No abstract

Occupational exposure to vehicular exhaust in Metro Manila, Philippines is a major human health risk concern because of the established DNA damaging potential of some of its components like Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Hence, in this study, peripheral blood leucocytes of 50 urban female street sweepers and an equal number of housekeepers and housewives were analyzed for DNA damage utilizing the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or comet assay. This study also determined the influence of some demographic characteristics like age, length of fuel exhaust exposure, smoking and alcohol/coffee/tea drinking on DNA damage. Possible association of DNA damage and hematological parameters to include RBC count, WBC count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, lymphocytes and segmenters was also done. Results showed that exposure to vehicular exhaust has caused an increase in tail lengths (8.48±3.41 μm versus 19.35±8.79 μm) and tail moments (1.93±1.43 versus 8.02±5.71) of the leucocytes as demonstrated by the comet assay. Differences in the demographic characteristics of the study population were not significant (p > 0.05) but comet assay results of the smokers, alcohol/coffee/tea drinkers with longer length of exposure to fuel exhaust recorded higher DNA damage compared to the smokers (p < 0.05), alcohol/coffee/tea drinkers of the reference group. Hematological parameters were not affected by fuel exhaust exposure (p > 0.05). Results of the current study suggests of the possibility that constant exposure to fuel exhaust could lead to a transient increase in the levels of damage in the DNA of leucocytes and that the comet assay was a particularly sensitive technique in detecting such effects.

Exposure to fumes when grilling meat predisposes human to a significant level of cancer-causing compounds called PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. The DNA damaging capacity of PAHs can be rapidly and inexpensively evaluated by measuring and counting the micronuclei in various cells. In this study, the frequency of micronucleation (MN) in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells of thirty (N=30) barbecue grillers (exposed group) in Marawi City was compared with thirty (N=30) office workers and students of Mindanao State University (control). A total of 1000 buccal epithelial cells per individual were scored for MN frequency. Results revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the MN frequency of barbecue grillers (18.97±3.77) compared with the control (12.6±3.58). In addition, possible effect of the established confounders which include smoking, drinking habits, age, gender and number of years of exposure to PAHs on the frequency of micronucleation was further analysed. Confounding factors that could have caused higher MN frequency in the exposed group are age (ρ=0.000) and length of exposure to grilling fumes (P=0.002). The current study confirms that chronic exposure to grilling fumes increases micronucleation, hence the necessity of biological monitoring and appropriate health interventions.

Allium schoenoprasum, commonly called chives or G’nda by the Maranaos, is a small bulbous perennial known for its culinary and ornamental utility. The herb can be easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade and is a native to both the Old and the New World. The current study is an investigation on the Traditional Ethnobiological Knowledge (TEK) of Maranaos on the commonly used chives. Aimed at finding out the uses of Chives among Maranaos, ethnography design, participant observation and key informant interviews based on semi-structured questionnaires were then employed. A total of thirty five (35) respondents coming from MSU – Marawi City, and from the municipalities of Piagapo and Masiu, all in Lanao del Sur participated. Among the respondents, five (5) were traditional healers aged 60-90 years old and thirty (30) TEK knowledgeable woman aged 20-50 years old. There were 16.67% female participants from MSU- Marawi, 50% from municipalities of Piagapo and 33.33% from Masiu. Findings of the study showed that Maranao traditional ethnobiological knowledge is very unique and that Maranaos believed that chives are more powerful than medical practitioners during childbirth. Healers would administer chives during labor of a parturating woman and even to thwart of spirits and to cure headaches. Respondents divulged that most Maranao woman when about to give birth prefers giving birth at home in the presence of chives and its associated rituals. Other findings showed that Maranaos have rich traditional knowledge using not only plants but also animals but this knowledge is yet to be documented. In view of the aforementioned findings, it is recommended that there shall be proper exploration, documentation and conservation of the traditional ethnobiological knowledge of the Maranaos.

Plants are utilized as traditional medicines since time immemorial. However, the dilemma of losing this knowledge is real because of poor documentation evidenced by the relatively few studies conducted coupled with rapid urbanization especially in the Philippines. It is imperative for ethnomedicinal knowledge especially of the M’ranao tribe in Baloi, Lanao del Norte to be conserved , hence this study. Ethnomedicinal data were collected from semi-structured interviews of 30 informants and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Moreover, transect walk was performed to locate the frequently used medicinal plants. This study documented seventy eight (78) species of medicinal plants belonging to 36 families used for the treatment of various ailments belonging to 14 out of 16 human disease categories. The most important medicinal plant with a Use Value (UV) of 0.43 is Mingeyak (Salvia plebeian). There were fifty five (55) floral species found to have 100% Fidelity Level (FL) value. An Informant Concensus Factor (ICF) of 1.00 for disease Category 2, Category 3, and Category 16 indicates that there was a high degree of agreement among informants on how to treat cancer, anemia, and intestinal toxicity respectively. Leaves (63%) were the most frequently used plant part and decoction (41%) was the most common way of preparation. Internal application (77%) was the most recurrent way of plant administration to the ailing body. Herbs (47%) as medicine were the most frequently used plant habit. Qualitative investigation resulted to the identification of M’ranao traditional beliefs and practices in utilizing medicinal plants which include the time of collection, the number of plant organ collected (e.g. pito-pito) and the ways of conserving herbal plants for continuing sustainability. This study further revealed that the M’ranao tribe of Baloi has a rich floral resources use as medicines which could be further investigated for pharmacological properties to improve health care for various illnesses.