Cytotoxicity,Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Extracts from Rhizomes of Elephantorrhiza Elephantina and Pentanisia Prunelloides

Background

Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Ee) and Pentanisia prunelloides (Pp) are two medicinal plants which are widely used to remedy various ailments including diarrhoea, dysentery, inflammation, fever, rheumatism, heartburn, tuberculosis, haemorrhoids, skin diseases, perforated peptic ulcers and sore joints in southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe). The following study was conducted to explore the in vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant properties and phytochemical profile of the two medicinal plants.

Materials and Methods

The cytotoxicity of the aqueous and methanol extracts and fractions of both species was studied using the brine shrimp lethality tests (BST) for the first time.

Results

The results demonstrated that the lethality (LC₅₀) for crude extracts for both plants ranged between 1.8 and 5.8 ppm and was relatively greater than that for the methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions of the extracts which ranged between 2.1 ppm and 27 ppm. This suggested that crude extracts were more potent than their respective fractions, further explaining that the different fractions of phytochemicals in these plant species work jointly (in synergy) to exert their therapeutic efficacy. Both aqueous and methanol extracts of the two medicinal plants demonstrated a high degree of antioxidant capacity against the DPPH radical with the Duh and Yen inhibition percentage ranging between 4.5% and 72%. Phytochemical studies of the rhizome extracts showed that the major compounds present include flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanidins, anthraquinones, triterpenoids (oleanolic acid), the steroidal saponin Diosgenin, the sugars, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, Arabinose and hexoses.

Conclusion

This is the first report of the detection and isolation of diosgenin and oleanolic acid from the rhizome extracts of Ee and Pp. All structures were determined using spectroscopic/spectrometric techniques (1H NMR and 13C and LC-ESI-MS) and by comparison with literature data.     

现代护理的科学意识和护理理论

为帮助广大读者了解西方的护理理念和护理模式,本刊于2011年,隆重推出美国的《当代护理学》的中文译本,旨在为广大护理工作者介绍当今世界发达国家的护理专家的思维和理念,从而使我国的护理事业在取百家之长、舍众家之短之中,百花争妍、春之盎然。如果读者在阅读《当代护理学》的过程中,能充分了解到了东西方文化的差异、现代医疗系统的目的,以及在应对突发事件之中变得更加从容,对自身的职业更加认可与自信,对著作者、翻译者以及杂志所开设的栏目及编辑而言,都将是一份欣喜!     

应用序列特异引物PCR法对广西壮族HLA－DQA_1进行基因分型

应用序列特异引物多聚酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）方法对８２名无血缘关系的广西壮族健康人的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ＿１进行基因分型。共检出７种ＤＱＡ＿１等位基因，以ＤＱＡ＿１＊０３０１的频率最高，达３１％，其次为ＤＱＡ＿１＊０１０４，０１０２和０５０１，检出率分别为２４．３％，１６．９％和１１．７％。未检出的等位基因有ＤＱＡ＿１＊０２０１，０３０２和０６０１。结果表明，壮族的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ＿１等位基因频率分布除与中国南方人相似外，尚有其特点。序列特异引物ＰＣＲ方法不需要放射性同位素，简便快速、准确可靠的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ＿１基因分型新方法。     

Workplace learning through collaboration in primary healthcare: A BEME realist review of what works,for whom and in what circumstances: BEME Guide No. 46

Background: Changes in healthcare practice toward more proactive clinical, organizational and interprofessional working require primary healthcare professionals to learn continuously from each other through collaboration. This systematic review uses realist methodology to consolidate knowledge on the characteristics of workplace learning (WPL) through collaboration by primary healthcare professionals.

Methods: Following several scoping searches, five electronic bibliographic databases were searched from January 1990 to December 2015 for relevant gray and published literature written in English, French, German and Dutch. Reviewers worked in pairs to identify relevant articles. A set of statements, based on the findings of our scoping searches, was used as a coding tree to analyze the papers. Interpretation of the results was done in alternating pairs, discussed within the author group and triangulated with stakeholders’ views.

Results: Out of 6930 references, we included 42 publications that elucidated who, when, how and what primary healthcare professionals learn through collaboration. Papers were both qualitative and quantitative in design, and focused largely on WPL of collaborating general practitioners and nurses. No striking differences between different professionals within primary healthcare were noted. Professionals were often unaware of the learning that occurs through collaboration. WPL happened predominantly through informal discussions about patient cases and modeling for other professionals. Any professionals could both learn and facilitate others’ learning. Outcomes were diverse, but contextualized knowledge seemed to be important.

Discussion/conclusions: Primary care professionals’ WPL is multifaceted. Existing social constructivist and social cognitivist learning theories form a framework from which to interpret these findings. Primary care policy makers and managers should ensure that professionals have access to protected time, earmarked for learning. Time is required for reflection, to learn new ways of interaction and to develop new habits within clinical practice.     

Concurrent validity of the MAE visual naming test.

Deficient confrontation naming has been observed in a number of neurological illnesses, as well as in aphasia and normal aging. The Visual Naming Test (VNT) of the Multilingual Aphasia Examination (MAE) is a standardized measure of confrontation naming. One hundred patients, consecutively referred for neuropsychological evaluation, were administered the VNT, Boston Naming Test (BNT), and WAIS-R. Concurrent validity of the two confrontation naming measures was demonstrated by their high intertest agreement. Performance on the VNT was found to be related to a unique ability separate from general intellectual functioning. Suggestions regarding the clinical use of the VNT are discussed.     

Evaluation of therapeutic laser influences on the healing of third-degree burns in rats according to different wavelengths

Introduction: One of the most important innovative methods for tissue repair promotion is therapeutic lasers with photobiomodulution effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four different wavelengths of therapeutic laser (405, 532, 660 and 810 nm) on healing of third-degree burns from both clinical and pathological standpoints in rats. Materials and methods: 60 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were anesthetized and dorsal hairs were shaved and third-degree skin burns were created by use of a 95°C copper stamp. Lesions were irradiated with 1.5 J/cm² energy densities and 200 mW/cm² power densities. Results: Statistical analyses of the “wound contraction” changes between five groups during the study showed more reduction in wound size in all laser groups in comparison with the control group; but these differences were not statistically significant except between red and blue lasers on the last day of experiment. Discussion: Results of our study showed that using therapeutic lasers with green, blue, red, and infrared wavelengths may accelerate healing process. This trend is more obvious in red and infrared groups especially after acute phase, however, this effect was neither statistically nor clinically significant.     

Sexual assault, sexual risks and gender attitudes in a community sample of South African men

Sexual assault against women and HIV infection are both prevalent and related social problems in South Africa. The current study examined hostile attitudes toward women, acceptance of violence against women and masculine ideological beliefs in relation to sexual assault history among men in a Cape Town township in South African. Men (n=435) completed anonymous surveys of sexual assault history, HIV risk history and gender-based attitudes. More than one in five men in this community sample reported that they had either threatened to use force or used force to gain sexual access to a woman in their lifetime. Men with a history of sexual assault were at significantly higher risk for HIV transmission than their non-sexually assaultive counterparts. Men with a history of sexual assault were also more likely to endorse hostile attitudes toward women and were more likely to accept violence against women, although these attitudes and beliefs were prevalent and pervasive across men with and without histories of sexual assault. These findings extend previous research to show that men who have a history of sexual assault also exhibit elevated risks for HIV infection and transmission. Interventions are needed to address hostile attitudes toward women, sexual assault and sexual risks for HIV among South African men.