Browsing by Author "Sesaazi, Crispin D."
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Item 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.Item 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.