Essential oil composition of passiflora foetida L. (passifloraceae) flowers and chemical-biology study of the leaves extracts and isolated compound.

Passiflora foetida is a climbing herb employed in ethno-medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The essential oil from flowers of P. foetida was obtained by hydrodistillation. The ethanol extract of the leaves was dissolved in water, then partitioned with n-hexane and n-butanol to obtain the various fractions; the fractions and isolated compound were subjected to in vitro antioxidant activity. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry afforded the identification of forty-two constituents in the floral oil, dominated by ß-caryophyllene (17.2%), cedrol (11.5%), and α-humulene (11.5%). The n-butanol fraction was the most active (70% inhibition and absorbance 0.401; 100 µg/mL) in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and ferric reducing power assays, respectively. Chromatographic analysis facilitated the isolation of 8-C-ß-d-glucosylapigenin (vitexin) from the butanol fraction of P. foetida. Vitexin demonstrated good antioxidant activities (75% inhibition and absorbance 0.424; 100 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid. The volatile metabolites of P. foetida flowers are reported for the first time.

Workforce migration and brain drain - A nationwide cross-sectional survey of early career psychiatrists in Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria's shortage of psychiatrists is exacerbated due to health worker migration. Aim: This study explores migration experiences and tendencies among early-career psychiatrists in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey covering Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, using a 61-item online questionnaire assessing short-term mobility, long-term migration experiences and migration attitudes. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 29. Results: Of 228 early-career psychiatrists surveyed, 9.7% had short-term mobility and 8.0% had long-term migration experiences. However, 85.8% had 'ever' considered migration, 69.2% were planning to leave 'now', and 52.9% had taken 'practical migration steps'. Over half (52.7%) said they would be working abroad in 5 years, with 25.2% indicating they would migrate within a year. The top reasons to leave were financial and academic, while personal and cultural factors were the key reasons to stay. Income dissatisfaction (OR = 2.27, 95%, CI = 1.05-4.88) predicted planning to leave 'now', while being in a relationship (OR = 3.46, 95%CI = 1.06-11.30) predicted taking 'practical migration steps'. Attractive job features were good welfare (85.4%) and high salaries (80.3%). Improvements in finances (90.8%) and work conditions (86.8%) were requested. Conclusions: Systemic changes to address psychiatrists' migration from Nigeria are needed.

Prevalence and correlates of medical student mistreatment in Nigeria: A narrative review.

Mistreatment in medical education encompasses various forms of abusive behavior, often indicating a disregard for students' dignity and interfering with the learning process. This review paper aims to investigate the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of medical student mistreatment in Nigerian medical education and shed light on its impact on students' well-being. A literature search was conducted in August 2023 using Medline, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies on the mistreatment of Nigerian medical students. Inclusion criteria encompassed all studies written in English, regardless of study design, while editorials, reviews, and opinion articles were excluded. Six studies with a total sample size of 1432 were included in the review. The review revealed high mistreatment rates, ranging from 46% to 91%, with verbal abuse being the most common form. Male students were more likely to experience mistreatment, while females had higher rates of sexual abuse. Perpetrators included male and female healthcare professionals, with consultants and resident doctors as common perpetrators. Age and study level were associated with mistreatment experiences. Consequences of mistreatment included emotional distress, depression, loss of self-confidence, academic disillusionment, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Reporting rates were low due to a lack of awareness, fear of reprisal, and perceived futility. The findings underscore the need for institutions to create a supportive environment, raise awareness of available support systems, and implement policies to prevent mistreatment. Future research should focus on larger-scale studies with diverse samples and longitudinal designs to address limitations in the current literature.

Psychosocial challenges of persons with sickle cell anemia: A narrative review.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a severe form of sickle cell disease that primarily affects black populations and individuals in tropical countries. This condition causes significant morbidity and mortality and leads to a range of psychosocial challenges. A preliminary search was conducted on Ovid Medline and public databases with a combination of Medical Subject Headings keywords, resulting in 368 articles. The articles were screened based on the selection criteria in a nonsystematic method by 3 researchers, and a narrative synthesis was done to analyze extracted data from selected peer-reviewed article. Mental disorders, sleep disturbances, interpersonal relationship challenges, stigmatization, and workplace discrimination were identified as significant contributors to the psychosocial distress experienced by individuals with SCA and their families. Depression and anxiety were prevalent among individuals with SCA, leading to poor treatment adherence, increased pain, and disruptions in various aspects of life. Sleep disturbances, including sleep-disordered breathing and sleepwalking, were also identified as significant contributors to poor sleep quality in SCA patients. Families of individuals with SCA also face challenges, including psychological stress, financial strain, and social disruption. Stigmatization is common, leading to misconceptions and discrimination. Workplace discrimination is prevalent, with a high unemployment rate among adult SCA patients. Comprehensive care is crucial to address these psychosocial issues. Early identification and intervention, comprehensive support programs, patient and family education, enhanced pain management strategies, and integration of mental health into clinical care are recommended. School-based support, research and advocacy, and community support groups are also important. By addressing these challenges through comprehensive care and support, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and society can reduce psychosocial distress and improve the lives of individuals with SCA.

Pharmacogenetic testing in psychiatry: Perspective on clinical utility.

Pharmacogenetic studies the influence of inherited characteristics on medication. While different from pharmacogenomics, which is a study of the entire genome in relation to medication effect, their distinction remains inconsistent, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Although the potential of pharmacogenomics in psychiatry is apparent and its clinical utility is suboptimal, the uptake of recommendations and guidelines is minimal and research into PGx is not diverse. This article offers an overview of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in psychiatry, explores the difficulties, and provides recommendations on improving its applicability and clinical utility.

Upper-air meteorological dataset for Uyo, using radiosonde.

Weather pattern anomalies and climate change have greatly impacted human activities and the environment in varying ways. Whether induced naturally or by anthropogenic activities, it remains a menace to global public health. A foreknowledge of the weather/climate change can help in mitigating the impact of disasters emanating from these changes. Upper-air meteorological data play an exceptionally large role in weather and climate prediction. However, there is a paucity of ground truth meteorological data in Nigeria and many parts of Africa. Consequently, the need to measure and archive these data. Internet of things and blockchain technologies are employed to build a system that captures and records meteorological data at up to 9,000 metres above sea level. Spanning between January 18, 2021 and July 26, 2021, in Uyo local government area, upper air pressure, temperature, dew point, time and the elevation at which they were captured, are the meteorological data presented in this data article.

The Relative Role of Family Affluence and Social Support on Depression and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Nigeria: a Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the relative importance of social support and family affluence in depression and self-esteem among adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent students in Calabar, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, 332 students were selected for participation. The Family Affluence Scale (FAS), Oslo Social Support Scale (OSS), Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (RSES) were administered. To facilitate comparisons, the sample was divided into four groups: those with low OSS and low FAS scores, those with low OSS and high FAS scores, those with high OSS and low FAS scores, and those with high scores in both OSS and FAS. Groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis Test. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of depression and self-esteem. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Respondents with low levels of social support, irrespective of family affluence, had significantly higher depression scores and significantly lower self-esteem scores (P< 0.05). In linear regression analyses, social support (95%CI [-1.35,-0.58]) and female gender (95%CI [1.49,5.29]) emerged as predictors of depression, while social support (95%CI [0.25,0.64]) and age (95%CI [-0.79,-0.11]) emerged as predictors of self-esteem. Affluence did not predict depression or self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Social support is of greater relative importance in depression and self-esteem in our study. In developing nations with lean resources, enhanced social support might buffer against the effect of low socio-economic status on mental health.

Pattern and Sociodemographic Correlates of Job Stress among Staff in a Nigerian Psychiatric Hospital.

Context: Globalization and technological advances are associated with rapid social and economic changes which are accompanied by increased pressures in the work environment. Job stress is a hidden pandemic, especially in developing countries where it remains largely unaddressed. Aims: The objective is to determine the pattern and sociodemographic correlates of job stress among staff in a Nigerian psychiatric hospital using the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicator tool. Methods and Material: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 292 full-time staff who were randomly selected across hospital units. Informed consent was obtained and the study questionnaires which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and the HSE indicator tool were administered. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 22 and the level for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The study sample comprised of 133 (45.5%) men and 159 (54.5%) women. The mean age was 35.03 and (SD = 7.45). A high level of stress (<20th percentile) was found in the demands, control, and relationships domains. Sociodemographic correlates of stress in domain analysis included age, marital status, staff level, parenthood, and being a clinical worker. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high level of stress in domains of the HSE indicator among respondents. More research is needed to further examine the stress levels of hospital workers.

In vitro and computational studies on the antiglycation activity of compounds isolated from antidiabetic Tetracera alnifolia stem bark.

The continuous search for new compounds in natural-based plants is a promising strategy for the prevention of diseases. This work examined antiglycation activity compounds isolated from the antidiabetic extract of T. alnifolia stem bark via in vitro and computational [molecular dynamics (MD)] approach. Phytochemical investigation of ethyl acetate fraction and the application of spectroscopic methods led to the isolation and elucidation of 3 compounds: quercetin (1), kaempferol (2), and gallic acid (3). Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were then screened for antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Results show that the ethanol extract of T. alnifolia demonstrated good antioxidant activity compared to the standard gallic acid. There was a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level progressively in diabetic rats, for 21 days compared to diabetic control. Consequently, the antiglycation activity of ethyl acetate fraction had the highest antiglycation activities, followed by dichloromethane (DCM) fraction. Compounds isolated from ethyl acetate fraction, exhibited the highest antiglycation effect for kaempferol followed by quercetin, while gallic acid had the least antiglycation effect. The root mean square of deviation (RMSD) and MM/GBSA energies obtained from molecular dynamics agree with the in vitro antiglycation activity with the sequence of structural stability in the order; kaempferol > quercetin > gallic acid. Therefore, findings from these results suggest that compounds isolated from T. alnifolia possess antiglycation activity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Isolation and characterization of bioactive xanthones from Hippocratea africana (Willd.)Loes.ex Engl. (Celastraceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hippocratea africana root is used in African folk medicine for the treatment of several ailments, including pain and inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To isolate anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds from the roots of H. africana, with accompanying antioxidant potentials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of H. africana roots, and isolated compounds from the bioactive ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities using the xylene induced oedema in mice and thermal induced pain models, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of isolated compounds were tested in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, ionization mass spectrometry, and comparison with literature data. RESULTS: Isoathyriol (1,3,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyxanthone) and norathyriol (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone) were isolated from the potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic ethyl acetate fraction of H. africana roots. Isoathyriol and norathyriol demonstrated good anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties compared with the standards used in each assay. CONCLUSIONS: This study substantiates the use of H. africana root extract in the alleviation of inflammation and pain, and reports the characterization of secondary metabolites in H. africana and for the first time the presence of xanthones in Hippocratea genus.

Isolation and characterization of anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds from Uapaca staudtii Pax (Phyllanthaceae) stem bark.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Uapaca species including Uapacastaudtii Pax (Phyllanthaceae) are used in West Africa ethnomedicine to treat diverse ailments including pile, rheumatism, oedema and wound healing. However, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential as well as constituents of the Uapacastaudtii stem bark has not been investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activities of extract and fractions ofU. staudtii stem bark, and to isolate the bioactive constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous fractions of U. staudtii stem bark, as well as protocatechuic acid and betulinic acid isolated from the bioactive ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated in different mice models of inflammation and pain; furthermore, antioxidant assays were carried out. Chemical structures of isolated compounds were established based on spectroscopic studies and comparison with literature data. RESULTS: The ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited good anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant capacity in all studied models, comparable with those of the standard drugs used. Protocatechuic acid also gave significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory (83%and 88% inhibition for egg-albumin induced and xylene induced oedema, respectively), analgesic (56% inhibition and 22 s of pain suppression for acetic acid-induced and hot plate-induced pain, respectively), and antioxidant effects (97% inhibition and absorbance of 2.516 at 100 µg/mL for DPPH and FRAP assay, respectively) in all the models, whereas betulinic acid only exhibited significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: The result supports the medicinal uses of the U. staudtii stem bark in the management of pain and inflammatory disease. This is the first report on the biological activities and characterization of compounds inU. staudtii, and presence of protocatechuic acid in Uapaca genus.

Antiglycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Uvaria chamae root and essential oil composition.

Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae), is an essential oil bearing plant; the root is acclaimed as an effective remedy for folkloric diabetic therapy. The root extracts were evaluated for composition, antiglycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity. Flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and tannins were relatively high in the alcohol extract; benzyl benzoate (23.3%), dimethoxy-p-cymene (14.2%), τ-cadinol (12.1%), and methyl thymol (8.7%) predominated the constituents identified by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethanol extract demonstrated significant antiglycation activity (IC50, 1.12 mg/mL), and cytotoxicity to brine shrimp (LC50, 25.01 µg/mL). The extract (IC50, 8.0 µg/mL; absorbance 0.531, 100 µg/mL) also exhibited better antioxidant effects compared with the essential oil (IC50, 50.0 µg/mL; absorbance 0.292, 100 µg/mL) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and ferric reducing power assays respectively. U. chamae root possess antiglycation effect, and may also reduce oxidative stress in patients with diabetes; its antiglycation effect, oil composition, and cytotoxicity are reported for the first time.[Formula: see text].

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link and Senna hirsuta (L.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby: constituents of fruit essential oils and antimicrobial activity.

Senna occidentalis and S. hirsuta are mostly gathered from the wild for medicinal use and have a disagreeable odour when crushed. The volatile oils isolated from fresh fruits of S. occidentalis and S. hirsuta were subjected to gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and antimicrobial assays. GC and GC-MS analyses permitted the identification of 58 constituents. S. occidentalis oil was dominated by cyperene (10.8%), ß-caryophyllene (10.4%), limonene (8.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.8%). The main components of S. hirsuta fruit oil were benzyl benzoate (24.7%), τ-cadinol (18.9%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (14.6%) and ß-caryophyllene (5.1%). S. occidentalis fruit oil exhibited better antimicrobial activity (MIC 78-312 µg/mL) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger compared with S. hirsuta oil. The compositions and the activities of the fruit essential oils of S. occidentalis and S. hirsuta are reported for the first time.

Pattern and predictors of Brain Fag syndrome among senior secondary school students in Calabar, Nigeria.

CONTEXT: Brain Fag syndrome (BFS) is a culture-bound disorder that is quite common among Nigerian students. It is known to be associated with study difficulty, and in severe cases, discontinuation of education. Little is known about its pattern and predictors among secondary school (SS) students in Calabar. AIMS: This study aims to determine the pattern and sociodemographic predictors of BFS among SS students in Calabar. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Stratified sampling was used in this cross-sectional study to recruit 1091 students from ten SSs in Calabar metropolis. The students completed the Brain Fag Syndrome Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire which were used in the survey. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 21. RESULTS: The prevalence of BFS was 20.4%. Female gender, school type and local government of location, residence type, parental marital status and maternal educational status were found to have statistically significant relationships with the disorder (P ≤ 0.05). Significant predictors of BFS were female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-2.09) and having parents who were 'not married' (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.24-2.85). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that BFS is highly prevalent amongst SS students in Calabar metropolis albeit at a relatively lower level compared to similar studies and is significantly predicted by female gender and having parents who are unmarried. We recommend that more research should be performed on this much-neglected psychopathology to elucidate it further, with consequent development of appropriate treatment modalities.

Eryngium foetidum L. Essential Oils: Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity.

Background:Eryngium foetidum essential oils from Nigeria were investigated for the first time in order to ascertain their potency as natural antioxidants. E. foetidum is an aromatic and medicinal herb used in ethno-medicine and as a traditional spice for foods. Methods: The hydro-distilled oils of E. foetidum were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Free radical scavenging capacity of the volatile oils was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results: Leaf volatile oil contained a high proportion of (E)-2-Dodecenal (28.43%), 13-tetradecenal (27.45%), dodecanal (14.59%) and 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde (10.77%); the stem oil comprised of dodecanal (20.21%), 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde (18.43%) and (E)-2-dodecenal (8.27%), while 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde (56.08%), 13-tetradecenal (9.26%) and (E)-2-dodecenal (7.65%) were the most dominant in the root oil. The IC50 values for the leaf, stem and root oils were 56 µg/mL, 46µg/mL and 54.5 µg/mL respectively in the DPPH assay while the leaf oil exhibited the highest reducing potential among the test oils in the FRAP assay. Conclusions: The Nigerian E. foetidum volatile oils contain high amount of acyclic aldehydes and aromatic compounds. The oils are a potential source of natural antioxidant as demonstrated by their strong antioxidant activity.

Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Volatile Constituents from Different Parts of Aframomum danielli (Hook) K. Schum.

Background:Aframomum danielli is used in ethno-medicine for the treatment of several ailments and as a traditional food spice. Methods: The hydro-distilled leaf, stem, seed, rhizome and pod volatile oils of A. danielli were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Free radical scavenging capacity of the volatile oils was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results: Thirty-nine (39) volatile compounds were identified in the oils of A. danielli, accounting for 85.33 to 96.03% of the total oil composition. The leaf, stem, rhizome and pod volatile oils were dominant in ß-pinene (30.94-47.55%), while the seed oil contained a high amount of 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) (53.44%). The seed oil showed higher radical inhibitory activity in the DPPH assay (IC50 value, 45.5 µg/mL) and the rhizome oil was the most effective in the FRAP assay. Conclusions: The characterization of the leaf, stem, rhizome and pod volatile oils of A. danielli is reported for the first time. A. danielli seed and rhizome oils elicit promise as potential plant resource and warrant further biological exploitation.

Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Volatile Constituents from Fresh Fruits of Alchornea cordifolia and Canthium subcordatum.

Bacterial resistance has been increasingly reported worldwide and is one of the major causes of failure in the treatment of infectious diseases. Natural-based products, including plant secondary metabolites (phytochemicals), can be exploited to ameliorate the problem of microbial resistance. The fruit essential oils of Alchornea cordifolia and Canthium subcordatum were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils were subjected to in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity screening. Thirty-eight compounds comprising 97.7% of A. cordifolia oil and forty-six constituents representing 98.2% of C. subcordatum oil were identified. The major components in A. cordifolia oil were methyl salicylate (25.3%), citronellol (21.4%), α-phellandrene (7.4%), terpinolene (5.7%) and 1,8-cineole (5.5%). Benzaldehyde (28.0%), ß-caryophyllene (15.5%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (5.3%) and methyl salicylate (4.5%) were the quantitatively significant constituents in C. subcordatum fruit essential oil. A. cordifolia essential oil demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 78 µg/mL) and marginal antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC = 156 µg/mL). C. subcordatum showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and S. aureus (MIC = 156 µg/mL) and notable antifungal activity against A. niger (MIC = 39 µg/mL). However, no appreciable cytotoxic effects on human breast carcinoma cells (Hs 578T) and human prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3) were observed for either essential oil. The antimicrobial activities of A. cordifolia and C. subcordatum fruit essential oils are a function of their distinct chemical profiles; their volatiles and biological activities are reported for the first time.