Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) is a scrambling perennial shrub that originated in the Americas, but is now common in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Oceania, where it has become a serious weed. The species, particularly the biotype found in Asia and West Africa, has many ethnopharmacological uses, including treatment of malaria, wounds, diarrhoea, skin infection, toothache, dysentery, stomach ache, sore throat, convulsions, piles, coughs and colds. Furthermore, no attempt has been made to synthesise and review the available literature on the usefulness of the plant in the sub-Saharan African region, hence this paper examines the beneficial attributes of C. odorata in sub-Saharan Africa.
Material And Methods: Published information on the species was gathered by the use of different database platforms, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SciFinder and Scopus.
Results: Records indicate that two biotypes of C. odorata are present in sub-Saharan Africa viz. the more widespread Asian/West African C. odorata biotype (AWAB) and the southern African biotype (SAB). While the usefulness of the former is well elucidated in the literature, such information on the latter is still scarce. Although the importance of AWAB C. odorata as a fallow species and as a soil fertility improvement plant in the slash and burn rotation system of agriculture in West Africa is increasingly being recognised, its usage in traditional medicinal practice is far more appreciated. The species has a wide range of ethnopharmacological uses, possibly because of the presence of flavonoids, essential oils, phenolics, tannins and saponins. The plant is reported to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anthelminthic, antifungal, cytotoxic, anticonvulsant, antiprotozoal, antispasmodic, antipyretic and analgesic properties.
Conclusion: While the results of this review suggest that the AWAB plant can be exploited as an alternative to other threatened plant species known to possess similar medicinal potential, the medicinal and pharmacological potential of the SAB plant remains to be established. Further studies on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the SAB plants will not only advance our knowledge of ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, but may also improve the health and knowledge of the local people.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.04.057 | DOI Listing |
Afr J Reprod Health
December 2024
Heroes for Gender Transformative Action - Amref Health Africa, Uganda.
With 25% of teenagers pregnant by age of 19 and about half of these married before their 18th birth day, Uganda exhibits one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage globally. Comprehensive data on the drivers and barriers to addressing repeat teenage pregnancies and early child marriages remains limited. Using the narrative inquiry approach, the paper explores the key socio-cultural drivers and barriers to addressing repeat teenage pregnancies and early/forced marriages among stakeholders in the districts of Mbale, Kween, Namayingo and Kalangala.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
The high genetic variability of HIV-1 and the emergence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) can impact treatment efficacy. In this study, we investigated the prevalent HIV-1 genotypes and drug-resistance-associated mutations in drug-naïve HIV-1 individuals in Cabo Verde. The study, conducted between 2018 and 2019, included drug-naïve HIV-1 individuals from the São Vicente, Boa Vista, Fogo, and Santiago islands.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the highlands of East Africa lack the geo-ecological landmarks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease hotspots to participate in cyclic RVF epidemics, they have recently reported growing numbers of small RVF clusters. Here, we investigated whether RVF cycling occurred among livestock and humans in the central highlands of Kenya during inter-epidemic periods. A 2-year prospective hospital-based study among febrile patients (March 2022-February 2024) in Murang'a County of Kenya was followed by a cross-sectional human-animal survey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
APC Microbiome Ireland, School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland.
Access to safe water and food is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa, where microbial contamination poses significant health risks. Conventional water treatment and food preservation methods have limitations in addressing water safety, particularly for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms. This review explores the potential application of bacteriophages as an innovative solution for water treatment and food safety in the region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence, genotype distribution, and associations with cervicovaginal microbiota and cytokine profiles among South African women, where cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer. PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched for studies on HPV infection up to 21 September 2024. The pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model, with subgroup analyses by province, sample type, and HIV status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!