Aquaculture in Cameroon and potential of lactic acid bacteria to be used as diseases controlling agents. A Review

Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing food production sector and can be a great solution to the massive demand for protein of animal due to increase in the Cameroonian population. This review summarizes the past and present status of fish aquaculture in Cameroon, the new challenges for intensifying fish production and evaluates the possibility of using lactic acid bacteria as disease control agents in order to overcome these challenges. Fish farming started in Cameroon in the late 1940s, and has seen little progress since the last ten years, but the production is still insufficient to meet the demand of the population estimated at 400 000 tons in 2015. In order to reduce massive fish imports, Cameroon plans to produce 100 000 tons of fish by commercial aquaculture. Achieving this task needs quality and quantity of fingerlings, and probiotic lactic acid bacteria instead of antibiotics could be used as disease control agents in young fish hatching and ponds in order to boost and ensure quality and quantity production

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia. 

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia. 

Nutritional outcomes in HIV-Exposed Infants in the Mingha Program, Dschang-Cameroon (2003-2011)

Background: Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) is a set of interventions that contribute in reducing the risk of HIV transmission from mother (parents) to the child. The infant feeding choice in the HIV context remains a key item of PMTCT. This study aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of children followed by the Mingha / PMTCT program in the Dschang Health District (DHD) during 09 years of activities. We used a descriptive study based on retrospective data from an intervention conducted at the DHD between 2003 and 2011 on a group of mother-child pairs in the PMTCT (Mingha/PMTCT) facilitation program. The intervention was the formula feeding given to the children from birth till 18 months. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS Version 18 software.Results: Among 328 children accessed, we had a sex ratio of 0.83 with more boys than girls. Severe wasting was found only within 11 boys (3.26%) and only &lt;6 months old children were concerned.Moderate wasting was found among 6 girls (1.74%) and 5 boys (1.52%) and &lt;6 months old children were highly concerned 10 (3.17%). Overweight (3.26%) was highly predominant among 8 boys (2.24%) and except those of &lt;6 months, all the other age groups were concerned. There were no cases of obesity or stunting.Conclusions: The nutritional status of the Mingha/PMTCT program children was quite satisfactory. It characterizes the hope for a suitable nutritional follow up of children in HIV context.Therefore programs like Mingha/PMTCT should be promoted and transferred to other Health Districts and even resource-limited Countries.</p