RESUMO
Background of the Study: Tropical plants of the Ficus genus (Moraceae) are among the earliest fruit trees that humans have cultivated. Since ancient times, many folk medicines have used species of this genus to treat a variety of ailments. Evidence from earlier investigations has shown these plants contain abundant secondary metabolites with a variety of structural properties and biological functions. Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at the University of Nairobi (Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry) from January to June 2022. Aim: The study focuses on isolating and identifying secondary metabolites from the stem bark of Ficus thonningii Blume found in Kenya and their chemotaxonomic significance. Methodology: Dried powdered stem bark of Ficus thonningii was extracted by maceration at room temperature using CH2Cl2/CH3OH (1:1) to yield a crude extract which was fractionated in a chromatographic column (CC) using silica gel (60 – 120 mesh) as an adsorbent eluting with EtOAc/n-hexane followed by CH3OH/EtOAc. The fractions were purified using silica gel (70 – 230, 230 – 400 mesh) CC and chromatotron eluting with solvents of different polarity, as well as a crystallization technique. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated and identified using the spectroscopic method (NMR (1D and 2D)) and by comparison with reported literature data. Results: Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Ficus thonningii afforded seven compounds, including yukovanol (1), 5,7,4?-trihydroxy-3?-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)isoflavone (2), cajanin (3), taxifolin (4), protocatechuic acid (5), saccharose (6), and stigmasterol (7). Compounds 1 - 3, 5 and 7 were not reported from F. thonningii until now. Further, compound 6 is being isolated from the genus Ficus for the first time. Conclusion: The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated phytochemicals demonstrates the taxonomic position of F. thonningii in the genus Ficus and explains its multiple ethnomedicinal applications.
RESUMO
Methylmercury elecits characterstic toxic effects in man that differ from those of other mercury compounds. The 1972 outbreak of mercury poisoning in Iraq was considered the largest and most tragic. This study deals with the forms of mercury involved in the outbreak and their involvement in the clinical manifestations as well as their dose - response relationship. Computation of the estimated period of exposure was made by construction of a pharmaco - kinetical model. Determination of mercury in various biological materials from patients under study reveals that the amount of inorganic mercury in plasma and milk correlate closely with that in whole blood, but have no correlation with urine
RESUMO
Lack of legislative criteria in Iraq for determining lead intoxication and to find the best laboratory test [s] for monitoring lead workers had initiated this study. Group of lead workers and a group of controls were selected. Blood samples were withdrawn and the following determinations were made: Blood lead [Pb-B], haemoglobin [Hb] and the basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes [BSC]. Urine samples were collected for aminolevulinic acid [ALA] and coproporphyrin [CP] determinations. It was found that the values of Pb-B, ALA, CP, and BSC of the lead group were significantly higher than their corresponding values of the control group. Hb values did not differ significantly from the control group. A significant positive correlation was observed between ALA and CP. Lead in blood correlated well with both ALA and CP; the relationship was found to be curvilinear. It was concluded that the workers were not suffering from definite lead poisoning. However, some of these workers showed signs of increased lead absorption. The estimation of urinary ALA is very sensitive and specific test in the evaluation of lead poisoning