Anticonvulsant and Sedative Properties of Leaves of Neoboutonia velutina (Euphorbiaceae) Prain in Mice
Germain Jean Magloire Ketcha Wanda,
Steve Guemnang Ngitedem,
Sefirin Djiogue,
Franklin Zemo Gamo,
Dieudonne Njamen
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2015
Pages:
24-30
Received:
18 May 2015
Accepted:
26 May 2015
Published:
28 May 2015
Abstract: Neoboutonia velutina Prain is a small tree of 6-12 m, found in tropical areas of Africa (Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria, Angola and Southern Sudan). This plant is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine for the treatment of central nervous system diseases like epilepsy and for the treatment of hepatitis. In our knowledge, there are no published studies on biological activity of N. velutina. In the present study, in vivo animal models of epilepsy (strychnine, pentylenetetrazol and Picrotoxin-induced convulsions) and insomnia (diazepam -induced sleep) were used to evaluate the anticonvulsant and sedative properties of N. velutina. The aqueous extract of the leaves of N. velutina protected mice against strychnine (p<0.05), pentylenetetrazol (p<0.01), and picrotoxin (p<0.001)-induced seizures. The extract strongly increased the total sleep time induced by diazepam (50 mg/kg i.p.) but did not significantly precipitate the onset of sleep. The results lead to the conclusion that the extract of N. velutina possesses anticonvulsant and sedative properties in mice and could explain its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy and insomnia.
Abstract: Neoboutonia velutina Prain is a small tree of 6-12 m, found in tropical areas of Africa (Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria, Angola and Southern Sudan). This plant is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine for the treatment of central nervous system diseases like epilepsy and for the treatment of hepatitis. In our knowledge, there are no publish...
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Antimicrobial Multi-Resistance of Acinetobacter baumanii Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Douala (Cameroon)
Cecile Okalla Ebongue,
Emmanuel Roddy Mengue,
Jean-Pierre Nda Mefo’o,
Martial Dongmo Tsiazok,
Raymond N’guessan Kouassi,
Elisabeth Ngo Bum
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2015
Pages:
31-36
Received:
22 May 2015
Accepted:
31 May 2015
Published:
1 June 2015
Abstract: Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter are non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli, often considered as ubiquitous and frequently found in the environment. This work aimed to study the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated at the General Hospital of Douala. This bacterium, which is greatly involved in human pathology, demonstrated high innate and acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics classes. This was a descriptive and retrospective study over a period of ten years (2005-2014), covering all the isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii from in and out patients. Samples were analyzed in the bacteriology laboratory at the General Hospital of Douala. Data collection was made by extraction of the results of all susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii, carried out from 2005 to 2014, registered in the memory of the mini API™ system; this automated machine identifies and measures the susceptibility of all the bacterial strains. A total of 266 strains were isolated from suppurations, urine, urinary catheters, and all other specimens received by the laboratory during the study period. These strains obtained from samples collected from all services of the hospital and ambulatory patients. The resistance rates noted were: 67.29 % for ticarcillin, 64.28 % ticarcillin + clavulanic acid, 68.33 % for piperacillin, 56.97 piperacillin + tazobactam, 58.27 % ceftazidime, 58.01 % cefepime, 21.05 % imipenem, 33.46 % colistin, 52.63 % gentamicin, 48.49 % tobramycin, 24.43 % amikacin, 53.40 % netilmicin, 50% for ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, 51.05 % ofloxacin. The prevalence of multi-resistant strains was 43.18 %, mostly seen in patients hospitalized in the Burns unit. Only imipenem and Amikacin showed good activity on these strains with 78.95 % and 75.57 % of susceptibility respectively. This study showed the low activity of penicillin even in combination with beta lactamases inhibitors, as well as the cephalosporins on strains of Acinetobacter baumannii. Therapeutic support of infections due to this pathogen is highly problematic in General hospital of Douala. However, imipenem and amikacin, and to a lesser extent colistin remains effective treatment choices.
Abstract: Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter are non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli, often considered as ubiquitous and frequently found in the environment. This work aimed to study the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated at the General Hospital of Douala. This bacterium, which is greatly involved in human pathology, demonstrated high inn...
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Nutritional State Impact on the Liver Detoxification Function in Patients Infected by HIV under Antiretroviral Drugs at the Bertoua Day Hospital of Cameroon
Marcellin Guiaro Ndoe,
Armel Herve Nwabo Kamdje,
Charles Fokunang Ntungwen,
Michel Njan Nloga
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2015
Pages:
37-41
Received:
5 June 2015
Accepted:
12 June 2015
Published:
23 June 2015
Abstract: The present study aimed at evaluating the nutritional state impact on liver detoxification function in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus under antiretroviral drugs. We performed a retrospective and prospective transversal survey on the patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus, under antiretroviral drugs at the Bertoua day hospital. The retrospective period of our survey went from October 24, 2014 to February 24, 2014 (4 months) and the prospective shutter of the survey went from February 24, 2014 to August 24, 2014 (6 months), a total period of 10 months. We also analysed the socio-demographics parameters (Age and Sex), Biological parameters (HIV type, CD4, Transaminases) and the therapeutics parameters (Therapeutic protocol, Evolution). The hepatic affection has been judged by the remarkable increase of the rate of transaminases (>3N) and by the appearance of hypersensitivity signs (Skin rashes, Fever…). During this survey, 38 hepatic-toxicity cases caused by the intake of ARV drugs were collected. We included 12 men (31.58%) and 26 women (68.42%) with a sex-ratio of 0.46 in favor of the women. The average age was 45.68±13.13 year with age ranging between 10 to 65 years. Age group of 50 years and above was most represented with a percentage of 42.10. The majority of the patients were infected by the HIV 1 (86.85%) against 10.52% for the HIV 2 and 2.63% for the HIV 1+2. The most prescribed therapy was the association of 2 INTI+1 INNTI (Tenofovir+Lamivudine+Nevirapine) and the AIDS stage represented 7.89%. Prior to the antiretroviral therapy, the 38 patients had normal transaminases that followed modifications of the initial therapeutic protocol after a remarkable increase during the antiretroviral therapy. We noted during this survey that the hepatotoxicity intervention of our patients under ARV drugs was correlated to their Body Mass Index (BMI) that allowed us to evaluate the nutritional state of our patients. The intervention of the hepatotoxicity during the antiretroviral therapy, among the HIV patients having a good nutritional state (normal BMI), was very weak in the absence of the predisposing factors.
Abstract: The present study aimed at evaluating the nutritional state impact on liver detoxification function in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus under antiretroviral drugs. We performed a retrospective and prospective transversal survey on the patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus, under antiretroviral drugs at the Berto...
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