ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria remains a major public health problem in the tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed of investigating the antimalarial and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract of Lophira lanceolata stem bark. Methodology. The antimalarial activity was determined using the Peter 4-days' suppressive and Rane's curative tests on Swiss albino: these mice were infected with 1 × 107 parasitized red blood cells. The percentage reduction of parasitemia was related to each test, and the liver homogenate was used to assay malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, nitrogen monoxide, catalase, and glutathione for the evaluation of oxidative stress. During the curative test, blood was collected for hematological parameters, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase to evaluate liver function. Result: The ethanol extract of L. lanceolata showed a dose-dependent suppressive activity with the highest suppression of 88.22% at 500 mg/kg. Suppression produced by the extract was not significantly higher than that of the reference drug with 96.1%. Similarly, the extract at doses 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg showed significant decreases (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner during the curative test. The ethanol extract of L. lanceolata caused a reduction of tissue markers, such as hepatic oxidative stress, as it increased the enzymatic activity of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of L. lanceolata possesses both antimalarial and antioxidant activities. However, further in vivo toxicity tests are required to guarantee their safety.
ABSTRACT
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan responsible for one of the most common congenital infections in the world. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in pregnant women consulted in three health centers in the city of Dschang. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted, with a total of 242 participants. A questionnaire was administered after obtaining the free and informed consent of the participants. Blood sample was collected to assay IgG and IgM antibodies specific to Toxoplasma gondii using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and potential risk factors were evaluated with the administration questionnaire using a binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was measured at P < 0.05. Results: The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 82.7%,with a seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG of 62.8% (152), that of IgM at 11.6% (28) and that of IgG/IgM at 8.3% (20). The Saint Vincent Paul Hospital had a seroprevalence of 43.8% IgG and 8.7% IgM; followed by the Dschang District Hospital (11.6% IgG and 2.1% IgM). The seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG (35.5%) and IgM (6.2%) was higher in multiparous pregnant women, and in the group of women who performed their first toxoplasmosis serology in the first trimester of pregnancy, 70 (28.9%), 9 (3.7%) respectively for IgG and IgM. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the possession of a cat at home or its presence in the neighborhood, the consumption of undercooked or uncooked meat and having a history of blood transfusion were found to be statistically significant risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among pregnant women. Conclusion: The present study revealed a high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis. Given this high seroprevalence, screening for toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age should be encouraged.
