Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains?

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Kiprop

Ramkat

et al. 2020

109

The burden of neoplastic diseases is a significant global health challenge accounting for thousands of deaths. In Uganda, about 32,617 cancer cases were reported in 2018, accompanied by 21,829 deaths. In a view to identify some potential anticancer plant candidates for possible drug development, the current study was designed to compile the inventory of plants with reported anticancer activity used in rural Uganda and the evidences supporting their use in cancer therapy. An electronic survey in multidisciplinary databases revealed that 29 plant species belonging to 28 genera distributed among 24 families have been reported to be used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Anticancer plants were majorly from the families Bignoniaceae (7%), Caricaceae (7%), Fabaceae (7%), Moraceae (7%), and Rutaceae (7%). Most species occur in the wild (52%), though some are cultivated (48%). The growth habit of the plants is as trees (55%) or herbs (45%). Anticancer extracts are usually prepared from leaves (29%), bark (24%), roots (21%), and fruits (13%) through decoctions (53%), as food spices (23%) or pounded to produce ointments that are applied topically (10%). Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, Opuntia species, Albizia coriaria (Welw. ex Oliver), Daucus carota L., Cyperus alatus (Nees) F. Muell., Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K. Schum., and Oxalis corniculata L. were the most frequently encountered species. As per global reports, Allium sativum L., Annona muricata L., Carica papaya L., Moringa oleifera Lam., Opuntia species, Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. are the most studied species, with the latter having vincristine and vinblastine anticancer drugs developed from it. Prostate, cervical, breast, and skin cancers are the top traditionally treated malignancies. There is a need to isolate and evaluate the anticancer potential of the bioactive compounds in the unstudied claimed plants, such as Cyperus alatus (Nees) F. Muell., Ficus dawei Hutch., Ficus natalensis Hochst., and Lovoa trichilioides Harms, and elucidate their mechanism of anticancer activity.

Section: Traditional Concept Of Cancer In Ugandamentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Management of Cancer in Uganda: A Review of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Studies

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Kiprop

Ramkat

et al. 2020

109

“…The methods for detection of AFs in agricultural foods have been reviewed in sufficient details by some Ugandan authors [13]. This also explains, in part, the fact that most AF investigations in Uganda following this review such as that of Muzoora et al [71], Echodu et al [69], Wacoo et al 476 [73] and Byakika et al [64] employed selective and highly sensitive methods. [85] Years cited represent the year the data were published with most data collected in over 2 months to 1 year.…”

Section: Methods Of Detection and Quantification Employed By Af Invesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Uganda, AFB1 is the most studied [62] while AFM1 have received little attention [63]. Thus, most studies reported AFB1 levels or did not distinguish between the different types [64][65][66][67][68][69]. Others, such as the validation survey of Wacoo et al [70], Muzoora et al [71], Baluka et al [72] and Wacoo et al [73] differentiated the AFs.…”

Section: Etiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxins in Uganda: an encyclopedic review of the etiology, epidemiology, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, reduction and control

Nassazi

Omute

et al. 2019

Preprint

Uganda is predominantly an agricultural country where farming employ more than 60% of the population. Aflatoxins remain a scourge in the country, unprecedentedly reducing the value of agricultural foods and in high enough exposure levels, implicated for hepatocellular carcinoma, stunted growth in children and untimely deaths. This review synthetizes the country’s major findings in relation to the mycotoxin’s etiology, epidemiology, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, control and reduction in different matrices. It also highlights some of the management strategies for aflatoxin control that could be adopted in Uganda. Review results indicate that aflatoxins in Uganda is majorly produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and have been reported in maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sunflower (Helianthus annus), millet (Eleusine coracana), a bovine milk-based product, peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) with the highest content reported in cassava, beans and peanuts. The causes and proliferation of aflatoxigenic contamination of Ugandan foods have been largely due to poor pre-, peri- and post-harvest activities, poor government legislation, lack of awareness and low levels of education among farmers, agri-entreprenuers and consumers on the plague. Aflatoxin B1 is the most prevalent aflatoxin in Uganda. There is still limited research on aflatoxins in Uganda because the surveillance, reduction and control carry prohibitive costs. A few exposure assessments have been done especially in human sera and dependence on a single or a related set of foods with little diet diversity has exacerbated the risk of exposure to aflatoxins in Uganda because most of the staple foods are aflatoxin-prone. On the detection, control and reduction, these are still marginal, though some devoted scholars have devised and validated a sensitive portable device for on-site aflatoxin detection in maize as well as shown that starter cultures used for making some cereal-based beverages have the potential to bind aflatoxins. More effort should be geared towards awareness creation through training of farmers and traders in the cereal value chain as well as developing capacity to monitor aflatoxins. Vaccination against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A should be emphasized to reduce the risk of development of liver cancer among the populace.

“…In Uganda, AFB 1 is the most studied [56] while AFM 1 has received little attention [57]. us, most studies reported AFB 1 levels or did not distinguish between the different types [58][59][60][61][62][63]. Others, such as the validation survey of Wacoo et al [64], Muzoora et al [65], Baluka et al [66], and Wacoo et al [67], differentiated the AFs.…”

Section: Etiology Of Aflatoxins In Uganda and The Commodities Contamimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aflatoxigenic contamination in Uganda has been reported in maize (Zea mays L.) [59,62,63,69], sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and their local products [58], peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) [57,65,66,70], cassava (Manihot esculenta) [71], rice (Oryza sativa) [72], sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) [63], animal feeds [73], and a bovine milk-based product [57]. AFs have also been detected in human sera [60,61,74].…”

Section: Commodities Contaminatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxins in Uganda: An Encyclopedic Review of the Etiology, Epidemiology, Detection, Quantification, Exposure Assessment, Reduction, and Control

International Journal of Microbiology

Nassazi

Omute

et al. 2020

Uganda is an agrarian country where farming employs more than 60% of the population. Aflatoxins remain a scourge in the country, unprecedentedly reducing the nutritional and economic value of agricultural foods. This review was sought to synthetize the country’s major findings in relation to the mycotoxins’ etiology, epidemiology, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, control, and reduction in different matrices. Electronic results indicate that aflatoxins in Uganda are produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and have been reported in maize, sorghum, sesame, beans, sunflower, millet, peanuts, and cassava. The causes and proliferation of aflatoxigenic contamination of Ugandan foods have been largely due to poor pre-, peri-, and postharvest activities, poor government legislation, lack of awareness, and low levels of education among farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers on this plague. Little diet diversity has exacerbated the risk of exposure to aflatoxins in Uganda because most of the staple foods are aflatoxin-prone. On the detection and control, these are still marginal, though some devoted scholars have devised and validated a sensitive portable device for on-site aflatoxin detection in maize and shown that starter cultures used for making some cereal-based beverages have the potential to bind aflatoxins. More efforts should be geared towards awareness creation and vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis A to reduce the risk of development of liver cancer among the populace.