Tsige Gebre-Mariam

Ethnomedical survey of Berta ethnic group Assosa Zone, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state, mid-west Ethiopia.

Traditional medicine (TM) has been a major source of health care in Ethiopia as in most developing countries around the world. This survey examined the extent and factors determining the use of TM and medicinal plants by Berta community. One thousand and two hundred households (HHs) and fourteen traditional healers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and six focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. The prevalence of the use of TM in the two weeks recall period was 4.6%. The HH economic status was found to have a significant effect while the educational level and age of the patients have no effect either on the care seeking behavior or choice of care. Taking no action about a given health problem and using TM are common in females with low-income HHs. Forty plant species belonging to 23 families were reported, each with local names, methods of preparation and parts used. This study indicates that although the proportion of the population that uses TM may be small it is still an important component of the public health care in the study community as complementary and alternative medicine.

Microencapsulation of citronella oil for mosquito-repellent application: Formulation and in vitro permeation studies

Citronella oil (CO) has been reported to possess a mosquito-repellent action. However, its application in topical preparations is limited due to its rapid volatility. The objective of this study was therefore to reduce the rate of evaporation of the oil via microencapsulation. Microcapsules (MCs) were prepared using gelatin simple coacervation method and sodium sulfate (20%) as a coacervating agent. The MCs were hardened with a cross-linking agent, formaldehyde (37%). The effects of three variables, stirring rate, oil loading and the amount of cross-linking agent, on encapsulation efficiency (EE, %) were studied. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the EE (%), and a polynomial regression model equation was generated. The effect of the amount of cross-linker was insignificant on EE (%). The response surface plot constructed for the polynomial equation provided an optimum area. The MCs under the optimized conditions provided EE of 60%. The optimized MCs were observed to have a sustained in vitro release profile (70% of the content was released at the 10th hour of the study) with minimum initial burst effect. Topical formulations of the microencapsulated oil and non-microencapsulated oil were prepared with different bases, white petrolatum, wool wax alcohol, hydrophilic ointment (USP) and PEG ointment (USP). In vitro membrane permeation of CO from the ointments was evaluated in Franz diffusion cells using cellulose acetate membrane at 32 °C, with the receptor compartment containing a water-ethanol solution (50:50). The receptor phase samples were analyzed with GC/MS, using citronellal as a reference standard. The results showed that microencapsulation decreased membrane permeation of the CO by at least 50%. The amount of CO permeated was dependent on the type of ointment base used; PEG base exhibited the highest degree of release. Therefore, microencapsulation reduces membrane permeation of CO while maintaining a constant supply of the oil.

Skin diseases associated with the depletion of stratum corneum lipids and stratum corneum lipid substitution therapy.

The skin is the largest organ of the body, whose main function is to protect the body against the loss of physiologically important components as well as harmful environmental insults. From the inside to the outside, the skin comprises three major structural layers: the hypodermis, the dermis and the epidermis. The epidermis contains four different sublayers, the stratum corneum (SC), stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum basale, where the barrier function of the skin mainly lies in the outermost layer of the epidermis, the SC. The SC contains corneocytes that are embedded in a lipid matrix existing in the form of lipid bilayers. The lipid bilayers are formed mainly from ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol, constitute the only continuous pathway across the SC and are responsible for the barrier function of the skin. However, the depletion or disturbance of SC lipids in the SC leads to a perturbation of the barrier function of the skin, and, conversely, several skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are associated with the depletion of these SC lipids. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to understand the interrelationship between the depletion of SC lipids and skin diseases as well as factors that affect the composition and organization of SC lipids in order to assess the potential benefit of a direct replacement of the missing SC lipids as a means of treating affected, aged or diseased skin. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Highly active antiretroviral therapy adherence and its determinants in selected hospitals from south and central Ethiopia

To determine the adherence rate and its determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in selected governmental hospitals from central and south Ethiopia.

Evaluation of starch obtained from Ensete ventricosum as a binder and disintegrant for compressed tablets

Abstract— The binding and disintegrant properties of starch obtained from Ensete ventricosum Musaceae have been evaluated. The effect of the starch on the physical properties such as crushing strength, friability and disintegration time of tablets of chloroquine phosphate, dipyrone and paracetamol was compared with tablets prepared with potato starch. The results show that enset starch can be used both as a tablet binder and disintegrant and the indication is that enset starch has a better binding ability and less disintegrating power than potato starch.

Quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS and on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia

The Amharic version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) was used to measure quality of life among patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at selected governmental hospitals in central and southern Ethiopia. The study was cross-sectional and used SF-36-specific software for automatic scoring of the forms scales and dimensions. Pearson bivariate correlations showed moderate correlation between the SF-36 scales, ranging from 0.2673 between ‘general health’ and ‘vitality,’ to 0.8583 between ‘role physical’ and ‘role emotional.’ Cronbachs-αwas >0.70 for six out of eight multi-item scales, with values ranging from 0.6500 to 0.8860 for all scales, thus indicating good internal reliability of the Amharic version of the SF-36. The independent variables shown to positively affect mean scores were: duration of treatment, CD4 cell count, and adherence to doses of antiretrovirals. Participants treated for >12 months had higher mean scores for all domains than those who had been treated for ≤12 months. Likewise, those with a CD4 cell count >200 cells/mm3 had better mean scores for all scales except ‘social functioning’ and ‘mental health’ than those with counts ≤200. Participants adhering to treatment (in the last 15 days, according to self-report) had better mean scores for all scales except ‘role physical,’ ‘bodily pain’ and ‘vitality’ in comparison to those who were not adherent. The findings suggest that the Amharic version of the SF-36 is a valid and reliable health survey instrument for use in Ethiopia to assess the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS on HAART.

Toxicity studies on dermal application of plant extract of Dodonaea viscosa used in Ethiopian traditional medicine

Despite advances in the understanding of the medicinal properties of many herbs, the consumer today is confronted with the lack of or misinformation concerning the safety of these herbs that rivals the heyday of the patent medicine era. In the present study, Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), a medicinal plant commonly used for skin diseases in Ethiopia was subjected to a systematic dermatotoxicity study. To this effect, the dermatotoxicity of an 80% methanol extract of the leaf was investigated in animals following standard procedures for irritation, sensitization, acute toxicity and repeated toxicity tests.

Toxicity studies on dermal application of plant extract of Plumbago zeylanica used in Ethiopian traditional medicine

Plant-based therapeutic preparations are cyclically returning to complement dermatologic therapy, however, data on the toxicity profile of such plants are lacking. In the present study, Plumbago zeylanica, a medicinal plant commonly used in Ethiopia for skin diseases was subjected to a systematic dermatotoxicity study. To this effect, the dermatotoxicity of 80% methanol extract of the root part of Plumbago zeylanica was investigated in animals following standard procedures for irritation, sensitization, acute toxicity and repeated toxicity tests. Extraction of plant material with 80% methanol resulted in 9.45% of crude extract of Plumbago zeylanica. The skin irritation test on rabbits showed Plumbago zeylanica extract to be a moderate irritant, with a primary irritation index of 2.00. Sensitization test on mice by the Mouse Ear Swelling Test method revealed the extract to be non-sensitizer in a dose range of 4-10mg/ml and the percent responder was zero. Acute dermal toxicity test on rats did not produce any overt signs of toxicity, except that there was a weight gain difference between the test and control groups of female rats. This was not, however, supported by other parameters, like the absolute and relative organ weights. Repeated dose toxicity test was associated with increased relative testis weight (P<0.05) as well as higher values for Blood urea nitrogen and K+ (P<0.05) in both sexes with the highest dose (1000 mg/kg) group, although histopathological analyses failed to lend support to these observations. Taken together, the dermatotoxicity test results from this study suggest that Plumbago zeylanica toxic effects might be limited to effects like moderate irritation.

Isolation and structural characterization of glucosylceramides from Ethiopian plants by LC/APCI-MS/MS

&NA; Chronic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and aged skin are characterized by defective skin barrier and dryness which are associated with reduced levels of skin ceramides (CERs). The beneficial effects of plant‐derived CERs for skin hydration and skin barrier recovery have been shown in several studies. Although plenty of glucosylceramide (GlcCER)‐based dietary supplements meant for skin barrier improvement have been marketed, there are limited commercial sources of plant GlcCERs. In an attempt to explore alternative GlcCER sources, a reversed phase LC–MS/MS method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface was developed for separation and structural identification of GlcCERs isolated from three plants. The GlcCERs were extracted from the seeds of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) and haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and purified by column chromatography and preparative LC–MS. The individual GlcCER species were further separated and qualitatively analyzed by LC/APCI‐MS/MS. The amount of GlcCERs in each plant was quantified by HPTLC. All GlcCER species detected in the three plants consisted of C18 di/trihydroxy sphingoid bases amide linked with hydroxy fatty acids (C14‐C24). The trihydroxy SBs were acylated with very long chain FAs (C22‐C24). The major GlcCERs derived from grass pea, Ethiopian mustard and haricot bean are composed of sphingenine (d18:1) linked to hydroxypalmitic acid (h16:0), 4‐hydroxy‐8‐sphingenine (t18:1) coupled with hydroxynervonic acid (h24:1) and sphingadienine (d18:2) joined with h16:0, respectively. The GlcCERs contents in haricot bean (161.2 mg/kg) and grass pea (130.0 mg/kg) were found to be higher compared to Ethiopian mustard (71.8 mg/kg). This qualitative and quantitative information suggests that the two plants of the Fabaceae family (haricot bean and grass pea) are potential alternative sources of GlcCERs for their use in products meant for the recovery of skin barrier function. The LC/APCI‐MS/MS method described here has proven to be reliable for the screening of other potential plants containing GlcCERs. HighlightsA reversed phase LC/APCI‐MS/MS method for the separation and structural characterization of plant GlcCERs was developed.C18 di/trihydroxy sphingoid bases amide linked with hydroxy fatty acids (C14‐C24) were identified in haricot bean, Ethiopian mustard and grass pea GlcCERs.Haricot bean and grass pea GlcCERs primarily comprised of CERs with sphingadienine coupled with hydroxypalmitic acid (>90%) and sphingenine linked to hydroxypalmitic acid, respectively.The GlcCER contents of haricot bean and grass pea were comparable to the commercial sources.

The use of electron spin resonance to measure micro viscosity

Abstract— The viscosities of a series of mixtures of glycerol and water were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR), photon correlation spectroscopy and Ostwald viscometry. Close agreement was obtained between the last two methods but viscosity as measured by ESR was always significantly lower. The difference, the magnitude of which depended on the spin probe used, was attributed to interaction between water and glycerol. Similar results were obtained using water‐sorbitol and water‐sucrose mixtures.