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An understanding of the chemistry of the secondary metabolites of neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is essential and important due to its medicinal properties. Several studies have been done on the biological and pharmacological activities with a considerable progress made with respect to its biological activity and medicinal uses. The neem safety is known from its long communal ethno-pharmacological uses as a category one herbal product. It is readily available with great access to the local population at low cost and environmentally friendly. This paper attempts to give an insight into the biological activities of some of the compounds isolated, pharmacological actions of the extract, clinical studies and medicinal applications along with their safety evaluations. Issues on the active chemical constituents of various formulations, commercially available neem products, are also mentioned along with their respective application.

This is a phytochemical and zootechnical study on Physalis peruviana leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. This was part of a scientific development program of plant resources used in Congolese traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in which individual and community consequences are well established. Different fractions with hexane, ethyl acetate and the residue were obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of P. peruviana leaves. Phytochemical screening was focused on the usual reactions of characterization based on precipitation and coloration with general reagents. The diabetic conditions were induced in rats by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight) intravenously. The positive control group received glibenclamide (6.5 mg/kg body weight) and each test group received 100 mg/kg of body weight. Those groups were compared with a control group which received only a Tween 20 solution (1 ml per 100 g body weight). Zootechnical profiles were evaluated by weight monitoring as well as food and water consumption in rats. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins, mucilages, cardiac glycosides, coumarins and betalains in the hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions. A highly significant difference (P E‚ 0.001) of water consumption in opposition to the food intake and weight changes was observed. This study suggested the isolation and characterization of compounds from hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of P. peruviana L. and its fractions for an extensive antidiabetic investigation. Key words: Physalis peruviana, phytochemical, antidiabetic activity, streptozotocin, zootechnical parameters.

3 Abstract: Genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated presently in more than 40 million hectares in more than 13 countries in the World. The GM technology contained introduced microbial genes that provide tolerance to broad-spectrum herbicides such as glufosinate or glyophosate and resistance to pest and diseases. The continuous search for disease control strategies in crop production and the prospect of meeting the goals of global sustainable food crop production, has led to a significant interest in the GM technology as a modern tool for the introduction of disease resistance in crops. This review document attempts to discuss the progress of GM technology as a vital tool for the engineering of pathogen resistance in crops, the evolution of clone d disease resistance genes and the level of success of the GM disease resistant crops in commercial release. The GM technologies have the potential for producing improved high yielding disease resistant crops and better quality food products for consumption.

When fungi grow on a living organism or on stored food material that we consume, they may produce harmful metabolites that diffuse into their food (Garcia et al., 2009; Kabak and Dobson, 2009). It is believed that fungi evolved these metabolites as a means of protecting their food supply by preventing other organisms from eating it. These metabolites are referred to as mycotoxins, which literally mean "fungus poisons". Fungi that produce mycotoxins do not have to be present to do harm. When a fungus grows grains in storage, the environment may become unsuitable for the fungus and it dies. Although the fungus dies, during the growth stage, if it produces mycotoxins, this can poison the grains (Fokunang et al., 2006). The effects of poisoning by mycotoxin are referred to as mycotoxicoses. The knowledge that mycotoxicoses is the result of fungal actions was a relatively, recent discovery (Lackner et al., 2009). This is understandable since illnesses in this case are due to consumption of mycotoxins that has been released by the fungus and is not directly caused by the fungus (Coppock and Jacobsen, 2009).

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Cameroon Government has put in place a strategic platform for the practice and development of TM in Cameroon. This platform aims at harmonizing the traditional medicine practice in the country, create a synergy between TM and modern medicine and to institutionalize a more harmonized integrated TM practices by the year 2012 in Cameroon. An overview of the practice of TM past, present and future perspectives that underpins the role in sustainable poverty alleviation has been discussed. This study gives an insight into the strategic plan and road map set up by the Government of Cameroon for the organisational framework and research platform for the practice and development of TM, and the global partnership involving the management of TM in the country.

The stem bark of Eribroma oblongum (malvaceae) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat various metabolic illnesses including the management of hypertension but there is no scientific evidence to how relief is brought about. The present study was to evaluate the effect of the ethyl acetate extract of the dried stem bark of E. oblongum on arterial blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive rat (NTR) and their mechanisms of EAEO. The effects of ethyl acetate extract of Eribroma oblongum (EAEO; 10, 20, 30 mg/kg; i.v) was tested on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) of normotensive rat. The mechanism of EAEO (20mg/kg) was studied in the presence of atropine, yohimbine, propranolol, L-NAME or reserpine. At the end of the experiment, SBP and HR were recorded. EAEO (10-20 mg/kg) induced a significant hypotensive effect of SBP. The hypotensive effects of EAEO (20 mg/kg) were inhibited by pre-treatment of rats with atropine, reserpine, yohimbine and L-NAME. At the end of this study the result demonstrates that the hypotensive as well as the antihypertensive effects of the ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Eribroma oblongum. Our data validate the use of the extract in traditional medicine against hypertension. The effect on blood pressure is, at least in part, due to a modulation of the orthosympathetic nervous system and to the improvement of the antioxidant status. Further studies are from now needed to study the toxicity of Eribroma oblongum.