Anti-malarial plants in Ethiopia and their activities on drug resistant malaria

In Ethiopia, the impacts of malaria continue to cause a many number of morbidity and mortality that accounts to most outpatient observations. Ethiopia recently designed to attain nationwide malaria control by 2030 by beginning sub-national elimination in districts with low malaria transmission. However, the rises of drug-resistant parasites, especially Plasmodium falciparum hinder the malaria containment strategies. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, dispersed all over the Ethiopia and accounting for 60% and 40% of malaria cases respectively. The aim of this report was to overview the phytochemical constituents, diversity and effect of some compound extracts on drug resistant plasmodium species. Many plant species, a total 200 identified by 82 studies, are used in traditional malaria treatments throughout the country. Allium sativum, Croton macrostachyus and Carica papaya were the more frequently used medicinal plants species. There are so many phytochemicals constituents found in medicinal plants used to treat malaria. Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Phenolics, Terpenoid and Glycosides are the most reported for their effective activity on drug resistant malaria.

Identification and Evaluation of Factors Affecting Nectar Volume and Concentrations of Croton Macrostachyus Hochst.ex Delile

Background: Secretion of nectar is highly influenced by many factors and the objective of the study was also to evaluate factors affecting concentrations of nectar of Croton macrostachyus Hochst.ex Delile. Age of plants highly affect nectar concentration and volume. Honey quality and its medicinal values depends on plants species variety and their sucrose concentration quality and quantity which is governed by many biotic and abiotic factors as well micro climate of the area. Wholesale of nectar and concentration of tend to show more differences in time of day for species study undertaken.Results: As results publicized that nectar concentration and volume of youngest age was not more affected by temperature and relative humidity like that of medium and oldest ages. Temperature and age have significant effect on volume (p = 0.0001) and their interactions is also significant (p = 0.01145). Temperature has significant effects on nectar concentration (p = 0.000). Interaction of relative humidity, time, and layers has significant effects on nectar concentration (p = 0.0024012). The oldest plants had the highest concentration of 10.1 w/w mornings and afternoon 36.5 w/w at 4:00 PM for whereas medium plants had nectar concentration of 5.7 w/w morning and afternoon 16.7 w/w and the smaller or younger plants had nectar concentration of 2.7 w/w mornings and afternoon 9.1 w/w and this shows age significantly affect nectar concentration and volume.Conclusions:Concentration and volume were affected by many biotic and abiotic factors. I conclude imminent fever intensification could harm nectar production since for croton also no nectar could be collected at 30 C⁰ and no nectar recreation was observed after this peak temperature this indicates environmental change can increase the temperature which will have negative influences on honey production in the future unless we combat against climate change which will affect honey production and productivity for the country and we will lose honey and its medicinal values also.

Identification, characterization and evaluation of honeybee floras in Kafa, Sheka and Benchi Maji Zones of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

The study was aimed with identifying and characterizing honeybee floras and their flowering seasons in south western parts of the country. Relevant data were collected through conducting questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, field observations and lab analysis of pollen and honey samples. In addition, seasonal performance of colonies in terms of brood area, adult population, pollen and nectar stores were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-ver.20 and MsExcels. Accordingly, a total of 200floral species categorized under 77families identified. Of which, 26(13%) grouped under 16 families characterized as major bee floras. Seasons, January to February, July to August were considered as Dearth periods; March, September to October were brooding seasons, April, November to December were major nectar flow seasons. March to April and November to December were major honey flow seasons being the first for high land and mid land areas and the later for lowland areas whose major botanical origin was Schefflera abyssinica and Guizetia scabra respectively. However, in some areas with better forest covers, Manilkara butij become a major honey source plant. Whereas, January, June to July, March (in low lands) were considered as minor/mini harvesting seasons whose major botanical origin was Vernonia species, Croton macrostachyus and Combritum species respectively. It was noted that there was a significant correlation among brood area, adult population, pollen store and nectar stores at p<0.01.

Farmers’ Pest Management Practices of Stored Faba Bean and their Implication to Food Security in Farta District, North West Ethiopia

Faba bean is the most important legume grown in Ethiopia. But, insect pests have been causing its substantial loss under farmers’ storages. A survey to assess the farmers’ pest protection practices of stored faba bean was conducted in its selected major growing peasant associations of the Farta District from 4 January 2019 – 15 May 2020. Semi-structured questionnaires and farmers’ participatory discussion were used to conduct the study. Accordingly, the majority of farmers (66.7%) harvested their grain in usual time (in December) fearing insect pests infestation. A substantial proportion of the farmers (25%) used a combination of cultural and botanical methods, followed by botanicals (20.83%) for grains protection. Eucalyptus globlus, Croton macrostachyus and Otostegia tomentosa were the three most commonly used botanicals and suggested to be potent. Threshing was done most commonly by livestock (66.7%), followed by beating with sticks (25%) both of which are not recommended as they might lead to grain losses. The insect infestation level was high in threshed and un-threshed forms of faba beans after 3 and 7 months storage periods, respectively. Consequently, the farmers’ traditional practices were ineffectual for storing beans for longer periods. Therefore, planning pest management strategies of stored beans are desirable.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity and Inhibitory Potential of Five Kenyan Medicinal Plants

The present study was conducted to evaluate preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antioxidant activities of five plants (Olea europaea, Kigelia africana, Terminalia mollis, Croton macrostachyus and Bridella micrantha extracts). The plants were collected from Baringo County in Kenya, dried, pulverized into fine powders and extracted using methanol. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, aminoacids and proteins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and triterpenoids. The root extracts were further investigated for their potential antioxidant activity by using radical scavenging DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) technique. Methanol extract of roots from the plants showed significant differences in DPPH radical scavenging activities. The results were concluded that extracts have a more secondary metabolites and potential source of antioxidants, which is warranty to evaluate further in vivo pharmacological studies.