Antimicrobial Activity of 23 Endemic Plants in Madagascar

Purpose: To screen the crude methanol extracts obtained from 23 endemic plants in Madagascar for antimicrobial activity. Methods: In order to assess the antimicrobial properties of the extracts; their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were obtained using the broth microdilution method. The six test pathogenic species used were Bacillus subtilis; Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli; Salmonella typhi; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Bioautography agar overlay test and phytochemical screening were also performed on the most active extracts. Results: From the 23 plants tested; 16 of which are used in traditional medicine; Poivrea phaneropetala Combretaceae); Koehneria madagascariensis (Lythraceae) and Rhopalopilia perrieri (Opiliaceae) exhibited the broad spectrum of activity; being active against all the test organisms; while Monoporus clusiifolius (Myrsinaceae) showed the strongest antifungal activity against Candida albicans with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.250 mg/ml. Bioautography and phytochemical analysis of the five active extracts against bacterial strains and of one active extract against C. albicans indicate that the active compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity may be mainly flavonoids and/or terpenes. Conclusion: These preliminary results are the first antimicrobial studies on these of some of them in traditional medicine

Early decrease in resting energy expenditure with bedtime insulin therapy.

AIMS: In type 2 diabetes (T2D), insulin-induced weight gain may stem from a reduction in resting energy expenditure (REE). We sought to determine the early effects of insulin introduction on REE in 20 poorly controlled T2D patients. METHODS: After improving the glycaemia, REE was measured on Day 0 and Day 4 during two treatment regimens: bedtime insulin (n=10, group 1); and one off (3-day) intravenous insulin infusion (n=10, group 2). RESULTS: Both groups were similar in age, gender, BMI, C-peptide, HbA(1c) and initial REE. By Day 4, fasting glycaemia had similarly improved in both groups: group 1: -5.3+/-2.7mmol/L vs group 2: -5.8+/-4.2 mmol/L. In group 2, the second REE was measured 12h after stopping the intravenous insulin infusion, whereas subcutaneous insulin was maintained in group 1. REE did not change in group 2 (-1.3+/-6.5%), whereas it decreased significantly in group 1 (-8.0+/-7.0%; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bedtime insulin led to an early and specific reduction in REE.

Endophytic fungi from leaves of Centella asiatica: occurrence and potential interactions within leaves.

Fungal endophytes were isolated from leaves of Centella asiatica (Apiaceae) collected at Mangoro (middle eastern region of Madagascar, 200 km from Antananarivo). Forty- five different taxa were recovered. The overall foliar colonization rate was 78%. The most common endophytes were the non-sporulating species 1 (isolation frequency IF 19.2%) followed by Colletotrichum sp.1 (IF 13.2%), Guignardia sp. (IF 8.5%), Glomerella sp. (IF 7.7%), an unidentified ascomycete (IF 7.2%), the non-sporulating species 2 (IF 3.7%) and Phialophora sp. (IF 3.5%). Using sequences of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, major endophytes (IF > 7%) were identified as xylariaceous taxa or as Colletotrichum higginsianum, Guignardia mangiferae and Glomerella cingulata. Results from in vitro fungal disk experiments showed a strong inhibitory activity of the xylariaceous non-sporulating species 1 against G. mangiferae and C. higginsianum and of C. higginsianum against G. mangiferae. This can be explained by antagonism between dominant taxa.

Comparison between monofilament, tuning fork and vibration perception tests for screening patients at risk of foot complication.

OBJECTIVE: To compare normal and pathologic values of three different tests for screening patients at risk of foot complications: mono-filament, tuning fork and vibration threshold perception (VTP). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients followed-up in a diabetic clinic were screened for sensitive polyneuropathy by three different tests in three different examinations in a blind design. The 10 g mono-filament, tuning fork and Horwell neuro-esthesiometer were applied to different sites on the patients' legs and feet. RESULTS: Thirty eight patients were identified having abnormal tests and being at risk of foot complications using the mono-filament test; 33 of them and 9 more (42 patients (33 + 9)) were identified using the tuning fork applied to the malleolus and eight more (50 patients (33 + 9 + 8)) when the tuning fork was applied to the big toe; twenty more patients (70 (33 + 9 + 8 + 20)) were identified as being at risk using the VTP at a cut-off of 25 V. CONCLUSION: The mono-filament test identified patient with the highest risk of foot complications, but 37 more patients were identified to be at risk from a VTP > 25 V. These patients were not detected using the mono-filament test. The VTP test provides numerical values that can help to follow the course of the risk for foot insensitivity by allowing the care team to grade the education and follow-up of the at-risk group.

Contribution a l'inventaire des plantes utilisees comme remedes et charmes dans la region sud de Madagascar

Dans le cadre des enquetes ethnobotaniques sur le terrain; les auteurs ont recense 81 plantes ayant des proprietes medicinales et/ou sont utlisees comme charme; dans la region sud de Madagascar. Leurs noms scientifiques; vernaculaires et utilisations traditionnelles sont donnes