Larvicidal effects of mineral turpentine, low aromatic white spirits, aqueous extracts of Cassia alata, and aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and essential oil of betel leaf (Piper betle) on Chrysomya megacephala

Betelvine (Piper betle L.): A comprehensive insight into its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological, biomedical and therapeutic attributes

Piper betle L. (synonym: Piper betel Blanco), or betel vine, an economically and medicinally important cash crop, belongs to the family Piperaceae, often known as the green gold. The plant can be found all over the world and is cultivatedprimarily in South East Asian countries for its beautiful glossy heart-shaped leaves, which are chewed or consumed as betelquidand widely used in Chinese and Indian folk medicine, as carminative, stimulant,astringent, against parasitic worms, conjunctivitis, rheumatism, wound, etc., andis also used for religious purposes. Hydroxychavicol is the most important bioactive compound among the wide range of phytoconstituents found in essential oil and extracts. The pharmacological attributes of P. betle are antiproliferation, anticancer, neuropharmacological, analgesic, antioxidant, antiulcerogenic, hepatoprotective, antifertility, antibacterial, antifungal and many more. Immense attention has been paid to nanoformulations and their applications. The application of P. betle did not show cytotoxicity in preclinical experiments, suggesting that it could serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for different diseases. The present review comprehensively summarizes the botanical description, geographical distribution, economic value and cultivation, ethnobotanical uses, preclinical pharmacological properties with insights of toxicological, clinical efficacy, and safety of P. betle. The findings suggest that P. betle represents an orally active and safe natural agent that exhibits great therapeutic potential for managing various human medical conditions. However, further research is needed to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms of action, clinical aspects, structure-activity relationships, bioavailability and synergistic interactions with other drugs.

A case report of Extranodal natural killer / T-cell lymphoma presenting as extensive myiasis

We described a 56-year-old Indonesian man with one-month history of nasal obstruction and rapidly increasing nasal swelling and two weeks history of severe facial pain with foul smelling discharge, bleeding and noticing live maggots emerging from his nasal and oral cavity. On examination, he appeared cachexic with a markedly swollen, erythematous and deformed external nose. Live maggots, pus and necrotic tissues were found in both nasal cavities, with erosion of upper gingiva and hard palate. Patient was managed initially with tracheostomy under local anaesthesia, followed by removal of around 350 live maggots from the nasal cavities and debridement of necrotic tissues. A midline nasal cavity mass which extended laterally into the nasal cavity was found, along with a large defect over the gingival labial sulcus with necrotic hard palate and a communication between oral and nasal cavities. Biopsies were taken from the nasal mass, gingiva and hard palate. Histopathological results from the biopsies showed diffuse, aggressive infiltrative malignant lymphoid cells with widespread angionecrosis, consistent with features of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. To our knowledge, there is only one other reported case where the diagnosis of ENKTCL was made after patient presented with oro-nasal myiasis. Clinicians should have raised awareness on this atypical presentation so that further investigation and management can be implemented promptly.

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Oro-nasal myiasis represents an opportunistic infection of dipterous larvae feeding on hosts' viable or necrotic tissues.

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This disease occurs in patients with known non-Hodgkin lymphoma due to their immunocompromised state and poor hygiene.

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Clinicians should be aware of this atypical first presentation of underlying ENKTCL.

Human myiasis cases originating and reported in africa for the last two decades (1998-2018): A review

The article reviews literature on myiasis in Africa and cases that originated in Africa over the last two decades (1998-2018). The relevant literature was obtained by using several databases (Science-Direct, JSTOR, Google Scholar, Ebscohost and PubMed). We searched for the following words or their combination myiasis, maggots, fly species responsible for myiasis found in Africa, and the different types of myiasis. References in several articles provided links to other relevant works. Only papers written in English were reviewed. In total, we reviewed 51 articles which covered a total of 849 myiasis cases. The review encompasses geographical distribution of the disease, dipteran species responsible, predisposing factors, sex of the patient, type of myiasis and treatment. Myiasis is found in most parts of the African continent, however only 18 articles reported myiasis cases in Africa during the period under review. The rest of the articles report cases from the rest of the world but acquired by travellers when visiting Africa. Cordylobia anthropophaga (Blanchard) was responsible for 93.28% of all the reported cases in this review. The low number of articles on human myiasis reported in Africa may be due to underreporting by physicians or most cases are not diagnosed. Therefore, the actual prevalence of myiasis in Africa is currently unknown.

Myiasis incidences reported in and around central province of Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

Myiasis, or the invasion of living tissues of humans and other mammals by dipterous larvae, is considered the world's fourth most common travel-associated skin disease after cutaneous larval migrants, pyodermas, and pruritic arthropod-reactive dermatitis.

METHOD

The present study recorded the cause, anatomical position, and severity of the wounds of myiasis patients admitted to 11 hospitals located in the central region of Sri Lanka from February 2016 to July 2017.

RESULTS

Altogether, 28 myiasis incidences were noted within the study period. Of the total identified myiasis patients, nine were female while the remainder were male. The greatest number of patients was recorded from the Mawanella Base Hospital and Peradeniya Teaching Hospital (seven patients each). The ages of recorded patients ranged between 30 and 92 years with the average being 59.4 years. The greatest number of myiasis cases was diagnosed in wounds located in lower limbs (24). In addition, scalp, urogenital, and umbilical infestations were recorded. Eighteen out of the total patients had diabetes mellitus, and two patients suffered from filarial lymphedema. Psychiatric illnesses were a predisposing factor of larval infestation of six patients including the recorded scalp and two urogenital myiasis patients. Of the 28 myiasis cases, 27 were caused by the old world screwworm, Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and one by the blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

CONCLUSION

The awareness of patients with ulcers about this disease helps to decrease further risk of being infected by fly larvae.

Toxicity and growth inhibition potential of vetiver, cinnamon, and lavender essential oils and their blends against larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia sericata

BACKGROUND

Myiasis induced by the sheep blowfly, Lucilia sericata, represents a public health problem widely distributed throughout the world. L. sericata larval stages feed on both humans and animals. L. sericata adults and larvae can play a role in spreading agents of mycobacterial infections.

OBJECTIVES

It is critical to establish new and safe alternative methods of controlling L. sericata.

METHODS

The insecticidal effectiveness and growth inhibition potential of three commercially available essential oils (EOs), vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), as well as their blends, were tested against the second (L2) and third (L3) larval stages of L. sericata. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oil was used as a carrier and tested on L2 and L3 larvae. To the best of our knowledge, all applied essential oils, except lavender, and oil blends were tested against L. sericata for the first time.

RESULTS

All applied oils did not repel L2 from the treated liver but adversely affected their development. Contact treatments on L. sericata L3 indicated that vetiver and cinnamon oils significantly affected treated larvae. Total mortality rates were 93.33 and 95.56%, respectively. Furthermore, oil blends tested through contact assays killed larvae when used at higher concentrations; adult emergence was eliminated post-treatment with doses >30% for oil blend 1 and >10% for oil blend 2.

CONCLUSION

Overall, cinnamon and vetiver oils (5%) were selected as reliable and cheap biopesticides for controlling larvae of L. sericata. The tested oils are inexpensive and represent new promising botanical insecticides in the fight against blowflies causing myiasis.

Dermatoscopy in Diagnosis of Cutaneous Myiasis Arising in Pemphigus Vulgaris Lesions

Myiasis, infestation of live human and vertebrate animals by larvae, can complicate ulcers and open wounds. Although myiasis occurs in neglected erosions of pemphigus, such a complication is not documented in the literature. Herein, we report a case of myiasis complicating pemphigus vulgaris and describe its dermatoscopic features.

Ethnobotanical study of Loloh: Traditional herbal drinks from Bali (Indonesia)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Loloh are herbal drinks produced and consumed exclusively in Bali (Indonesia) to prevent and treat different ailments. This is the first study to document plants species used as Loloh, reporting the phytochemical components and pharmacological properties of the most cited plants. Documenting the plants used in herbal drinks in Bali by local communities to treat various ailments (providing some information on phytochemistry and pharmacology of the most interesting plants).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews (individual and group discussions) and questionnaires. Plant specimens were collected, identified and made into herbarium vouchers.

RESULTS

A total of 51 plants species (belonging to 32 families) have been documented for their use in the various preparation of Loloh. Different plants and plant parts are used to prepare Loloh to treat heartburn, fever, diarrhea, hypertension, aphthous stomatitis (canker sores), and other minor health problems. These plants are mainly prepared as decoctions, are juiced or simply added to the preparation. The most cited plants (>30 informants) are Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Cinnamomum burmanni Nees ex Bl., and Piper betle L. These plants are well studied with multiple demonstrated pharmacological activities (e.g., antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic).

CONCLUSION

The Balinese communities still preserve a rich ethnobotanical knowledge. Several species are well known for their pharmacological properties, but some [such as Pneumatopteris callosa (Blume) Nakai and Dendrocnide stimulans (L. f.) Chew] are understudied and could be promising candidates for further research.

The phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Piper Betel. linn (Betel Leaf): A pan-asiatic medicinal plant

Since antiquity, Piper betel. Linn, commonly known as betel vine, has been used as a religious, recreational and medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. The leaves, which are the most commonly used plant part, are pungent with aromatic flavor and are widely consumed as a mouth freshener. It is carminative, stimulant, astringent and is effective against parasitic worms. Experimental studies have shown that it possess diverse biological and pharmacological effects, which includes antibacterial, antifungal, larvicidal, antiprotozal, anticaries, gastroprotective effects, free radical scavenging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antiulcer and chemopreventive activities. The active principles hydroxychavicol, allylpyrocatechol and eugenol with their plethora of pharmacological properties may also have the potential to develop as bioactive lead molecule. In this review, an attempt is made to summarize the religious, traditional uses, phytochemical composition and experimentally validated pharmacological properties of Piper betel. Emphasis is also placed on aspects warranting detail studies for it to be of pharmaceutical/clinical use to humans.

Investigations on Piper betle grown in Sri Lanka

Piper betle is an economically important plant cultivated in Sri Lanka. Although more than 12 cultivars of betel are reported in Sri Lanka, very few scientific investigations have been carried out on them. Studies on the chemical constituents indicated that safrole is the major constituent, followed by chavibitol acetate, in the essential oil of common betel leaves of Sri Lanka. Investigations on the bioactivities of P. betle revealed the presence of antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antidiabetic and gastroprotective activities. In addition, P. betle was found to be safe in terms of hepatotoxicity, renotoxicity, hematotoxicity, gross morphology, weights of organs, stress or aversive behaviors in rats. The above findings indicate the vast potential of P. betle yet to be harnessed for the benefit of mankind and the betel industry of Sri Lanka.

An evidence-based systematic review of senna (Cassia senna) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration

An evidence-based systematic review, including written and statistical analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.

Cutaneous myiasis

Myiasis is the infestation of living tissue by the larvae of flies in the order Diptera. Cutaneous involvement is the most common type of myiasis. Cutaneous myiasis can be subdivided into furuncular, migratory, and wound myiasis. Each subtype is reviewed with discussion of the larvae involved, presenting signs and symptoms, clinical differential diagnoses, and treatment. Preventive measures are also described.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the causal agents, clinical manifestations, and treatment of human cutaneous myiasis.