A study on traditional medicinal plants of Uthapuram,Madurai District,Tamilnadu, South India

Objective

To record the medicinal plants of Uthapuram Village, Madurai district, Tamilnadu, South India for the first time and the usage of these medicinal plants to remediate the diseases among the peoples.

Methods

Explorative field trips were made to the village for about twelve months from April 2012 to May 2013 to survey the medicinal plants and collect the information from the villagers.

Results

From this study 52 species of valuable medicinal plants belonging to 36 families were recorded and their ethnomedicinal values were collected from the village peoples.

Conclusion

This study focuses the importance, utilization and conservation of the medicinal plants among the people.     

Understanding positive prevention practices among people living with HIV in Karnataka,Southern India

Background

Understanding positive prevention practices among people living with HIV (PLHIV) can provide useful insights to guide our efforts in preventing further HIV transmission, and helps to enable PLHIVs to lead healthy and responsible lives.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three sites of Karnataka: namely Belgaum (North Karnataka), Bellary (Central Karnataka) and Hassan (South Karnataka) districts. The study period was from March to September 2010. A total of 477 PLHIV were sampled and interviewed with the help of a structured interview schedule. The interviews were conducted by trained PLHIV community interviewers.

Results

Disclosure of status was fairly good among the studied population. The majority of men disclosed their HIV status first with their spouses, whereas women disclosed first with their mothers. Status disclosure was less among urban PLHIV when compared to rural PLHIV. Knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among unmarried men and women was low; higher proportions among them were involved in sexual relationships; and they reported no condom use with their regular partners. Condom use with regular partners is found to be more effective when public health messages are given through peers. Status disclosure is having a role in motivating communities for Regular CD4 testing and ART uptake.

Conclusion

Unmarried PLHIV need to be prioritised in our prevention efforts, to enable them to adopt safe sex practices through appropriate peer-mediated strategies. As status disclosure with family members has an important role in adhering to ART, status disclosure with family members needs to be emphasized in our programmes.     

Antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plants in traditional treatment of human wounds in Ethiopia

Objective

To evaluate the activity of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for wound treatment against wound-causing bacteria.

Methods

Samples of medicinal plants (Achyranthes aspera, Brucea antidysenterica, Datura stramonium, Croton macrostachyus, Acokanthera schimperi, Phytolacca dodecandra, Millettia ferruginea, and Solanum incanum) were extracted using absolute methanol and water and tested for their antimicrobial activities against clinical isolates and standard strains of wound-causing bacteria using agar well diffusion and micro titer plate methods.

Results

Most of the plant extracts had antibacterial activities, among which Acokanthera schimperi and Brucea antidysenterica inhibited growth of 100% and 35% of the test organisms, respectively. Methanolic extracts had higher activities compared with their corresponding aqueous extracts. The most susceptible organism to the extracts was Streptococcus pyogens while the most resistant were Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris.

Conclusions

This finding justifies the use of the plants in wound healing and their potential activity against wound-causing bacteria. Their toxicity level and antimicrobial activity with different extraction solvents should further be studied to use them as sources and templates for the synthesis of drugs to control wound and other disease-causing bacteria.     

In-vitro antimicrobial activity screening of some ethnoveterinary medicinal plants traditionally used against mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal tract complication in Tigray Region,Ethiopia

Objective

To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis, wound and gastrointestinal complications.

Methods

Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal plants namely, Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera) L. (Family Asparagaceae), Ficus caria (F. caria) (Family Moraceae), Malvi parviflora (M. parviflora) (Family Malvaceae), Vernonia species (V. species) (local name Alakit, Family Asteraceae), Solanum hastifolium (S. hastifolium) (Family Solanaceae), Calpurinia aurea (C. aurea) (Ait) Benth (Family Fabaceae), Nicotiana tabacum (N. tabacum) L. (Family Solanaceae), Ziziphus spina-christi (Z. spina-christi) (Family Rhamnaceae), Croton macrostachys (C. macrostachys) (Family Euphorbiaceae), were screened against clinical bacterial isolates of veterinary importance from October 2007 to April 2009. The antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion at two concentrations (200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) and broth dilution methods using 70% methanol macerated leaf extracts.

Results

With the exception of S. hastifolium all plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity. Among the medicinal plants tested C. aurea, C. macrostachyus, A. aspera, N. tabacum and vernonia species (Alakit) showed the most promising antimicrobial properties.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that many of the tested plants have antibacterial activity and supports the traditional usage of the plants for mastitis, wound and gastrointestinal complications treatment. Further studies into their toxicity and phytochemistry is advocated.     

In Vitro Study to Evaluate Antibacterial and Non-haemolytic Activities of Four Iranian Medicinal Plants

Objective:

Aqueous extracts of four medicinal plants including Ferula gummosa, Echinophora orientalis, Nasturtium microphyllum and Verbascum thapsus were used to determine their antibacterial activities and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The aim of this study was to assess antibacterial activity of extracts of four medicinal plants against a Gram-positive and a Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus PTCC1431, and Escherichia coli HP101BA 7601c).

Methods:

Radial diffusion assay was used to assess the antibacterial activity of extracted samples. Haemolysis assay was also used to examine their nontoxic effects on human red blood cells.

Results:

This study showed that all the mentioned plants have satisfactory antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of these samples were less than 750 μg/mL. In addition, no significant haemolytic activity was observed at their MIC values.

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that all these studied plants have good potential for further studies for drug discovery.     

Changes with time in skin temperature of the shoulders in healthy controls and a patient with shoulder-hand syndrome

Background

Abnormal skin temperature in the shoulder is caused by various diseases. A thermography is unable to capture temperature changes over time. In contrast, a Thermocron is an effective measuring device to monitor temperature changes over time.

Purposes

The purposes of this study employing a Thermocron were to measure shoulder skin temperature over time in healthy subjects and to detect shoulder skin temperature abnormalities in a patient with shoulder-hand syndrome.

Subjects and methods

Subjects comprised 10 healthy volunteers (20 shoulders; 4 men and 6 women, mean age 54 years). For measurements, a Thermocron was attached on both shoulders. Measurements were made from 21.00 to 07.00 the following morning at 15-minute intervals.

Results

Gradual difference in right and left shoulder skin temperature was observed with the timing of measurements but no significant difference was apparent, i.e. dominant side 34.9 ± 0.8°C, non-dominant side 34.9 ± 0.9°C (P = 0.28).

Presentation of a case with shoulder-hand syndrome

A 54-year-old woman with the diagnosis of rotator cuff tear underwent surgical treatment of rotator cuff repair, but the pain of the operated shoulder persisted due to phase 1 shoulder-hand syndrome. In postoperative week 3, skin temperature measurement using Thermocrons demonstrated a significant decrease in temperature on the operated side (affected side 34.3 ± 0.4°C, healthy side 35.2 ± 0.3°C; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The changing of the skin temperature during night-time was successfully recorded both in the healthy subjects and a case with shoulder-hand syndrome using a Thermocron.     

Assessment of effect of hydroalcoholic and decoction methods on extraction of antioxidants from selected Indian medicinal plants

Objective

To assess the effects of extraction methods on antioxidant activities of selected Indian medicinal flora.

Methods

Different parts of plants were extracted by hydroalcoholic and decoction methods using water and various concentrations of methanol (ME) viz. 75%, 50% and 25% ME. The antioxidant activity of all the different extracts was evaluated using two different antioxidant assays viz. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and superoxide anion radical scavenging assay. Total phenol and flavonoid content was also estimated.

Results

The results showed that the extracting solvent significantly altered the antioxidant property estimations of screened plants. High correlations between phenolic compositions and antioxidant activities of extracts were observed. High levels of antioxidant activities were detected in Manilkara zapota (M. zapota) as compared with other screened plants.

Conclusions

The results obtained appear to confirm the effect of different methods on extraction of antioxidants and antioxidant property of M. zapota.     

Antiarthritic effects of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex Benth. in acute and chronic models of arthritis in albino rats

Objective

To evaluate the antiarthritic activity of Ajuga bracteosa using albino rats.

Methods

The antiarthritic activity of 70% ethanolic extract of Ajuga bracteosa (EEAB) was evaluated against turpentine oil- and formaldehyde- induced acute non immunological and complete freund''s adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic immunological arthritis in albino rats.

Results

EEAB showed a significant (P<0.05) and dose dependent inhibitory effect against acute and chronic models of arthritis. EEAB exhibited better antiarthritic activity than the standard aspirin.

Conclusions

EEAB exhibits a significant and promising antiarthritic activity against acute and chronic arthritis and supports the traditional use of Ajuga bracteosa for rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases.     

Risk factors for under-nutrition among children aged one to five years in Udupi taluk of Karnataka,India: A case control study

Background

Despite her apparent economic success, India is plagued by a high burden of under-nutrition among children under five. This study was aimed at understanding some of the risk factors for under-nutrition in a region with favourable maternal and child health indicators.

Method

A case control study was carried out among children aged one to five years attending the paediatric outpatient department in six rural health care centres in Udupi taluk of Karnataka in Southern India. A total of 162 children were included in the study, of which 56 were cases. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the caregivers of the children and the nutritional status was graded according to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) grading of protein-energy malnutrition.

Results

Under-nutrition was associated with illness in the last one month [OR– 4.78 (CI: 1.83 –12.45)], feeding diluted milk [OR–14.26 (CI: 4.65 – 43.68)] and having more than two children with a birth interval ≤2 years [OR– 4.93 (CI: 1.78 – 13.61)]. Lack of exclusive breast feeding, level of education of the caregiver and environmental factors like source of water did not have an association.

Conclusion

Childhood illness, short birth interval and consumption of diluted milk were some of the significant contributory factors noted among this population. Information, Education, Communication (IEC) campaigns alleviating food fads and promoting birth spacing is needed.     

Unusual developing sites of dengue vectors and potential epidemiological implications

Objective

To identify the unusual breeding sites of two dengue vectors, i.e. Aedes albopictus (Ae. albopictus) and Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti).

Methods

During the second half of 2010, we performed an occasional survey in rural (Teluk Tempoyak) and urban (Gelugor) areas of Penang Island, Malaysia, to identify cryptic breeding sites.

Results

In the rural area, we found heterogeneous immature stages of Ae. albopictus in the water bowl of an encaged bird. We also observed Ae. aegypti eggs deposited in the flush tank of a toilet in the urban area.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that both breeding patterns can increase contact with hosts (humans and birds) and presumably population densities of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, thereby potentially boosting the risks for spread and transmission of arboviral diseases.     

Patients with poorly controlled diabetes in primary care: healthcare clinicians' beliefs and attitudes

Objective

To determine doctors'' and nurses'' attitudes and beliefs about treating patients with type 2 diabetes with less than ideal glycaemic control while receiving maximal oral treatment in primary care.

Design

Focus groups.

Setting

Primary care.

Participants

Four focus groups of 23 GPs and practice nurses.

Results

General practice was thought to be the best setting for managing all patients with type 2 diabetes but there were concerns about a lack of resources and unfamiliarity with starting insulin. Issues around compliance were extensively discussed; the “failing diabetic” had dual meanings of failing glycaemic control and failing compliance and effort by both patient and doctor. Although views about insulin therapy differed, patients were understood to be resistant to starting insulin, representing for them a more serious stage of diabetes, with fears of needles and hypoglycaemia.

Conclusion

The role of diabetes specialist nurses working in primary care will be crucial in managing such patients to improve knowledge, for extra resources, for their experience of insulin use, and to change attitudes.     

Prevalence and determinants of self-reported chronic bronchitis among women in rural Central India

Background

Chronic respiratory conditions are increasingly becoming a cause of health concern with India attributing 11% of its mortality due to non-communicable diseases to chronic respiratory conditions. Chronic bronchitis and asthma take a large toll in terms of morbidity. Lesser number of studies have mentioned their counts of these conditions affecting women in rural area and therefore the present study was conducted with the objectives of determining the prevalence and correlates of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in an area of a primary health centre in rural central India.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 villages of the study area. Women aged 40 years or more were interviewed using the IUATLD questionnaire. Chronic bronchitis was measured by using the standard criteria for chronic bronchitis, that is, “Presence of cough with expectoration for more than 3 months in a year for the past two or more years”.

Results

Prevalence of chronic bronchitis among women was found to be 2.7%. Factors like older age, presence of a cattle shed within house premises, storage of fertilizers inside house, history of allergy, past history of pulmonary tuberculosis emerged as significant correlates of chronic bronchitis.

Conclusions

The present study provides an insight into the prevalence of chronic bronchitis among rural women exposed to several epidemiological determinants and an opportunity to address the modifiable risk factors.     

Clinical and hematological study of canine Ehrlichiosis with other hemoprotozoan parasites in Kolkata,West Bengal,India

Objective

To observe other hemoprotozoan diseases with canine ehrlichiosis and to evaluate the clinical and hematological aspects of dogs naturally infected with ehrlichiosis with other hemoprotozoan diseases.

Methods

Blood was collected for hematological value and Giemsa stained blood smear was made for diagnosis of Ehrlichia sp. and other hemoprotozoan parasites from naturally infected dogs. Case history was taken from the owner and clinical signs and symptoms were noted.

Results

A total of 47 cases of ehrlichiosis in dogs were reported with babesiosis (8.51%) and hepatozoonosis (6.38%) hemoprotozoan diseases. Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Brucella canis, Babesia gibsoni and Hepatozoon canis were observed under oil immersion lense of microscope in Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears. Marked anaemia and neutrophilic leukocytosis were observed.

Conclusions

The results of this study stated that clinical and haematological changes occurred in canine ehrlichiosis with babesiosis and hepatozoonosis due to parasitemia. In mixed infection, the disease more severe, and also it depended on immunity of animals. Babesia gibsoni and Hepatozoon canis with Ehrlichia sp. were first reported from West Bengal state of India by this study.     

Antibacterial activity of various leaf extracts of Merremia emarginata

Objective

To investigate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of the aqueous, methanol and petroleum ether leaf extracts of Merremia emarginata (M. emarginata).

Methods

The antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of M. emarginata were evaluated by agar well diffusion method against four selected bacterial species.

Results

The presence of tannins, flavonoids, amino acids, starch, glycosides and carbohydrates in the different leaf extracts was established. The methanol extract was more effective against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli, whereas aqueous extract was more effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Conclusions

: The results in the present study suggest that M. emarginata leaf can be used in treating diseases caused by the tested organisms.     

Topical treatment of actinic keratoses with potassium dobesilate 5% cream. A preliminary open-label study

Background

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is involved in skin tumorigenesis: it promotes cell viability, induces angiogenesis and stimulates invasiveness. Dobesilate is a drug that blocks the activity of FGF. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of potassium dobesilate 5% cream in the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Methods

Potassium dobesilate 5% cream was applied twice daily for 16 weeks to actinic keratosis lesions in 30 patients. The lesions were evaluated clinically at an initial baseline visit, at intermediate visits, and at 16 weeks of treatment.

Results

The use of potassium dobesilate 5% cream for 16 weeks induced complete regression in 70% of evaluated actinic keratoses, corresponding to grade I, II and III clinical variants, and a partial response (at least 75% reduction of lesions) in 20% of the cases.

Conclusion

Our preliminary trial shows that potassium dobesilate exerts anti-tumorigenic effects and may play a useful role in the chemoprevention of skin cancers.     

Hormone Receptors,Her-2/Neu and Chromosomal Aberrations in Breast Cancer

Background

There is a great deal of disparity in the incidence of breast cancer in rural and urban India on one hand and between India and Western population on the other.

Methods

We analysed steroid receptor status in cases of breast cancer in a small sample of patients in armed forces. Infiltrating duct carcinomas of breast recorded histologically in mastectomy specimens in last two years were accessioned in the present study with reference to patient and tumour characteristics.

Result

In contrast to the higher rates reported in western literature, only 33 % of the tumours expressed estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), of which 24% were ER positive and 30% PR positive. Negative steroid receptor status did not correlate with presence or absence of metastatic nodes, however it was predominant amongst the high grade infiltrating duct carcinomas in this study. Necrosis and lymphovascular invasion demonstrated an inverse relationship with the ER/ PR reactivity. 70% of the node positive cases expressed Her –2/ Neu, reflecting a higher immunoreactivity in this subset of patients. Aneusomy for chromosomes 1, 11 and 17 was common in node positive cases.

Conclusion

Evaluation of chromosomal aberrations by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique correlates well with traditional histological parameters.Key Words: Breast carcinoma, Hormone receptors, Her –2/ Neu     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. G. Don and their antiplasmodial activities

Objective

To develop a novel approach for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaves extracts of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) Linn. G. Don which has been proven active against malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum).

Methods

Characterizations were determined by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction.

Results

SEM showed the formation of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 35–55 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the particles were crystalline in nature with face centred cubic structure of the bulk silver with the broad peaks at 32.4, 46.4 and 28.0.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that the leaves of C. roseus can be good source for synthesis of silver nanoparticle which shows antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. The important outcome of the study will be the development of value added products from medicinal plants C. roseus for biomedical and nanotechnology based industries.     

Orthodox versus unorthodox care: A qualitative study on where rural women seek healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth in Southwest,Nigeria

Introduction

Utilization of orthodox health facilities for maternal health services is determined by factors operating at the individual, household, community and state level. The prevalence of small family norm is one of the identified variables operating within the community which influences the decision of where to access care (orthodox/traditional). The objective of the study was to determine the use of orthodox versus unorthodox maternity healthcare and determinants among rural women in southwest Nigeria.

Methods

A qualitative study was done and involved three focus group discussions. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect information from women of reproductive age group within a rural Local Government Area in Lagos state.

Results

Most of the women access some form of healthcare during pregnancy, orthodox, unorthodox or both. Those who patronize both services concurrently do so to benefit from the two as each has some unique features such as herbal concoctions for traditional, ultrasound and immunization of babies for orthodox. Traditional belief exerts a strong influence on decision of where to access maternal healthcare services. Actual place of delivery is determined by individual and household factors including financial resources.

Conclusion

Rural women utilize one or both orthodox and unorthodox maternal health services for different reasons. Ward Development Committees should be strengthened so as to reach the communities, educate and convince women to dispel myths which limit their use of orthodox care. Training and monitoring of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) are vital to eliminate harmful practices. We also recommend improved financial access to orthodox healthcare.