The objective of the present study was to investigate phytochemical components, antiplasmodial activity (in vivo) and evaluate the toxicity of two local medicinal plants, namely, Salvadora persica L. and Balanites rotundifolia (Van Tiegh.) used in Afar ethnomedicine for the treatment of malaria. In this study, phytochemical screening has been done using standard methods and the existence of antiplasmodial compounds was detected in these plant extracts. Four-day Peter’s test was used to determine parasite inhibition, PCV was determined by Wintrob’s method, and effects against loss of body weight and improvements on survival time were determined. LD50s of the crude extracts have been also done. Acute toxicity studies of the extracts were carried out in Swiss albino mice prior to antimalarial activity test. All extracts revealed no obvious acute toxicities on mice up to the highest (5000mg/kg) dose given. The crude extract was estimated to have oral median lethal dose higher than 5,000 mg/kg. With the 4-day suppressive test, both plant extracts demonstrated dose-dependent significant reduction in parasitemia level at all test doses compared to the negative control: in the extract of B. rotundifolia 500 mg/kg extract (60.59±3.25%), 350 mg/kg extract (48.1±1.4), and 200 mg/kg extract (41.33±1.1%) were found. And in case of S. Persica 500 mg/kg extract (50.6±4.01%), 350 mg/kg extract (35.85±0.89), and 200 mg/kg extract (27.69±1.14%) were found. The results of this study provide support for the traditional therapeutic value and the reported antimalarial activity.

The leaves of Plantago lanceolata have been used for centuries to treat diseases. Currently there is an increasing incidence of multiple antibiotic resistances in microorganisms which is a major threat. Widespread overuse of antibiotics is one led to increasing clinical resistance of previously sensitive microorganisms and the emergence of previously uncommon infections. Thus all these calls for an urgent need to search new, effective and safe anti-bacterial agents. The objective of this study was to determine antibacterial potentials of extracts of P. lanceolata against standard pathogens bacteria. Active antibacterial compounds were extracted using three solvents. The antibacterial sensitivity activities of crude extracts were determined using agar well diffusion assay. MIC and MBC of each crude extracts were also determined using broth dilution method. The test showed various degrees of antibacterial activity towards each standard pathogenic microorganism with mean zone of inhibition ranges up to 18±2mm against S. typhi. The plant extract was showed as low 3±1mm to high 18±2mm diameter inhibition zone. Chloroform extract have the least inhibition zone while the ethanol have highest inhibition zone. The extract value of MIC was showed at the ranges of 12.5mg to 50mg while the MBC were showed at the range of 25mg to 50mg. The result of this study showed that leaves of P. lanceolata have considerable antibacterial potential. The claimed efficacy could be attributable to antibacterial activity of its components but its mode of action is unclear. Contribution/Originality: This study contributes in the existing literature by providing basic information for other researchers regarding the antibacterial efficacy potential of P. lanceolata leaves crude extract. Therefore, even though it needs further studies, leaves of P. lanceolata may be considered as a potential option to antibiotic regimens.

Background Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan African countries with an increasingly risky sexual practice and mostly affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic. Dual protection is an important preventive approach which can prevent both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the dual contraceptive utilization and associated factors among reproductive-age women on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in central Ethiopia. Methods An-institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 311 women on ART at public hospitals of West Shewa Zone from June to September 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to IBM SPSS statistical software version 25 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were computed. Odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval was computed to ascertain the association. Results The prevalence of dual contraceptive utilization among women on ART was 21.4% (95% CI: 16.8–25.9). Age of respondents between 15 and 24 years [AOR=8.35, (95% CI: 3.12–17.78)], living in urban [AOR=2.59, 95% CI: 1.15–4.22], separated women [AOR=2.28, 95% CI (1.26–5.04)], had post-diagnosis counselling on family planning [AOR=5.33, 95% CI: 1.52–18.68], disclosed HIV status [AOR=5.98, 95% CI: 1.63–21.93], freely discuss with their husband [AOR=4.22, 95% CI, 1.84–12.36], have no fertility desire [AOR=2.46, (95% CI: 1.34–6.44)] were significantly associated with dual contraceptive utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation The overall magnitude of dual contraceptive utilization among women on ART was found to be low. Factors like age, residence, marital status, post-diagnosis counselling, disclosure of HIV status, and free discussion with husband were significantly associated with dual contraceptive method utilization. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the range of strategies and tools available to married and single women’s for protecting themselves from being infected with other strains and pregnancy. The concerned stakeholders also should emphatically consider those identified factors for intervention.

Traditional use of herbal medicines implies substantial historical use, and this is certainly true for many products that are available as 'traditional herbal medicines. The experimental study was conducted between February and May, 2016 at University of Gondar on antibacterial effect of leaf extract of Pterolobium stellatum. The purpose of the present study was to test the antimicrobial effect of P. stellatum extracted leaves against some standard pathogenic bacteria. The collected plant leave sample was extracted with the solvent ethanol, methanol, chloroform and distilled water. Finally, the antibacterial effect of the extract was tested with some bacteria species (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas species, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) then the inhibition zone; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The extract of ethanol and methanol solvents showed high antibacterial activity on both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. The higher and statistically significant (P<0.05) inhibition was seen in ethanol extract for all bacteria and the highest inhibition was shown against Shigella spp. (21.33±1.52) whilst the lower inhibition was statistically significant (P<0.05) with chloroform extract. Both the MIC and MBC of the test extract were effective at the lowest concentration.

No abstract