Automédication et conseil pharmaceutique en période de pandémie de COVID-19 à Oran / Self-medication and pharmaceutical advice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oran

Introduction : L'épidémie de Covid-19 a créé une psychose et une anxiété généralisées. Cela pourrait être lié, d'une part, à la mortalité élevée observée dans le monde, et d'autre part, à l'absence d'une thérapie spécifique. Face à cette situation, de nombreuses substances ont été utilisées sans avis médical. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer les pratiques de l'automédication en situation de Covid-19 à Oran. Matériel et méthodes : Il s'agit d'une enquête transversale observationnelle réalisée par questionnaire électronique anonyme (googleforms) et distribué, par e-mail, à des pharmaciens adhérents à la section ordinale régionale des pharmaciens d'Oran. Les réponses ont été analysées par le logiciel Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Résultats : Au total, 69 réponses ont été obtenues. La proportion de pharmaciens ayant perçu une tendance à la hausse de l'automédication était de 58,0%. Environ le quart des pharmaciens (22,9%) avaient constaté une augmentation de l'automédication à l'hydroxychloroquine ; néanmoins, aucune toxicité secondaire à l'usage de ce médicament n'a été observée. En cette situation d'épidémie de Covid-19, 91.3% de l'échantillon d'étude avaient constaté une augmentation du recours aux vitamines et compléments alimentaires, avec une consommation fréquente de la vitamine C à 1gr/j ainsi que d'autres complexes vitaminiques à base de vitamine D, vitamine B9 et fer chez la femme enceinte ou allaitante. Conclusion : Notre étude a montré qu'en période de Covid - 19 la tendance à l'automédication a augmenté. L'automédication à l'hydroxychloroquine a été observée durant cette pandémie néanmoins l'usage d'autres substances telles que les vitamines et les compléments alimentaires était plus fréquent.

Introduction : the epidemic of Covid-19 has created generalized psychosis and anxiety. This could be linked, on the one hand to the high mortality observed in the word, and the other hand to the absence of specific therapy. Faced with this situation, many substances have been used without medical advice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the practice of self-medication in COVID-19 situation in Oran. Materials and methods : this is an observational cross sectional survey carried out by an anonymous electronic questionnaire and distributed, by email, to pharmacist belonging to the regional ordinal section of pharmacist in Oran. The answers were analysed by the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results : A total of 69 responses were obtained. The proportion of pharmacists who noticed an increasing trend in self-medication was 58,0%. About a quarter of pharmacist had observed an increase in selfmedication with hydroxychloroquin, at least no toxicity secondary to the use of this drug was observed. In this COVID19 epidemic situation, 91.3% of the study sample noted an increase in the use of vitamins and food supplements with frequent consumption of vitamin C at 1g/day as well as other vitamin comlexes based on vitamin D, vitamin B9 and iron for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Conclusion : Our study showed that during COVID-19 the tendency to self-medication increased. Self-medication with hydroxychloroquin was observed during this pandemic, although the use of other substances such as vitamins and food supplements was more frequent.

Proximate composition, vitamin, mineral and biologically active compounds levels in leaves of Mangifera indica (Mango), Persea americana (Avocado pea), and Annona muricata (Sour sop)

ABSTRACT: The high rate of food insecurity in Nigeria has resulted to malnutrition and sicknesses especially in the rural areas. To address this challenges, this study assessed the levels of biologically active compounds, some essential proximate, vitamin and mineral in leaves of Mango, Avocado pea and Sour sop to determine their nutritional and health benefits. The results indicate that the highest significant (P<0.05) values of crude protein (17.94±0.99 %), calorific value (370.47±1.01 KJ), carbohydrate (66.04±1.00 %), thiamine (0.52±0.01 mg), beta-carotene (115.50±0.01 mg) and K (0.60±0.01 %), alkaloid (2.26±0.01 %) and saponin (1.33±0.01 %) were observed in Avocado pea while ether extract (4.30±0.95 %), ash (8.24±0.99 %), crude fiber (10.60±0.95 %), ascorbic acid (13.20±0.90 mg), riboflavin (0.21±0.01 mg), Ca (4.41±0.01 %), P (0.40±0.01 %), tannin (1.38±0.01 %), flavonoid (0.85±0.01 %) and phenol (0.37±0.01 %) were obtained in Mango. The highest content of niacin (0.41±0.01 mg), Mg (1.70±0.01 %), N (2.98±0.99 %) and phytate (0.30±0.01 %) were recorded in sour sop. The highest values of Na was statistically the same (P>0.05) in Mango (0.23±0.01 %) and Sour sop (0.23±0.01 %) but significantly (P<0.05) higher than 0.19±0.01 % in Avocado pea. Similarly the highest moisture content was observed in Avocado pea (21.74±0.99 %) which is statistically equal with 20.10±0.90% in Mango but significantly (P<0.05) higher than 16.58±1.00 % in Sour sop. The leaves of Mango and Avocado pea are potential source of vitamins, mineral, phytochemical and proximate composition and is strongly recommended for nutritional and therapeutic uses to enhance good health of people

Investigation of the antioxidant activity and quantification of the amount of heavy Metals and some vitamins in carrot

Background: Carrot is a root vegetable from the Umbelliferae family. It is a biennial plant grown for their edible root. Carrots are a good source of carbohydrates and minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron and Magnesium and may contain toxic amounts of metals as a result of run off effects. It is also rich in carotene, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin C.Objectives: To determine the amounts of toxic heavy metals, quantify the amounts of vitamins A and E and investigate the antioxidant activities of Carrot.Method: The research investigated the antioxidant properties of carrot on the basis of the radical scavenging activity on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl), heavy metal analysis were carried out using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer while analysis of vitamins was done using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography).Result: The carrot sample analyzed contained considerable amount of some toxic metals of interest (Cr 0.024, 0.105ppm; Cu 15.76, 30.95ppm; Fe 66.94, 103.95ppm; Zn 16.57, 44.22ppm; Pb 0.018, 0.021ppm) in the leaves and root respectively. The samples also contain a very good amount of the vitamin A (12.863, 44.977ppm) and Vitamin E (0.087, 0.22ppm) in leaves and root respectively. It also showed some antioxidant activity and test positive for most phytochemicals.Conclusion: The actual concentrations of the respective heavy metals found in two parts of the D. carota samples were within the threshold limit but there was slight variation in the amount present in the root D. carota as compared to its leaf. The root had more concentrations of the metals and this could be due to the fact that the root is more exposed to these metals during plant uptake

HPLC analysis of nicotinamide, pyridoxine,riboflavin and thiamin in some selected food products in Nigeria

Food fortification is an important tool for improving the health of the population. Motivated by this; the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has in the past few years embarked on a campaign to create this awareness. There has been varying degree of compliance to this; and so it is of utmost importance to know the food products that contribute significantly to the dietary vitamin B intake. This study investigates the amount of four Vitamin B compounds; namely nicotinamide; pyridoxine; riboflavin and thiamin; present in different packaged food items available in Lagos metropolis of Nigeria. The food items analyzed include dairy products; fruit juices and cereal products. These foods were chosen because of their widespread consumption in the area. The analysis was done using a high performance liquid chromatographic technique with a UV detector. The separation was carried out on a C18 column; using a mobile phase made up of 70buffer (a solution of sodium salt of hexane sulphonic acid) and 30HPLC grade methanol. The identification was based on retention time match against a standard while the quantitation was based on the peak area match against those of a standard. The calibration curves for the standards were linear with a linear regression coefficient close to unity

Augmentation of the acute phase response in vitamin C-supplemented ultramarathoners

Objective. To investigate the effects of vitamin C (VC) supplementation on the alterations in systemic markers of inflammation as a result of participation in a 90 km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in 29 subjects who completed the 1999 Comrades Marathon. Interventions. Runners were divided into groups receiving 500 mg/day VC (VC500; N = 10); 1 500 mg/day VC (VC1500; N = 12) or placebo (P; N = 7) for 7 days before the race; on the day of the race; and for 2 days following completion. Main outcome measures. Each subject recorded dietary intake before; during and after the race and provided 35 ml blood samples 15 - 18 hours before the race; immediately post race; 24 hours post race and 48 hours post race. These were analysed for full blood count; vitamins A; C and E; glucose; C-reactive protein (CRP); amyloid A; interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations. All post race concentrations were adjusted for plasma volume changes. Results. Analyses of dietary intakes and blood glucose and anti-oxidant status on the day preceding the race and the day of the race excluded carbohydrate intake or plasma vitamins E and A as significant confounders in the study. Mean pre-race concentrations of serum vitamin C in VC500 and VC1500 groups (128 - 10.2 and 153 - 10.2 mol/l) were significantly higher (p 0.01) than in the P group (83 - 10.8 mol/l) and confirmed the additional dietary VC intake of both groups. Serum CRP concentrations were significantly higher (p 0.05) in the VC500 group than in the VC1500 and P groups. This finding was supported by similar trends in serum amyloid A; plasma IL-6 and IL-8. When the data from the two VC groups were pooled and the vitamin intake in the placebo (N 500 mg per day

Quelles vitamines dans nos fruits tropicaux?

La consommation des fruits tropicaux permet selon la quantite consommee de satisfaire les besoins nutritionnels. Par ailleurs; il est important de savoir que les fruits apportent aussi des sels mineraux; des acides amines en faibles quantites a l'organisme