have been compared to their associated sedimentary rocks (Collier, Mazarn, and Polk Creek, Womble, Fayetteville, Stanley and Chattanooga shales and Jackfork Sandstone) and metal sources have been evaluated. In addition, the role of depositional redox of sedimentary rocks to sequester adequate amounts of metals has been appraised using redox sensitive trace elements (U, V, Mo, Cr, etc.). The Pb isotope compositions of the ores (sphalerite) have been compared to those of the sedimentary rocks of the Ouachita Mountains (Cambrian Collier Shale, Early Ordovician Mazarn Shale, Middle Ordovician Womble Shale, Late Ordovician Polk Creek Shale, Mississippian Stanley Shale, and Pennsylvanian Jackfork Sandstone) and the Ozark Plateau (Devonian/Mississippian Chattanooga Shale and Mississippian Fayetteville Shale).Metal sources evaluation indicate a mixing model of fluids sourced from high and less radiogenic rocks shown by a broad and linear trend of Pb isotope composition, with the Chattanooga rock and the Jackfork sandstone samples being the most prominent source rocks. Paleoredox proxies indicate deposition under anoxic and Euxinic conditions, which are favorable for metal enrichment. How-ever, oxic-suboxic conditions are also indicated by other geochemical proxies, suggesting the possible first order control of primary production that has resulted in increased flux of organic matter. Additional factors such as the basin geometry, the rates of sediment accumulation, the post depositional alteration processes associated with diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism during the Ouachita orogeny might have overprinted the depositional signatures

La réécriture de l’histoire : survivance ou déconstruction de la mémoire collective, La Danse du Vilain de Fiston Mwanza Mujila

Résumé : Le présent article aborde la problématique de la réécriture de l’histoire dans La Danse du Vilain (2022) de Fiston Mwanza Mujila. Il cerne les éléments qui attestent de la survivance et de la déconstruction des valeurs culturelles ancestrales dans les sociétés africaines contemporaines. Il convoque le postcolonialisme comme pilotis critique afin de mieux comprendre les relations complexes et conflictuelles entre ce qui relève de la mémoire collective et ce qui relève des mutations sociales dans ces sociétés africaines. D’où, il s’intéresse au traitement que le romancier réserve à la mémoire collective et ausculte la fonction qu’assume la réécriture de l’histoire dans La Danse du Vilain. Aussi faut-il mentionner que cet article débuche sur les résultats selon lesquels la mémoire collective est un héritage culturel. La réécriture de l’histoire assume la fonction dénonciatrice, laquelle dénonce les turpitudes et soubresauts de l’Afrique postcoloniale. Elle dévoile les incertitudes de l’avenir. Mots-clés : déconstruction, histoire, mémoire, postcolonialisme et survivance.

Intermittent claudication and severe renal artery stenosis are independently associated in hypertensive patients referred for renal arteriography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of clinical symptoms of peripheral artery disease and severe renal artery stenosis in patients referred for renal angiography. METHOD: We included 82 patients with clinical suspicion of renovascular hypertension and performed an imaging investigation (renal Doppler ultrasound and/or renal scintigraphy) for possible renal artery stenosis. All patients underwent renal arteriography and were examined for peripheral artery disease based on the presence of intermittent claudication and ankle-brachial index test results. Severe renal artery stenosis was defined as a lesion causing 70% obstruction. RESULTS: Severe renal artery stenosis was present in 32 of 82 (39%) patients. Patients with severe renal artery stenosis were older (63±12 vs 56±12 years, p=0.006), had more intermittent claudication (55 vs 45%, p=0.027), and had a greater prevalence of an ankle-brachial inde