Browsing by Author "Alele, Paul E."

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    Antimicrobial Bioactivity and GC-MS Analysis of Different Extracts of Corchorus olitorius L Leaves
    (The Scientific World Journal, 2022) Nakaziba, Rebecca; Amanya, Sharon B.; Sesaazi, Crispin D.; Byarugaba, Frederick; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Alele, Paul E.
    Background and Aim. Plants have been used for the treatment of infectious diseases among various communities worldwide with undeniable success. Corchorus olitorius L is used to treat various ailments including infections. However, there are limited data regarding its antimicrobial spectrum in Uganda. In the bid to bridge this gap, we investigated the antimicrobial bioactivity of Corchorus olitorius L against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Methods. Corchorus olitorius L leaves were harvested, air-dried, and serially extracted using diethyl ether, methanol, and distilled water (aqueous). e crude extracts and their components separated by TLC were assayed for bioactivity against the organisms mentioned above using the agar well di usion technique. Chloramphenicol was used as a positive control. Observation of a zone of inhibition indicated bioactivity. Finally, the components that displayed bioactivity were subjected to GCMS analysis to establish their chemical composition using the MS library database. Results. Crude extracts of Corchorus olitorius L leaves and their TLC-separated components demonstrated bioactivity against Staphylococcus aureus (14 mm), Streptococcus pneumoniae (16 mm), and Escherichia coli (11 mm) but neither against Candida albicans nor Mycobacteria tuberculosis. However, the overall zones of inhibition were smaller compared to the positive control ( 18 mm). GC-MS analysis of the active components revealed the presence of methyl esters. Conclusion. Corchorus olitorius L is bioactive against both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria but neither against fungi nor mycobacteria. e bioactivity is attributable to the presence of methyl esters. Since methyl esters already have proven bioactivity in some studies, they could be further studied and optimized for possible pharmaceutical use. Further, to provide a more comprehensive antimicrobial spectrum of Corchorus olitorius L in Uganda, puri ed active components could be investigated using a wider range of organisms.
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    Plants used to treat malaria in Nyakayojo sub-county, western Uganda
    (Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2011) Stangelanda, Torunn; Alele, Paul E.; Katuura, Esther; Lye, Kåre A.
    Two of the most vulnerable groups affected by malaria are young children and pregnant women and plants are commonly used in their treatment. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight traditional birth attendants were interviewed about how they used plants to treat malaria. Review of the literature available on all species identified was undertaken. Results: Altogether 56 plant species were used by the informants, 48 of which have been identified to species level. Thirty-two (67%) of the species used by the respondents are documented for antimalarial use in other studies, and nearly half (44%) have documented anti-plasmodial activity. Fifty-five percent of species were used by 2 or more of the respondents. The most commonly used species were Vernonia amygdalina, the indigenous Aloe species, Justicia betonica, Vernonia adoensis and Tithonia diversifolia. It was common to use more than one plant in a recipe (43%). The respondents had good knowledge of the symptom of malaria, and fairly good understanding of the causes. Conclusion: The interviews show that the group of traditional birth attendants has an extensive and diverse knowledge on plants used in the treatment of malaria. The literature survey may indicate a possible explanation for the use of several plants.
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    Prevalence, characteristics and predicting risk factors of adverse drug reactions among hospitalized older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
    (SAGE Open Medicine, 2021) Mekuriya Yadesa, Tadele; Kitutu, Freddy Eric; Deyno, Serawit; Ogwang, Patrick Engeu; Tamukong, Robert; Alele, Paul E.
    Occurrence of adverse drug reactions is a major global health problem mostly affecting older adults. Identifying the magnitude and predictors of adverse drug reactions is crucial to developing strategies to mitigate the burden of adverse drug reactions. This study’s objectives were to estimate and compare the prevalences of adverse drug reactions, to characterize them and to identify the predictors among hospitalized older adults. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature search including both prevalence and risk factors of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized older adults was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, involving all articles published in English. Descriptive statistics and comparison of means was performed using SPSS version 20.0 and metaprop command was performed in STATA version 13.0. Heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 statistic. Results: A total of 18 studies, involving 80,695 participants with a median age of 77 years, were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of adverse drug reaction was 22% (95% confidence interval: 17%, 28%; I 2 = 99.23%). Among high-income countries, the prevalence of adverse drug reactions was 29% (95% confidence interval: 16%, 42%) as compared to 19% (95% confidence interval: 14%–25%) in low and middle-income countries (p value = 0.176). Of the 620 adverse drug reactions categorized, most were type A (89%), which are generally predictable and preventable. Two-thirds (795, 67%) of the adverse drug reactions were probable and most (1194, 69%) were mild or moderate. The majority (60%) of the categorized adverse drug reactions were preventable and less than one-third (31%) were severe. The most consistently reported predictors of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized older patients were medication-related factors, including polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications followed by disease-related factors—renal failure, complex comorbidity, heart failure and liver failure. Conclusion: Almost one-quarter of all hospitalized older adults experienced at least one adverse drug reaction during their hospital stay. The majority of the adverse drug reactions were preventable. Medication-related factors were the most consistently reported predictors of adverse drug reactions followed by disease-related factors.
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    Traditional Medicinal Vegetables in Northern Uganda: An Ethnobotanical Survey
    (International Journal of Food Science, 2021) Nakaziba, Rebecca; Anyolitho, Maxson K.; Amanya, Sharon B.; Sesaazi, Crispin D.; Byarugaba, Frederick; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Alele, Paul E.
    A wide range of indigenous vegetables grow in Uganda especially during rainy seasons but scarcely during droughts, except those that are commercially grown. Although a number of these vegetables have medicinal values, they have not been satisfactorily studied besides conservation. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey in Northern Uganda in order to document traditional medicinal vegetables and their uses. Methods. Qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis were employed using semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaires as well as key informant interviews following international ethical codes. Fidelity levels and informant consensus factors were also calculated. Results. 13 traditional vegetables belonging to 10 families were reported to serve as folk medicines. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (23.08%) and Solanaceae (15.38%). The most often used vegetables were Corchorus spp., Hibiscus spp., and Asystasiagangeticafor musculoskeletal (51%), gastrointestinal (34.3%), and malaria (31.8%). The vegetables were cultivated in the backyard and the leaves stewed for the different ailments. The informant consensus factor was the highest for Corchorus spp., in the treatment of joint pain/stiffness (0.92-1) while the highest fidelity level was (60.42%) for Amaranthus spp., in the management of anemia. Conclusions. Northern Uganda has numerous traditional vegetables with medicinal benefits. Diseases treated range from gastrointestinal to reproductive through musculoskeletal abnormalities. The community obtains vegetable leaves from the backyard and stews them regularly for the medicinal purposes with no specific dosage. Therefore, we recommend studies to verify in laboratory models the efficacy of these vegetables and standardize the dosages.