Faculty of Health Sciences
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/51
2024-03-29T14:32:36ZAcute and subacute toxicity profile of ethanolic stem bark extract of Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. in Wistar albino rats
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4087
Acute and subacute toxicity profile of ethanolic stem bark extract of Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. in Wistar albino rats
Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Owor, Richard Oriko; Andima, Moses; Lukwago, Tonny Wotoyitide; Kawuma, Carol; Gavamukulya, Yahaya; Nabatanzi, Alice; Kibuule, Dan; Kato, Charles Drago; Anywar, Godwin; Waako, Paul
Albizia coriaria (Fabaceae) crude extracts are key ingredients of several licensed and unlicensed herbal products in East Africa. However, there is limited and often contradicting information regarding its toxicity. We therefore evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity of the ethanolic stem bark extract of A. coriaria in mature healthy Wistar albino rats following Lorke’s method and OECD guidelines 407. The LD50 of the ethanolic stem bark extract of A. coriaria was 2000 mg/kg. The acute toxicity signs observed included piloerection, hyperventilation, lethargy, and loss of righting reflex. There was a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, red blood cells and haemoglobin in rats after 28 days at the dose of 500 mg/kg. Histological analyses revealed multifocal random parenchymal necrosis and scattered periportal mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver, interstitial nephritis in the kidney and multifocal lymphoid accumulation in the peribronchiolar and perivascular lung tissue at 500 mg/kg. The ethanolic stem bark of A. coriaria was therefore moderately toxic to the rats when administered in a single high oral dose within 24 h. The extract caused a dose dependent toxicity with significant damage to the kidney, liver and lung tissues at a dose of 500 mg/kg after 28 days. Herbal medicines containing A. coriaria extracts should be consumed cautiously due to likelihood of toxicity particularly at higher doses greater than 500 mg/kg.
Key words: Albizia coriaria, Traditional medicine, Toxicity, Biochemical, Haematology, Histopathology
Journal article
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZAn intricate vagina penetrating injury with a 22 cm cassava stick in situ for 6 months :
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4006
An intricate vagina penetrating injury with a 22 cm cassava stick in situ for 6 months :
Irumba, Charles; Baragaine, Justus; Obore, Susan; Mwanje, Haruna; Nteziyaremye, Julius
Background Trauma remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality and a threat to attainment of sustainable development goal 11. Genital urinary trauma is reported in about 10% of patients presenting with trauma worldwide, and in about 6.6% of patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. If not careful enough, one may miss the foreign body in the vagina and this may be associated with morbidity, and although rare, mortality.
Case presentation We report a case of a 7-year-old Black Ugandan that had suffered vagina trauma 6 months prior to presentation at our facility and presented with chronic vagina pus discharge for 6 months. Prior examinations had failed to recognize the foreign body and so did the two abdominal pelvic ultrasound scans. During examination under anesthesia, we were able to locate the cassava stick that had caused penetrating vagina injury and we were able to dislodge it. It was a blunt cassava stick with length of 22 cm and diameter of 2 cm. Although it had gone through the peritoneal cavity, we did not do a laparotomy.
Conclusion This case emphasizes the need for a thorough vaginal exam including the need to do it under anesthesia with good lighting even when ultrasound scan findings are normal. It presents an opportunity for one to manage penetrating peritoneal injury without a laparotomy in highly selected cases. Gynecologists should be keen as well to rule out child molestation.
Keywords: Vagina penetrating injury, Cassava stick, Case report
Case report
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZEthnobotanical study of plants used in management of diabetes mellitus in Eastern Uganda
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/3834
Ethnobotanical study of plants used in management of diabetes mellitus in Eastern Uganda
Obakiro, Samuel Baker; Kiyimba, Kenedy; Lukwago, Tonny Wotoyitidde; Lulenzi, Jalia; Andima, Moses; Hokello, Joseph Francis; Kawuma, Carol; Owor, Richard Oriko; Nantale, Gauden; Kibuule, Dan; Anywar, Godwin; Gavamukulya, Yahaya; Waako, Paul
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality among non-communicable diseases affecting about 422 million people worldwide and an estimated 1.5 million deaths directly attributed to diabetes each year with a prevalence of approximately 4.1% in Uganda. The disease is on an unprecedented rise in developing countries yet access to conventional diabetes medication is a huge challenge due to limited resources. Moreover, the current management and treatment options are life-long, expensive and associated with undesirable side effects. Consequently, there is widespread use of complementary and alternative medicines, mostly herbal medicines in the management of DM in Uganda.
Aim of the study: To conduct an ethnobotanical study about medicinal plants for the management of DM in Eastern Uganda, a resource-limited area with rich plant biodiversity. Materials and methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in eight districts of Eastern Uganda. Eighty-six TMPs were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Data on screening of DM, medicinal plant harvesting, herbal medicine preparation, packaging, posology and toxicities were generated. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 26.
Results: Sixty-one plant species belonging to 38 families and 59 genera were used by the TMPs in the preparation of herbal remedies for the management of symptoms of DM. The most commonly used plant species were Kigelia africana, Tamarindus indica, Aloe vera, Erythrina abyssinica, Entada abyssinica, Carica papaya, and Maytenus senegalensis.
The most frequently used life forms were trees (63.2%) and herbs (20%) belonging to families Fabaceae (11.4%) and Asteraceae (10%). Roots and leaves were the most used plant parts harvested predominantly from the wild. Most herbal remedies were prepared as decoctions and administered orally with no reported toxicities.
Conclusion: A wide range of medicinal plants are used by TMPs for management of diabetes in Eastern Uganda. Scientific evaluation of the antidiabetic potential, phytochemistry and toxicology of these remedies is needed to validate their use and inform the production of improved herbal medicines or discover novel molecules for effective management of DM.
Research article
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZSudan Ebola virus (SUDV) outbreak in Uganda, 2022:
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/3549
Sudan Ebola virus (SUDV) outbreak in Uganda, 2022:
Bwire, Godfrey; Sartorius, Benn; Guerin, Philippe; Tegegne, Merawi Aragaw; Okware, Sam I.; Talisuna, Ambrose O.
On 20th September 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH) declared an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever caused by the Sudan Ebola virus (SUDV) following laboratory confirmation of a patient from a village in Madudu sub-county, Mubende district [1]. EVD is highly contagious with a high mortality rate. By the end of the SUDV outbreak in Uganda on 11th January 2023 164 cases (probable and confirmed) were traced with 55 confirmed deaths [2]. Tis was the sixth reported
SUDV outbreak in Uganda since the first in 2000 where a cumulative total of 325 cases and 224 deaths were recorded. Overall case-fatality ratio (CFR) during the 2022 SUDV was 39% (55/142). Despite its recurrence
and high impact, SUDV appears to be neglected in terms of investment in research and development of medical countermeasures. The first documented EVD outbreak occurred in 1976 (47 years ago) in communities located near the Ebola river and was designated Ebola Zaire.
In the same year, an Ebola outbreak occurred in Sudan caused by a different virus strain that was designated SUDV. Since then, there have been several SUDV outbreaks, all in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [3]. The most deadly of all EVD outbreaks occurred in 2014–2016, in
West Africa, where 11,310 deaths and approximately 28,600 cases were recorded [3]. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for SUDV but it exists for the Zaire strain [1]. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the current SUDV outbreak control gaps.
Keywords Ebola, Outbreak, Africa, Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan Ebola virus, Viral haemorrhagic fever, Biosecurity, Biosafety, Infection prevention and control
Research article
2023-01-01T00:00:00Z