26 research outputs found
Spontaneously fermented millet product as a natural probiotic treatment for diarrhoea in young children:an intervention study in Northern Ghana
A novel ESR2 frameshift mutation predisposes to medullary thyroid carcinoma and causes inappropriate RET expression
Microbiogical characterization and probiotic potential of koko and koko sour water, African spontaneously fermented millet porridge and drink
Probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from "koko sour water", an African fermented millet product
The biodiversity of predominant lactic acid bacteria in dolo and pito wort for the production of sorghum beer
Resistance of potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria of African and European origin to antimicrobials: determination and transferability of the resistance genes to other bacteria
Are the traditional medical uses of Muricidae molluscs substantiated by their pharmacological properties and bioactive compounds?
Marine molluscs from the family Muricidae hold great potential for development as a source of therapeutically useful compounds. Traditionally known for the production of the ancient dye Tyrian purple, these molluscs also form the basis of some rare traditional medicines that have been used for thousands of years. Whilst these traditional and alternative medicines have not been chemically analysed or tested for efficacy in controlled clinical trials, a significant amount of independent research has documented the biological activity of extracts and compounds from these snails. In particular, Muricidae produce a suite of brominated indoles with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and steroidogenic activity, as well as choline esters with muscle-relaxing and pain relieving properties. These compounds could explain some of the traditional uses in wound healing, stomach pain and menstrual problems. However, the principle source of bioactive compounds is from the hypobranchial gland, whilst the shell and operculum are the main source used in most traditional remedies. Thus further research is required to understand this discrepancy and to optimise a quality controlled natural medicine from Muricidae