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Herbal plants have played an important  role traditional medicine therapy of multiple human illnesses since the existence of man  in many parts of the globe .The most common eye diseases include conjunctivitis, cataract, glaucoma, eye allergies, eye inflammation. The problem of adverse drug effects of modern drugs, has led to the increased use nowadays of herbal remedies in the treatment of eye diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO), defines  traditional medicine as, the knowledge, skills and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to diverse cultures, be it explicable or not that are used in the maintenance of health and the prevention, diagnosis, improvement and  the treatment of physical and mental diseases. In the last decade, the use of traditional medicine has gained popularity and has expanded globally. While traditional medicine is used in developing countries for primary health care, it is also being used in developed countries with advanced health care systems. Traditional medicine accounts for up to 60% of health care delivered in Cameroon, while in other African countries traditional medicine is being relied on as a result of cultural and historical beliefs and up to 80 % of the population in Africa use traditional medicine to meet their health care needs. Although, traditional medicine is widely used, issues around policy; safety; efficacy and quality control are still of prime public health concern. Traditional eye care practices are believed to be indigenous medicines used by community members for the treatment of eye diseases or ocular problems. This is the most applied form of eye treatment in Africa and other parts of Asia and Latin America. Eye care is a public health concern in Cameroon due to late diagnosis of eye pathology and limited access to medication and affordability of prescription eye glasses. This paper attempts to review the herbal medicine practice as an alternative approach to eye treatment using traditional healing, and the development of eye health promotion strategies in the primary health care system in Cameroon.

Introduction: Liver or hepatic disease refers to different conditions that affect the liver. Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the most frequent causes of liver disease and accounts for about 55% of liver cirrhosis deaths recorded in Cameroon in 2020. Standard accessible treatments focus on end-stage liver disease with safety and efficacy obstacles. We have a research gap in Cameroon to understand the alternative use of natural products as treatment with a long traditional history of safe use. Curcuma longa has long been a source of traditional and modern medicine. It is commonly used in Cameroon as a spice and herbal product with some level of activity against various forms of liver disease. Objective: To phytochemically screen for bioactive metabolites and evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longaon alcohol-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extract obtainedfrom maceration of plant rhizomes. Three doses (125, 250 and 500mg/Kg) of the plant extract and the reference (Silymarin 50mg/Kg) were administered daily (p.o) to rats 30 min before administration of 40% alcohol (2mL/100g p.o) for 21 days. Biochemical parameters such as ALAT, ASAT, GGT, Bilirubin and Lipid profile were quantified and histological studies of the liverwas carried out using standard procedures. Results: Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of C. longa revealed polyphenols such as flavonoids, tannins, quinones, saponins and phlobatanins. The plant showed hepatoprotective activity by decreasing liver toxicity markers such as ASAT, ALAT, GGT and Bilirubin. Histology revealed dose-dependent protection with 500 mg/Kg showing the most cellular integrity, no central vein occlusion and minimal fibrosis. Conclusion: This study indicated the presence of polyphenols like flavonoids and tannins in the aqueous extract of C. longa. The presence of these secondary metabolites in the studied extract justifies its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties confirmed by its hepatoprotective effects on alcohol-induced toxicity. This was clearly shown by biochemical and histological parameters. More sensitive and specific methods are required to test for these secondary metabolites in serum.

Introduction: Taro leaf blight disease cause by Phytophtora colocasiae has become an economic disease in Cocoyam growing regions of Cameroon. Aims: To screen for resistance 10 improved and 4 local cultivars of taro against taro leaf blight disease. Study Design: A randomized complete block design study. Place of Study: Studies were conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Yaounde Nkolbisson from July 2013 to January 2014. Methodology: Taro cultivars from tissue culture were planted in the screen house conditions and Charles et al.; BBJ, 15(1): 1-15, 2016; Article no.BBJ.14317 2 tested for virulence and pathogenicity with 4 isolates of Phythophthora colocasiae at spore density of 3×10 4 spores /ml of distilled water. Plants were planted in the field to assess disease incidence and severity. Results: The results obtained on the different taro cultivars, revealed that all the 4 isolates showed variable pathogenicity. They caused lesions on inoculated leaves. There was variability in pathogenicity based on the small lesion lengths produced on cultivars, these included BL/SM132 and Red petiole. Isolate 3 showed a stronger sensitivity to leaf collapse and defoliation irrespective of the cultivar tested. There was a significant difference (p = 0.05) in tissue collapse and leaf defoliation on exposure to the different fungal isolates. The result of field infection rates of P. colocasiae at 126 DAP-154 DAP on 10 improved and 4 local cultivars indicated that there was significant variability (p = 0.05) in incidence and disease severity, with high incidence and severity occurring at 154 DAP in all cultivars. Improved cultivar BL/SM132 showed no classic symptoms of P. colocasiae and therefore it was resistant to Phytophthora colocasiae. Original Research Article Conclusion:The results obtained on virulence and pathogenicity of Phythophthora colocasiae on the different taro cultivars revealed that all the 4 isolates showed variable pathogenicity. They caused lesions, on inoculated leaves. Isolate 3 showed a stronger sensitivity to leaf collapse and defoliation irrespective of the cultivar tested. The result of field infection rates of P. colocasiae at 126 DAP-154 DAP on 10 improved and 4 local cultivars indicated that there was a significant variability (p = 0.05) in disease incidence and severity, with high incidence and severity occurring at 154 DAP in all cultivars. Improved cultivar BL/SM132 showed no classic symptoms of P. colocasiae and therefore it was resistant to Phytophthora colocasiae as compared to all the other cultivars which showed high severity rates of infection of the disease and thus were susceptible to the disease.

Background: Caries and periodontal diseases are major public health problems. Due to increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, there is a need to promote the known potential of plants and search for new anti-infectious substances as therapeutic alternatives to antibiotics. Aims: This study was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial property of the hydro-ethanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of Psidium guajava on cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria. Methodology: This was an experimental study that took place in the Laboratory of Chemistry and Microbiology (Clinique Universitaires des Montagne (CUM)) of Bangangté between January to June 2020. They were dried in shade for 3 weeks and ground to obtain a coarse powder. The dried powders were macerated for 72 hours in a water-ethanol mixture (30:70). Then, the phytochemical screening and quantification of the total polyphenol content followed. Microdilutions were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of guava. Müller Hinton agar was used for obtaining the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and the determination of inhibition diameters of the bacteria. Results: Extraction yields of 17.36g and 42.55g were obtained for leaf and stem bark, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites among which the total phenol content was quantified at 236.1878 and 255.7682 mg equivalent of gallic acid per gram for leaf and stem bark, respectively. The carious bacteria isolated were: Streptococcus mutans, Actinomycetes viscosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus.While, the periodontal bacteria were: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum ,Tannerella forsythensis. The results obtained showed that the combined extracts of leaf and stem bark had an activity higher than that of the stem bark which in turn had a higher activity than the leaves.  Conclusion: Non-invasive independent predictors for screening esophageal varices may decrease medical as well as financial burden, hence improving the management of cirrhotic patients. These predictors, however, need further work to validate reliability.