ABSTRACT
Lyophilized aqueous extracts obtained from Agave americana L (Agavaceae) collected in the north of Sardinia were characterized with regard to their steroidal sapogenin content. Extracts of A. americana and genins isolated from them were evaluated for anti-inflammatory properties by testing their effects on carrageenin-induced edema. The effect of orally administered genins on gastric mucous membranes was also assessed. Lyophilized extracts administered by the intraperitoneal route at doses equivalent to 200 and 300 mg/kg of fresh plant starting material, showed good anti-inflammatory activity. Doses of genins (total steroidal sapogenins, hecogenin and tigogenin) equivalent to the amount in the lyophilized extracts produced an antiedentatous effect which was much stronger and more efficacious than that obtained with an i.p. administration of 5 mg/kg of indomethacin or dexamethasone 21-phosphate at a dose equivalent to the molar content of hecogenin administered. At the doses used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, the genins did not have any harmful effect on the gastric mucous membranes. Lesions occurred when significantly higher doses of hecogenin were given, but gastric damage was still less than that caused by the drugs used for comparative purposes.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Edema/prevention & control , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Sapogenins/pharmacology , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/toxicity , Carrageenan , Gastric Mucosa/drug effects , Gastric Mucosa/pathology , Inflammation/prevention & control , Italy , Male , Plant Leaves , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Sapogenins/isolation & purification , Sapogenins/toxicity , Spirostans/pharmacology , Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced , WaterABSTRACT
The average values (+/- SD) for height and weight of 812 males and 686 females between 3 and 6 years of age from the city of Sassari (Sardinia) have been determined. Numerical values and smooth curves from the 3rd to the 97th percentile for height and weight have also been calculated. The results were compared with those of the literature and particularly with those published by De Toni et Al. 20 years ago. The data show a significant increase in height and weight among Sardinian children during the past 20 years. The availability of these new curves will permit a more correct evaluation of growth in Sardinian children.
Subject(s)
Body Height , Body Weight , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Italy , Male , Sex FactorsSubject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Transients and Migrants , Adolescent , Anthropology, Cultural , Child , Child, Preschool , Ecology , Ethiopia , Ethnicity , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Rural Health , Sanitation , Water SupplySubject(s)
Schistosomiasis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Ethiopia , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Schistosoma mansoni/isolation & purification , Schistosomiasis/parasitology , Snails/parasitologySubject(s)
Schistosomiasis/epidemiology , Altitude , Biomphalaria/parasitology , Child , Ethiopia , Humans , Schistosoma mansoni , Schistosomiasis/transmissionABSTRACT
Parasitological and malacological surveys were made in the Afar tribal area on the flood plains of the Awash River. S. haematobium--infections are most prevalent among seminomadic Afar living around the swamps and lakes in the middle part of the Awash Valley. Infection rates between 6 and 52% were found among seminomadic Afar and between 0 and 27% in agricultural groups. The highly localised distribution of vesical schistosomiasis is maintained by the distribution of the swamps, lakes and the human population and by migration patterns. On the marshy plain near Gewani significantly higher infection rates occur among Afar females than males. This is apparently due to sex differences in water contact patterns.
