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Background. The use of herbal medicine is common in Ethiopia. However, evidence on the extent and predictors of concomitant use of herbal medicine with conventional treatment among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients is limited. Objective. To assess the extent of concomitant use of herbal medicine with conventional therapy and associated factors among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients who visited the health facilities during the study were interviewed face-to-face using a structured and pretested questionnaire. The descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25. A P -value of P = 0.03 ), disease status ( P = 0.01 ), occupation ( P = 0.02 ), discontinuing ART ( P = 0.03 ), and encountering side ( P = 0.04 ) were the determinant factors for the use of herbal medicine among our study participants. Conclusion. In the Metekel Zone, concomitant consumption of herbal medication is common among HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients. Furthermore, most patients did not disclose the healthcare practitioners about their herbal use. Therefore, healthcare practitioners must assess and counsel patients regarding the potential adverse effects and herb-drug interaction to optimize therapy.

Tuberculosis is a major global public health problem causing ill-health in millions of the world’s population. The emergence of drug resistant strains is a major challenge to the tuberculosis control programme. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of new drugs. Herbs could be potential source of novel antituberculosis drugs due to their special attribute as a large source of therapeutic phytochemicals. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimycobacterial activity of the 80% methanol extracts of Erythrina brucei stem bark, Euphorbia candelabrum latex, Otostegia integrifolia leaf, Rumex abyssinicus root, and the chloroform extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaf on in vitro cultures of strains of Mycobactrium bovis and Mycobactrium tuberculosis. The extracts were obtained through cold maceration and soxhlet extraction, and essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation. Macrodilution technique was used for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. The MIC of the chloroform extract of V. amygdalina was 10 mg/ml against the mycobacterial strains tested. The 80% methanol extracts of E. brucei, O. integrifolia and R. abyssinicus were effective against M. bovis only with MIC ranging from 12.50 - 25.00 mg/ml. The oil from O. integrifolia was not active against the tested strains. E. candelabrum and oil from O. integrifolia failed to show antimycobacterial activity. In conclusion, the leaf extract of V. amygdalina is proven to be the most active plant that could be a potential source for antimycobacterial agents for human and bovine tuberculosis. Erythrina brucei, O. integrifolia and R. abyssinicus displayed good antimycobacterial activity against M. bovis suggesting their potential to be sources of new compounds for bovine tuberculosis.

The present study isolated and characterized knipholone from the active 80% methanol rhizome extract of a traditionally used endemic antimalarial plant of Ethiopia, Kniphofia insignisRendle, using preparative thin-layer chromatography for the first time. The chemical structure of the compound was elucidated on the basis spectroscopic data and in comparison with previously reported results. The standard 4-day suppressive test againstPlasmodium bergheiinfected Swiss albino mice was used for thein vivoantimalarial assay of the extract. At all tested doses, the extract showed significant inhibition of parasitaemia. In particular, the extract demonstrated chemosuppression values of 24.35 and 43.87% at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Results of the current study revealed that the extract of the plant has moderate in vivo antimalarial effect against P. berghei in mice.

Combination therapy is used to retard the selection of malaria parasite strains resistant to individual components of a combination of drugs. This approach has proved to be a success in the combination of sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine, which targets two different steps in the folate pathway of malaria parasites. However, after the success of this therapeutic combination, the efficacy of other combinations of drugs that target different enzymes in a particular metabolic pathway has, apparently, not been reported. In the current study, the antimalarial effect of a combination of risedronate (RIS), which is known for its anti-osteoporosis activity, and azithromycin (AZT) was investigated. Peter's suppression test was carried out on mice infected with 1 × 10

In vitro antiproliferative activities of the 80% methanol extracts of 21 traditionally used Ethiopian medicinal plants were studied using human acute myeloid leukemia (MV4-11) cell line. Among the tested plants, Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele and Gnidia involucrata Steud. ex A. Rich. exhibited significant antiproliferative activity with GI50 values of 20.6 ± 10.3 μg/ml and 16.6 ± 12.3 μg/ml, respectively. The active extracts were further fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water, and the antiproliferative assay results indicated that the n-hexane (GI50 = 0.8 ± 0.2 μg/ml) and ethyl acetate (GI50 = 6.1 ± 0.6 μg/ml) fractions of E. schimperiana and G. involucrate, respectively, demonstrated better antiproliferative activity when compared with their respective hydroalcoholic extracts. The findings of this study suggest that further phytochemical studies on the active fractions may lead to the discovery of novel anticancer compounds. Keywords: antiproliferative activity, Ethiopian medicinal plants, acute myeloid leukemia cell line, Euphorbia schimperiana, Gnidia involucrata

Hydroalcoholic extracts of four different plant species [Artimesia absinthum L. (Asteraceae), Asparagusafricanus Lam. (Liliaceae), Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae) and Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae)]commonly used in traditional medicine in Ethiopia for the treatment of skin disorders were evaluated fortheir potential antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria (Escherhia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and fungi (Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum,Microsporum canis, Trichophyton verrucosum, and Trichophyton violaceum) using agar diffusion method. Allthe extracts showed antibacterial activities against one or more test organisms. The extract of N. sativa seedsexhibited the highest antibacterial activity against all the bacterial species tested. The minimum inhibitoryconcentrations (MICs) of the methanolic extract of N. sativa seeds were 0.156 and 2.5 mg/ml on standardstrains of S. aureus and C. albicans, respectively. Successive extraction of the seeds of N. sativa withpetroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol revealed that the chloroform extract exhibited largerdiameter of zone of inhibitions against the test organisms. Phytochemical screening of the total extract of N.sativa powdered seeds revealed the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and steroids which arethought to be responsible for the activity of the extracts of N. sativa seeds. Of the various, topicalformulations of the crude extract of N. sativa seeds, the O/W emulsion based formulation showed largerdiameter of zone of inhibition. In mice paw oedema induced by carrageenan, the crude extract of N. sativa ata dose of 300 mg/kg showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity (64.2%) followed by A. Africanus(50.1%). Keywords: skin disorders, plant extracts, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, minimum inhibitoryconcentration

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Malaria remains a global public health problem due to the uphill fight against the causative Plasmodium parasites that are relentless in developing resistance. Indole-based antiplasmodial compounds are endowed with multiple modes of action, of which inhibition of hemozoin formation is the major mechanism of action reported for compounds such as cryptolepine, flinderoles, and isosungucine. Indole-based compounds exert their potent activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium strains by inhibiting hemozoin formation in a mode of action different from that of chloroquine or through a novel mechanism of action. For example, dysregulating the sodium and osmotic homeostasis of Plasmodium through inhibition of PfATP4 is the novel mechanism of cipargamin. The potential of developing multi-targeted compounds through molecular hybridization ensures the existence of indole-based compounds in the antimalarial pipeline.

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In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the aerial parts ofEssential oil of the aerial parts ofIn this study, the developmental scores of the number of implantation sites, crown-rump length, the number of somites, and morphological scores were significantly lower while the score of fetal resorptions was increased in a 12-day-old rat embryos treated with 260 mg/kg of theThe essential oil of

This study was conducted from May 08 to June 08, 2017 in Gidami District, Kellem Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to assess the occurrence of trypanocidal drug resistance in naturally infected cattle in identified hot spots villages of Gidami district. An initial cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted in seven villages from November 2015 to June 2016. Based on the outcome of the cross-sectional study, Kellem and Gry Sonka villages with highest trypanosome prevalence (28% and 30.85%) respectively were selected. An abbreviated 28-day field prototocol study was used to estimate resistance to 1 mg/kg bw isometamidium chloride (ISM) and 7.0 mg/kg bw diminanzene aceturate (DA). In this study, 100 purposively selected trypanosome positive cattle were ear-tagged and allocated into two treatment groups: a group I were treated with 2% solution of 1 mg/kg bw ISM and a group II were treated with 7% solution of 7 mg/kg bw DA. The treatment day was considered as day 0 and the treated cattle were monitored for trypanosomes and packed cell volume (PCV) levels on days 14 (for DA and ISM) and 28 (for ISM) post treatment. A treatment failure rate of 25% of the cattle in the ISM treated group on days 14 and 28 were indicative of resistance, whereas in the DA treated group the response was assessed only on day 14 post-treatment. The results of the study confirmed the presence of drug resistance to the maximum recommended doses of ISM and DA in Giray Sonka and Kellem villages of Gidami district. Out of 50 trypanosome positive cattle treated with ISM, 68% had persistent infections on day 28 post-treatment. Similarly, of the 50 trypanosome positive cattle treated with 7 mg/kg bw DA, 36% had persistent trypanosomes on day 14 post treatment. Of all ISM and DA treatment failures T. congolense accounted for (70.59%; 66.67%), T. vivax (23.53%; 27.78%) and T. brucei (5.88%; 5.55%) respectively. Drug resistance has indeed been a considerable threat in all villages of Gidami district, but the situation is magnified in Giray Sonka and Kellem villages. Thus, an integrated control approach of trypanosomosis should be conducted to ensure sustainable animal health and production in the area. In addition beside tsetse control, rational use of trypanocidal drugs and control of co-infections to exploit self-cure against resistant trypanosome populations are recommended. Furthermore, extensive data on trypanocidal drug sensitivity tests using advanced molecular techniques considered as elucidative.

Aloesin (1) and 7-O-methyl-6′-O-coumaroylaloesin (2) were isolated from the leaf latex of Aloe monticola Reynolds, and their structures determined on the basis of NMR and mass spectroscopic analyses. The antimicrobial activities of the isolated chromones were evaluated against 21 bacterial and 4 fungal strains. Both compounds displayed antibacterial and antifungal effects against most bacterial and fungal strains tested, but their action was more prominent against Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysentery and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 10 μg/ml). Acute toxicity tests on mice revealed that neither the latex nor the isolated compounds possess toxicity up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg, signifying an oral LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg. The results indicate that A. monticola possesses genuine in vitro antimicrobial effect attributed in full or in part to the presence of the isolated chromones in the latex.

Aloe adigratana Reynolds and Aloe elegans Todaro are traditionally used for the treatment of various illnesses, including wounds, infections and inflammation in northern Ethiopia. Despite their morphological differences, the leaf latexes of both Aloes showed the same chemical profile when analyzed by TLC. Further phytochemical investigation of these latexes by preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC) afforded two anthrones, which were identified as aloin A/B and microdontin A/B on the basis of NMR and MS analysis. In the present study, in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of the leaf latexes of A. adigratana and A. elegans as well as the two isolated anthrones were evaluated using carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema model. It was noted that the latexes as well as the isolated compounds possess anti-inflammatory activities in a dose-dependent manner. The results also showed that microdontin A/B has a better activity than aloin A/B, in both the early and late phases of inflammation. At a tested dose of 200 mg/kg, microdontin A/B showed oedema inhibition of 35.9%, one h after carrageenan injection, while the inhibition caused by the standard drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was 18.6%. In conclusion, the results of the present work confirmed that A. adigratana and A. elegans have genuine anti-inflammatory activities attributed at least in part to the presence of aloin A/B and microdontin A/B in the leaves supporting their use in traditional medicine. Keywords: Aloe adigratana, Aloe elegans, anti-inflammatory, microdontin A/B, aloin A/B

Background In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the aerial part of Thymus schimperi is widely used to treat diseases such as gonorrhea, cough, liver disease, kidney disease, hypertension, stomach pain, and fungal skin infections. However, there is insufficient investigation on the toxic effect of the essential oil of T. schimperi. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the acute, subacute, and in silico toxicity of Thymus schimperi essential oil in the Wistar albino rats. Method Essential oil of the aerial part of T. schimperi extracted by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC-MS. The oil was subjected to toxicity studies. In the acute toxicity study, rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 5). The control group received only distilled water with 2% of tween 80, whereas the experimental groups received single doses of 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, and 2 000 mg/kg of the oil. In the subacute toxicity study, rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10). The control group received distilled water with 2% of tween 80, whereas the experimental groups received 65 mg/kg, 130 mg/kg, and 260 mg/kg of the oil orally for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for hematology and clinical chemistry evaluation. Gross pathology and histopathology of the liver and the kidneys were also evaluated. For the in silico toxicity study, PubChem CID numbers of GC-MS identified bioactive compounds in the essential oil of T. schimperi obtained from PubChem. Chemdraw (8.0) was used to construct two-dimensional structures of the compounds. The Swiss ADMET web tool was used to convert the two-dimensional structures into a simplified molecular-input line input system (SMILES). In addition, the toxicity parameters were predicted via vNN and ADMET servers. Results In this study, the LD50 of the essential oil of T. schimperi was found to be 1284.2 mg/kg. According to the World Health Organization, the oil is classified as moderately hazardous in its oral administration. In the subacute toxicity study, rats showed no significant changes in behavioral indices, gross pathology, body weight, biochemical, and most hematological parameters. However, hematological profiles showed a significant decrement in WBC counts and a significant increment of MCV in high dose (260 mg/kg) groups as compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the control and essential oil-treated groups, observed in the gross histopathology of the liver and the kidneys. In the in silico toxicity study, all compounds derived from the essential oil showed no cardiac toxicity (h-ERG Blocker), AMES (Ames Mutagenicity), and cytotoxicity via ADMET and vNN-ADMET toxicity predictors. However, by using these servers, about 8.6% of the compounds showed hepatotoxicity, only 3.45% caused drug-induced liver injury, and only 1.75% were potentially toxic to the mitochondrial membrane. Conclusion From the results of this study, oral administration of the essential oil T. schimperi up to a dose of 130 mg/kg is not harmful. However, in the high-dose (260 mg/kg) group, the WBC count was significantly decreased and the MCV was significantly increased. In the in silico toxicity study, most of the components of the oil were found to be nontoxic, although a few of the compounds showed hepatotoxicity and mitochondrial membrane potential toxicity. It is, therefore, essential to conduct chronic toxicity of the essential oil as well as its components, which showed toxicity in the in silico study before using preparations containing the essential oil of T. schimperi.

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a plant consumed by many people in Eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia to be stimulated. There are several human and animal studies on khat that provide information about its toxic effects. However, the potential toxic effects of khat on embryos and fetuses have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the embryotoxic and fetotoxic effects of khat exposure during the earliest period of gestation in rats. Pregnant Wistar albino rats were treated with khat extract at 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg doses from day 6 through day 12 of gestation. The treatment was delivered by gavage. Embryos and fetuses were recovered on gestational day 12 or day 20, respectively, and were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed for developmental anomalies. Placentae from the treatment and control groups were investigated for histopathological effects. Results of the present study showed that khat exposure during pregnancy had dose-dependent toxic effects in rat embryos and fetuses. Prenatal growth retardation such as reduced fetal weight and crown-rump length was observed in near-term fetuses, especially, in animals treated with the highest dose of khat ( p < 0.05 ). Growth retardation and developmental anomalies were also observed in day 12 embryos of khat-treated rats. Maternal weight gain of the khat-treated group was also significantly lower than the control group. Cytolysis, decidual hypoplasia, and atrophy were observed in the placenta of the khat-treated rats. Findings of the present study revealed, for the first time, that exposure of pregnant rat to crude extract of khat causes embryotoxic and fetotoxic effects.

Background. In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the aerial part of Thymus schimperi is widely used to treat diseases such as gonorrhea, cough, liver disease, kidney disease, hypertension, stomach pain, and fungal skin infections. However, there is insufficient investigation on the toxic effect of the essential oil of T. schimperi. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the acute, subacute, and in silico toxicity of Thymus schimperi essential oil in the Wistar albino rats. Method. Essential oil of the aerial part of T. schimperi extracted by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC-MS. The oil was subjected to toxicity studies. In the acute toxicity study, rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 5). The control group received only distilled water with 2% of tween 80, whereas the experimental groups received single doses of 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, and 2 000 mg/kg of the oil. In the subacute toxicity study, rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10). The control group received distilled water with 2% of tween 80, whereas the experimental groups received 65 mg/kg, 130 mg/kg, and 260 mg/kg of the oil orally for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for hematology and clinical chemistry evaluation. Gross pathology and histopathology of the liver and the kidneys were also evaluated. For the in silico toxicity study, PubChem CID numbers of GC-MS identified bioactive compounds in the essential oil of T. schimperi obtained from PubChem. Chemdraw (8.0) was used to construct two-dimensional structures of the compounds. The Swiss ADMET web tool was used to convert the two-dimensional structures into a simplified molecular-input line input system (SMILES). In addition, the toxicity parameters were predicted via vNN and ADMET servers. Results. In this study, the LD50 of the essential oil of T. schimperi was found to be 1284.2 mg/kg. According to the World Health Organization, the oil is classified as moderately hazardous in its oral administration. In the subacute toxicity study, rats showed no significant changes in behavioral indices, gross pathology, body weight, biochemical, and most hematological parameters. However, hematological profiles showed a significant decrement in WBC counts and a significant increment of MCV in high dose (260 mg/kg) groups as compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the control and essential oil-treated groups, observed in the gross histopathology of the liver and the kidneys. In the in silico toxicity study, all compounds derived from the essential oil showed no cardiac toxicity (h-ERG Blocker), AMES (Ames Mutagenicity), and cytotoxicity via ADMET and vNN-ADMET toxicity predictors. However, by using these servers, about 8.6% of the compounds showed hepatotoxicity, only 3.45% caused drug-induced liver injury, and only 1.75% were potentially toxic to the mitochondrial membrane. Conclusion. From the results of this study, oral administration of the essential oil T. schimperi up to a dose of 130 mg/kg is not harmful. However, in the high-dose (260 mg/kg) group, the WBC count was significantly decreased and the MCV was significantly increased. In the in silico toxicity study, most of the components of the oil were found to be nontoxic, although a few of the compounds showed hepatotoxicity and mitochondrial membrane potential toxicity. It is, therefore, essential to conduct chronic toxicity of the essential oil as well as its components, which showed toxicity in the in silico study before using preparations containing the essential oil of T. schimperi.

Background Kniphofia foliosa is a flamboyant robust perennial herb which has dense clumps and tick upright rhizomes with leaves at the base. In Ethiopia, it has several vernacular names including Abelbila, Ashenda, Amelmela, Yeznjero Ageda, Shemetmetie and Yezinjero Ageda. The plant is endemic to Ethiopian highlands, where its rhizomes are traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, abdominal cramps and wound healing. In the present study, the 80% methanol extract of K. foliosa rhizomes and its constituents are tested against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Methods Isolation was carried out using column and preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC). The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (ESI–MS, 1D and 2D-NMR). Peters’ 4-day suppressive test against P. berghei in mice was utilized for in vivo anti-malarial evaluation of the test substances. Results Two compounds, namely knipholone and dianellin were isolated from the 80% methanolic extract of K. foliosa rhizomes, and characterized. The hydroalcoholic extract (400 mg/kg) and knipholone (200 mg/kg) showed the highest activity with chemosuppression values of 61.52 and 60.16%, respectively. From the dose–response plot, the median effective (ED50) doses of knipholone and dianellin were determined to be 81.25 and 92.31 mg/kg, respectively. Molecular docking study revealed that knipholone had a strong binding affinity to Plasmodium falciparum l-lactate dehydrogenase (pfLDH) target. Conclusion Results of the current study support the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of malaria.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • Long-term use of Syzygium guineense leaf extract reduced the food intake and weight gain in rats. • The serum level of liver and kidney enzymes of rats was increased by the treatment of high dose of Syzygium guineense leaf. • Use of Syzygium guineense leaf extract showed hypoglycemic effect in rats., Background Syzygium guineense Wall. leaf is being used as a traditional medicine against hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Unlike its efficacy, the safety profile of this plant upon long-term administration has not been investigated yet. Therefore, this study investigated the sub-chronic toxicity of S. guineense leaves in rats. Methods Wistar albino rats, 10/sex/group were randomly assigned into four groups. Group I-III respectively received 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of body weight of 70 % ethanol extract ofS. guineense leaves for 90 consecutive days. Group IV (control) received distilled water. Throughout the experiment, clinical observations were carried out, food intake and weight of the rats also were measured. Finally, different biochemical parameters, organ weight, and histopathology of liver and kidneys were evaluated. Results Administration of 70 % ethanol extract ofS. guineense leaves decreased food intake and body weight gain of the test animals. Rats treated with 1000 mg/kg of S. guineense extract showed significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels. Serum urea levels also increased in female rats treated with 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of S. guineense. Moreover, the blood glucose level of rats treated with 1000 mg/kg body weight was significantly decreased compared to the control group. However, the histology of the liver and kidneys were not significantly altered by any of the doses administered. Conclusion Administration ofS. guineense in rats at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight affected the food consumption, weight gain, and serum levels of liver and kidney enzymes suggesting that S. guineense intake at high doses may be toxic. Therefore, liberal consumption of S. guineense leaves should be taken curiously and cautiously.

Syzygium guineense is an important medicinal plant effective against hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer but with no evidence of its teratogenicity. This study was planned to investigate the teratogenic potential of S. guineense leaves on rat embryos and fetuses. Five groups of Wistar albino rats, each consisting of ten pregnant rats, were used as experimental animals. Groups I-III rats were treated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves, and groups IV and V were control and ad libitum control, respectively. Rats were treated during day 6–12 of gestation. Embryos and fetuses were retrieved at day 12 and day 20 of gestation, respectively. The embryos were assessed for developmental delays and growth retardation. The fetuses were examined for gross external, skeletal, and visceral anomalies. In 12-day old rat embryos, crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores were significantly reduced by the treatment of 1000 mg/kg of the extract. The external morphological and visceral examinations of rat fetuses did not reveal any detectable structural malformations in the cranial, nasal, oral cavities, and visceral organs. The ossification centers of fetal skull, vertebrae, hyoid, forelimb, and hindlimb bones were not significantly varied across all groups. However, even if not statistically significant, high-dose treated rat fetuses had a reduced number of ossification centers in the sternum, caudal vertebrae, metatarsal, metacarpal, and phalanges. Treatment with the hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves produced no significant skeletal and soft tissue malformations. The plant extract did not produce significant teratogenic effects on rat embryos/fetuses up to 500 mg/kg doses but retarded the growth of embryos at high dose (1000 mg/kg) as evidenced by decreased crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores. Therefore, it is not advisable to take large doses of the plant during pregnancy.

Background: Kniphofia foliosa Hochst is endemic to Ethiopian highlands, where its rhizomes are traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, abdominal cramps and wound healing. As a continuation of our search for antimalarial compounds from Ethiopian medicinal plants, we have tested the 80% methanol extract of K. foliosa rhizomes and its constituents against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Methods: Isolation was carried out using column and preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC). The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (ESI-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR). Peters’ 4-day suppressive test against P. berghei in mice was utilized for in vivo antimalarial evaluation of the test substances. Results: Three compounds, namely knipholone, dianellin, and 12-hydroxypentadec-9-en-1-yl methyl phthalate (HPMP) were isolated and characterized from the 80% methanolic extract of K. foliosa rhizomes. The hydroalcoholic extract (400 mg/kg) and knipholone (200 mg/kg) showed the highest activity with chemosuppression values of 61.52 and 60.16%, respectively. From the dose-response plot, the median effective (ED50) doses of knipholone and dianellin were determined to be 81.25 and 92.31 mg/kg, respectively. Molecular docking study revealed that knipholone had a strong binding affinity to Plasmodium falciparum l-lactate dehydrogenase (pfLDH) target. Conclusion: Results of the current study support the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of malaria.

This review provides an overview on the active phytochemical constituents of medicinal plants that are traditionally used to manage cancer in Ethiopia. A total of 119 articles published between 1968 and 2020 have been reviewed, using scientific search engines such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Twenty-seven medicinal plant species that belong to eighteen families are documented along with their botanical sources, potential active constituents, and in vitro and in vivo activities against various cancer cells. The review is compiled and discusses the potential anticancer, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic agents based on the types of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, steroids, and lignans. Among the anticancer secondary metabolites reported in this review, only few have been isolated from plants that are originated and collected in Ethiopia, and the majority of compounds are reported from plants belonging to different areas of the world. Thus, based on the available bioactivity reports, extensive and more elaborate ethnopharmacology-based bioassay-guided studies have to be conducted on selected traditionally claimed Ethiopian anticancer plants, which inherited from a unique and diverse landscape, with the aim of opening a way forward to conduct anticancer drug discovery program.

Malaria remains a global public health problem due to the uphill fight against the causative Plasmodium parasites that are relentless in developing resistance. Indole-based antiplasmodial compounds are endowed with multiple modes of action, of which inhibition of hemozoin formation is the major mechanism of action reported for compounds such as cryptolepine, flinderoles, and isosungucine. Indole-based compounds exert their potent activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium strains by inhibiting hemozoin formation in a mode of action different from that of chloroquine or through a novel mechanism of action. For example, dysregulating the sodium and osmotic homeostasis of Plasmodium through inhibition of PfATP4 is the novel mechanism of cipargamin. The potential of developing multi-targeted compounds through molecular hybridization ensures the existence of indole-based compounds in the antimalarial pipeline.

There is no ethnobotanical study conducted specifically on medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer in Ethiopia. Yet, traditional herbalists in different parts of the country claim that they have been treating cancer-like symptoms using herbal remedies. The objective of this study was to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer-like symptoms in eleven districts, Ethiopia. Traditional herbalists were interviewed using semistructured questionnaires, and field visits were also carried out to collect claimed plants for identification purpose. Seventy-four traditional herbalists, who claimed that they knew about and/or had used medicinal plants to treat cancer-like symptoms, were selected using the snowball method and interviewed. Herbalists used their intuition and relied on the chronicity, growth of external mass, and spreading of the disease to other parts of the body, as a means to characterize cancer symptoms. Furthermore, in some of the study districts, herbalists reported that they treat patients who had already been diagnosed in modern healthcare institutions prior to seeking help from them. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific and vernacular names of the plants, their geographical location, the parts of the plants, and the methods used to prepare the remedies. A total of 53 traditionally used anticancer plants, belonging to 30 families, were identified during the survey. The most frequently reported anticancer plants were Acmella caulirhiza Del (Asteraceae), Clematis simensis Fresen. (Ranunculaceae), Croton macrostachyus Del. (Euphorbiaceae), and Dorstenia barnimiana Schweinf. (Moraceae). Organizing traditional healers, documenting their indigenous knowledge, and scientifically validating it for the development of better cancer therapeutic agents constitute an urgent and important task for policymakers and scientists.

Glycosylceramides (GlyCers) are precursors of ceramides (Cers) that are major components of the outer layer of human skin, the stratum corneum. A Cer deficiency is associated with skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and can be treated with Cer-containing semisolid formulations. Plants may serve as alternative sources for expensive semisynthetic Cer production. Since the GlyCer contents of plants vary widely, there is a need to develop a rapid, simple, selective, and precise method for GlyCer quantification in plants. In the present study, an effective and validated automated multiple development‒high-performance thin-layer chromatography (AMD‒HPTLC) method has been developed for GlyCer quantification in 9 different plant materials. An 18-step gradient elution program (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol) led to a clear separation of bands from complex matrices and allowed densitometric analysis for quantification purposes. Apple pomace and wheat germs yielded 26.8 and 39.5 mg o...

Essential oils from the aerial part of Salvia officinalis L., grown in Addis Ababa and Wondo genet regions of Ethiopia, were isolated by hydrodistillation to yield 0.99 and 1.2 mL/100 g on dry weight, respectively. Fifty-one compounds representing 96.36 and 91.47 % of the oils, respectively, were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major constituents in both samples were trans-thujone (19.98-26.42 %), 1,8-cineole (16.63-21.65 %) and camphor (12.98-17.58 %). The oils were assessed for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against 21 bacterial and 4 fungal strains using the disk diffusion method. Escherichia coli strains were most susceptible (MIC = 10-25 mg/mL) with viable cells dropping to zero CFU/mL after 13.5-14 hours of exposure to 200 mg/mL of the oils. Furthermore, the oils demonstrated potent radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 4.47-4.65 μg/mL) in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picyryhydrazil (DPPH) assay. In light of the above results, the essential oil from S. officinalis grown in Ethiopia may have th...

Aloesin (

The currently available antileishmanial drugs are either toxic or too expensive for routine use in developing countries where the disease is most common. Local people in the Somalia region of Ethiopia use the leaves ofAloe macrocarpaTodaro for the treatment of malaria, jaundice, and skin diseases. In our ongoing search for new, efficient, and safe antileishmanial drugs, we investigated the leaf latex ofAloe macrocarpaand its acid-hydrolyzed product aloin A/B (1), as well as the semisynthesized derivatives of aloin A/B, namely, aloe-emodin (2) and rhein (3) against promastigotes and axenically cultured amastigotes ofLeishmania aethiopicaandL. donovaniclinical isolates. Activity study was carried out based on the fluorescence characteristic of resazurin added to drug-treated cultures. Oxidative hydrolysis of aloin A/B by ferric chloride and concentrated hydrochloric acid afforded aloe-emodin (2), which was further oxidized using sodium nitrite and concentrated sulfuric acid to furnish rhein (3). Cytotoxicity study of test substances was performed against humanmonocyticcell lineTHP-1 usingAlamar Blue and cell viability was measured fluorometrically. The test compounds showed lower activity (IC50= 6.7 to 12.1μM for promastigotes and IC50= 3.6 to 10.2μM for axenic amastigotes) than the reference drug amphotericin B (IC50= 1.3 to 2.7μM). However, amphotericin B (LC50= 11.1μM) was much more toxic than the test compounds (LC50= 369.2 – 611.6μM) towards human monocytic cell line (THP-1) despite its efficiency. As demonstrated in the current study, high selectivity indices (SIs) of the test compounds represent a remarkable advantage over the reference drug and highlight their potential use as templates for further development of safe leishmanicidal drugs.

U The leaf latex of Aloe yavellana Reynolds is traditionally used for the treatment of various illnesses of humans and domestic animals in Ethiopia. In the present study, the latex and two major compounds isolated from it, namely, aloin A/B and microdontin A/B were assessed for their larvicidal activity against Amblyomma variegatum tick larvae using a larval packet test (LPT). The LC50 and LC99 of the latex were found to be 35.82 ± 2.27 and 83.48 ± 3.95 mg/ml, respectively. Although microdontin A/B showed better larvicidal activity (LC50 = 89.40 ± 4.45 mg/ml) than aloin A/B (LC50 = 257.69 ± 6.31 mg/ml), neither of the isolated compounds was as active as the latex suggesting that the compounds acted synergistically or minor compounds with potent larvicidal activity may exist in the latex. The results confirmed that the leaf latex of A. yavellana and its isolated compounds could have the potential to be used as larvicidal against A. variegatum ticks.

The oleo-gum-resin of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl (syn. Commiphora molmol (Engl.) Engl. ex Tschirch) is used in the Ethiopian folkloric medicine for wound management. The present study was aimed at evaluating the wound healing properties of the essential oil and resin of C. myrrha using in vivo and in vitro models. Ointments of the essential oil 4% (v/w) and resin 5% (w/w) were applied topically to study wound healing property, and their toxicity was assessed according to Draize skin irritation test. Agar diffusion and micro-dilution methods were used to evaluate antimicrobial activity. Thirty-seven components, representing 97.48% of the total essential oil, were identified by GC–MS analysis, with furanoeudesma-1,3-diene (26.09%), isofuranodiene (18.23%) and curzerene (16.52%) as the major constituents. The ointments were found to be non-irritant at the concentrations used, but they exhibited significant (p < 0.05-0.001) wound healing effect as evidenced by increased wound contraction rate, shorter epithelization time and higher skin breaking strength as compared to the control. Both the oil and resin showed potent antibacterial activity, comparable with that of ciprofloxacin against some Gram-negative bacterial strains. However, the fungal pathogens tested showed limited susceptibility. The results demonstrated that the essential oil and resin of C. myrrha enhance wound healing, in part or in full, due to their antimicrobial effects, supporting the traditional use of this plant as a wound healing agent. Keywords : Commiphora myrrha ; antibacterial; antifungal; wound healing; oleo-gum-resin