Evaluation of berries of Phytolacca dodecandra for growth inhibition of Histoplasma capsulatum var.farciminosum and treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia

Objective:To evaluate the berries of Phytolacca dodecundra(P.dodecandra) for its effect on Histoplasma cupsulatum var.farciminosum(HCF) and for the treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis(ELi.Methods:Samples were collected from un-ruptured nodules of cases of EL at Debre Zeit and Akaki(central Ethiopia).Mycologieal culture and isolation of HCF were performed at the Akliln Lemma Institute of Pathobiology.Phytochemical screening was done for n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra to delect alkaloids,saponins,phenolic compounds and flavonoids.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations(MFCs) ol aqueous and n-butanol extracts of P.dodecandra against FICF were determined by agar dilution assay.For the in vivo trial.5%simple ointment was prepared from n-butanol extract and applied topically to 24(twelve early and twelve moderate) cases of F.L.Results:Phytochemical screening showed that n-butanol extract ol P.dodecandra was positive lor alkaloids.saponins and phenolic compounds but negative for flavonoids.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.039%-0.078%) and(0.625%-1.250%),respectively.The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P.dodecandra were(0.078%t-0.156%)and(1.250%-2.500%),respectively.The MIC and MFC of ketoconazole(positive control) was(1.200×10^(-5)%-2.500×10^(-5)%) and(5.000× 10^(-5)%-1.000×10^(-4)%),respectively while growth was observed on free medium(negative control).From the total of 24 treated cases of EL,14(58.3%) responded lo treatment;however,10(41.7%) did not respond to treatment.There was no significant difference in the degree of response to treatment between early and moderate cases(χ~2=0.086:P=0.408.Conclusions:It can be concluded that n-butanol extract of P.dodecandra demonstrates antifungal effects while the aqueous extract shows no antifungal activity.

In vitro vasodilatory effect of aqueous leaf extract of Thymus serrulatus on thoracic aorta of Guinea pigs

Objective:To investigate the vasodilatory effecl of Thymus serrulatus(T.serrulatus) aqueous leaf extract on KCl(high K^+.80 mmol/L) induced precontracted isolated thoracic aorta rings on guinea pigs and the role of aorta endothelium on this action.Methods:Guinea pig thoracic aorta was removed and placed in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and aorta contractions were recorded isometrically.Results:The results revealed that T.serrulalus aqueous leaf extract(0.5-5 mg/mL)significantly(P<0.001) reduced KCl-induced contractions of guinea pig thoracic aorta in both intact(n=5) and denuded(n=5) endothelium in a concentration dependent manner,and the vasodilatory effect of the extract on intact endothelium was significantly(P<0.05) higher than that on denuded endothelium.Glibenclamide(10 μmol/L) significantly(P<0.001) increased the vasodilatory effect of extract in intact endothelium as compared to methylene blue(10μmol/L).atropine(10 μmol/L) and indomethacin(10 μmol/L).The effecl was more obvious on intact than that on denuded endothelium.Conclusions:The present findings demonstrate that T.serrulalus aqueous leaf extract has vasodilator)' activity which might result in antihypertensive effect and its vasodilatory effect is endothelium-dependent.This might support the traditional claim of the plant in hypertensive.

Reduced efficacy of single-dose albendazole against Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura, and high reinfection rate after cure among school children in southern Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

Background Mass drug administration(MDA)program of albendazole to at-risk populations as preventive chemo-therapy is the core public health intervention to control soil-transmitted helminths(STHs).Achieving this goal relies on drug effectiveness in reducing the parasite reservoirs in the community and preventing reinfection.We assessed the effcacy of albendazole against STH parasite infection and reinfection status after cure.Methods A total of 984 schoolchildren infected with at least one type of STH parasite(hookworm,Ascaris lumbri-coides,Trichuris trichiura)in southern Ethiopia were enrolled and received albendazole and praziquantel in MDA campaign conducted from January to March 2019.Stool exams at week-4 and at week-8 of post-MDA were done using Kato Katz technique.The primary outcome was effcacy assessed by cure rate(CR)and fecal egg reduction rates(ERRs)at four weeks of post-MDA.The secondary outcome was reinfection status defined as parasite egg positivity at eight weeks among those who were cured at 4 weeks of post-MDA.Group comparisons in CR and related factors were assessed with chi-square or Fisher's exact tests.Predictors of CR were examined through univariate and multi-variate regression analyses.Results The overall CR and ERR for hookworm infection were 97.2%(95%CI:94.6-99.4)and 97.02%,respectively.The overall CR and ERR for A.lumbricoides were 71.5%(95%CI:68.3-74.6)and 84.5% respectively.The overall CR and ERR and for T.trichiura were 49.5%(95%CI:44.8-54.2)and 68.3%,respectively.The CR among moderate T.trichiura infec-tion intensity was 28.6%.Among children cured of hookworm,A.lumbricoides and T.trichiura at week 4 post-MDA,4.6%,18.3% and 52.4% became reinfected at week-8 post-MDA,respectively.Significantly lower CR(36.6%)and higher reinfection after cure(60.6%)among A.lumbricoides and T.trichiura coinfected children than A.lumbricoides only(CR=69.6%,reinfection rate=15.1%)or T.trichiura only infected children(CR=55.6%,reinfection rate=47.1%)was observed.Pre-treatment coinfection with≥two types of STH parasites was significantly associated with re-infec-tion after cure.Conclusion Albendazole MDA is efficacious against hookworm but has reduced efficacy against A.lumbricoides and is not effective against T.trichiura.The low drug efficacy and high reinfection rate after cure underscore the need for alternative treatment and integration of other preventive measures to achieve the target of eliminating STHs as a public health problem by 2030.

Antihyperglycemic and subchronic toxicity study of Moringa stenopetala leaves in mice

Objective:To evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity and subchronic toxicity of an extract ofMoringa stenopetala(M.stenopetala)leaves in mice.Methods:Antihyperglycemic activities of various solvent subfractions and chromatographic fractions were investigated in alloxan induced diabetic mice.All fractions were administered intragastrically using oral gavage at a dose of 500 mg/kg.For the subchronic toxicity investigation of the 70%ethanol extract of M.stenopetala leaves,a daily dose of 300 or 600 mg/kg body weight was administered to mice over 96 d.Some hematological and plasma biochemical parameters were measured as indices of organ specific toxicity.Preliminary phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity investigation was done using thin layer chromatography method.Results:Among the solvent subfractions of the 70%ethanol extract tested only butanol subfraction exhibited significant reduction of blood glucose level(P<0.05)at 2 h(53.44%)and 4.5 h(46.34%)in diabetic mice and it was further fractionated chromatographically.This resulted in isolation of three chromatographic fractions(fraction 1,2,and 3)which exhibited maximal blood glucose reduction(P<0.01)at 6 h(77.2%),at 4.5 h(69.1%)and at 4.5 h(71.96%)after administration.Furthermore,these fractions exhibited comparable antioxidant activity,and preliminary phytochemical screening indicated the presence of phenolic compounds which may be phenolic glycoside in all fractions.The subchronic toxicity study of the 70%ethanol extract of M.stenopetala leaves revealed that there were no significant differences in body weight,between controls and treated mice.Hematological analysis showed no differences in most parameters examined.Furthermore,it did not significantly affect plasma creatinine,urea,cholesterol,triglycerides and CA125 levels.It also did not significantly affect the plasma T3,T4 and THS level.It,however,caused a significant dose-dependent increases in aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase.The plasma alanine aminotransferase increased in a dose dependent manner,though not significant.Conclusions:The present study revealed that the crude ethanol extract and solvent-solvent fractions as well as chromatographic fractions have antihyperglycemic effect.Furthermore,the crude ethanol extract have some effect on liver of the mice on subchronic administration.Therefore,further study should be done to identify the active principal compound responsible for antihyperglycemic effect and to rule out the safety in other animal model.