Phytochemical composition of Cymbopogon citratus and Eucalyptus citriodora essential oils and their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties on Wistar rats

Cymbopogon citratus and Eucalyptus citriodora are widely used herbs/plants as a source of ethnomedicines in tropical regions of the world. In this work, we studied the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects of C. citratus and E. citriodora essential oils on formol-induced edema, and acetic acid induced abdominal cramps in Wistar rats. To fully understand the chemically induced anti-inflammatory properties of these plants, we first analyzed the chemical composition of the essential oils. A total of 16 chemical constituents accounting for 93.69 % of the oil, were identified in C. citratus among which, Geranial (27.04 %), neral (19.93 %) and myrcene (27.04 %) were the major constituents. For E. citriodora, 19 compounds representing 97.2 % of the extracted oil were identified. The dominant compound of E. citriodora essential oil was citronellal (83.50 %). In vivo analysis and histological assay showed that the two essential oils displayed significant dose dependent edema inhibition effect over time. They displayed strong analgesic and antipyretic properties similar to that induced by 50 mg/kg of acetylsalicylate of lysine. However, the E. citriodora essential oil was more effective than that of C. citratus. We identified significant numbers of aldehyde molecules in both essential oils mediating antioxidant activity that may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects observed on the rats. Altogether, this work demonstrates the anti-inflammatory property of C. citratus and E. citriodora suggesting their potential role as adjuvant therapeutic alternatives in dealing with inflammatory-related diseases.     

The effect of in-season, high-intensity interval training in soccer players

The effects of in-season, high-intensity interval training on professional male soccer players' running performances were investigated. Twenty-two subjects participated in 2 consecutive training periods of 10 weeks. The first period was considered a control period and was compared with a period where 2 high-intensity interval training exercises were included in the usual training program. Intermittent runs consisted of 12-15 runs lasting 15 seconds at 120% of maximal aerobic speed alternated with 15 seconds of rest. Sprint repetitions consisted of 12-15 all-out 40-m runs alternated with 30 seconds of rest. Results from the high-intensity interval training have shown that maximal aerobic speed was improved (+8.1 +/- 3.1%; p < 0.001) and that the time of the 40-m sprint was decreased (-3.5 +/- 1.5%; p < 0.001), whereas no change in either parameters were observed during the control period. This study shows that improvements in physical qualities can be made during the in-season period.     

The Spectrum of Cancers in West Africa: Associations with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Background

Cancer is a growing co-morbidity among HIV-infected patients worldwide. With the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in developing countries, cancer will contribute more and more to the HIV/AIDS disease burden. Our objective was to estimate the association between HIV infection and selected types of cancers among patients hospitalized for diagnosis or treatment of cancer in West Africa.

Methods

A case-referent study was conducted in referral hospitals in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin. Each participating clinical ward enrolled all adult patients seeking care for a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and clinicians systematically proposed an HIV test. HIV prevalence was compared between AIDS-defining cancers and a subset of selected non-AIDS defining cancers to a referent group of non-AIDS defining cancers not reported in the literature to be positively or inversely associated with HIV. An unconditional logistic model was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the risk of being HIV-infected for selected cancers sites compared to a referent group of other cancers.

Results

The HIV overall prevalence was 12.3% (CI 10.3–14.4) among the 1,017 cancer cases included. A total of 442 patients constituted the referent group with an HIV prevalence of 4.7% (CI 2.8–6.7). In multivariate analysis, Kaposi sarcoma (OR 62.2 [CI 22.1–175.5]), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4.0 [CI 2.0–8.0]), cervical cancer (OR 7.9 [CI 3.8–16.7]), anogenital cancer (OR 11.6 [CI 2.9–46.3]) and liver cancer (OR 2.7 [CI 1.1–7.7]) were all associated with HIV infection.

Conclusions

In a time of expanding access to ART, AIDS-defining cancers remain highly associated with HIV infection. This is to our knowledge, the first study reporting a significant association between HIV infection and liver cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.     

Voluntary running exercise prevents β-cell failure in susceptible islets of the Zucker diabetic fatty rat

Physical activity improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but its contribution to preserving β-cell function is uncertain. We evaluated the role of physical activity on β-cell secretory function and glycerolipid/fatty acid (GL/FA) cycling in male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Six-week-old ZDF rats engaged in voluntary running for 6 wk (ZDF-A). Inactive Zucker lean and ZDF (ZDF-I) rats served as controls. ZDF-I rats displayed progressive hyperglycemia with β-cell failure evidenced by falling insulinemia and reduced insulin secretion to oral glucose. Isolated ZDF-I rat islets showed reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion expressed per islet and per islet protein. They were also characterized by loss of the glucose regulation of fatty acid oxidation and GL/FA cycling, reduced mRNA expression of key β-cell genes, and severe reduction of insulin stores. Physical activity prevented diabetes in ZDF rats through sustaining β-cell compensation to insulin resistance shown in vivo and in vitro. Surprisingly, ZDF-A islets had persistent defects in fatty acid oxidation, GL/FA cycling, and β-cell gene expression. ZDF-A islets, however, had preserved islet insulin mRNA and insulin stores compared with ZDF-I rats. Physical activity did not prevent hyperphagia, dyslipidemia, or obesity in ZDF rats. In conclusion, islets of ZDF rats have a susceptibility to failure that is possibly due to altered β-cell fatty acid metabolism. Depletion of pancreatic islet insulin stores is a major contributor to islet failure in this T2D model, preventable by physical activity.     

Role of termites in the restoration of soils and plant richness on bowé in West Africa

Bowé (hardened ferricrete soils formed by erosion, drought or deforestation) are often associated with termite mounds, but little is known about these mounds and their role in the restoration of soils and plant biodiversity on bowé. This study examined termite mounds on bowé and their effects on soil depth and plant richness. Sixty-four sampling plots were laid out randomly on bowé sites with mounds and on adjacent bowé sites without mounds. The height and circumference of each mound were measured. Species inventories were made and soil depth measured in each plot. Linear mixed effects and generalised mixed effects models with Poisson error distribution were used to assess the variation in soil depth and plant species richness in mound and nonmound microsites. Two types of mounds (small vs. large) associated with different termite species were observed on bowé, with the small mounds being most common. Plots with either large or small mounds had deeper soils and higher plant richness than the adjacent plots without mounds. Conservation of termite mounds is important for restoring soils and plant richness on bowé, and termite mounds should be taken into consideration in biodiversity and soil management strategies for bowé.