RESUMEN
Aims: Antimicrobial resistance motivates the search for new antimicrobials. Besides Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain has emerged worldwide over the last decade, posing a great challenge to healthcare. This paper reports a survey of Maasai ethno-pharmacy practices. Study Design: Key informant interviews and utilization of e-questionnaires for data collection. Methodology: Plants were identified, and the applicable parts taken as samples, dried, powdered then subjected to aqueous extraction. Using agar well diffusion method, the extracts were screened against gram positive, gram negative and fungal strains to establish antimicrobial activity. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences of the United States International University, Africa in Nairobi from January 2017 to December 2018. Results: Out of the 24 different plant samples collected, 33% were leaves while 17%, 12.5% and 37.5% were fruits, stem bark and roots, respectively. The highest extract percentage yields were from the leaves of Biden pilosa (5.11%), Psidium guajava (4.65%) and Tarchononthus comphoratus (4.31%). While the minimum extracts yields were from Solanum incum roots (0.08%) and stem bark (0.09%). The extracts of Toddalia asiatica stem bark and roots; Rhamnus staddo roots; Tarchonanthus camphoratus stem bark and roots; and Zanthroxyleum chelybeum stem bark, all exhibited well defined inhibition diameters against M.R.S. aureus in the range 8mm to 14mm as compared to the standard drug (10mm). All these were extracts of non-leafy samples. The significant antimicrobial activity corresponded to presence of flavonoids and alkaloids as seen on TLC plates during phytochemical screening. Conclusion: The results obtained are a good rationale for utilization of the plants identified as alternatives to antibiotics for management of antimicrobial infections.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Maasai are the most widely known African ethnic group located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Most spend their days either barefoot or in their traditional shoes made of car tires. Although they walk long distances of up to sixty kilometers a day, they do not suffer from any foot ailments. Little is known about their foot structure and gait. The goal of this investigation was to characterize various aspects of Maasai foot in standing and walking. METHODS: Foot length, calf circumference, hindfoot alignment, step length, cadence, and walking velocity were obtained from 1,096 adult Maasai people (545 males and 551 females; mean age, 40.28 +/- 14.69 years; age range, 16 to 65 years). All included subjects were from rural areas, where the primary terrain was sandy soil, who spend most of their lifetime barefoot, walking. They all denied any medical history or previous symptoms related to foot problems. A trained clinician scanned all feet for deformities. Static (standing) and dynamic (walking) Harris mat footprints were taken to determine the distribution of forefoot pressure patterns during walking. RESULTS: The average foot length was 250.14 +/- 18.12 mm (range, 210 to 295 mm) and calf circumference was 32.50 +/- 3.22 cm (range, 25 to 41 cm). The mean hindfoot alignment was 6.21degrees +/- 1.55degrees of valgus. Sixty-four subjects (5.84%) had bilateral flat-shaped feet with a low medial longitudinal arch that exactly matched the broad pattern of their static footprints. Step length, cadence, and walking velocity were 426.45 +/- 88.73 cm (range, 200 to 690 cm), 94.35 steps/min (range, 72 to 111 steps/min), and 40.16 +/- 8.36 m/min (range, 18.20 to 63.36 m/min), respectively. A total of 83.39% subjects showed unilateral or bilateral deformities of multiple toes regardless of age. The most frequent deformity was clawing (98.79%) of which the highest incidence occurred with the fifth toe (93.23%). Dynamic footprints showed even pressure patterns throughout the forefoot (64.87%), followed by lateral forefoot pressure concentration patterns (21.81%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the distinct parameters that provide more insight into the Maasai foot.