| 1 |
Author(s):
Hyacinthe Mindiempo Thiombiano, Mindièdiba Jean Bangou, Aminata P. Nacoulma, Béboila Ouoba, Mamadou Sawadogo, Amandine Lema, Tangbadioa Hervé Coulidiati, Hermann Yempabou Ouoba, Georges Anicet Ouedraogo.
Page No : 1-16
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Ethnobotanical Survey on Medicinal Plants Used in Burkina Faso in the Treatment of Breast Cancer, Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Activities: Euphorbia poissonii Pax and Flueggea virosa (Willd.) Voigt. (Euphorbiaceae)
Abstract
This study presents an ethnobotanical survey, a quantification of polyphenols and antioxidant activities on medicinal plants used in the treatment of breast cancer in the cities of Bobo-Dioulasso and Fada N'Gourma conducted among traditional practitioners. For this purpose, after the survey analyses, Euphorbia poissonii Pax (Euphorbiaceae) and Flueggea virosa (Willd.) Voigt. (Euphorbiaceae) were chosen. A methanolic extraction with soxhlet was performed on these plants. Then, the quantification of phenolic compounds was done by spectrophotometric method with Folin Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride respectively. Likewise, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by three methods (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP). A total of 103 traditional practitioners were surveyed and 47 species divided into 27 families were obtained. Among the total extracts, the leaves of Flueggea virosa gave the highest content of total phenolics (52.05 ±1.49 mg EAG/100mg extract) and the root gave the highest content of flavonoids (3.30 ±0.32 EQ/100mg extract). The best antioxidant activity was observed at the ABTS method with best results obtained for the total extracts of Flueggea virosa (8413.78±110.16 μmol EAA/g). The results of the different phytochemical and antioxidant activities could partially justify the traditional use of these plants in the management of breast cancer patients.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Promise N. Wichendu, Rex Friday Ogoronte A. Ijah, Friday E. Aaron.
Page No : 17-29
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COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Health Workers in Surgical Departments in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is a communicable respiratory tract disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that causes disease in humans. Its status rose to that of a pandemic leading to many fatalities all over the world. Due to its devastation, COVID-19 vaccine production was fast tracked and granted emergency use authorisation. This process has evoked worldwide fears about its safety in the mind of the public, leading to vaccine uptake hesitancy even among healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to ascertain COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health workers in surgical departments of public tertiary healthcare facilities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among healthcare workers in public tertiary healthcare facilities. A total sample was aimed at administering questionnaires, and data was collated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: Two hundred and ninety-three (97.0%) respondents were aware of COVID-19 vaccination of health workers and others in Port Harcourt, and only 161 (53.3%) claimed to have taken the vaccine. To improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate, 133 (44.0%) respondents suggested that the government should improve citizens’ trust in them by being transparent and using traditional and religious leaders for public enlightenment (23 = 7.6%), etc. Conclusion: There is significant COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among workers in the surgical departments of the public tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Lack of trust between the government and the citizens is a hindrance against COVID-19 vaccination.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Chieme Sunday Chukwudoruo, Stanley Chukwuma Okereke, Chinyere Henrietta Onuoha, Olachi Lilian Osuagwu, Chioma Blessing Onowoh, Favour Ntite Ujowundu.
Page No : 30-52
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Phytochemical Evaluation and Functional Group Detection of Ethanolic Leaf and Root Extracts of datura metel
Abstract
Datura metel is a plant with various medicinal parts. This work gears towards the phytochemical evaluation, identification and functional group detection of ethanolic leaf and roots extracts of Datura metel. Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier –Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analytical instruments were used for studies. The preliminary phytochemical evaluation of plant parts revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tanins and terpenes. The chromatogram result for the Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), detected 30 bioactive compounds with high percentage composition and molecular weights. Thiophene, 2,3-dehydro, an isomer of dehydrothiophene (C₄H₆HS) had the least retention time and highest percentage composition of 38.914% for the root extracts while 2-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (C₂H₇N₃S) and Benzene hexanenitirle, dimethyl-ℇ-oxo (C₁₄H₁₇HNO) both had the highest percentage composition for the leaf extracts. The chromatogram result for Fourier –transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that alkenes (=C-H) and carbon tetrachloride (C-CL₄) had the highest and least wavelengths for both extracts respectively. The presence of bioactives detected and identified in this study, showed that plants may serve as reservoir for biologically active compounds and hence in addition to its medicinal values can also be used for diverse purposes in the industry.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Diop Ndiaga, Gueye Mame Vénus, Sy Mama, Diallo Abdoulaye Séga, Dial Chérif, Ndiade Amadou, Ngom Aminata Issa, Diatta Ange Lucien, Faye Oumar.
Page No : 53-69
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Effects of Fetal Microchimerism on Female Breast Cancer: State of the Art and Evolutionary Point of View
Abstract
Introduction: Fetal microchimerism is a frequent phenomenon occurring in all human pregnancies, which allows the transfer of fetal cells of various phenotypes to the mother. Recent data suggest an association between pregnancy, microchimerism, and cancer. A pregnancy history has been identified as a consistent protective factor against breast cancer. Thus, it is conceivable that undefined characteristics of previous pregnancies could explain why some women with positive parity have a reduced risk of breast cancer while others do not. In this context, we undertook this study to evaluate the relationship between fetal microchimerism and female breast cancers through a literature review. Materials and Methods: To meet this objective, namely, to evaluate the relationship between fetal microchimerism and female breast cancer, a literature review was performed using mainly a bibliographic data search engine (Pubmed). Results and Discussion: This study found microchimerism more in healthy women than women with breast cancer, with a statistically significant difference. These results suggest that microchimeric cells may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. This protective effect may be explained by the differentiation and tissue regeneration properties associated with the immunoregulatory properties of fetal microchimeric stem cells. However, the correlation is not linear. Conclusion: In this study, our results indicate that microchemical cells may help reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. Good knowledge of the mechanisms of these microchemical stem cells could potentially serve as an innovative therapeutic approach for breast cancer patients.
