Data from the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar: Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization.

This dataset expresses the experimental data on the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar. Independent variables including concentration of pollutants (10-500 ppm), contact time (30-300 min), adsorbent dosage (1-1000 mg), pH (1-14) and adsorbent calcination temperature (250,300, 600 and 750 °C) were studied and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Empirical models were developed to predict the maximum removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine, and the results were compared with the experimental data. The removal of polutants was more influenced by concentration, followed by adsorbent dosagage, pH, and contact time and the maximum removal reached 90%.

Senna singueana (Delile) lock: Ethnomedicinal uses and medicinal properties.

Senna singueana (Delile) Lock is a potential medicinal plant commonly used to mitigate various infectious and non-infectious diseases including malaria, typhoid, gonorrhoea, bilharzia, cancer, epilepsy and ulcer. The phytochemical profile of S. singueana indicates the presence of different phytoconstituents corresponding to the pharmacological properties. The pharmacological potentials such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antimalarial and antidiabetics are possessed by S. singueana. This review comprehensively discusses the potential of S. singueana for the mitigation of medical conditions. The information is collected from various online databases such as Google scholar, ScienceDirect, Springer, Web of Science and PubMed. Among other information, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and mechanisms of action are extensively presented. A review concluded by highlighting the challenges and potential future outlooks.

Galinsoga parviflora (Cav.): A comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Galinsoga parviflora (Cav.) is a member of the Asteraceae family traditionally used for treatment of various ailments such as malaria, flu, cold, colorectal cancer, liver problems and inflammation. The medicinal properties of G. parviflora are due to the presence of various secondary metabolites including flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids and tannins. The literature survey revealed that G. parviflora possesses several pharmacological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antidiabetic. This review systematically discusses the potential of G. parviflora for managing medical conditions. The information is collected from various online databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Springer, Web of Science, Plant of the World Online and PubMed. Among other information provided in this review, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities are discussed extensively. Additonally, the potential benefits, challenges and future opportunities are presented.

A comparative in-vitro study on antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based hand washing sanitizers towards combating microbes and its application in combating Covid-19 global outbreak.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has created endless social, economic, and political fear in the global human population. Measures employed include frequent washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and hand rubs as instant hand hygiene products. Due to the need to mitigate the pandermic, there is an increase in the local production of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, whose quality and efficacy against germs and the virus are questionable. Therefore, the current study investigated the in-vitro antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based handwashing sanitizers used to mitigate the Covid-19 global outbreak toward combating enveloped bacteria such as E. Coli, P. aeroginosa, S. aureus, and a fungus C. albicans. The antimicrobial effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizer was performed by the agar well diffusion method, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used for statistical analysis. Results indicate that alcohol hand-based sanitizers were more effective in inhibiting P. aeroginosa, with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.47 mm, followed by E. coli, a gram-negative bacterium with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.13 mm than both S. aureus and C. albicans as gram-positive bacteria, and fungi respectively had the same inhibition average of 11.40 mm. The overall mean diameter of inhibition was statistically significantly different among the fifteen tested products. Only one brand of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was the most effective in inhibiting microbes. Less effective sanitizers may impair Covid 19 mitigation efforts and put the population at risk instead of protecting it. Indicating the need for all materials used to mitigate Covid 19 pandermic, including alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be evaluated and monitored to ensure public health safety.

Contribution of Illicit Drug Use to Pharmaceutical Load in the Environment: A Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Illicit drug abuse and addiction are universal issues requiring international cooperation and interdisciplinary and multisectoral solutions. These addictive substances are utilized for recreational purposes worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, conventional wastewater treatment facilities such as waste stabilization ponds lack the design to remove the most recent classes of pollutants such as illicit drug abuse. As a result, effluents from these treatment schemes contaminate the entire ecosystem. Public health officials are concerned about detecting these pollutants at alarming levels in some countries, with potential undesirable effects on aquatic species and increased health hazards through exposure to contaminated waters or recycling treated or untreated effluents in agriculture. Contaminants including illicit substances enter the environment by human excreta following illegal intake, spills, or through direct dumping, such as from clandestine laboratories, when their manufacturer does not follow accepted production processes. These substances, like other pharmaceuticals, have biological activity and range from pseudopersistent to highly persistent compounds; hence, they persist in the environment while causing harm to the ecosystem. The presence of powerful pharmacological agents such as cocaine, morphine, and amphetamine in water as complex combinations can impair aquatic organisms and human health. These compounds can harm human beings and ecosystem health apart from their low environmental levels. Therefore, this article examines the presence and levels of illicit substances in ecological compartments such as wastewater, surface and ground waters in sub-Saharan Africa, and their latent impact on the ecosystem. The information on the occurrences of illicit drugs and their metabolic products in the sub-Saharan Africa environment and their contribution to pharmaceutical load is missing. In this case, it is important to research further the presence, levels, distribution, and environmental risks of exposure to human beings and the entire ecosystem.

A review on the potential of underutilized Blackjack (Biden Pilosa) naturally occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

Several Indigenous edible vegetables in sub-Saharan countries have potential bioactive compounds, including underutilized Biden pilosa (BP). Bioactives from Indigenous edible vegetables are re-evolving as an alternative medicine potential for drug formulations. BP has also been used to mitigate over 40 different diseases in people and animals as herbal medication. Due to globalization and urbanization, people move from more active to more sedentary lifestyles, home-cooked meals to fast foods and snacks, organic foods to processed food with high sugar, salt, and fat. The consumption of native fruits and vegetables is now replaced by a highly processed calory diet, leading to metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, obesity, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases. Hence this article was designed to investigate the existing reports on the use, knowledge and the need to utilize the potentiality of BP further to overcome nutritional deficiencies, food scarcity and mitigation of medical conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of plant-based drugs will aid to decrease the health capitation load as most countries do not have enough funds for purchasing synthetic chemicals used to mitigate diseases.

Evaluation of potentiality of traditional hygienic practices for the mitigation of the 2019-2020 Corona Pandemic.

The coronavirus outbreak threatens global well-being, costing thousands of lives and an unstable economy. Traditional hand-washing (HaWa) with clean water and hand-washing sanitizers (HaWaSas) are among WHO recommended practices against the outbreaks. HaWaSa and HaWa lacked proper quality monitoring evaluation that may pose health risks. The current study investigates the potential of traditional hygienic practices adopted to mitigate the 2019-2020 Pandemic. It involved assessing the effectiveness of 15 HaWaSa collected from the Dodoma market. Thirty volunteered participants were subjected to different hygienic practices involving HaWa and HaWaSa. The obtained hand-swabbed samples were subjected to the streak plate technique for inoculation, followed by counting colonies. The results revealed that, among the collected HaWaSa brands, only 33.3% were certified by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). In the setting under no hand-wash, each client had a different number of colony counts. HaWa did not eliminate all colonies since water acted as a secondary source while only one sanitizer proved effective. The p-values obtained in either setting were greater than 0.05, indicating that each variable was independent. Despite global awareness and fighting against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, quality monitoring of all diagnostic tools, preventive HaWaSa, and related drugs should be prioritized for human safeguard.