The effect of an anti-malarial herbal remedy, Maytenus senegalensis, on electrocardiograms of healthy Tanzanian volunteers.

Background: The emergence of resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy necessitates the search for new, more potent antiplasmodial compounds, including herbal remedies. The whole extract of Maytenus senegalensis has been scientifically investigated for potential biological activities both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating strong antimalarial activity. However, there is a lack of data on the electrocardiographic effects of M.

Prevalence of G6PD deficiency and submicroscopic malaria parasites carriage in malaria hotspot area in Northwest, Tanzania.

Background: The use of primaquine for mass drug administration (MDA) is being considered as a key strategy for malaria elimination. In addition to being the only drug active against the dormant and relapsing forms of Plasmodium vivax, primaquine is the sole potent drug against mature/infectious Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. It may prevent onward transmission and help contain the spread of artemisinin resistance.

Safety and Tolerability of an Antimalarial Herbal Remedy in Healthy Volunteers: An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Dose-Escalation Study on in Tanzania.

Background: Though is one of the medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine to treat infectious and inflammatory diseases in Africa, there is a lack of safety data regarding its use. Therefore, the study aimed to asselss the safety and tolerability of the antimalarial herbal remedy .

Material And Methods: The study design was an open-label, single-arm, dose-escalation.

One Week Prevalence and Incidence of Diarrhea: Baseline Status of Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of Nano Maji Filter System in Geita, Tanzania.

Background: We have developed Nano Maji (NMM) filter system for water treatment which is currently being evaluated in a definitive cluster randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: This paper descriptively presents the baseline status of one-week incidence and prevelence of diarrhoea water, sanitation and hygiene and their determinants.

Methods: Recruited households in the three villages of Geita district were allocated to either intervention (NNM filter system) or control (usual practice).

Motivations and barriers for healthy participants to participate in herbal remedy clinical trial in Tanzania: A qualitative study based on the theory of planned behaviour.

Background: The success of any randomized clinical trial relies on the willingness of people to be recruited in the trial. However, 90% of all clinical trials worldwide have been reported to have failed to recruit the required number of trial participants within the scheduled time. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the motivations and barriers for healthy participants to participate in herbal remedy clinical trials in Tanzania.

Performance evaluation of the highly sensitive histidine-rich protein 2 rapid test for plasmodium falciparum malaria in North-West Tanzania.

Background: Precise detection of Plasmodium infections in community surveys is essential for effective malaria control. Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the major techniques used to identify malaria infections in the field-based surveys. Although microscopy is still considered as the gold standard, RDTs are increasingly becoming versatile due to their rapid and adequate performance characteristics.

Evaluation of Antimycobacterial Activity of Higenamine Using Galleria mellonella as an In Vivo Infection Model.

The Phytochemical investigation on MeOH extract on the bark of Aristolochia brasiliensis Mart. & Zucc (Aristolochiaceae) led to the isolation of major compound (1) as light brown grainy crystals. The compound was identified as 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol (higenamine) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

Triterpenoids from Ocimum labiatum Activates Latent HIV-1 Expression In Vitro: Potential for Use in Adjuvant Therapy.

Latent HIV reservoirs in infected individuals prevent current treatment from eradicating infection. Treatment strategies against latency involve adjuvants for viral reactivation which exposes viral particles to antiretroviral drugs. In this study, the effect of novel triterpenoids isolated from on HIV-1 expression was measured through HIV-1 p24 antigen capture in the U1 latency model of HIV-1 infection and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Traditional medicine practices among community members with diabetes mellitus in Northern Tanzania: an ethnomedical survey.

Background: Diabetes is a growing burden in sub-Saharan Africa where traditional medicines (TMs) remain a primary form of healthcare in many settings. In Tanzania, TMs are frequently used to treat non-communicable diseases, yet little is known about TM practices for non-communicable diseases like diabetes.

Methods: Between December 2013 and June 2014, we assessed TM practices, including types, frequencies, reasons, and modes, among randomly selected community members.

Traditional medicine practices among community members with chronic kidney disease in northern Tanzania: an ethnomedical survey.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is being recognized as a non-communicable disease (NCD) with high morbidity and mortality. In countries like Tanzania, people access many sources, including traditional medicines, to meet their healthcare needs for NCDs, but little is known about traditional medicine practices among people with CKD. Therefore, we sought to characterize these practices among community members with CKD in northern Tanzania.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Ocimum labiatum extract and isolated labdane diterpenoid.

Background: Plants from the genus Ocimum are used as folk medicine for treating various diseases including inflammatory and immune-related diseases. Numerous reports have suggested plant extracts and their constituents as possible anti-inflammatory agents. Here, in vitro evidence of Ocimum labiatum's immune-enhancing and antioxidant properties is presented for the first time.

Bioassay-guided investigation of the Tanzanian plant Pyrenacantha kaurabassana for potential anti-HIV-active compounds.

Two new anti-HIV xanthones, 6,7,11-trihydroxy-10-methoxy-9-(7-methoxy-3-methyl-1-oxoisochroman-5-yl)-2-methyl-12-oxo-12H-benzo[b]xanthene-4-carboxylic acid (1) and 6,7-dihydroxy-10,11-dimethoxy-9-(7-methoxy-3-methyl-1-oxoisochroman-5-yl)-2-methyl-12-oxo-12H-benzo[b]xanthene-4-carboxylic acid (2), and a new hexadecahydrochrysen-3-ol (3) were isolated from the tubers of Pyrenacantha kaurabassana. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate anti-HIV activity when tested in the deCIPhR assay on HIV virus type NL4-3, with IC₅₀ values of 21 and 2 μg/mL, respectively.

The synthesis of xanthones, xanthenediones, and spirobenzofurans: their antibacterial and antifungal activity.

Exposure of the phenol, (5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone 18 to ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) resulted in the formation of 7-bromo-3,4a-dimethoxy-2H-xanthene-2,9(4aH)-dione 19 and 5-bromo-2',5'-dimethoxy-3H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1'-cyclohexa[2,5]diene]-3,4'-dione 20. The brominated spirobenzofuran 20 was then subjected to Suzuki-Miyaura reactions to give six derivatives 22a-f. These compounds, related diones and xanthones displayed mostly noteworthy antimicrobial activity, particularly towards the yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans.