RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Planting tested forest reproductive material is crucial to ensure the increased resilience of intensively managed productive stands for timber and wood product markets under climate change scenarios. Single-step Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (ssGBLUP) analysis is a cost-effective option for using genomic tools to enhance the accuracy of predicted breeding values and genetic parameter estimation in forest tree species. Here, we tested the efficiency of ssGBLUP in a tropical multipurpose tree species, Cordia africana, by partial population genotyping. A total of 8070 trees from three breeding seedling orchards (BSOs) were phenotyped for height. We genotyped 6.1% of the phenotyped individuals with 4373 single nucleotide polymorphisms. The results of ssGBLUP were compared with pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (ABLUP) and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP), based on genetic parameters, theoretical accuracy of breeding values, selection candidate ranking, genetic gain, and predictive accuracy and prediction bias. RESULTS: Genotyping a subset of the study population provided insights into the level of relatedness in BSOs, allowing better genetic management. Due to the inbreeding detected within the genotyped provenances, we estimated genetic parameters both with and without accounting for inbreeding. The ssGBLUP model showed improved performance in terms of additive genetic variance and theoretical breeding value accuracy. Similarly, ssGBLUP showed improved predictive accuracy and lower bias than the pedigree-based relationship matrix (ABLUP). CONCLUSIONS: This study of C. africana, a species in decline due to deforestation and selective logging, revealed inbreeding depression. The provenance exhibiting the highest level of inbreeding had the poorest overall performance. The use of different relationship matrices and accounting for inbreeding did not substantially affect the ranking of candidate individuals. This is the first study of this approach in a tropical multipurpose tree species, and the analysed BSOs represent the primary effort to breed C. africana.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The current work planned to evaluate Cordia africana Lam. stem bark, a traditionally used herb in curing of different ailments in Africa such as gastritis and wound infections, based on phytochemical and antibacterial studies of two pathogenic microorganisms: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling was used for qualitative and quantitative investigation of the ethanol extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanolic extract and isolated compounds was estimated using the broth microdilution method and evidenced by molecular dynamics simulations. RESULTS: Four compounds were isolated and identified for the first time: α-amyrin, ß-sitosterol, rosmarinic acid (RA) and methyl rosmarinate (MR). HPLC analysis illustrated that MR was the dominant phenolic acid. MR showed the best bacterial inhibitory activity against MRSA and H. pylori with MIC 7.81 ± 1.7 µg/mL and 31.25 ± 0.6, respectively, when compared to clarithromycin and vancomycin, respectively. CONCLUSION: The antibacterial activity of the stem bark of Cordia africana Lam. was evidenced against MRSA and H. pylori. Computational modeling of the studied enzyme-ligands systems reveals that RA and MR can potentially inhibit both MRSA peptidoglycan transpeptidases and H. pylori urease, thereby creating a pathway via the use of a double target approach in antibacterial treatment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Praziquantel (PZQ) remains the only drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis, caused by parasitic flatworms. The widespread use of PZQ in schistosomiasis endemic areas for about four decades raises concerns about the emergence of resistance of Schistosoma spp. to PZQ under drug selection pressure. This reinforces the urgency in finding alternative therapeutic options that could replace or complement PZQ. We explored the potential of medicinal plants commonly used by indigenes in Kenya for the treatment of various ailments including malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea for their antischistosomal properties. Employing the Soxhlet extraction method with different solvents, seven medicinal plants Artemisia annua, Ajuga remota, Bredilia micranta, Cordia africana, Physalis peruviana, Prunus africana and Senna didymobotrya were extracted. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to determine the presence of various phytochemicals in the plant extracts. Extracts were tested against Schistosoma mansoni newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) and adult worms and the schistosomicidal activity was determined by using the adenosine triphosphate quantitation assay. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed different classes of compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, terpenes, etc., in plant extracts active against S. mansoni worms. Seven extracts out of 22 resulted in <20% viability against NTS in 24 h at 100 µg/ml. Five of the extracts with inhibitory activity against NTS showed >69.7% and ≥72.4% reduction in viability against adult worms after exposure for 24 and 48 h, respectively. This study provides encouraging preliminary evidence that extracts of Kenyan medicinal plants deserve further study as potential alternative therapeutics that may form the basis for the development of the new treatments for schistosomiasis.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Metabolic profiling of the hexane extract and essential oil of Cordia africana Lam., an economically important agroforestry species, was performed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Cytotoxicity was assessed in MCF-7 cancer cells using sulphorhodamine-B assay. Caspase-8, BcL-2 and Ki-67 levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Forty-one compounds were identified in the hexane extract, meanwhile, eighty compounds were annotated in the essential oil. n-Decane (9.52%), ß-sitosterol (8.13%), undecane (6.32%) and palmitaldehyde (5.50 %) were the major compounds identified in the hexane extract, whereas, ß-caryophyllene (32.0%), germacrene D (10.12%) and δ-cadinene (7.20%) predominated in the essential oil. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the extract and oil were 4.55 µg/mL and 12.90 µg/mL, respectively. Caspase-8 activity increased significantly in hexane extract treated cells. Furthermore, BcL-2 and Ki-67 protein expression levels were significantly decreased. Cordia africana Lam exhibit potent cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell line, most likely through apoptosis regulation.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The rapid conversion of native forests to farmland in Ethiopia, the cradle of biodiversity, threatens the diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) pivotal to plant nutrition and carbon sequestration. This study aimed to investigate the impact of this land-use change on the AMF species composition and diversity in southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from nine plots in each of three land-use types: native forest, agroforestry, and khat monocropping. The plots of the three land-use types were located adjacent to each other for each of the nine replicates. Three 10 × 10m subplots per plot were sampled. AMF spores were extracted from the soil samples, spore densities were determined, and species composition and diversity were evaluated through morphological analysis. Both spore density and species richness were statistically significantly higher in the native forest than in the agroforestry plots with no clear difference to khat, whereas the true diversity (exponential of Shannon-Wiener diversity index) did not differ among the three land-use types due to high evenness among the species in agroforestry. In total, 37 AMF morphotypes belonging to 12 genera in Glomeromycota were found, dominated by members of the genera Acaulospora and Glomus. The highest isolation frequency index (78%) was recorded for Acaulospora koskei from native forest. Consequently, the agroforestry system did not appear to aid in preserving the AMF species richness of native forests relative to perennial monocropping, such as khat cultivation. In contrast, the native forest areas can serve as in situ genetic reserves of mycorrhizal symbionts adapted to the local vegetative, edaphic, and microbial conditions.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Peptic ulcer disease represents a worldwide health problem because of its high morbidity, mortality and economic loss. It is a very prevalent condition affecting around 10%-15% of the general population worldwide. Most of the available antiulcer drugs are costly and have an incidence of relapse, drug interactions and several side effects upon chronic usage. Hence, the use of herbal medicine may be safe, economical and effective in such cases when drugs are used for long periods. Ethnobotanical reports showed traditional claims on the use of Cordia africana seeds for the treatment of gastric ulcers. However, the safety and efficacy of these remedies are not well known. The aim of this study is, therefore, to evaluate the antiulcer activity and safety of a crude extract of C. africana seeds in animal models. METHODS: Shade-dried seeds of C. africana were extracted by 80% methanol and dried by the rotator evaporator and lyophilized. The crude extract was used to evaluate antiulcer activity in vivo with pylorus ligation method, on Wistar albino rats weighing 230-250g. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using a standard procedure. Acute toxicity study was carried out in Swiss albino mice before antiulcer activity tests. RESULTS: No sign of toxicity was observed upon the administration of 2000 mg/kg of the crude extract to mice. Single-dose administration of 400 and 600 mg/kg extract showed a significant reduction in the volume of secretion and acidity of the stomach (p <0.01). The doses 400 and 600 mg/kg have reduced the ulcer score by 83.58% and 88%. CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that the hydromethanolic crude extract of C. africana has strong antisecretory and ulcer protective activities against ulcers produced by pylorus ligation.

RESUMEN

An ethnobotanical study in Agew-Awi and Amhara peoples in northwest Ethiopia reported that Cordia africana is used traditionally in the treatment of liver disease, amebiasis, stomachache, and diarrhea. The root and root bark are reported to be used in the treatment of diarrhea. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate the antidiarrheal effect of C. africana against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The antidiarrheal effect of the plant was tested on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice (23-25 g) of either sex. Number of diarrheic defecations, intestinal length traveled by the charcoal meal, and weight of intestinal fluid were taken as important parameters to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of the plant extract. In preliminary phytochemical screening tests, the methanolic extract of C. africana was found to contain phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and saponins. Reduction in the number of diarrheic drops was observed in groups of mice that received 200 mg/kg (P<0.05) and 400 mg/kg (P<0.01) of the extract compared to the negative controls. The percent inhibition of intestinal fluid accumulation was 26.83%, 46.34%, and 53.66% at the doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Relative to the negative control group, the mean percent of intestinal length moved by the charcoal meal was decreased by 24.41%, 39.89%, and 51.66% in groups of mice given 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the plant extract, respectively. To iterate the finding, the root bark extract of C. africana was found to be effective in preventing castor oil-induced diarrhea and intestinal motility in a dose-dependent manner. This reveals that the plant material has promising antidiarrheal activity as it is claimed in traditional medical practice.