ABSTRACT
Background: Ficus sycomorus is one of the recommended antipsoriatic medicinal plants in the traditional Greco-Arab herbal medicine. However, the knowledge on its action mechanisms is limited. Aims: Cytotoxic, cytostatic, and anti-inflammatory effects of water/ethanolic extracts of Ficus sycomorus leaves and fruits were evaluated to test their role in the traditionally known antipsoriatic properties. Place and Duration of Study: All the experiments were done in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University-Palestine in 2020. Plants were collected from the Northern region of the West Bank/Palestine during the fall months in 2019 and given (Voucher code: Pharm-PCT-1030) at An-Najah National University. Methodology: MTT assay was used to evaluate cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of Ficus sycomorus extracts in human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), human monocytic cell line (THP-1)-derived macrophages, and their co-cultures. Commercial ELISA kits were applied to measure the cytokine levels. Results: Both extracts exhibited cytostatic effects with IC 50 of 656 ?g/mL and 886 ?g/mL for HaCat and co-culture, respectively. Leaves and fruits extracts significantly reduced dose-dependently the LPS-induced NO production by THP-1-derived macrophages from 65 ?M to 19 ?M and 16 ?M, respectively. The fruit extracts showed higher effects than the leaf extracts and reduced the TNF-? levels from 709 pg/mL to 208 pg/mL. The fruit extracts increased the production levels of IL-10 from 74 pg/mL to 90 pg/mL. Conclusion: Ficus sycomorus extracts probably exert their antipsoriatic effects through cytostatic effects and modulation of the production levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
ABSTRACT
The Sub-Saharan region has the highest Hepatitis B virus [HBV] rates, and health workers are at an increased risk of contracting nosocomial HBV infection. Vaccination of health workers plays a critical role in protecting them from sequelae of HBV; however, health-worker vaccination remains a challenge for many countries. This study was conducted to review practices/measures and challenges in the Sub-Saharan region relating to vaccination of health workers against HBV. We performed a literature review of articles addressing any aspect of HBV vaccination of health workers in the Sub-Saharan region sourced from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, including a case study of Malawi policies and strategies in training institutions and facilities. Our findings indicated that HBV awareness and vaccination were relatively high, but vaccination rates were lower, with 4.6-64.4% of those ''ever vaccinated" completing the vaccination regimen. There was also great variation in the proportion of health workers exhibiting natural immunity from previous exposure [positive for anti-Hepatitis B core antibodies; 41-92%]. Commonly cited reasons for non-uptake of vaccine included cost, lack of awareness of vaccine availability, and inadequate information concerning the vaccine. Countries in this region will require locally relevant data to develop cost-effective strategies that maximize the benefit to their health workers due to the great diversity of HBV epidemiology in the region