NLRP3 inflammasome-modulated angiogenic function of EPC via PI3K/ Akt/mTOR pathway in diabetic myocardial infarction.

Background: Inflammatory diseases impair the reparative properties of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC); however, the involvement of diabetes in EPC dysfunction associated with myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown.

Methods: A model was established combining high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with myocardial infarction. The therapeutic effects of transplanted wild-type EPC, Nlrp3 knockout EPC, and Nlrp3 overexpression EPC were evaluated.

Macrophages regulate plaque progression in diabetic Apoe mice dependent on Pi4p/Nlrp3 signaling pathway.

Background And Aims: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients, and it is strongly associated with macrophages and inflammasomes. It has been found that activation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is closely associated with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) on the trans-Golgi. However, how PI4P and NLRP3 regulate macrophage function and its role in diabetic atherosclerotic plaques is unclear.

DNA barcoding augments conventional methods for identification of medicinal plant species traded at Tanzanian markets.

Ethnopharmalogical Relevance: In Africa, traditional medicine is important for local healthcare and plants used for these purposes are commonly traded. Identifying medicinal plants sold on markets is challenging, as leaves, barks and roots are often fragmented or powdered. Vernacular names are often homonymic, and identification of material lacking sufficient morphological characters is time-consuming, season-dependent and might lead to incorrect assessments of commercialised species diversity.

Quantitative market survey of non-woody plants sold at Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In Tanzania, traditional medicine plays a significant role in health care and local economies based on the harvesting, trade and sale of medicinal plant products. The majority of this plant material is said to originate from wild sources, and both traditional healers and vendors are concerned about the increasing scarcity of certain species.

Aim Of The Study: A market survey of non-powdered, non-woody medicinal plants was conducted at Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam, the major hub for medicinal plant trade in Tanzania, to assess sustainability of traded herbal medicine.

Methanolic extracts of Aloe secundiflora Engl. inhibits in vitro growth of tuberculosis and diarrhea-causing bacteria.

Background: The emergence of resistance to antimicrobials by pathogens has reached crisis levels, calling for identification of alternative means to combat diseases.

Objective: To determine antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic extract of Aloe secundiflora Engl. from Lake Victoria region of Kenya.

Multi-plant or single-plant extracts, which is the most effective for local healing in Tanzania?

Use of multi-plant extracts against infectious diseases is increasing in rural Tanzania. The study evaluated this ethnomedicinal practice by using mixed root extracts of Carisa edulis, Ximenia caffra, Harrisonia abyssinica and Euclea natalensis against single extracts of the same plants. Disc diffusion assay and Tube dilution techniques were used to compare bioactivity of plant extracts in-vitro.

The effect of a local mineral kadosero towards the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plant's extract: case of Lake Victoria Basin, Tarime Tanzania.

The effect of kadosero, a crude mineral used by traditional healers as a supplement to plant extracts against microbial infections was evaluated. A sample of kadosero from a local market was both analyzed for its basic composition and its role on bioactivity of plant extract. Titrimetric, Gravimetric and Atomic Absorption Spectrometric analyses were used to determine contents of the mineral kadosero.