α-Glucosidase inhibition, 15-lipoxygenase inhibition, and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts and isolated compounds from Terminalia macroptera leaves.

CONTEXT: Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae), a tree that grows in West Africa, has been used in traditional medicine against a variety of diseases such as hepatitis, gonorrhea, skin diseases, and diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate enzyme inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) and toxicity against brine shrimp of extracts and compounds from T. macroptera leaves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol extract, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts obtained from the methanol extract, six isolated polyphenols (chebulagic acid, chebulic acid trimethyl ester, corilagin, methyl gallate, narcissin, and rutin), and shikimic acid were evaluated for enzyme inhibition and toxicity. RESULTS: In enzyme inhibition assays, all extracts showed high or very high activity. Chebulagic acid showed an IC50 value of 0.05 µM towards α-glucosidase and 24.9 ± 0.4 µM towards 15-LO, in contrast to positive controls (acarbose: IC50 201 ± 28 µM towards α-glucosidase, quercetin: 93 ± 3 µM towards 15-LO). Corilagin and narcissin were good 15-LO and α-glucosidase inhibitors, as well, while shikimic acid, methyl gallate, and chebulic acid trimethyl ester were less active or inactive. Rutin was a good α-glucosidase inhibitor (IC50 ca. 3 µM), but less active towards 15-LO. None of the extracts or the isolated compounds seemed to be very toxic in the brine shrimp assay compared with the positive control podophyllotoxin. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of α-glucosidase in the gastrointestinal tract may be a rationale for the medicinal use of T. macroptera leaves against diabetes in traditional medicine in Mali. The plant extracts and its constituents show strong inhibition of the peroxidative enzyme 15-LO.

Adoption of sustainable farming practices in Vietnam: A discourse of the determining factors.

To delve into the intricacies of sustainable agricultural practices, our study investigates both the behavioral and non-behavioral factors influencing farmers' decision-making processes. Employing the New Ecological Model (NEP) to capture social factors, our research framework integrates insights from the sustainable livelihood framework, which delineates five crucial types of livelihood capital: (1) human capital, (2) natural capital, (3) financial capital, (4) physical capital, and (5) social capital. This comprehensive approach enables us to incorporate additional non-behavioral factors and their impacts on farmers' decisions. We underscore the pivotal role of farmers' decisions in fostering sustainable agriculture, aligning with seven of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Leveraging survey data collected from 303 Vietnamese farmers, we validate our research framework using two analytical models: Structural Equation Model (SEM) and binary logit analysis. Our findings underscore the significant influence of farmers' risk propensity and concerns regarding food safety and environmental conservation on the adoption of organic farming practices. Notably, farmers' level of knowledge emerges as a critical determinant shaping their inclination towards sustainable agriculture. The study underscores the importance of targeted educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, identifying key determinants such as proximity to green spaces and farm size in shaping farmers' choices towards sustainable practices.

Ensuring Continuity of Tuberculosis Care during Social Distancing through Integrated Active Case Finding at COVID-19 Vaccination Events in Vietnam: A Cohort Study.

COVID-19 significantly disrupted tuberculosis (TB) services in Vietnam. In response, the National TB Program (NTP) integrated TB screening using mobile chest X-rays into COVID-19 vaccination events. This prospective cohort study evaluated the integrated model's yield, treatment outcomes, and costs. We further fitted regressions to identify risk factors and conduct interrupted time-series analyses in the study area, Vietnam's eight economic regions, and at the national level. At 115 events, we conducted 48,758 X-ray screens and detected 174 individuals with TB. We linked 89.7% to care, while 92.9% successfully completed treatment. The mean costs per person diagnosed with TB was $547. TB risk factors included male sex (aOR = 6.44, p < 0.001), age of 45-59 years (aOR = 1.81, p = 0.006) and ≥60 years (aOR = 1.99, p = 0.002), a history of TB (aOR = 7.96, p < 0.001), prior exposure to TB (aOR = 3.90, p = 0.001), and symptomatic presentation (aOR = 2.75, p < 0.001). There was a significant decline in TB notifications during the Delta wave and significant increases immediately after lockdowns were lifted (IRR(γ1) = 5.00; 95%CI: (2.86, 8.73); p < 0.001) with a continuous upward trend thereafter (IRR(γ2) = 1.39; 95%CI: (1.22, 1.38); p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed at the national level and in all regions but the northeast region. The NTP's swift actions and policy decisions ensured continuity of care and led to the rapid recovery of TB notifications, which may serve as blueprint for future pandemics.

Bioactive flavone-C-glycosides of the African medicinal plant Biophytum umbraculum.

Three flavone-C-glycosides-cassiaoccidentalin A (1), isovitexin (2) and isoorientin (3)-were isolated from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction of the methanol crude extract of the African medicinal plant Biophytum umbraculum, This is the first report of these compounds in this plant. All compounds were identified by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with published data. Isoorientin (3) and the EtOAc extract showed the greatest antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay as well as the strongest inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO) and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO). From these results, the extract of B. umbraculum might be a valuable source of flavone C-glycosides.

Multidimensionl Poverty and The Role of Social Capital in Poverty Alleviation Among Ethnic Groups in Rural Vietnam: A Multilevel Analysis.

This paper empirically examines the disparities over time across six dimensions of poverty (monetary, education, health, housing, basic services, and durable assets) between ethnic minority and majority households in rural Vietnam. Using the five-wave panel data of the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) 2008-2016, we observe improvements in most non-monetary dimensions of poverty for both ethnic groups, while the monetary dimension shows the highest degrees of deprivation and the lowest rate of decrease during the studied period. Health is the only dimension in which ethnic minority households are not only better off than those of majority households during the studied period, but also report improvement. We further explore the role of social capital in ethnic minorities and non-minorities at household and community levels in multiple dimensions of poverty by employing multilevel models. Our study reports the significant effects social capital have at the community level on reducing poverty in the monetary, education, housing, and basic services dimensions for ethnic minorities, while social capital at the household level shows significant effects on monetary, basic services, and durable assets. These findings indicate that policy makers ought to consider the role of social capital when designing poverty alleviation strategies for the country.

Three quinolinone alkaloid - phenylpropanoid adducts from Melicope pteleifolia.

Preliminary in vitro cytotoxic test on different extracts of Melicope pteleifolia collected at Dak Nong province, Vietnam showed that the n-hexane one was the most potent. From this n-hexane extract, three new quinolinone alkaloid-phenylpropanoid derivatives (1-3) and three known compounds (4-6) were isolated. Based on NMR and HR-MS analysis, their chemical structures were elucidated as melicoptines A-C (1-3), flindersine (4), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (5) and (24S)-methylcholestan-1α,3ß-diol (6). Isolated compounds (1-4) were evaluated for their anti-bacterial and cytotoxic activities against human non-small cell lung cancer (A549), human cervical cancer (HeLa), human Burkitt's lymphoma (Raji) and normal fibroblasts (NIH-3T3). All of them were inactive.

Antiplasmodial, anti-complement and anti-inflammatory in vitro effects of Biophytum umbraculum Welw. traditionally used against cerebral malaria in Mali.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Biophytum umbraculum Welw. (Oxalidaceae) is a highly valued African medicinal plant used for treatment of cerebral malaria, a critical complication of falciparum malaria. AIM OF THE STUDY: To provide additional information about traditional use of B. umbraculum and to test plant extracts and isolated compounds for in vitro activities related to cerebral malaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The traditional practitioners were questioned about indication, mode of processing/application, dosage and local name of B. umbraculum. Organic extracts and some main constituents of the plant were investigated for anti-malaria, anti-complement activity and inhibition of NO secretion in a RAW 264.7 cell line. RESULTS: Treatment of cerebral malaria was the main use of B. umbraculum (fidelity level 56%). The ethyl acetate extract showed anti-complement activity (ICH50 5.7±1.6µg/ml), inhibition of macrophage activation (IC50 16.4±1.3µg/ml) and in vitro antiplasmodial activity (IC50 K1 5.6±0.13µg/ml, IC50 NF54 6.7±0.03µg/ml). The main constituents (flavone C-glycosides) did not contribute to the activity of the extract. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of complement activation and anti-inflammatory activity of B. umbraculum observed in this study might be possible targets for adjunctive therapy in cerebral malaria together with its antiplasmodial activity. However, clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the activity due to the complex pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.

DPPH radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of Terminalia macroptera leaves.

From a methanol extract of the leaves of the Malian medicinal tree Terminalia macroptera, cis-polyisoprene (1), chebulic acid trimethyl ester (2), methyl gallate (3), shikimic acid (4), corilagin (5), rutin (6), narcissin (7), chebulagic acid (8) and chebulinic acid (9), were isolated. Cispolyisoprene (1) was the major non-polar constituent. The novel compound 2 showed high radical scavenging activity (IC50 4.7 microg/mL), but was inactive as xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The major substituent of the crude extract, substance 5, showed a high radical scavenger effect (IC50 2.7 microg/mL) and weak xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC50 ca 105 microg/mL). The antioxidant and radical scavenging effects of some of the substances identified in this study may to some extent explain the medical use of this tree in West Africa.

Terminalia macroptera, its current medicinal use and future perspectives.

The tree Terminalia macroptera (Combretaceae) is widespread in Western Africa, and in this area, different parts have been utilized in the treatment of various diseases. In this article, we report on the medicinal use of T. macroptera in three different districts in Mali (Siby, Dioïla and Dogonland), based on interviews with 78 healers in these districts. Roots, root bark, stem bark, leaves and fruits have all been employed by healers, as has parasitic Loranthus species growing on the tree. Major areas of use comprise treatment of wounds and sores, infections, pain, cough, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Some of the medicinal uses of T. macroptera appear to be rationally explained by its chemical constituents.