J.A. Odhiambo

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF CRUDE EXTRACTS OF GLADIOLUS DALENII VAN GEEL (IRIDACEAE)

Bulb extracts of Gladiolus dalenii reportedly used in the treatment of fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients in the Lake Victoria region were tested for antifungal activity using the disc diffusion assay technique. Commercially used antifungal drugs, Ketaconazole and Griseofulvin (Cosmos Pharmaceuticals) were used as standards. Dichloromethane (CH₂CL₂)/Methanol (MeOH) in the ratio 1:1. Soluble extracts showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Direct bioautography on silica gel Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and appropriate spraying agents were used to identify the active component in the extract. The activities of both the extracts were higher than that of Griseofulvin. CH₂CL₂ soluble extract in addition showed ability to delay sporulation in A.niger. The active group of compounds in the extracts was identified as alkaloids, which offer immense potential for development of new and valuable pharmaceutical products.

Effect of intercropping maize and soybeans on Striga hermonthica parasitism and yield of maize

Striga hermonthica a major biotic constraint to cereal production can be controlled by trap crops. Soybean cultivars vary in ability to stimulate suicidal germination of the weed. An experiment was conducted to select soybean (Glycine max) varieties with the ability to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds. Experiments were conducted with strigol Nijmegen 1® (GR 24), a synthetic stimulant, as a check. In the pot and field experiments, maize (variety WH507) was intercropped with soybeans. Variation occurred among soybean varieties in inducing germination of S. hermonthica. The relative germination induction by soybean varieties ranged from 8% to 66% compared to 70% for synthetic stimulant check. Varieties TGX1448-2E, Tgm 1576, TGX1876-4E and Tgm 1039 had the highest relative germination. Soybean varieties TGX 1831-32E, Tgm944, Tgm 1419 and Namsoy4m had high stimulation but low attachment. Intercropping maize with soybeans in the field led to a low S. hermonthica count and high maize yield.

Evaluation of Herbs as Potential Drugs/Medicines

Herbal drugs have been used since ancient times as medicines for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, for both human and livestock. A study conducted in the Lake Victoria Basin Kenya revealed vast knowledge and reliance on traditional medicine as a source of healthcare. The study documented 34 medicinal plant species distributed among 21 botanical families and 34 genera, used in the management of human ailments. The highest numbers of species were from the families Asteraceae and Leguminosae. The most commonly harvested plant parts were leaves (46.51%) and roots (34.88%). The most common growth forms utilised were herbs (40.54%) followed by shrubs (27.03%). The major methods of herbal drug preparation were concoction (31.03%) and decoction (24.14%) administered mainly through oral and dermal routes, (64.29%) and (32.14%) respectively. The use of herbal drugs as mixtures was reported to be a common practice by the herbal practitioners; 57.14% of the preparations were dispensed as mixtures while 42.86% of the preparations composed of single plants. A rich knowledge of medicinal plants was recognized and phytochemical and bioactivity analyses of these herbal plants are recommended to determine their safety and efficacy.

Weed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Production

Weed competition is a significant problem in maize (Zea mays, L.) production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Better understanding of weed management and costs in maize intercropped with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) during transition to conservation agricultural systems is needed. Changes in weed population and maize growth were assessed for a period of three years at Bungoma where crops are grown twice per year and at Trans-Nzoia where crops are grown once per year. Treatments included three tillage practices: minimum (MT), no-till (NT) and conventional (CT) applied to three cropping systems: continuous maize/bean intercropping (TYPICAL), maize/bean intercropping with relayed mucuna after bean harvest (RELAY) and maize, bean and mucuna planted in a strip intercropping arrangement (STRIP). Herbicides were used in NT, shallow hand hoeing and herbicides were used in MT and deep hoeing with no herbicides were used in CT. Weed and maize performance in the maize phase of each cropping system were assessed at both locations and costs of weed control were estimated at Manor House only. Weed density of grass and forb species declined significantly under MT and NT at Manor House and of grass species only at Mabanga. The greatest declines of more than 50% were observed as early as within one year of the transition to MT and NT in STRIP and TYPICAL cropping systems at Manor House. Transitioning to conservation based systems resulted in a decline of four out of five most dominant weed species. At the same time, no negative impact of MT or NT on maize growth was observed. Corresponding costs of weed management were reduced by

An evaluation of quality of life in ambulatory patients with systemic lupus erythematosus attending rheumatology clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital

148.40 ha-1 in MT and

In Vitro Selection of Soybean Accessions for Induction of Germination of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth Seeds and Their Effect on Striga hermonthica Attachment on Associated Maize

149.60 ha-1 in NT compared with CT. In conclusion, farmers can benefit from effective and less expensive weed management alternatives early in the process of transitioning to reduced tillage operations.

Dryland soil greenhouse gases and yield-scaled emissions in no-till and organic winter wheat–fallow systems

Background and aims Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the quality of life of those affected by it. The aim of this study is to document the quality of life of patients with SLE in Kenyatta National Hospital using LUPUS QOL questionnaire. Methods Patients who satisfy the ACR (America College of Rheumatology) criteria were consecutively recruited. All patients with SLE attending the clinic were included in the study. Patients were examined for the presence of malar rash, discoid rash, arthritis/athralgia, photosensitivity, CNS symptoms, serositis and oral ulcers. The patients then filled the LUPUS QOL questionnaire. The data was then analysed using SPSS version 17.0 using student t test and regression analysis. Results Sixty two patients were analysed (60 females 2 males). Mean age of the population was 37.3 years ( 14–71 years). Mean age at diagnosis was 34.5 years with mean duration of illness 1.5 years. Majority (88.7%) had arthritis/athralgia, oral ulcers (62.9%), malar rash (59.7%), photosensitivity (58.1%), serositis (32.3%), CNS symptoms (27.4%) and discoid rash (17.7%). Patients scored globally low in all domains of LUPUS QOL. Highest domain was planning 63.7 (29.3), emotional health 61.3 (26.5), burden to others 58.9 (31.2), fatigue 57.5 (30.0), pain 56.6 (29.6), physical health 54.0 (23.3), body image 47.1 (24.2) intimate relations 41.1 (38.4). Conclusions The HRQOL was low in all domains correlated with advance in age in the domains of physical health, burden to others, emotional health and fatigue.

Antifungal Activity of Crude Extracts Of Selected Medicinal Plants Used In Combinations In Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Production of maize in western Kenya is adversely affected by Striga hermonthica. Integrating legumes as intercrops is one way of reducing the density of S. hermonthica in the soil and improving the livelihood of subsistence farming communities. Legume species and varieties, however, vary in the ability to stimulate suicidal germination of S. hermonthica seeds. A study was conducted to select soybean (Glycine max) accessions with ability to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds from western Kenya. The cut-root technique was used to screen 32 soybean accessions with Desmodium, Mucuna and maize varieties Nyamula, KSTP92 and WH502 as checks. Fourteen soybean accessions (selected from the cut-root experiment), Desmodium and Mucuna were grown in association with maize variety WH502 in pots inoculated with Striga seeds. There was a significant variation among soybean accessions in inducing germination of Striga. The relative germination of Striga seed by soybean accessions ranged from 8 to 66% compared to 70% for synthetic germination stimulant Nijmegen 1®. Accessions TGx1448-2E, Tgm1576, TGx1876-4E and Tgm1039 had the highest relative germination percent. Most accessions that stimulated high germination of Striga seeds increased Striga attachment by 6–95%. There was a negative correlation (R 2 = 0.7) between maize shoot dry weight and intercrop shoot dry weight. Accessions TGx1831-32E, Tgm944, Tgm1419 and Namsoy 4m had high stimulation but low attachment, hence making them potentially important trap crops.