Herbal remedies and their adverse effects in Tem tribe traditional medicine in Togo

In Africa, up to 80% of the population relies on herbal concoctions for their primarily health care. In Togo, western Africa, Tem tribe is a population with old knowledge of medicinal plants, however, still very little is known about their medical practices. The present study was conducted to access for the apprehension of adverse effects of traditional remedies by Tem traditional healers (TH). Enquiry was performed by interviews with healers from August to October 2007 in Tchaoudjo prefecture (Togo). The study allowed us to interview 54 TH including 41(75.93%) males and 13(24.07%) females, who cited 102 recipes assumed to have adverse effects. The recipes were used alone to cure several diseases including haemorrhoids (22.55%), female sexual disorders and infertility (21.57%), gastrointestinal disorders (18.63%), and malaria (6.86%). A total of 34 plants belonging to 21 families were cited to be components of the recipes. Euphorbiaceae and Mimosaceae families were the most represented, however, Nauclea latifolia, Khaya senegalensis, Pseudocedrela kotschyi and Xeroderris stuhlmannii were the main components of recipes linked to adverse effects. A total of 20 adverse effects were linked to the administration of theses drugs, and among them; diarrhoea, abdominal pains, polyuria, general weakness and vomiting were the most frequently encountered. These findings were in accordance with several reports of the literature concerning medicinal plants, although they were based on empirical observations. Laboratory screenings are needed to access for the effectiveness as well as the possible toxic effects of the recipes.     

Effects of three compounds extracted from Morinda lucida on Plasmodium falciparum.

The effects of three compounds, digitolutein (1), rubiadin 1-methyl ether (2) and damnacanthal (3) extracted from the stem bark and the roots of Morinda lucida Benth. on the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro were investigated. The number of parasites (schizonts) decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and 100% of inhibition was obtained with 30 to 40 micrograms of each compound tested. The IC50 values were calculated.     

Epiafzelechin from the root bark of Cassia sieberiana: detection by DART mass spectrometry, spectroscopic characterization, and antioxidant properties

The root bark of Cassia sieberiana was analyzed using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry, and a main flavonoid component with an [M + H](+) mass of 275 was identified. The flavonoid, epiafzelechin, was isolated and fully characterized with the concerted use of NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and optical rotation. Electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation TDDFT calculations were also performed, and their agreement with the experimental results confirmed the enantiomeric identity of the isolated natural product. The antioxidant activity of the compound was also investigated.     

Antimalarial effects of eight African medicinal plants

Crude hot water extracts from eight medicinal plants collected in Togo, West Africa, were examined for antimalarial properties against Plasmodium falciparum using an in vitro test. The activity differed with the plant species with extracts of Cassia siamea, Jatropha gossypiifolia and Pavetta crassipes capable of 100% inhibition.     

Enquête ethnobotanique: screening chimique et efficacité thérapeutique de quelques plantes utilisées contre le paludisme en médecine traditionnelle à Brazzaville

Résumé: Les effets antipaludiques des extraits de trois plantes de la pharmacopée traditionnelle congolaise, Cassia siamea, Cassia spectabilis, Tetracera alnifolia (sélectionnées à partir dune enquête ethnobotanique), ont été étudiés chez des malades (20 pour chaque extrait) présentant une goutte épaisse positive et une hyperthermie. Les grandes familles chimiques de lextrait le plus efficace ont été recherchées en utilisant les méthodes phytochimiques classiques. Lextrait aqueux de Cassia siamea a présenté leffet antipaludique le plus important (sur la parasitémie et lhyperthermie); cette intéressante activité du Cassia siamea pourrait sexpliquer par la présence des alcaloïdes et des quinones.     

Further iinvestigations on the antiviral activities of medicinal plants of togo

Further studies were done on the antiviral activities of 10 species of Togolese medicinal plants, previously shown to possess activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV). The dominant activity in all cases was virucidal (direct inactivation of virus particles), although Adansonia digitata extracts also appeared to have intracellular antiviral activities as well, which could indicate the presence of multiple antiviral compounds, or a single compound with multiple actions. In the seven most active extracts, the anti-HSV activity was considerably enhanced by light, especially UVA (long wavelength UV), although they all showed "dark" antiviral activity as well. Thus, all the extracts contained antiviral photosensitizers. In all tests, the root-bark and leaf extracts of A. digitata were the most potent.     

Recovery from exercise in trained smokers

AIM: Assess the influence of tobacco on recovery after exercise in sportsmen. METHODS: Sixty-three smokers aged 18-33 years, practising soccer, participated in this study. These subjects belonged to second division congolese league clubs. Heart rate (HR) was studied during recovery of moderate exercise (Ruffer's test), but also recovery index and arterial pressure. Kinetics of the HR was studied for 7 min for recovery. A control group consisted of 50 non smokers, practising soccer at similar level. RESULTS: Smokers showed heart rate values significantly higher (P < 0.001). Non smokers presented a low recovery index. The recovery has generally two components: the first is slow in smokers, while the second is a fast one. However, recovery rate for the smokers was more rapid during the alactic phase. There exists also differences with regards to smoking tobacco dependence: when compared to great smokers, lower smokers exhibited a faster first phase and a slower second phase. These differences were significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The smokers and non smokers differences are discussed with reference to the effects of nicotinemia and carbon monoxide on sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. Cardiovascular changes during exercise have a twofold control: decrease a vagal tone and increase of sympathetic activity. The comparison of smokers and non smokers concerning recovery led to suppose that there exists a difference in regards of the catecholaminergic sensitivity. The problem of thermoregulation must not be neglected during recovery. As smokers are considered, cutaneous thermolysis is perhaps important when these subjects perform exercise in ambient hot air. Here against, it is known that thermolysis mechanisms are not similar in smokers and non smokers. In conclusion, this study showed that smoking tobacco induce a lower physical condition in sportmen. Recovery rate after exercise may function as a predictor of fitness in smokers.     

Preliminary experience with tele-sonography and tele-mammography in Togo

Many medical centres are equipped with a sonograph. However, a sonographist is not always present or is not trained in all of the specialised domains of sonography. . A sonogram is not always possible due to a lack of physicians. This situation has given rise to the concept of remote-controlled sonography: tele-sonography, a medical procedure used in remote sonographic diagnosis in real time or deferred time. Tele-sonography can now be carried out in real time by the transmission of the expert's procedure (robotic system) or by the use of a 3D sonograph in real time. These modes of real time tele-sonography rely on expensive technologies requiring budgets and an infrastructure that is not always possible in developing countries where the needs in tele-medicine are increasing. This paper aimed to present a preliminary evaluation of a "low cost" system of sonographic tele-expertise in real time and the deferred sonographic telediagnosis accompanied by a tele-mammography between expert sites (university hospitals) and isolated sites (peripheral hospitals, dispensaries).     

Effect of Bridelia ferruginea Benth (Euphorbiaceae) ethyl acetate and acetone fractions on insulin resistance in fructose drinking mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The root of Bridelia ferruginea is traditionally used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. The present study was investigated to evaluate the effect of Bridelia ferruginea root bark fractions on some markers of type 2 diabetes on fructose drinking mice.

Materials and methods

Mice received a solution of fructose 15% during 42 days ad libitum; at the 15th day to the 42nd day, they received distilled water for fructose drinking control group, metformin 50 mg/kg per day or fractions 50 mg/kg per day for treatment groups. The normal control group received only distilled water during the experiment. After 6 weeks of experiment, OGTT, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, AST and ALT levels were measured.

Results

Fructose drinking control group (F) showed significant (p<0.001) increase of glucose tolerance, plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin index for insulin resistance (Homeostasis Model Assessment ratio HOMA-IR) as compared to normal control mice. In treated groups, there was a significant reduction of glucose intolerance respectively 74% (p<0.001), 25% (p<0.5) and 92% (p<0.001) for ethyl acetate fraction, acetone fraction and metformin at the same dose of 50 mg/kg per day during 4 weeks administration. In ethyl acetate fraction and metformin treated groups, biochemical parameters and insulin index were significantly (p<0.001) lower than that of fructose drinking control group.

Conclusions

This indicates that Bridelia ferruginea root bark ethyl acetate fraction improved insulin resistance as metformin significantly in type 2 diabetes.     

Phénotypes de l’alpha-1-antitrypsine dans la population togolaise : mise en évidence d’une fréquence élevée de l’allèle rare Pi dans une ethnie isolat

Objectives

The study, which is a ethnobiologic characterization, investigated α₁-antitrypsin gene polymorphism in the togolese ethnic groups. We aimed to determine the existence of rare or deficient alleles predisposing to pulmonary or hepatic genetic diseases.

Patients and methods

We focused our study on healthy subjects of two samples by comparing 205 Adélé from relative isolated ethnic group alive in mountain region and 255 subjects from pluriethnic population living on Atlantic coastal region. Data analysis was performed by α₁-antitrypsin level quantification and serum isoelectric focusing.

Results

The two alleles Pi^M et Pi^F frequencies are respectively 0.834 and 0.166 in Adélé; 0.989 and 0.011 in the subjects from pluriethnic population. Phenotypes MM and FM distribution in the two groups is significantly different (p < 0.001). However, α₁-antitrypsin polymorphism does not significantly influence proteinic and lipidic profiles of the subjects in the two samples.

Conclusion

The Pi^F allele of α₁ antitrypsin is rare allele in the world global populations. Its very high frequency in Adélé explained by preferential endogamic marriage in this ethnic group. Compared to the subjects from pluriethnic population, more than 30 Adélé subjects present a higher risk to develop pulmonary diseases according to isoform F properties.