Sudan has a tremendous wealth flora due to its unique geographical location and diverse climate. Vast records of plants and plants' secondary metabolites are reported to possess redox capacity and can be exploited for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles is preferred due to their availability and their various metabolites. The present review explores the potentiality and diversity of biological activities of silver nanoparticles that originated from the combination of silver and phyto-constituents of mostly traditionally used Sudanese medicinal and aromatic plants. The green synthesis methods of silver nanoparticles mediated by more than 45 traditionally used medicinal plants are critically reviewed. In addition, parameters that affect the synthesis of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles, their characterization techniques and various biological activities are summarized and discussed. Thus, the study of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its applications can be extended to involve vast plant diversity of Sudan.

BackgroundThe inhabitants of western Sudan use traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments due to lack of medical doctors and unaffordable prices of pharmaceutical products. The present study is the first documentation of the traditional plant knowledge on medicinal uses of plants by healers in Algoz (South Kordofan), Sudan.MethodEthnobotanical data were collected over a period from March to November 2015 using semi-structured interviews with 30 healers (24 male and 6 female) living in the investigated area. Quantitative indices such as use categories, use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (ICF) were intended to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species.ResultsA total of 94 medicinal plants, which belong to 45 families and 81 genera, were recorded in the study area. The most represented families are Leguminosae with 20 species followed by Combretaceae (6 species), Rubiaceae (5 species) and Asteraceae (4 species). The reported species were belonging to herbs (43%), trees (28%), shrubs (22%), climbers (4%) and parasites (3%). Root and stem (21% each) were the most plant parts used. A majority of remedies are administered orally (67%) where infusion (36%) and maceration (32%) are the most used methods. The highest ICF (0.87) was reported for poisonous animal bites followed by urinary system diseases (0.89), blood system disorders (0.88) and gynaecological diseases (0.87). Anastatica hierochuntica, Ctenolepis cerasiformis, Echinops longifolius, Cleome gynandra, Maerua pseudopetalosa, Martynia annua, Oldenlandia uniflora, Opuntia ficus-indica, Solanum dubium, Sonchus cornutus, Tribulus terrestris and Drimia maritima were reported for the first time in this study.ConclusionThe number of medicinal plants reported in this paper reflects evidence that Algoz area had a high diversity of medicinal plants which will continue to play an important role in the healthcare system in the study area.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), such as those originating from residential and occupational power lines, household appliances and medical devices, have been reported repeatedly to produce a variety of biological effects, which may induce a number of changes in behavioral differences of different living species, like insects and rodents. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possible effect of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field ELF-MF (50 Hz, 1 mT) on spatial learning and memory functions in mice (prenatal and neonatal exposed mice) following a continuous 7-day exposure, using Morris water-maze. Immature mice have been chosen for this study since; the immature rodent brain still has the capacity to undergo proliferation, differentiation and re-organization and more closely resembles the developing brain of a human child. Thus, the immature rodent brain may provide a sensitive and useful animal model to study the possible biological effects of ELF-MF. Our results provide convincing evidence that long time MF exposure to immature mice; causes appreciable long term deficit in learning abilities.

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Background: In fact, diabetes is now a serious health concern, and the import of medications from other countries consumes a significant amount of foreign cash each year. The effects of Raphanus satives (Radish) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus were evaluated scientifically in this study. Thyroid hormone increases metabolic actions in almost every tissue, and the current study was an attempt to evaluate scientifically the effects of Raphanus satives (Radish) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of Raphanus sativus (Radish) on induced hyperglycemic rats.Methods: An oral administration of ethanolic extract of Radish in glucose loaded rats at dose of 250mg/k body weight,  standard group was administered with 10mg/kg of hypoglycemic drug glibenclamide for 2 consecutive weeks. The control group was given distilled water only. After the two weeks' time, the groups were subjected to a glucose tolerance test and measurement of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Results: significant reduction of blood glucose was observed (P <0.001), when compared with the control group at 2 hours after glucose loud. Radish ethanolic extract did not present any significant difference in cholesterol level after 2 weeks compared with start point. No significant difference was seen in triglyceride level after 2 weeks of administration of Radish extract compared with start point. Radish extract(250 mg/kg) did not affect kidney function  creatinin and urea, also liver  function were not affected Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic-Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT), albumin, total protein and bilirubin, this means administration of increased doses to hyperglycemic subjects can be considered safe. CONCLUSION: In this investigation, doses of radish extract (250 mg/kg) had no effect on renal function, creatinin, and urea, as well as liver function. Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic-Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT), albumin, total protein, and bilirubin .Keywords: Raphanus sativus, extract, hypoglycemic, glucose, rats