Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in groundwater sources in a rural area in the Philippines.

Research on free-living amoebae (FLA) and its public health implication as an etiologic agent of parasitic infection in humans has recently gained traction in the Philippines. This study aimed to identify potential FLAs in collected groundwater samples from Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. Fifty-four (54) water samples were collected in 250-mL sterile polyethylene containers by purposive sampling from selected groundwater sources in six (6) barangays of Masinloc.

Efficacy Assessment of Autodissemination Using Pyriproxyfen-Treated Ovitraps in the Reduction of Dengue Incidence in Parañaque City, Philippines: A Spatial Analysis.

Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide and is a significant public health problem in the tropics. Mosquito control continues to be the primary approach to reducing the disease burden and spread of dengue virus (DENV). Aside from the traditional larviciding and adulticiding interventions, autodissemination using pyriproxyfen-treated (AD-PPF) ovitraps is one of the promising methods to complement existing vector control strategies.

Assessing Entomological and Epidemiological Efficacy of Pyriproxyfen-Treated Ovitraps in the Reduction of Species: A Quasi-Experiment on Dengue Infection Using Saliva Samples.

Our study assessed the impact of using ovitraps with pyriproxyfen on mosquito populations and the feasibility of using human saliva samples to test for seroconversion to dengue virus (DENV). We used a quasi-experimental research design by forming the intervention ( = 220) and the control ( = 223) groups in neighboring Taguig City, Philippines, over 4 months. Socio-demographic data, entomological indices, and IgG antibodies against DENV were measured.

"We Tried to Borrow Money, but No One Helped." Assessing the Three-Delay Model Factors Affecting the Healthcare Service Delivery among Dengue Patients during COVID-19 Surge in a Public Tertiary Hospital: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study.

Identification of delay barriers to care is essential for an effective and efficient healthcare service delivery. In this study, we described the delay in care among parents of the patients seeking treatment for dengue. We also examined the factors affecting the severity of dengue (dengue with warning signs; severe dengue).

Antibacterial and COX-2 Inhibitory Tetrahydrobisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from the Philippine Medicinal Plant .

(Roxb. ex G.Don) J.

Neuroprotective effects of vomifoliol, isolated from Merr. (Rubiaceae), against amyloid- -treated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Merr. (Rubiaceae) led to the isolation and identification of vomifoliol (), -coumaric acid (), and stigmasterol () based on spectroscopic analyses and comparison with the literature data. Compound moderately inhibited the aggregation of amyloid- (Aβ) using the ThT assay (55.

Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cytotoxicity, anti-amyloidogenic activity and cyclooxygenase inhibition of (Rubiaceae).

The anti-amyloidogenic potential and cyclooxygenase anti-inflammatory activity of extracts were evaluated. The MeOH extract (LTM) and chloroform extract (LTC) exhibited significant cytotoxic inhibition against the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell with an IC of 17.52 μg/mL and 12.

Quantitative ethnopharmacological documentation and molecular confirmation of medicinal plants used by the Manobo tribe of Agusan del Sur, Philippines.

Background: The Philippines is renowned as one of the species-rich countries and culturally megadiverse in ethnicity around the globe. However, ethnopharmacological studies in the Philippines are still limited especially in the most numerous ethnic tribal populations in the southern part of the archipelago. This present study aims to document the traditional practices, medicinal plant use, and knowledge; to determine the relative importance, consensus, and the extent of all medicinal plants used; and to integrate molecular confirmation of uncertain species used by the Agusan Manobo in Mindanao, Philippines.

Anti-Amyloidogenic and Cyclooxygenase Inhibitory Activity of .

is known in traditional folk medicine for treating cough, cold, sore throat, fever, wounds, epilepsy, and headaches. To discover the scientific pharmacological potential of , we explore its anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of amyloid- (Aβ) aggregation effects. Cyclooxygenase assay of the CHCl (GSC) extract and MeOH (GSM) extract are more selective to COX-1 inhibition with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) of 3.

Standard reference material (SRM) DNA barcode library approach for authenticating (L.) Spreng. (bignay) derived herbal medicinal products.

In the Philippines, the herbal medicinal product (HMP) market is flourishing due to the abundance of pharmacologically important species, and the high level of ethnomedicinal knowledge still widely accepted by the public. As such, herbal products from (L.) Spreng.

Evaluating the Feasibility of Five Candidate DNA Barcoding Loci for Philippine Jack (: ).

Introduction: The pantropical genus Jack is identified for high phenotypic plasticity making traditional taxonomic identification difficult. Having some members with important medicinal properties, a precise complimentary identification through DNA barcoding is needed for species delineation.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 12 samples representing six Philippine species were used to determine the most efficient barcoding loci among the cpDNA markers (K, L, 16, and T-F) and nrDNA (ITS) based on the criteria of universality, discriminatory power, and resolution of species.

Antitubercular and Cytotoxic Chlorinated seco-Cyclohexenes from Uvaria alba.

Two new chlorine-containing polyoxygenated seco-cyclohexenes, albanols A (1) and B (2), along with the oxepinone metabolite grandiuvarone (3) were isolated from the endemic Philippine Annonaceae plant Uvaria alba. Both new compounds exhibited modest antitubercular activity. Compound 1 showed cytostatic activity (ranging from 1-50 μM) against HeLa cells and weak antiproliferative activity against HUVEC and K-562 cells with GI values of 106 and 81 μM, respectively.

Ixora (Rubiaceae) on the Philippines - crossroad or cradle?

Background: The Philippine archipelago is globally one of the most important model island systems for studying evolutionary processes. However, most plant species on this archipelago have not yet been studied in sufficient detail. The main aim of this study is to unravel the evolutionary history and biogeographic relationships of the Philippine members of the pantropical genus Ixora.

Establishment of a standard reference material (SRM) herbal DNA barcode library of Vitex negundo L. (lagundi) for quality control measures.

The majority of the population in the Philippines relies on herbal products as their primary source for their healthcare needs. After the recognition of Vitex negundo L. (lagundi) as an important and effective alternative medicine for cough, sore throat, asthma and fever by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), there was an increase in the production of lagundi-based herbal products in the form of teas, capsules and syrups.

Generic affiliations of Canthium species placed under Pyrostria group B sensu Bridson (Vanguerieae, Rubiaceae) inferred from morphology and molecular data.

Background: Pyrostria sensu lato (s.l.) is regarded as one of the polyphyletic group within Vanguerieae formerly comprising of Pyrostria sensu stricto (s.

Tetrahydroxanthene-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives from Uvaria valderramensis.

Two tetrahydroxanthene-1,3(2H)-dione metabolites, valderramenols A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the Philippine endemic Annonaceous species Uvaria valderramensis. Planar structures of the rac-xanthene-1,3-(2H)-diones 1 and 2 were established by MS and NMR measurements. Their enantiomers were separated by chiral HPLC, and the absolute configurations of the separated enantiomers were determined by comparison of the HPLC-ECD spectra with computed TDDFT-generated spectra.

Villarinol, a new alkenoyloxyalkenol derivative from the endemic Philippine Rubiaceae species Villaria odorata.

Villarinol (1), a new alkenoyloxy alkenol metabolite, has been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Villaria odorata, an endemic Rubiaceae Philippine plant, along with the known compounds stigmasterol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and spectrometric studies. The extracts of V.