Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, GhanaAsante-Kwatia, Evelyn;Gyimah, Lord;Forkuo, Arnold Donkor;Anyan, William Kofi;Gbemu, Makafui Adzo;Armah, Francis Ackah;Mensah, Abraham Yeboah
doi: 10.1155/2023/6707157pmid: 37520159
This study focused on documenting and evaluating the cercaricidal activity of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in an endemic area in Ghana. Through semistructured questionnaires, personal interviews with herbalists in communities surrounding the Barekese dam in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district, where the disease is endemic, were carried out. Thirty medicinal plants distributed in 19 families were reported to be used for schistosomiasis treatment in the survey. Information on the plants, including scientific names, common names, families, and the used plant part were recorded. The families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae recorded the highest number of plants (14% each), followed by Asteraceae (10%), Loranthaceae (7%), and Rubiaceae (7%). <i>In vitro</i> cercaricidal activity of methanol extracts of nine out of the thirty plants was performed by exposing human <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> cercariae obtained from <i>Biomphalaria pfeifferi</i> to various concentrations of extracts over a duration of 240 minutes. All the plants tested demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent cercaricidal activity. With lethality being set at <1000 <i>μ</i>g/mL, the cercaricidal activity in order of decreasing potency was as follows: <i>Withania somnifera</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 1.29) > <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 7.1) > <i>Xylia evansii</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 11.14) <i>> Jathropha multifida</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 12.9) <i>> Justicia flava</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 22.9) <i>> Anopyxis klaineana</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 182.81) > <i>Ximenia americana</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 194.98) <i>> Loranthus lecardii</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 223.87) <i>> Bridelia tenufolia</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 309.03) > <i>Zanthoxylium zanthoxyloides</i> (LC<sub>50</sub> = 851.94). Phytochemicals, including alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, phytosterols, and flavonoids were identified in the plants. The result of this study gives scientific credence to the traditional use of these plants in the treatment of schistosomiasis and proves that the rich botanical knowledge of medicinal plants provides an incredible starting point for the discovery of new anti-schistosomal drugs for the local population.
Antimalarial and Antioxidant Activities of Ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of <i>Terminalia macroptera</i> in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>Sidiki, Ngouyamsa Nsapkain Aboubakar;Nadia, Noumedem Anangmo Christelle;Cedric, Yamssi;Guy-Armand, Gamago Nkadeu;Sandra, Tientcheu Noutong Jemimah;Kevin, Tako Djimefo Alex;Azizi, Mounvera Abdel;Payne, Vincent Khan
doi: 10.1155/2023/3350293pmid: 37435530
<i>Background</i>. Reduction of oxidative stress during malaria infection is considered as being of great benefit so long as treatment and drug development approaches are concerned. This study had the aim of evaluating the antimalarial and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of <i>Terminalia macroptera</i> in Swiss albino mice infected with the <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> NK65 strain. <i>Methods</i>. <i>In vivo,</i> the antiplasmodial activity of the plant ethanolic extract was tested in a four-day suppressive and curative assay using <i>P. berghei</i> in Swiss albino mice. The extract was administered to the mice at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg per day. Then, parameters, such as parasite suppression and survival time of the mice, were evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of plant extract on liver damage, oxidative stress indicators, and lipid profile changes in <i>P. berghei</i>-infected mice were studied. <i>Results</i>. Administration of <i>T. macroptera</i> significantly suppressed <i>P. berghei</i> infection by 55.17%, 70.69%, and 71.10% at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, respectively, whereas chloroquine had 84.64% suppression relative to the untreated group 1% Dimethyl sulfoxide (1% DMSO) at day 4 (post-infection) in the four-day suppressive test. This suppression activity rate was dose-dependent. The curative test also presented a significant reduction in parasitemia and an extension of the survival time of the treated groups. Treatment of infected parasitized mice with the extract of <i>T. macroptera</i> had a significant (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.973pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M1" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 18.973 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-113" d="M570 304C570 398 525 448 414 448C385 448 343 445 312 434L329 511L321 518C297 504 262 482 244 460L233 411C195 397 159 381 128 358L135 332C160 347 189 360 224 373L111 -147C97 -210 84 -218 17 -231L13 -257L254 -247L259 -218L233 -216C183 -212 177 -202 189 -142L218 -1C238 -10 266 -12 283 -12C351 3 429 48 483 105C543 168 570 242 570 304ZM482 289C482 161 380 33 304 33C278 33 248 51 233 69L303 396C326 400 352 403 369 403C428 403 482 380 482 289Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.921pt" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.555183800000002 -8.34882 21.921 11.7782"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> reduction in parameters, such as total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. Infection may also lead to a significant increase in the enzymatic activity of liver catalase and superoxide dismutase compared with the normal control group. The non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in parasitized mice was significantly reduced in malondialdehyde and increased in glutathione and nitric oxide when compared with the normal control group. <i>Conclusions</i>. These findings support the ethnobotanical use of <i>T. macroptera</i> stem bark as an antimalarial remedy coupled with antioxidant activity. However, further <i>in vivo</i> toxicity tests are required to ascertain its safety.
Frequency of <i>Entamoeba</i> Complex in Individuals Referred to the Medical Laboratories in Jahrom City, South of IranJahromi, Zahra Kargar;Taghipour, Ali;Solhjoo, Kavous;Raoufi, Rahim
doi: 10.1155/2023/8914563pmid: 37469526
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i>, <i>Entamoeba dispar</i>, and <i>Entamoeba moshkovskii</i>, using microscopic and molecular methods in Jahrom city (Fars Province), south of Iran. Stool samples were collected from 360 outpatients referred to the medical laboratories in Jahrom city. Standard parasitological methods, including direct wet mount examination, formalin–ether sedimentation technique, and trichrome staining techniques, were used for detection of <i>Entamoeba</i> complex. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the genus/species of <i>Entamoeba</i>. <i>Entamoeba</i> complex cysts were detected in 2.5% (9/360) of samples by microscopic methods, while 11 isolates were considered positive for the <i>Entamoeba</i> complex by nested PCR. Among them, 2 (18.18%) out of 11 samples were <i>E. histolytica</i>, 5 (45.45%) were <i>E. dispar</i>, and 4 (36.36%) were <i>E. moshkovskii</i>. Molecular positivity was more prevalent among females (4.16%), people living in rural areas (3.44%), and people over 60 years old (13.33%). Considering the clinical manifestations, the <i>Entamoeba</i> complex infection in patients with fever (7.69%), severe diarrhea (5.10%), and nausea (5%) was high. This study reported the presence of <i>E. histolytica</i>, <i>E. dispar</i>, and <i>E. moshkovskii</i> in Jahrom city. Therefore, we suggest more public health interventions in Jahrom city.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Trypanosomosis in Dromedary Camels in the Pastoral Areas of the Guji Zone in EthiopiaAlemu, Gossa;Abebe, Rahmeto
doi: 10.1155/2023/8611281pmid: N/A
Camel trypanosomosis is a life-threatening disease with adverse effects on camel health, production, and working efficiency. Despite this, camel trypanosomosis has received much less attention in Ethiopia compared with the disease in cattle and other animals. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of camel trypanosomosis, identify the potential risk factors, and determine the importance of trypanosomosis in causing anemia in camels in the Gorodola and Liben districts in the Guji Zone of Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia. To this end, blood samples were collected from randomly selected 450 camels in heparinized capillary tubes and analyzed for the presence of <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i> using the buffy coat technique and Giemsa-stained thin smears. <i>T. evansi</i> infection was detected in 24 (5.3%) of the 450 camels examined. Out of the four variables analyzed in this study, two factors, such as body condition (BC) score and age, were found to be significantly (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M1" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-81" d="M600 480C600 590 528 650 384 650H143L137 622C222 614 225 607 210 531L130 127C113 41 106 36 23 28L17 0H294L300 28C204 36 195 42 212 127L243 284L314 263C327 263 339 263 352 264C465 271 600 337 600 480ZM508 481C508 351 402 304 329 304C289 304 265 311 250 317L295 559C302 594 310 606 323 611C335 616 350 619 367 619C455 619 508 573 508 481Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.918pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> associated with trypanosomosis in camels. A higher prevalence of trypanosomosis was observed in camels in poor BC (13.22%) than in camels in good (4.62%) or moderate (1.01%) BC. Likewise, adult camels (8.09%) were infected more frequently than young camels (1.12%), whereas no trypanosomes were detected in camel calves under 2 years of age. No significant statistical difference was found between the two districts, and male and female camels (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M2" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-81"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><path id="g117-92" d="M512 230V281L75 514V456L453 256V254L75 55V-3L512 230Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.918pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g></svg>).</span></span> Statistically, the mean packed cell volume was significantly lower (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M3" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-81"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="21.918pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g></svg>)</span></span> in parasitemic camels (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="42.049pt" style="vertical-align:-0.4673595pt" id="M4" height="8.85534pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.38798 42.049 8.85534"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-51" d="M412 140C382 77 369 73 315 73H129L270 222C362 320 402 379 402 466C402 571 322 635 234 635C177 635 130 609 99 576L42 495L64 475C90 514 133 568 201 568C274 568 318 519 318 435C318 349 255 267 193 193C144 135 87 78 32 23V0H405C417 45 427 89 440 131L412 140Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><path id="g113-55" d="M137 343C167 482 260 545 321 574C357 591 397 603 429 609L423 641C382 634 335 622 295 608C189 570 37 457 37 238C37 84 125 -12 242 -12C362 -12 447 89 447 209C447 311 374 393 267 393C247 393 226 386 204 376L137 343ZM227 337C318 337 361 256 361 173C361 105 336 22 258 22C176 22 126 120 126 240C126 266 127 291 132 310C155 323 189 337 227 337Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,12.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><path id="g121-35" d="M594 629L561 652L159 -9L190 -32L594 629ZM194 635C92 635 49 534 49 453C49 374 92 272 193 272C295 272 338 374 338 454S295 635 194 635ZM193 605C257 605 265 504 265 453C265 405 257 302 194 302C133 302 122 403 122 454S133 605 193 605ZM567 351C465 351 421 250 421 169C421 90 465 -12 566 -12S710 90 710 170S667 351 567 351ZM566 322C628 322 637 221 637 169C637 121 628 18 567 18S494 119 494 170C494 223 506 322 566 322Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,34.418,0)"><path id="g117-37" d="M535 290V340H323V533H265V340H52V290H265V84H323V290H535ZM535 -22V28H52V-22H535Z"/></g></svg><span class="ibiop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="6.51pt" style="vertical-align:-0.4673595pt" height="8.85534pt" version="1.1" viewBox="44.9041838 -8.38798 6.51 8.85534"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.954,0)"><path id="g113-56" d="M447 623H65C61 580 56 530 47 475H76C100 541 106 550 172 550H388C308 376 196 170 91 -1L98 -12L172 -2C268 204 360 408 455 611L447 623Z"/></g></svg>)</span></span> as compared with aparasitemic camels (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="42.05pt" style="vertical-align:-0.4673595pt" id="M5" height="8.85534pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.38798 42.05 8.85534"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-52" d="M285 378C315 398 338 416 353 432C373 451 384 474 384 503C384 579 325 635 236 635H235C182 635 136 610 108 579L65 516L85 496C110 533 150 575 205 575C258 575 300 543 300 481C300 407 232 369 141 339L147 310C163 315 188 321 211 321C268 321 338 284 338 192C338 94 288 40 217 40C160 40 119 68 93 91C85 98 77 97 69 91C60 84 47 71 46 58C44 46 48 35 62 22C75 10 116 -12 162 -12C234 -12 424 62 424 224C424 297 373 359 285 376V378Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-52"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,12.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><path id="g113-58" d="M244 635C114 635 38 519 38 422C38 317 111 240 217 240C236 240 255 244 277 256L345 292C311 140 203 39 59 15L64 -15C89 -15 150 -5 204 17C339 72 440 202 440 386C440 521 368 635 244 635ZM228 602C326 602 352 479 352 390C352 370 351 347 348 324C327 308 293 296 258 296C174 296 124 369 124 458C124 517 152 602 228 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.686,0)"><use xlink:href="#g121-35"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,34.419,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-37"/></g></svg><span class="ibiop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="15.746pt" style="vertical-align:-0.4673595pt" height="8.85534pt" version="1.1" viewBox="44.9061838 -8.38798 15.746 8.85534"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.956,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-58"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,51.197,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,54.161,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g></svg>).</span></span> In conclusion, the current study conducted during a dry season showed a moderate prevalence of trypanosomosis in camels. Further studies using more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests, such as miniature anion-exchange centrifugation technique, serology, or molecular tests, are needed to establish a true epidemiological dataset on the prevalence and seasonality of the disease and its vectors in the study area to recommend viable control measures.