Browsing by Author "Nagawa, Christine Betty"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Antibacterial, antioxidant, and Sun Protection Potential of selected Ethno Medicinal Plants used for skin infections in Uganda
    (Tropical Medicine and Health, 2021) Namukobe, Jane; Sekandi, Peter; Byamukama, Robert; Murungi, Moses; Nambooze, Jennifer; Ekyibetenga, Yeremiah; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Asiimwe, Savina
    Background: Rural populations in Uganda rely heavily on medicinal plants for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. However, the efficacy of these medicinal plants for their pharmacological action is not known. The study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of Spermacoce princeae, Psorospermum febrifugum, Plectranthus caespitosus, and Erlangea tomentosa extracts. Methods: The plant samples were extracted by maceration sequentially using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and distilled water. Antibacterial activity of each extract was carried out using an agar well diffusion assay against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonie, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Salmonella typhi. Acute dermal toxicity of the aqueous extract of S. princeae and P. febrifugum, and E. tomentosa was assessed in young adult healthy Wistar albino rats at a dose of 8000 and 10,000 mg/kg body weight. The antioxidant activity of each extract was carried out using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The sun protection factor was determined using Shimadzu UltraViolet-Visible double beam spectrophotometer between 290 and 320 nm. Results: The plant extracts showed good antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 3.12 and 12.5 mg/ml. There was no significant change in the levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in the rats even at a higher dose of 10,000 mg/kg, which was related to the results of biochemical analysis of the blood samples from the treated and control groups. The aqueous and methanol extracts of S. princeae showed potential antioxidant properties, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 59.82 and 61.20 μg/ml respectively. The organic and aqueous extracts of P. caespitosus showed high levels of protection against Ultraviolet light with sun protection potential values ranging between 30.67 and 37.84. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the selected medicinal plants possessed good antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection properties. Therefore, the plants are alternative sources of antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection agents in managing bacterial skin infections.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development of maize cob-based biochar filter for water purification
    (Water and Environment Journal, 2021) Oluk, Isaac; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Banadda, Noble; Tumutegyereize, Peter; Achaw Owusu, Prosper
    The study aimed at biochar production from maize cob and its performance in improving water physiochemical attributes. Three feedstock masses (2, 2.5, 3 kg) were used for biochar production. Nine treatment combinations of T1L1, T1L2, T1L3, T2L1, T2L2, T2L3, T3L1, T3L2 and T3L3 in triplicate were used for biochar performance. Biochar yield of 50% was averagely achieved at slow pyrolysis conditions (300 to 600°C) and 120 min residence time. Biochar had 4.13% moisture content, 6.86% ash, 17.70% volatile matter, 71.28% fixed carbon, and a pH of 10.27. Odour, colour, and total hardness of the wastewater improved after filtration using biochar to acceptable levels for potable water use. Total hardness reduced by 51.9% in T2L2 and 44.4% in T3L2. Findings front maize cob biochar as a purification technology for domestic potable water use. There is need for maize cob biochar performance on heavy metals and when it is sandwiched with other materials.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Lacustrine Cyanobacteria, Algal Blooms and Cyanotoxins in East Africa: Implications for Human and Ecological Health Protection
    (Phycology, 2023) Omara, Timothy; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Kyarimpa, Christine; Böhmdorfer, Stefan; Lugasi, Solomon Omwoma; Matovu, Henry; Odongo, Silver; Ssebugere, Patrick
    Advected cyanobacteria, algal blooms and cyanotoxins have been increasingly detected in freshwater ecosystems. This review gives an insight into the present state of knowledge on the taxonomy, dynamics, toxic effects, human and ecological health implications of cyanobacteria, algal blooms and cyanotoxins in the East African Community lakes. The major toxigenic microalgae in East African lakes include Microcystis, Arthrospira, Dolichospermum, Planktolyngbya and Anabaenopsis species. Anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, microcystins (MCs), cylindrospermopsin and nodularin have been quantified in water from below method detection limits to 81 µg L−1, with peak concentrations characteristically reported for the wet season. In whole fish, gut, liver and muscles, MCs have been found at concentrations of 2.4 to 1479.24 μg kg−1, which can pose human health risks to a daily consumer. While there have been no reported cases of cyanotoxin-related poisoning in humans, MCs and anatoxin-a (up to 0.0514 μg kg−1) have been identified as the proximal cause of indiscriminate fish kills and epornitic mortality of algivorous Phoeniconaias minor (lesser flamingos). With the unequivocal increase in climate change and variability, algal blooms and cyanotoxins will increase in frequency and severity, and this will necessitate swift action towards the mitigation of nutrient-rich pollutants loading into lakes in the region.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Legacy and emerging organic pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments in Africa: Contamination levels, health risks, and analytical techniques
    (Emerging Contaminants, 2025-01-02) Muhwezi, Godfrey; Kyarimpa, Christine; Gumula, Ivan; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Odongo, Silver; Kato, Charles Drago; Ssebugere, Patrick
    The World Health Organisation reported that over 20 % of the global disease burden and deaths are caused by environmental factors such as air and dust pollution. Legacy organic pollutants (LOPs) and emerging organic pollutants (EOPs) are among the biggest contributors to this burden. Herein we reviewed literature published for the period 2000–2023 on selected LOPs and EOPs in indoor dust and outdoor air in Africa to understand the occurrence, associated human health risks and common analytical techniques used to identify and quantify these contaminants. The findings revealed generally lower contamination levels for most pollutants than that in most regions outside Africa except for PCBs in outdoor air and OCPs in indoor settled dust. Apart from a few studies for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), most studies reported hazard index (HI) values less than 1 for outdoor air and indoor dust exposure, which suggested negligible non-carcinogenic risks in children and adults. Gas Chromatography and mass spectrometry were the most frequently used analytical techniques for both air and dust probably due to their sensitivity and selectivity in detecting chemical traces at the pg m−3 and ng g−1 levels. Although the current contamination levels are generally low, their synergistic and cumulative effects may in the long run affect the environment and human health. There is also a paucity of data on most contaminants, especially for PCNs, and PFASs in both outdoor air and dust. Coordinated efforts are needed to limit the trade, importation, and disposal of products containing LOPs and EOPs in Africa.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Sexual Dysfunction, Infertility and Improving Virility in the East African Community: A Systematic Review
    (Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,, 2023-08-12) Kyarimpa, Christine; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Omara, Timothy; Ssebugere, Patrick; Lugasi, Solomon Omwoma; Gumula, Ivan
    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.