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Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of medicinal plants used traditionally in Lesotho.Shale, Thato Lucy. 10 December 2013 (has links)
A significant potion of the population in Lesotho relies on traditional medicine to meet
its health care requirements. Traditional healers and herbalists were interviewed
from Qacha's Nek (Highlands) and Mohale's Hoek (Lowlands) districts in Lesotho on
plants used by the Basotho in traditional remedies. Fifteen plants were reported to
be used for bacterial infections while thirteen plants were used for diseases
associated with inflammation . Plant roots were most often used to make water
extracts. Mainly high altitude plants are used with lowland healers obtaining most of
their plant material from the highlands, either by collecting them or buying them from highland gatherers.
Leaves and roots of plants used to treat bacterial infections were extracted with
hexane, methanol and water and the respective extracts screened at 100 mg ml¯¹ for
anti-bacterial activity using the disc diffusion bioassay. Seven species displayed very
high anti-bacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A
number of plant extracts had medium inhibitory activity, mostly against Gram-positive
bacteria. This activity was mainly found in the root extracts. Six of the thirteen plants
screened for anti-inflammatory activity using the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)
bioassay had activity above 90%. Hexane and methanol extracts were the most active while water extracts usually had lower activity.
Malva parviflora, Eriocephalus punctulatus and Asparagus microraphis exhibited
high anti-inflammatory activity from hexane, methanol and water extracts made from
leaf and root material. High anti-bacterial activity was also recorded from M. parviflora and E. punctulatus hexane, methanol and water extracts. An investigation
on seasonal variation and plant part substitution in medicinal activities for these plants was carried out.
Extracts of M. parviflora collected between June 1999 and July 2001 showed
variation in anti-bacterial activity. Extracts made from leaves and roots inhibited the
growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. More bacterial strains
were inhibited by extracts made from roots collected in cooler months. However, a
trend in seasonal activity was not evident for either the roots or leaves because there
was no detection of activity in some of the extracts made within the same months or
seasons of the adjacent years. Variation in anti-inflammatory was detected for M.
parviflora extracts. E. punctulatus leaf extracts did not exhibit any seasonal variation
in anti-bacterial activity. Anti-inflammatory activity of E. punctulatus showed seasonal
variation with the highest activity noted when material was collected during the
cooler months and a decline in activity when collections were made during the
warmer months. Hexane, methanol and water extracts made from leaves and roots
of A. microraphis did not show any seasonal variation in anti-inflammatory activity.
Thus, M. parviflora and E. punctulatus should be collected during the cooler months
while A. microraphis can be collected throughout the year. Traditional healers,
herbalists and vendors need to be encouraged to use aerial parts in substitution of ground parts which are reported to be highly utilized.
Effect of storage on anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of M. parviflora, E.
punctulatus and A. microraphis were monitored. Dried, ground leaf and root material
of the three plants was stored in a cold room, at room temperature and in the Botanical Garden where the material was exposed to high and large changes in
temperature. Dried hexane and methanol extracts made from leaves and roots of
these plants were stored in a cold room and at room temperature. Initially, storage of
the plant material under the three storage conditions caused an increase in antibacterial
activity of the hexane, methanol and water extracts made from leaf and root
material of M. parviflora and E. punctulatus. Storage for a longer period resulted in a
decrease in inhibitory activity. TLC fingerprints developed from hexane and methanol
extracts made from M. parviflora and E. punctulatus stored in a cold room and at
room temperature showed a consistent number and colour of spots during the initial
storage period. Prolonged storage resulted in a decline in the number and colour of
detected spots. The stored hexane and methanol extracts made from leaves and
roots showed a similar trend of increases and decreases in anti-bacterial activity as
well as changes in spots with the storage of the extracts. Testing of the effect on anti-inflammatory activity of hexane, methanol and water extracts made from leaves and roots of M. parviflora, E. punctulatus and A. microraphis showed no change in inhibitory activity of hexane extracts obtained from the material and the extracts stored at the three storage conditions. Methanol and water extracts made from leaves exhibited an increase in activity with prolonged storage. Generally, the stability of the inhibitory activity was longer for the stored dried material than the plant extracts. Isolation of biological active compounds from M. parviflora was not successful due to
loss in anti-bacterial activity as a result of collection of plant material from a different
locality. Anti-inflammatory compounds could not be isolated due to insufficient amount and the synergistic effect of the active compounds . The purified compounds
exhibited loss of activity following HPLC purification which then re-appeared upon recombining
the fractions. A number of compounds were detected from essential oils
of E. punctulatus using GC. Fractions containing these compounds gave positive
anti-bacterial activity in the disc-diffusion , bioautographic and MIC bioassays as well as high anti-inflammatory activity with COX-1 and COX-2 anti-inflammatory bioassays. No anti-inflammatory compounds were isolated from A. microraphis. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
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Collaboration between traditional healers and nurse practitioners in primary health care in Maseru Health Service Area - LesothoMakoa, E. T. 02 1900 (has links)
The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the existing relationship between
traditional healers and nurse practitioners in Maseru Health Service Area in Lesotho and
also to determine why people consult traditional healers. Qualitative and quantitative
methods were used to investigate the relationship between traditional healers and nurse
practitioners and also to determine why people utilize the services of traditional healers.
The study was limited to Maseru Health Service Area in Lesotho. Data was collected
from twenty-seven (27) nurses from nineteen (19) clinics and from thirty (30) traditional
healers from the same health service area. Data from traditional healers was collected
using semi-structured interviews while nurse practitioners were given a questionnaire to
complete. The study revealed that there was no formal relationship between traditional healers and
nurse practitioners. Support for traditional healers was revealed to be limited, for
example, only four (14.8%) nurses had a programme for traditional healers while twenty
( 66.7%) traditional healers did not have any contact with nurse practitioners.
Involvement of traditional healers in primary health care at grassroots level has therefore
been very minimal.
The reasons why people utilize traditional healers were found to be as follows:
• When people think they have been bewitched.
• Traditional healers can tell the actual cause of disease
• Failure of modern practice
• For social problems
According to the study, both traditional healers and nurse practitioners felt that
collaboration between traditional healers and nurse practitioners was essential because it
would enable planned referral of patients from one group to another where necessary; it
would also facilitate exchange of ideas and knowledge for the benefit of the people
served. Recommendations on collaboration and on support systems are given in Chapter
Six. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Nursing Science)
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Collaboration between traditional healers and nurse practitioners in primary health care in Maseru Health Service Area - LesothoMakoa, E. T. 02 1900 (has links)
The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the existing relationship between
traditional healers and nurse practitioners in Maseru Health Service Area in Lesotho and
also to determine why people consult traditional healers. Qualitative and quantitative
methods were used to investigate the relationship between traditional healers and nurse
practitioners and also to determine why people utilize the services of traditional healers.
The study was limited to Maseru Health Service Area in Lesotho. Data was collected
from twenty-seven (27) nurses from nineteen (19) clinics and from thirty (30) traditional
healers from the same health service area. Data from traditional healers was collected
using semi-structured interviews while nurse practitioners were given a questionnaire to
complete. The study revealed that there was no formal relationship between traditional healers and
nurse practitioners. Support for traditional healers was revealed to be limited, for
example, only four (14.8%) nurses had a programme for traditional healers while twenty
( 66.7%) traditional healers did not have any contact with nurse practitioners.
Involvement of traditional healers in primary health care at grassroots level has therefore
been very minimal.
The reasons why people utilize traditional healers were found to be as follows:
• When people think they have been bewitched.
• Traditional healers can tell the actual cause of disease
• Failure of modern practice
• For social problems
According to the study, both traditional healers and nurse practitioners felt that
collaboration between traditional healers and nurse practitioners was essential because it
would enable planned referral of patients from one group to another where necessary; it
would also facilitate exchange of ideas and knowledge for the benefit of the people
served. Recommendations on collaboration and on support systems are given in Chapter
Six. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Nursing Science)
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The experience of HIV positive patients who have been using Sesotho traditional medicines for the management of HIV/AIDS at Scott Hospital, Morija, LesothoNyangu, Isabel 03 1900 (has links)
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe experiences of HIV/AIDS positive patients using Sesotho traditional medicines at Scott Hospital in Morija, Lesotho. The specific objectives were to explore and describe the experiences and views of patients using Sesotho traditional medicines. The study uded an explorative qualitative design with a sample of seventeen (17) HIV positive adults aged 18-49 years who were purposively sampled. The major findings of the study were that; Sesotho traditional medicines improved the health status of the participants; and also they were of the view that Sesotho traditional medicines work as they beneficially contributed to HIV/AIDS management. The study concludes that Sesotho traditional medicines are believed and understood to play a role in the symptomatic management of HIV/AIDS even though the actual role they play is yet to be proven scientifically. / Department of Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)
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The experience of HIV positive patients who have been using Sesotho traditional medicines for the management of HIV/AIDS at Scott Hospital, Morija, LesothoNyangu, Isabel 03 1900 (has links)
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe experiences of HIV/AIDS positive patients using Sesotho traditional medicines at Scott Hospital in Morija, Lesotho. The specific objectives were to explore and describe the experiences and views of patients using Sesotho traditional medicines. The study uded an explorative qualitative design with a sample of seventeen (17) HIV positive adults aged 18-49 years who were purposively sampled. The major findings of the study were that; Sesotho traditional medicines improved the health status of the participants; and also they were of the view that Sesotho traditional medicines work as they beneficially contributed to HIV/AIDS management. The study concludes that Sesotho traditional medicines are believed and understood to play a role in the symptomatic management of HIV/AIDS even though the actual role they play is yet to be proven scientifically. / Department of Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)
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