In vitro antiprotozoal,antimicrobial and antitumor activity of Pavetta crassipes K. Schum leaf extracts

Aim of the study

To study the potential benefit of the traditional medicinal plant Pavetta crassipes K. Schum (Rubiaceae), which is widely distributed throughout West Africa, the methanol and dichloromethane extracts were isolated from the plant leaves to determine if they exhibited antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal or antitumor activity in vitro.

Materials and methods

The methanol and dichloromethane extracts and their specific fractions were obtained using bioassay-guided fractionation and investigated for antiproliferative activity in vitro in microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans), protozoans (Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania infantum and Plasmodium falciparum), and cancer (U373, PC3, MXT and A549) and normal cell lines (NHDF and MRC-5).

Results

Most of the alkaloid fractions investigated exhibited antiproliferative activity in all the cancer cell lines, microorganisms and protozoans studied.

Conclusions

The benefit of Pavetta crassipes as a traditional medicinal remedy was confirmed using antiprotozoal and cytotoxicity assays in vitro. These analyses revealed that the components present in the alkaloid extract of Pavetta crassipes are responsible for its antiprotozoal and cytotoxic efficacy.     

中西医特点比较分析

症状和体征是西医治疗的主导因素。西医通过检查和剖析,以确定身体内部哪些器官组织的功能出现障碍,进而尝试从外部引入一些人工合成的化学物质来代偿机体的某些功能。中医却注重探求身体功能异常的原因,根据患者体质和具体病情选用不同的方药治疗,做到辨证论治,进而促进身体恢复到其自然状态。在医疗领域中,西医和中医的理论体系就都有各自独特的地位。有人认为,西医最大的优势在于其对外伤的护理和急性病症的治疗,而在慢性病的治疗和养生保健领域,中药就显示出其过人之处。传统医学和西方医学都有自己的优点,应该将这两种方法结合起来应用于疾病治疗。     

Vers une simplification de la technique de césarienne : suture péritonéale ou non ?

Objectives

To assess the postoperative morbidity of a technique for caesarean section without closing the visceral and parietal peritoneum.

Patients and methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study randomized 252 patients over a period of four months (from March 1 to June 30, 2009). We studied the early postoperative morbidity.

Results

Among the 252 patients, 137 were included in the group “with peritonisation” and 115 in the group “without peritonisation”. Clinical and hematology maternal characteristics were comparable in both groups. The duration of intervention was reduced significantly in the absence of peritonisation (31.1 instead of 41.4 minutes; P < 0.001). The postoperative pain was less but not significant between h0 and h12, however it is significant at h18, h24and h30 in the absence of peritonisation (respectively 2.37 versus 2.81; P = 0.030; 1.98 versus 2.37; P < 0.001 and 1.38 versus 1.72; P = 0.018). Resumption of transit was significantly faster “without peritonisation” (24.3 versus 24.7 hours; P < 0.001). However, there is no significant difference between the two groups as regards the immediate postoperative complications.

Conclusion

The absence of visceral and parietal peritoneum shortens the operative time and favors an earlier resumption of transit. It also decreases pain symptoms. We therefore recommend not to suture the parietal and visceral peritoneum during cesarean section.