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Cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, directly damages cassava leaves by feeding on phloem, causing chlorosis and abscission, leading to a yield loss of up to 50%. The pest also causes indirect damage through sooty mold formation. Most Ugandan cassava varieties resist cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and tolerate cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), but little is known about their response to whitefly infestation. The main objective of this study was to identify cassava genotypes with putative resistance to whitefly in Uganda. This was conducted on 24 improved cassava varieties in three agro-ecological zones during the second rains of 2016. Monthly data were taken for adult and nymph counts, whitefly and sooty mold damage, and CMD and CBSD severities from 2 to 9 months after planting (MAPs). The results show that the whitefly population is highly significantly (p < 0.000) amongst varieties across the three agro-ecological zones. Mkumba consistently supported the low adult numbers and nymphs. The findings demonstrate the potential of the improved cassava varieties as sources of whitefly resistance for sustainable management.

In this cross-sectional study, mycobacteria specimens from 189 tuberculosis (TB) patients living in an urban area in Brazil were characterised from 2008-2010 using phenotypic and molecular speciation methods (pncA gene and oxyR pseudogene analysis). Of these samples, 174 isolates simultaneously grew on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) and Stonebrink (SB)-containing media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whereas 12 had molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis based on the DNA analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded tissue samples (paraffin blocks). One patient produced two sputum isolates, the first of which simultaneously grew on LJ and SB media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis, and the second of which only grew on SB media and presented phenotypic profiles of Mycobacterium bovis. One patient provided a bronchial lavage isolate, which simultaneously grew on LJ and SB media and presented phenotypic and molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis, but had molecular profiles of M. bovis from paraffin block DNA analysis, and one sample had molecular profiles of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis identified from two distinct paraffin blocks. Moreover, we found a low prevalence (1.6%) of M. bovis among these isolates, which suggests that local health service procedures likely underestimate its real frequency and that it deserves more attention from public health officials.

The genus Gouania (Rhamnaceae) comprises at least 50 recognized species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Gouania species have been ethnomedicinally used to treat a variety of ailments. Despite their widespread medicinal use, there is no comprehensive documentation that consolidates the ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, and toxicity of Gouania species. Herein, this review details the ethnopharmacology, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties and toxicity of Gouania species to provide perspectives for future research on this genus. Based on available literature, herbal preparations from Gouania species have been used to treat ailments related to the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, musculoskeletal, reproductive, endocrine and urological systems. Extracts and isolated compounds from seven Gouania species ( G. leptostachya , G. longipetala , G. lupulozdes , G. macrocarpa , G. longispicata , G. obtusifolia , and G. ulmifolia ) have demonstrated promising anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, supporting their ethnomedicinal uses. To date, 64 compounds (including 6 phenolic compounds, 24 flavonoids, and 34 terpenoids) have been isolated and characterized in the genus mainly as gouaniasides I-IX, gouanogenins, and gouanic acids. Most Gouania species remain unexplored for their potential bioactivities. The identification of more than 54 % as novel compounds from just seven Gouania species highlights the genus as a promising source for discovering new therapeutic agents to combat the growing challenge of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Conducting extensive phytochemical and pharmacological analyses across a broader array of Gouania species could unveil a more comprehensive profile of bioactive compounds, and pave way for innovative treatments against a diverse range of pathogens and diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Hannington Gumisiriza reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100009915Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science. Hannington Gumisiriza reports a relationship with 10.13039/501100009915Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Science that includes: funding grants. All authors have no conflict. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) represents a sophisticated communication network between the brain and the gut, involving immunological, endocrinological, and neural mediators. This bidirectional interaction is facilitated through the vagus nerve, sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers, and is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Evidence shows that alterations in gut microbiota composition, or dysbiosis, significantly impact neurological disorders (NDs) like anxiety, depression, autism, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dysbiosis can affect the central nervous system (CNS) via neuroinflammation and microglial activation, highlighting the importance of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in disease pathogenesis. The microbiota influences the immune system by modulating chemokines and cytokines, impacting neuronal health. Synbiotics have shown promise in treating NDs by enhancing cognitive function and reducing inflammation. The gut microbiota's role in producing neurotransmitters and neuroactive compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), is critical for CNS homeostasis. Therapeutic interventions targeting the MGBA, including dietary modulation and synbiotic supplementation, offer potential benefits for managing neurodegenerative disorders. However, more in-depth clinical studies are necessary to fully understand and harness the therapeutic potential of the MGBA in neurological health and disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) constitutes a public health, social, and economic problem affecting poor communities in intertropical and subtropical regions. This review sought to synthesize literature on snakebite envenomation in Benin to highlight research perspectives and strategies for better management of the menace. A literature search performed in multidisciplinary electronic databases showed that the prevalence of SBE is high in Benin, but the incidences, associated morbidities, and mortalities are greatly underestimated. Most snake envenomations are by Echis ocellatus in Northern Benin during the rainy season. Adults involved in agricultural activities are the most affected. The absence of antivenin serum in the most affected areas explains the preference for alternative and traditional medicine as the first-line treatment for SBE in Benin. In conclusion, it would be imperative to revitalize the snakebite reporting system in order to have better epidemiological data and to develop a sustainable national strategy for the control and management of snakebite envenomation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ayékotchami Jacques Dossou et al.)

Metal fabrication workshops (MFWs) are common businesses in Ugandan cities, and especially those producing metallic security gates, window and door frames (burglar-proof), and balcony and staircase rails. The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the pollution levels and potential health risks of manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pd) and nickel (Ni) in pooled surface soil samples from four 5-, 7-, 8-, and 10-year-old MFWs ( n = 28) and a control site ( n = 8) in Mbarara City, Uganda. The concentration of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Contamination, ecological, and human health risk assessment indices and models were used to identify any risks that the PTEs could pose to the pristine environment and humans. Our results showed that PTE pollution of soils is occuring in the MFWs than at the control site. The mean concentrations of the PTEs (mg kg -1 ) in the samples were: Mn (2012.75 ± 0.23-3377.14 ± 0.31), Cr (237.55 ± 0.29-424.93 ± 0.31), Cd (0.73 ± 0.13-1.29 ± 0.02), Pb (107.80 ± 0.23-262.01 ± 0.19), and Ni (74.85 ± 0.25-211.37 ± 0.14). These results indicate that the PTEs could plausibly derive from the fabrication activities in these workshops, which is supported by the high values of contamination factors, index of geoaccumulation, and the overall increase in pollution load indices with the number of years of operation of the MFWs. Human health risk assessment showed that there are non-carcinogenic health risks that could be experienced by children who ingest PTEs in the soils from the 7-, 8- and 10-year-old MFWs. The incremental life cancer risk assessment suggested that there are potential cancerous health effects of Cd and Ni that could be experienced in children (who ingest soils from all the four MFWs) and adults (ingesting soils from the 8- and 10-year-old MFWs). This study underscores the need to implement regulatory guidelines on the operation and location of MFWs in Uganda. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the emission of the PTEs during welding operations in the MFWs.

Thiazolidinediones are useful antidiabetic medications. However, their use is associated with adverse side effects like edema, heart failure and bone fractures. In this study, we investigated the anti-ferroptosis effects of suberosin (SBR; a prenylated coumarin) in diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. Further, we assessed the effects of co-administration of SBR (30 and 90 mg/kg/day) with thiazolidinedione (TZ at 15 mg/kg) to mitigate TZ-induced cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats. Our results showed that cardiac output, stroke volume, left ventricle systolic and diastolic pressures were aggravated in diabetic rats treated with TZ alone after 4 weeks. TZ treatments induced ferroptosis as well as marked histoarchitecture disarrangements in rat cardiomyocytes. The study found that optimizing volume overload alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and mitigated left ventricular dysfunction in diabetic rats co-treated with SBR. SBR co-administration with TZ reduced MDA levels in heart tissue and serum iron concentration (biomarkers of ferroptosis), downregulated mRNA expressions of LOX, ACSL4, LPCAT3, and promoted GPX4 activity as well as upregulated mRNA levels of AKT/PI3K/GSK3β as compared to the group administered with TZ at 15 mg/kg. SBR co-administration also helped to retain the normal histoarchitecture of cardiomyocytes in diabetic rats. Hence, our results suggested that SBR is an effective supplement and could be prescribed to diabetic patients along with TZ but this requires further clinical trials., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Pollution of water resources is one of the major impediments to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical quality and potentially toxic element (lead and cadmium) concentrations in surface water sampled from Pager River, a tributary of the Nile River in Northern Uganda. Water samples ( n = 18) were taken from six different points upstream (A, B, and C) and downstream (D, E, and F) of the river and analyzed following standard methods for their physiochemical properties. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify lead and cadmium concentrations. Human health risks from ingestion and dermal contact with potentially toxic metal-contaminated water were calculated. The results obtained indicated that the mean temperature (27.7 ± 0.5-29.5 ± 0.8 °C), turbidity (40.7 ± 2.1-50.1 ± 1.1 NTU), lead (0.296 ± 0.030-0.576 ± 0.163 mg/L) and cadmium (0.278 ± 0.040-0.524 ± 0.040 mg/L) occurred at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Human health risk assessment showed that there are potential non-cancer risks from the ingestion of water from Pager River by adults, as the total hazard quotients were greater than one. These results emphasize the urgency to restrict the dumping of wastes into the river to minimize chances of impacting the Nile River, which flows northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. Further studies should perform routine monitoring of the river during both dry and wet seasons to establish the spatiotemporal variations of physicochemical, microbial, and trace metal profiles of the river and the associated health risks.

Background: Malaria remains a major global health challenge and a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, limited access to medical facilities has perpetuated the reliance of indigenous communities on herbal medicine for the prevention and management of malaria. This study was undertaken to document ethnobotanical knowledge on medicinal plants prescribed for managing malaria in Rukungiri District, a meso-endemic malaria region of Western Uganda., Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was carried out between May 2022 and December 2022 in Bwambara Sub-County, Rukungiri District, Western Uganda using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 125 respondents (81 females and 44 males) were randomly selected and seven (7) key informants were engaged in open interviews. In all cases, awareness of herbalists on malaria, treatment-seeking behaviour and herbal treatment practices were obtained. The ethnobotanical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, informant consensus factor and preference ranking., Results: The study identified 48 medicinal plants belonging to 47 genera and 23 families used in the treatment of malaria and its symptoms in the study area. The most frequently cited species were Vernonia amygdalina, Aloe vera and Azadirachta indica. Leaves (74%) was the most used plant organ, mostly for preparation of decoctions (41.8%) and infusions (23.6%) which are administered orally (89.6%) or used for bathing (10.4%)., Conclusions: Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used as prophylaxis and for treatment of malaria still exist among the local communities of Bwambara Sub-County. However, there is a need to investigate the antimalarial efficacy, phytochemical composition and safety of species (such as Digitaria abyssinica and Berkheya barbata) with high percentage use values to validate their use., (© 2023. Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine.)

Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED), sterility, and sexual inappetence represent some of the complex reproductive challenges that require addressing the underlying causes. The aim of this paper was to systematically synthesize literature on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, bioactivities, and safety of plants used as remedies for managing sexual dysfunction and infertility, and improving fertility and virility in the EAC. Through an extensive review conducted in multidisciplinary electronic databases, 171 plant species were identified to have been reported for the management of sexual inappetence (i.e., used as aphrodisiacs, 39.4%), ED (35.9%), infertility (18.7%), and increasing fertility (6.0%). The most used plants are Mondia whitei , Acalypha villicaulis , Combretum illairii , Erythrina abyssinica , Pappea capensis , Rhus vulgaris , and Warburgia ugandensis while roots (44.9%), leaves (21.8%), stem and root barks (16.7%) of shrubs (35%), trees (31%), herbs (26%), and climbers (8%) are the preferred organs for making decoctions (69%). The research strides to date indicate that Citropsis articulata , Cola acuminata , Ekebergia capensis , Plumbago zeylanica , Tarenna graveolens , Urtica massaica , and Zingiber officinale have been assessed for their bioactivity. The majority (71.4%) of the plants either increased testosterone levels and mounting frequency or elicited prosexual stimulatory effects in male rats. More studies investigating the relevant pharmacological activities (aphrodisiac, fertility, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitory activities), safety aspects, responsible compounds, and clinical studies are warranted to establish the pharmacological potential of the unstudied species and elucidate the mechanism of action of the bioactive compounds., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Christine Kyarimpa et al.)

Consumption of maize and maize-based products contributes a significant percentage to the total food energy intake in Uganda. However, the production of maize-derived foodstuffs is performed traditionally or by small- and medium-scale processors using different processing techniques. This can lead to differences in the quality of these products from processors, raising food safety concerns. In this study, the effects of mechanical processing (milling) methods on deposition of heavy metals into milled maize flour and the associated consumption health risks were assessed. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to quantitatively establish the concentration of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) in 100 samples of maize milled using a wooden mortar ( n = 2), a metallic mortar ( n = 2), diesel engine-powered mills ( n = 48) and electric motor-powered mills ( n = 48). Results showed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals in mg/kg were Fe (11.60-34.45), Cu (0.50-8.10), Ni (0.50-1.60), Mn (0.70-25.40), Zn (4.40-15.90), Pb (0.53-10.20), Cd (0.51-0.85), Cr (0.50-1.53) and Co (0.50-1.51). The highest concentrations were found in flour milled using a traditional metallic mortar while the lowest levels were in those samples milled using a wooden mortar. The Fe, Pb and Cd contents of flours produced using the metallic mortar and some commercial mills was found to be higher than the permissible limits set by WHO/FAO. Human health risk assessment showed that there are potential carcinogenic health risks from adults' intake of heavy metals in maize flour milled using a metallic mortar. Therefore, processing of maize flour needs to be monitored by the relevant statutory bodies in Uganda to minimize the possibility of heavy metal contamination of food products and animal feeds.

Background: Malaria remains the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Although recent developments such as malaria vaccine trials inspire optimism, the search for novel antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to control the mounting resistance of Plasmodium species to the available therapies. The present study was conducted to document ethnobotanical knowledge on the plants used to treat symptoms of malaria in Tororo district, a malaria-endemic region of Eastern Uganda., Methods: An ethnobotanical study was carried out between February 2020 and September 2020 in 12 randomly selected villages of Tororo district. In total, 151 respondents (21 herbalists and 130 non-herbalists) were selected using multistage random sampling method. Their awareness of malaria, treatment-seeking behaviour and herbal treatment practices were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, paired comparison, preference ranking and informant consensus factor., Results: A total of 45 plant species belonging to 26 families and 44 genera were used in the preparation of herbal medicines for management of malaria and its symptoms. The most frequently mentioned plant species were Vernonia amygdalina, Chamaecrista nigricans, Aloe nobilis, Warburgia ugandensis, Abrus precatorius, Kedrostis foetidissima, Senna occidentalis, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica. Leaves (67.3%) were the most used plant part while maceration (56%) was the major method of herbal remedy preparation. Oral route was the predominant mode of administration with inconsistencies in the posology prescribed., Conclusion: This study showed that the identified medicinal plants in Tororo district, Uganda, are potential sources of new antimalarial drugs. This provides a basis for investigating the antimalarial efficacy, phytochemistry and toxicity of the unstudied species with high percentage use values to validate their use in the management of malaria., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: The causal relevance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for risk of site-specific cancers remains uncertain., Methods: Using a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework, we assessed the causal relevance of PUFAs for risk of cancer in European and East Asian ancestry individuals. We defined the primary exposure as PUFA desaturase activity, proxied by rs174546 at the FADS locus. Secondary exposures were defined as omega 3 and omega 6 PUFAs that could be proxied by genetic polymorphisms outside the FADS region. Our study used summary genetic data on 10 PUFAs and 67 cancers, corresponding to 562,871 cases and 1,619,465 controls, collected by the Fatty Acids in Cancer Mendelian Randomization Collaboration. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) for cancer per standard deviation increase in genetically proxied PUFA exposures., Findings: Genetically elevated PUFA desaturase activity was associated (P < 0.0007) with higher risk (OR [95% confidence interval]) of colorectal cancer (1.09 [1.07-1.11]), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (1.16 [1.06-1.26]), lung cancer (1.06 [1.03-1.08]) and basal cell carcinoma (1.05 [1.02-1.07]). There was little evidence for associations with reproductive cancers (OR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.99-1.01]; P heterogeneity  = 0.25), urinary system cancers (1.03 [0.99-1.06], P heterogeneity  = 0.51), nervous system cancers (0.99 [0.95-1.03], P heterogeneity  = 0.92) or blood cancers (1.01 [0.98-1.04], P heterogeneity  = 0.09). Findings for colorectal cancer and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remained compatible with causality in sensitivity analyses for violations of assumptions. Secondary MR analyses highlighted higher omega 6 PUFAs (arachidonic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid) as potential mediators. PUFA biosynthesis is known to interact with aspirin, which increases risk of bleeding and inflammatory bowel disease. In a phenome-wide MR study of non-neoplastic diseases, we found that genetic lowering of PUFA desaturase activity, mimicking a hypothetical intervention to reduce cancer risk, was associated (P < 0.0006) with increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease but not bleeding., Interpretation: The PUFA biosynthesis pathway may be an intervention target for prevention of colorectal cancer and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma but with potential for increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease., Funding: Cancer Resesrch UK (C52724/A20138, C18281/A19169). UK Medical Research Council (MR/P014054/1). National Institute for Health Research (NIHR202411). UK Medical Research Council (MC&#95;UU&#95;00011/1, MC&#95;UU&#95;00011/3, MC&#95;UU&#95;00011/6, and MC&#95;UU&#95;00011/4). National Cancer Institute (R00 CA215360). National Institutes of Health (U01 CA164973, R01 CA60987, R01 CA72520, U01 CA74806, R01 CA55874, U01 CA164973 and U01 CA164973)., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests TRG has received funding from the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and Biogen. BMB has received funding from the US National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, American Institute of Cancer Research and Harvard Chan-NIEHS Center. JRC has received funding from the National Cancer Institute. GDS has received funding from the Medical Research Council. PG has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. RM and PCH have received funding from Cancer Research UK. SB has received funding from the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council. GDS reports Scientific Advisory Board Membership for Relation Therapeutics and Insitro., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver is a customary African medicinal plant, which has a long history of utilization in the management of oxidative stress-induced and bacterial diseases. However, there is no report on the phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of its leaves. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial potential of A. coriaria leaves from Jinja, Kole, and Mbarara districts of Uganda. Shade-dried leaf samples were ground into powder and successively extracted with ethyl acetate, ethanol, and distilled water. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and terpenes as the major secondary metabolites in the extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and total in vitro antioxidant activity were found to be the highest for ethanolic extracts, with the highest contents (101.72 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g DW; 13.23 ± 0.03 mg QE/g DW) and antioxidant potential (IC 50  = 18.65 ± 0.06 mg/mL) being for leaves from Mbarara district. Antibacterial activity of the extracts determined by agar disc diffusion method revealed that ethanolic extracts had higher antibacterial activities with mean zones of inhibition of 6.00 ± 1.73 to 10.00 ± 1.73 mm, 5.00 ± 1.00 to 12.30 ± 1.53 mm, 17.00 ± 0.00 to 25.00 ± 2.65 mm, and 9.00 ± 1.73 to 16.00 ± 1.73 mm for Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Salmonella typhi , respectively. Ethyl acetate extracts of A. coriaria leaves from Kole and Mbarara had lower antibacterial activities, while aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate extract of leaves from Jinja showed no antibacterial activity. The current study for the first time established that A. coriaria leaves possess therapeutic phytochemicals with significant in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities, which lend credence to their use in traditional management of oxidative stress-induced conditions and bacterial diseases in Uganda. Structural elucidation of the responsible pure compounds for the observed bioactivities as well as toxicity studies of the extracts is recommended., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this study., (Copyright © 2021 Timothy Omara et al.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to design a domestic water temperature, pH and turbidity monitoring system that could constantly log temperature, pH and turbidity of water and give alerts in case the parameters are outside the acceptable limits for potable water., Results: The system was designed, assembled and performed as expected. The study indicates that the proposed and designed system outperforms the existing manual monitoring system as it can constantly track and store changes in water quality. This could be used to prepare better treatment processes as well as identify problems in the water distribution system early enough.

Background: Many studies have been undertaken on the medicinal values of Erythrina abyssinica Lam. ex DC. (Fabaceae). The details, however, are highly fragmented in different journals, libraries, and other publication media. This study was therefore conducted to provide a comprehensive report on its ethnobotany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemicals, and the available pharmacological evidence supporting its efficacy and safety in traditional medicine., Method: We collected data using a PROSPERO registered systematic review protocol on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and ethnopharmacology of Erythrina abyssinica from 132 reports that were retrieved from electronic databases. Documented local names, morphology, growth habit and habitat, ethnomedicinal and nonmedicinal uses, diseases treated, parts used, method of preparation and administration, extraction and chemical identity of isolated compounds, and efficacy and toxicity of extracts and isolated compounds were captured. Numerical data were summarized into means, percentages, and frequencies and presented as graphs and tables., Results: Erythrina abyssinica is harvested by traditional herbal medicine practitioners in East, Central, and South African communities to prepare herbal remedies for various human and livestock ailments. These include bacterial and fungal infections, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, diarrhea, cancer, meningitis, inflammatory diseases, urinary tract infections, wounds, diabetes mellitus, and skin and soft tissue injuries. Different extracts and phytochemicals from parts of E. abyssinica have been scientifically proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, antifungal, antimycobacterial, antidiarrheal, anti-HIV 1, antidiabetic, and antiobesity activities. This versatile pharmacological activity is due to the abundant flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids present in its different parts., Conclusion: Erythrina abyssinica is an important ethnomedicinal plant in Africa harboring useful pharmacologically active phytochemicals against various diseases with significant efficacies and minimal toxicity to mammalian cells. Therefore, this plant should be conserved and its potential to provide novel molecules against diseases be explored further. Clinical trials that evaluate the efficacy and safety of extracts and isolated compounds from E. abyssinica are recommended., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Samuel Baker Obakiro et al.)

Objective: Many studies on the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) using herbal medicines have been undertaken in recent decades in East Africa. The details, however, are highly fragmented. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the reported medicinal plants used to manage TB symptoms, and to analyze scientific reports on their effectiveness and safety., Method: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the major electronic databases regarding medicinal plants used in the management of TB in East Africa. A total of 44 reports were retrieved, and data were collected on various aspects of the medicinal plants such as botanical name, family, local names, part(s) used, method of preparation, efficacy, toxicity, and phytochemistry. The data were summarized into percentages and frequencies which were presented as tables and graphs., Results: A total of 195 species of plants belonging to 68 families and 144 genera were identified. Most encountered species were from Fabaceae (42.6%), Lamiaceae (19.1%), Asteraceae (16.2%), and Euphorbiaceae (14.7%) families. Only 36 medicinal plants (18.5%) have been screened for antimycobacterial activity. Out of these, 31 (86.1%) were reported to be bioactive with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 47 to 12,500 μg/ml. Most tested plant extracts were found to have acceptable acute toxicity profiles with cytotoxic concentrations on normal mammalian cells greater than 200 μg/ml. The most commonly reported phytochemicals were flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and phenols. Only Tetradenia riparia , Warburgia ugandensis , and Zanthoxylum leprieurii have further undergone isolation and characterization of the pure bioactive compounds., Conclusion: East Africa has a rich diversity of medicinal plants that have been reported to be effective in the management of symptoms of TB. More validation studies are required to promote the discovery of antimycobacterial drugs and to provide evidence for standardization of herbal medicine use., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Snake envenomation is one of the neglected tropical diseases which has left an intolerable death toll and severe socioeconomic losses in Kenya. In a continued effort to identify some antiophidic East African botanical species, this study generated ethnobotanical information on antivenom plants reported in Kenya, with a view to identify potential species which could be subjected to in vitro and clinical studies for possible development into antivenoms. Data retrieved through searches done in multidisciplinary databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scientific Electronic Library Online) indicated that 54 plant species belonging to 45 genera, distributed among 27 families, are used for the management of snakebites in Kenya. Most species belonged to the family Asteraceae (11%), Malvaceae (11%), Fabaceae (9%), Annonaceae (6%), Combretaceae (6%), and Lamiaceae (6%). The main growth habit of the species is as herbs (35%), shrubs (33%), and trees (28%). Ethnomedicinal preparations used in treating snake poisons are usually from leaves (48%), roots (26%), and stem bark (8%) through decoctions, infusions, powders, and juices which are applied topically or administered orally. The most frequently encountered species were Combretum collinum , Euclea divinorum, Fuerstia africana , Grewia fallax , Microglossa pyrifolia , Solanecio mannii , and Solanum incanum . Indigenous knowledge on medicinal antivenom therapy in Kenya is humongous, and therefore studies to isolate and evaluate the antivenom compounds in the claimed plants are required to enable their confident use in antivenom therapy alongside commercial antivenin sera., Competing Interests: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Timothy Omara.)

Malaria is one of the serious health problems in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its treatment has been met with chronic failure due to pathogenic resistance to the currently available drugs. This review attempts to compile phytotherapeutical information on antimalarial plants in Kenya based on electronic data. A comprehensive web search was conducted in multidisciplinary databases, and a total of 286 plant species from 75 families, distributed among 192 genera, were retrieved. Globally, about 139 (48.6%) of the species have been investigated for antiplasmodial (18%) or antimalarial activities (97.1%) with promising results. However, there is no record on the antimalarial activity of about 51.4% of the species used although they could be potential sources of antimalarial remedies. Analysis of ethnomedicinal recipes indicated that mainly leaves (27.7%) and roots (19.4%) of shrubs (33.2%), trees (30.1%), and herbs (29.7%) are used for preparation of antimalarial decoctions (70.5%) and infusions (5.4%) in Kenya. The study highlighted a rich diversity of indigenous antimalarial plants with equally divergent herbal remedy preparation and use pattern. Further research is required to validate the therapeutic potential of antimalarial compounds from the unstudied claimed species. Although some species were investigated for their antimalarial efficacies, their toxicity and safety aspects need to be further investigated., Competing Interests: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Timothy Omara.)

Objective: Kampala Industrial and Business Park (KIBP) is one of the premier and the most successful Ugandan industrial complexes that impact the inner Murchison bay of Lake Victoria. The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of industrial effluents on the physicochemical and microbiological quality of water taken from four different sites along Namanve stream in KIBP, Wakiso district, Uganda., Results: All the water quality parameters were below WHO maximum permissible limits except turbidity, electrical conductivity and Escherichia coli count. Mean values of the monitored water quality parameters increased from the point of effluent discharge downstream of Namanve stream.

The burden of neoplastic diseases is a significant global health challenge accounting for thousands of deaths. In Uganda, about 32,617 cancer cases were reported in 2018, accompanied by 21,829 deaths. In a view to identify some potential anticancer plant candidates for possible drug development, the current study was designed to compile the inventory of plants with reported anticancer activity used in rural Uganda and the evidences supporting their use in cancer therapy. An electronic survey in multidisciplinary databases revealed that 29 plant species belonging to 28 genera distributed among 24 families have been reported to be used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Anticancer plants were majorly from the families Bignoniaceae (7%), Caricaceae (7%), Fabaceae (7%), Moraceae (7%), and Rutaceae (7%). Most species occur in the wild (52%), though some are cultivated (48%). The growth habit of the plants is as trees (55%) or herbs (45%). Anticancer extracts are usually prepared from leaves (29%), bark (24%), roots (21%), and fruits (13%) through decoctions (53%), as food spices (23%) or pounded to produce ointments that are applied topically (10%). Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, Opuntia species, Albizia coriaria (Welw. ex Oliver) , Daucus carota L., Cyperus alatus (Nees) F. Muell., Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K. Schum., and Oxalis corniculata L. were the most frequently encountered species. As per global reports, Allium sativum L., Annona muricata L., Carica papaya L., Moringa oleifera Lam., Opuntia species, Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. are the most studied species, with the latter having vincristine and vinblastine anticancer drugs developed from it. Prostate, cervical, breast, and skin cancers are the top traditionally treated malignancies. There is a need to isolate and evaluate the anticancer potential of the bioactive compounds in the unstudied claimed plants, such as Cyperus alatus (Nees) F. Muell., Ficus dawei Hutch., Ficus natalensis Hochst., and Lovoa trichilioides Harms, and elucidate their mechanism of anticancer activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Timothy Omara et al.)

Snakebite envenomation is a serious public health concern in rural areas of Uganda. Snakebites are poorly documented in Uganda because most occur in rural settings where traditional therapists end up being the first-line defense for treatment. Ethnobotanical surveys in Uganda have reported that some plants are used to antagonize the activity of various snake venoms. This review was sought to identify antivenin plants in Uganda and some pharmacological evidence supporting their use. A literature survey done in multidisciplinary databases revealed that 77 plant species belonging to 65 genera and 42 families are used for the treatment of snakebites in Uganda. The majority of these species belong to family Fabaceae (31%), Euphorbiaceae (14%), Asteraceae (12%), Amaryllidaceae (10%) and Solanaceae (10%). The main growth habit of the species is shrubs (41%), trees (33%) and herbs (18%). Antivenin extracts are usually prepared from roots (54%) and leaves (23%) through decoctions, infusions, powders, and juices, and are administered orally (67%) or applied topically (17%). The most frequently encountered species were Allium cepa , Carica papaya , Securidaca longipedunculata , Harrisonia abyssinica , and Nicotiana tabacum . Species with global reports of tested antivenom activity included Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Basella alba , Capparis tomentosa, Carica papaya, Cassia occidentalis, Jatropa carcus, Vernonia cinereal, Bidens pilosa, Hoslundia opposita, Maytensus senegalensis, Securinega virosa , and Solanum incanum. There is need to identify and evaluate the antivenom compounds in the claimed plants., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Objective: To determine the quality of water, heavy metal content of edible muscles of a piscivorous fish (Protopterus annectens) and assess the health risks associated with using water and consumption of P. annectens from Nyabarongo and Nyabugogo rivers of Rwanda., Results: All the water quality parameters were within World Health Organization's acceptable limits except total nitrogen, iron, manganese and lead levels. Edible muscles of Protopterus annectens contained 272.8 ± 0.36, 292.2 ± 0.25, 8.8 ± 0.36, 135.2 ± 0.15, 148.0 ± 0.21 and 432. 0 ± 0.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead at Ruliba station and 336.0 ± 0.70, 302.6 ± 1.22, 6.4 ± 0.26, 44.7 ± 0.20, 138.2 ± 0.17 and 302.4 ± 1.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead at Kirinda bridge of Nyabarongo river. Health risk assessments indicated that though ingestion and dermal contact with heavy metals in water from the rivers may not cause obvious health effects, consumption of Protopterus annectens from Nyabarongo river may lead to deleterious health effects.

Uganda is an agrarian country where farming employs more than 60% of the population. Aflatoxins remain a scourge in the country, unprecedentedly reducing the nutritional and economic value of agricultural foods. This review was sought to synthetize the country's major findings in relation to the mycotoxins' etiology, epidemiology, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, control, and reduction in different matrices. Electronic results indicate that aflatoxins in Uganda are produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and have been reported in maize, sorghum, sesame, beans, sunflower, millet, peanuts, and cassava. The causes and proliferation of aflatoxigenic contamination of Ugandan foods have been largely due to poor pre-, peri-, and postharvest activities, poor government legislation, lack of awareness, and low levels of education among farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers on this plague. Little diet diversity has exacerbated the risk of exposure to aflatoxins in Uganda because most of the staple foods are aflatoxin-prone. On the detection and control, these are still marginal, though some devoted scholars have devised and validated a sensitive portable device for on-site aflatoxin detection in maize and shown that starter cultures used for making some cereal-based beverages have the potential to bind aflatoxins. More efforts should be geared towards awareness creation and vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis A to reduce the risk of development of liver cancer among the populace., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Timothy Omara et al.)

The mercury content and the contamination characteristics of water, sediments, edible muscles of a non-piscivorous fish ( Oreochromis nilotica Linnaeus 1758 [Cichlidae]) and yams ( Dioscorea alata ) from Namukombe stream in Busia gold district of Uganda were evaluated. Human health risk assessment from consumption of contaminated fish and yams as well as contact with contaminated sediments from the stream were performed. Forty-eight (48) samples of water ( n  = 12), sediments ( n  = 12), fish ( n  = 12) and yams ( n  = 12) were taken at intervals of 10 m from three gold recovery sites located at up, middle and down sluices of the stream and analyzed for total mercury (THg) using US EPA method 1631. Results (presented as means  ±  standard deviations) showed that water in the stream is polluted with mercury in the range of < detection limit to 1.21  ±  0.040 mg/L while sediments contain mean THg from < detection limit to 0.14  ±  0.040 u gg -1 . Mean THg content of the edible muscles of O. nilotica ranged from < detection limit to 0.11 ± 0.014 u gg -1 while D. alata contained from < detection limit to 0.30  ±  0.173 u gg -1 mean THg. The estimated daily intake ranged from 0.0049  u gg -1 day -1 to 0.0183 u gg -1 day -1 and 0.0200 u gg -1 day -1 to 0.0730 u gg -1 day -1 for fish consumed by adults and children respectively. The corresponding health risk indices ranged from 0.0123 to 0.0458 and 0.0500 to 0.1830. Estimated daily intake was from 0.0042 u gg -1 day -1 to 0.1279 u gg -1 day -1 and 0.0130 u gg -1 day -1 to 0.3940 u gg -1 day -1 for D. alata consumed by adults and children respectively. The health risk indices recorded were from 0.011 to 0.320 and 0.033 to 0.985 for adults and children respectively. The mean THg content of the sediments, edible muscles of O. nilotica and D. alata were within acceptable WHO/US EPA limits. About 91.7% of the water samples had mean THg above US EPA maximum permissible limit for mercury in drinking water. Consumption of D. alata grown within 5 m radius up sluice of Namukombe stream may pose deleterious health risks as reflected by the health risk index of 0.985 being very close to one. From the pollution and risk assessments, mercury use should be delimited in Syanyonja artisanal gold mining areas. A solution to abolish mercury-based gold mining in the area needs to be sought as soon as possible to avert the accentuating health, economic and ecological disaster arising from the continuous discharge of mercury into the surrounding areas. Other mercury-free gold recovering methods such as use of borax, sluice boxes and direct panning should be encouraged. Waste management system for contaminated wastewater, used mercury bottles and tailings should be centralized., Competing Interests: Timothy Omara works at AgroWays Uganda Limited. Raymond Kalukusu, Brenda Victoria Nakabuye and Bashir Musau are employed by Leading Distillers Uganda Limited. Sarah Kagoya is employed by Kakira Sugar Limited., (©2019 Omara et al.)

Objectives: There is substantial variation in the classification and management of scapula fractures. The first purpose of this study was to analyze the interobserver reliability of the OTA/AO classification and the New International Classification for Scapula Fractures. The second purpose was to assess the proportion of agreement among orthopaedic surgeons on operative or nonoperative treatment., Design: Web-based reliability study., Setting: Independent orthopaedic surgeons from several countries were invited to classify scapular fractures in an online survey., Participants: One hundred three orthopaedic surgeons evaluated 35 movies of three-dimensional computerized tomography reconstruction of selected scapular fractures, representing a full spectrum of fracture patterns., Main Outcome Measurements: Fleiss kappa (κ) was used to assess the reliability of agreement between the surgeons., Results: The overall agreement on the OTA/AO classification was moderate for the types (A, B, and C, κ = 0.54) with a 71% proportion of rater agreement (PA) and for the 9 groups (A1 to C3, κ = 0.47) with a 57% PA. For the New International Classification, the agreement about the intraarticular extension of the fracture (Fossa (F), κ = 0.79) was substantial and the agreement about a fractured body (Body (B), κ = 0.57) or process was moderate (Process (P), κ = 0.53); however, PAs were more than 81%. The agreement on the treatment recommendation was moderate (κ = 0.57) with a 73% PA., Conclusions: The New International Classification was more reliable. Body and process fractures generated more disagreement than intraarticular fractures and need further clear definitions.