A Review on Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Euphorbia hirta L.

Euphorbia hirta L. is an annual medicinal herb throughout many tropical continents used to cure various diseases. Several studies have isolated many bioactive compounds from E. hirta. This study aimed at providing a collection of bioactive constituents in E. hirta. This review summarizes the extraction solvent, the structures and the properties of 38 bioactive phytochemicals isolated from E. hirta. It could help to understand the relationship existing between phytochemicals and their activities.

Ionic Disorders Observed in Infants with Severe Wasting at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital and the Charles de Gaulle Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: A higher risk of death is associated with wasting in children if it is not treated properly. The objective of this study was to investigate the ionic disorders observed in infants suffering from severe wasting at Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital (YO-TH) and at Charles de Gaulle Pediatric Teaching Hospital (CDG-PTH) in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Methods: This was a retrospective study with a descriptive and analytical aim over the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. Results: It concerned infants aged 6 to 24 months hospitalized at YO-TH and at CDG-PTH from Ouagadougou. We included 271 infants. The mean age of the infants was 14.48 ± 5.44 months with 42.07% which was in the age range of [12 - 18] months. On admission to the hospital, the children had an average weight, height and BMI of 6.22 ± 1.32 kg, 0.73 ± 0.07 m and 11.67 ± 1.53 kg/m2. In urban areas 56.46% of children and the main reasons for consultation were fever (88.19%), vomiting (52.80%) and diarrhea (50.20%). Electrolyte disturbances in emaciated infants affected all 8 parameters of the blood ionogram. However, the major disorders were 65.68% hyponatremia, 55.35% hypobicarbonatemia, 41.33% hypoprotidemia and 32.47% hypokalemia in infants aged 6 to 24 months. We found an association between diarrhea and residence with hypokalemia (p = 0.0000) and hypochloremia (p = 0.010), respectively. Conclusion: Severe acute wasting in infants 6 to 24 months of age remains a concern in the hospital setting. The frequency of biochemical disturbances is also high.

Can the Urine Dipstick Test Be an Alternative in the Screening of Urinary Tract Infections for Inpatients in the Context of a Low-Income Country?

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), a prevalent bacterial infection in adults, heavily relies on cytobacteriological examination of urine (CBEU) for diagnosis. However, in resource-limited countries, accessibility to CBEU remains hindered by cost and availability. This study aims to assess the utility of the Urinary Dipstick Test (UDT) in diagnosing UTIs among hospitalized patients in the context of limited resources. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2019, encompassing hospitalized patients who underwent CBEU at the bacteriology unit of Sour? Sanou University Hospital. UDT and CBEU were concurrently performed, and UDT’s analytical and diagnostic performance was evaluated against CBEU, considered the gold standard. Results: A total of 274 CBEU requests were registered, involving 274 patients (159 males) with a mean age of 45.8 ± 21.3 years (ranging from 1 to 90 years). UTI was confirmed in 90 patients, yielding a frequency of 32.85%. The UTI bacteriological profile was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae (75.23%), primarily Escherichia coli (60.55%). Nitrite and Leukocytes were positive in 54 (19.8%) and 157 (53.6%) of the samples tested. Among patients with confirmed UTI, Nitrite, and Leukocytes were positive in 30 (33%) and 71 (79%) patients respectively. UDT demonstrated variable performance based on nitrite and leukocyte combination: Sensitivity (57%-82%), Specificity (7%-98%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (43%-57%), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (43%-67%). UDT performed slightly better in women (NPV = 88%) and inpatients without urinary catheters (NPV = 75% and PPV = 80%). Conclusion: This study underscores UDT’s potential utility in excluding UTIs among women, younger patients, and inpatients without urinary catheters, albeit with limited confidence. The UDT emerges as a complementary tool for UTI screening, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Lipoprotein (a) Cut-Off in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with a History of Cardiovascular Disease in Center Hospital University Souro SANOU, Burkina Faso

Patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of cardiovascular events. Our aim in this study was to assess the cut-off value for lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) in CKD patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This was a cross-sectional study. Variables including age, sex, history of CVD, body mass index and CKD stage, were collected during CKD patient’s first admission in the nephrology dialysis department. Blood samples were collected for quantitative determination of Lp(a) by immunoturbidimetric method. They were divided into two groups: CKD patients without history of CVD and CKD patients with history of CVD. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess associations with a significance level of 0.05%. Area under the curve (AUC) and new cut-off value for Lp(a) were identified by drawing Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. A total of seventy CKD patients with median age of 43 years [minimum-maximum = 15 - 78 years] were included. Patients with history of CVD were 65.71% (46/70). New Lp(a) cut-off point in CKD patients with history of CVD was 66.50 nmol/L [sensitivity, 87.00%;specificity, 58.30%;AUC = 0.727;p = 0.000]. ROC curve demonstrated good performance of Lp(a) to screen CKD patients with history of CVD. Further research is needed to determine an LPA gene polymorphism’s contribution to increasing risk for CVD at each kidney disease stage.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Appetite Suppressant Plants Used in Hauts-Bassins Areas of Burkina Faso

This study aimed to list the medicinal plants used as an appetite suppressant in Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso. An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken from September to November 2021 using a semi-structured questionnaire. To determine well-known families and species, some indices such as Family Importance Value (FIV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated respectively. Sixty-seven traditional healers (41 men and 26 women) have been interviewed. The age group from 41 to 60 years old was more represented (47.76%). Fifty-eight (58) plant species belonging to 29 families and 53 genera were recorded to have appetite suppressant properties. Fabaceae family (25%) was the most mentioned followed by Combretaceae (12%). The most mentioned species were Guierasenegalensis (7.64%), Parkiabiglobosa (6.18%), Annona senegalensis and Gardenia erubescens (5.35% for both). Leaves and fruits had the highest frequencies of use with 41% and 25% respectively. The decoction (49.62%) was the main preparation method. The oral route was the only mode of drug administration. These results would contribute to strengthening the database on the medicinal plants used as an appetite suppressant by the traditional healers in Burkina Faso.

Abnormalities of Serum Protein Fractions in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Renal Failure at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to investigate abnormalities of serum protein fractions in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 48 hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) recruited at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital (YO-TH), and 48 controls declared fit to donate blood by the Regional Blood Transfusion Center (RBTC) of Ouagadougou. Urea, creatinine, uric acid, and serum proteins were measured on the ARCHITECT C4000 equipment (ABOTT®), while the separating of the different protein fractions was performed on the Helena SAS 3 & 4 automated system. Results: A total of 96 individuals were included in the study. Protein levels were on average higher in controls (75.19 ± 6.56 g/L) than in hemodialysis patients (71.44 ± 12.33 g/L). Low blood albumin was significantly associated with the CRF hemodialysis groups compared to controls (p Conclusion: Serum protein electrophoresis is rapidly feasible and low cost. In hemodialysis CKD patients, it can be used to guide therapeutic management and predict morbidity and mortality related to variations in the various protein fractions.

Reducing Effect of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don Fruit Pulp on Food Intake in Healthy NMRI Mice

Obesity is a chronic condition characterised by excess body fat that leads to increased body weight. One of the most effective ways to treat obesity is to use appetite suppressants to reduce food intake. This study aimed to evaluate in vivo reduction of food intake and weight gain caused by Parkia biglobosa (Pb) fruit pulp. Twenty-four healthy NMRI mice divided into four groups were used for the experiment. Group 1, considered the negative control, received distilled water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered daily with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of Pb fruit pulp powder suspension, respectively. The reduction in food intake was assessed in two phases: acute food intake for one day (24 h) and long-term food intake for seven weeks. Nutrient parameters and phenolic compounds in Pb fruit pulp were quantified. The results showed that Pb fruit pulp had a significant effect on reducing acute food intake. At a dose of 250 mg/kg, Pb had the best activity in reducing acute food intake, with an overall reduction rate of approximately 47.98% ± 1.17% compared to the control. Repeated daily administration inhibited food intake with all three doses for 13 days compared to control. Food intake was significantly decreased for up to 31 days by taking a 100 mg/kg dose of Pb (p = 0.0174). Weight gain was significantly lower (p = 0.0003) in mice treated with 100 mg/kg Pb than in controls at the end of 7 weeks. According to the nutritional composition study, Pb fruit pulp contains an abundance of total carbohydrates (68.81% ± 0.32%) and crude fiber (14.35% ± 0.21%). This study demonstrated that Pb fruit pulp effectively reduces food intake in healthy mice. Pb pulp’s richness in crude fiber and phenolic compounds makes it a potential aid in managing obesity.