Evaluation of Pharmacognostic Characteristics of the Leaf of Ageratum houstonianum Mill. Compositae

Background: It is a well-known fact that therapeutic efficacy and safety of medicinal plants depend on the quality and quantity of chemical constituents and that the misuse of medicinal plants starts with wrong identification.Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish some pharmacognostic standards for Ageratum houstonianum Mill (Compositae) which has high medicinal values, with a view to determining the proper identification and other quality control parameters of the plant.Method: The fresh leaf and powdered leaves were subjected to macroscopy and microscopy using standard procedures. In addition, some physicochemical evaluations such as moisture content, ash and soluble extractives were carried out on the powdered leaves.Results: The result shows that the leaf is simple, pinnate, diamond shaped, serrated margin, acute apex and asymetrical base. Microscopically, the leaf is amphistomatic in nature with anomocytic and anisocytic stomata at the adaxial and anomocytic and diacytic at the abaxial surface. Non-glandular uniseriate trichomes are present on both surfaces. The transverse section across the midrib shows epidermis, collenchyma, palisade cells and a few rolls of phloem around the xylem vessels. The stomata numbers and stomata indices for the upper and lower surface, respectively are1.4 and 10.2 and 2.9 and 15.6. Moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulphated ash, water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives yields 10.3%, 15.2%, 0.8%, 20.2%, 14.4% and 5.1%, respectively.Conclusion: The findings in this study are useful for establishing standards suitable for official monographs on Ageratum houstonianum proper identification and quality control. Keywords: Pharmacognostic standards, Ageratum houstonianum, Quality contro

Managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka: gaps versus recommendations

Addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction leads to successful housing reconstruction. As part of a study of investigating how the housing needs can be effectively addressed in post conflict housing reconstruction, this paper identifies the gaps in managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction within the context of Sri Lanka and presents the recommendations to minimise such gaps. Data was collected through un-structured interviews conducted with 37 participants, comprising policy makers, practitioners, academics and beneficiaries who engaged in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Gaps were mainly found in conflict sensitivity, measures related to physical housing, performance of implementing agencies, policy and practice issues. On the job training, application of ‘do no harm’ principles, enhanced beneficiary participation, enhanced accountability, effective monitoring, enhanced knowledge sharing, adequate drinking water facilities, irrigation development and initiatives for material manufacturing were suggested as recommendations to minimise these gaps. Identification of gaps in managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction and recommendations to minimise them inform policy makers to address the housing needs effectively through incorporating these aspects into the related policies. This in turn enhances the sustainability in housing development after conflicts

West African medicinal plants and their constituent compounds as treatments for viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Objectives: The recent emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by SARS-CoV-2) and the experience of its unprecedented alarming toll on humanity have shone a fresh spotlight on the weakness of global preparedness for pandemics, significant health inequalities, and the fragility of healthcare systems in certain regions of the world. It is imperative to identify effective drug treatments for COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of this review is to present a unique and contextualised collection of antiviral natural plants or remedies from the West African sub-region as existing or potential treatments for viral infections, including COVID-19, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action. Evidence acquisition: Evidence was synthesised from the literature using appropriate keywords as search terms within scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Results: While some vaccines and small-molecule drugs are now available to combat COVID-19, access to these therapeutic entities in many countries is still quite limited. In addition, significant aspects of the symptomatology, pathophysiology and long-term prognosis of the infection yet remain unknown. The existing therapeutic armamentarium, therefore, requires significant expansion. There is evidence that natural products with antiviral effects have been used in successfully managing COVID-19 symptoms and could be developed as anti-COVID-19 agents which act through host- and virus-based molecular targets. Conclusion: Natural products could be successfully exploited for treating viral infections/diseases, including COVID-19. Strengthening natural products research capacity in developing countries is, therefore, a key strategy for reducing health inequalities, improving global health, and enhancing preparedness for future pandemics

Townships in Cape Town Case study area profiles

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:4531.81651(ODA-WP--9) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Spermicidal Constituents of Ethanolic Extract of Sacoglottis gabonensis Stem Bark

Aim: To isolate the spermicidal constituents of Sacoglottis gabonensis. Materials and methods: The ethanolic extract with partitioned fractions of Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark were subjected to sperm immobilization assay. The most active EtOAc fraction was further purifi ed by column and Semi-Preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography to give compounds which were characterized by spectroscopic methods (UV, LC/MS, and NMR). The compound(s) was also tested for sperm immobilization activity. Results: The ethanolic extract showed 100% signifi cant (p < 0.05) sperm immobilization activity at a concentration of 30 mg/mL at 20 s compared to both negative and positive controls. The most active ethyl acetate fraction yielded methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol and bergenin. Bergenin had 100% sperm immobilization activity at 20 mg/mL in 60 s which was signifi cant (p < 0.05) also when compared to the positive and negative control while methyl 3,5-dihydroxy- 4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol were not active. Conclusion: The active spermicidal constituent in Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract is bergenin. However, methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate and eriodictyol showed no activity. This plant is known for its aphrodisiac action; hence, caution may have to be exercised in its use because of its spermicidal eff ect

Cichorin A: a benzo-isochromene from Nypa fruticans endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp.

Introduction: Similar bioactive metabolites are obtainable from host plants as well as the endophytic fungi residing in them. Objective: The aim of the study is to isolate the major compound(s) from the endophytic fungus residing in Nypa fruticans Wurmb, Arecaceae family. Methods: Purification of the ethyl acetate extract of the isolated endophytic fungus was performed by employing different chromatographic techniques and structural elucidation of the isolated compound was carried out using UV and NMR spectroscopic methods. Results: Cichorin A was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the solid rice cultures of Pestalotiopsis sp., isolated from N. fruticans, collected in Nigeria. Conclusions: This compound is being isolated for the first time from a fungus; it is commonly isolated from the plant Cichorium intybus L. (Compositae)

Townships in Cape Town A pilot study of Nyanga, New Crossroads and KTC

ODA Research Scheme no. R6266SIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Community-based strategies for local development Lessons for South Africa

ODA research scheme no. R6266; Produced in association with Cape Town Univ. (ZA). School of Architecture and PlanningAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9348.7142(NUTU-CARDO-WP--8) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo