Survey of Analgesic Plants Used by Tradipractitioners in Congo Brazzaville

Use of herbal remedies in the management of sleeping sickness in four northern provinces of Angola

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This study reports for the first time on the use of folk medicine to treat sleeping sickness and its symptoms in four endemic provinces in northern Angola. By interviewing both traditional practitioners and confirmed patients, it highlights reasons to recourse to folk medicine, the plant species used for this affection as well as arises awareness about the use of particular plants showing potential risks.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aims of this explorative study were three-fold. Firstly, it informed on access to, and use of plant-based medicine as first-choice treatment by infected persons. Secondly, it aimed at collecting comprehensive data from patients and traditional healers on herbal remedies in order to identify plant species used in the management of the disease. Thirdly, it served as contribution for primary indication of potential risk of use associated with the studied plants and their preparation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in 4 endemic provinces of Angola, namely Bengo, Zaire, Kwanza Norte and Uíge. We explored the use of herbal remedies by conducting structured and semi-structured interviews within two distinct study populations. The first group comprises 30 patients who had been diagnosed for trypanosomiasis and treated by the reference treatment. The second group included 9 traditional practitioners who had already treated sleeping sickness. The plants that were cited during the interviews were collected during field walks under supervision of a traditional healer, then authenticated and deposited at the National Herbarium in Luanda.

RESULTS

Of the 30 included patients, 12 (40%) had turned to folk medicine in the management of trypanosomiasis and related symptoms. 7 medicinal plants were reported by this group. Considering the key motivation to consult a traditional practitioner, two main factors accounted for half of the cases: "past experience with folk medicine" and "family habit". Out of 9 traditional practitioners' interviewees, 26 medicinal plants were cited. Roots and leaves were the most used plant parts, and decoction was the common mode of preparation. Evidence for antitrypanosomal activity in the scientific literature was found for 56% (17 of 30) of the identified plant species. The most cited plant was Crossopteryx febrifuga (UR = 6). Some of the cited plants, as for example Aristolochia gigantea, raised concern about potential toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

With 40% of infected persons having turned first to folk medicine before consulting a medical doctor, this explorative study points out that plant-based medicines play an important role in local dynamics of health care. It highlights the need for primary assessment of potential risk of use related to the herbal recipes, and for reporting it to the concerned population. This first ethnobotanical study on trypanosomiasis in endemic provinces of Angola provides information on 30 plants, of which some had been identified as promising for further pharmacological research. Our results provide a first step towards the validation and valorization of Angolan herbal remedies for sleeping sickness.

Carbon monoxide liberated from carbon monoxide-releasing molecule exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

BACKGROUND

Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the three products of heme degradation by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and exerts novel anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects as a gaseous second messenger. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether exogenous CO could modulate intestinal inflammation.

METHODS

Acute colitis was induced with 2% DSS in male C57BL/6 mice. CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2; tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer) was intraperitoneally administered twice daily and the disease activity index (DAI) was determined. We measured tissue-associated myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as an index of neutrophil infiltration, and the production of keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) protein in the intestinal mucosa. In an in-vitro study, young adult mouse colonic epithelial (YAMC) cells were incubated with TNF-α, and KC mRNA/protein expression and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were measured with or without CORM-2 treatment.

RESULTS

After DSS administration, DAI score increased in a time-dependent manner, and this increase was ameliorated by CORM-2 treatment. Increases in MPO activity and in the production of KC and TNF-α after DSS administration were significantly inhibited by CORM-2. TNF-α-induced KC production in YAMC cells was also inhibited by CORM-2 treatment. Further, nuclear translocation of NF-κB in YAMC cells was inhibited by CORM-2.

CONCLUSION

CORM-liberated CO significantly inhibited inflammatory response in murine colitis by inhibition of cytokine production in the colonic epithelium. These results suggest that CO could become a new therapeutic molecule for inflammatory bowel disease.