Benefits of antibiotics are threatened by the self-medication, people’s lack of knowledge and inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to determine knowledge; attitudes and practices toward antibiotics use in an urban community, and evaluate the factors that are associated with antibiotic use. Between January and March 2015, a cross sectional and prospective study was conducted in all pharmacies within the Douala IV health district, Cameroon. Anonymous interviews including both open and closed ended questions were conducted in participants selected by convenience sampling Descriptive and logistic regression analysis were performed using StataSE11 software (version 11 SE) and R software (version 3.1.1) in data analysis. Overall 402 (33.7%) of 1,192 customers purchased antibiotics and of these, 47% bought antibiotics without a prescription. 60.7% of purchased antibiotics was for adult ‘patients and around 60% of parents carried out self-medication on their children. The vast majority reported that all microbes can be treated with antibiotics (88.3%). The belief that antibiotics are appropriate for bacterial infections was more common among those with a higher level education (OR = 4.03, 95%CI:1.89–8.57, p<0.0001) and among public/private servants (OR = 2.47, 95%CI:1.21–5.08, p = 0.013). Physicians provide less explanations about antibiotics are and their potential side effects than the pharmacy auxiliaries (OR = 0.205, 95%CI = 0.09–0.46, p<0.0001), but more than pharmacists (OR = 3.692, 95%CI:1.44–9.25, p = 0.005). Indications on antibiotics use were 7 times more given to customers with a prescription compared to those without a prescription (OR = 7.37, 95% CI = 2.13–25.43, p = 0.002). Adult male (OR = 2.32, 95%CI:1.24–4.34, p = 0.009) and higher education (OR = 2.05, 95%CI:1.08–3.89, p = 0.027) were significantly associated with self-medication. Misuse, little "practical knowledge" and high self-medication confirm the unsatisfactory prescription and dispensing practices of the antibiotics in our country. These results highlight the important of the development and implementation appropriate guidelines for the responsible use of antibiotics for health care providers and health education targeting community members themselves.

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RESUMEObjectif : Le présent travail a été conduit dans deux marchés de la ville de Douala, afin de valoriser et de vulgariser l'utilisation des plantes à flavonoïdes. Méthodologie et résultats : Des prospections dans neuf marchés ont permis d'en retenir deux marchés, sur la base du nombre important de vendeurs, de leur disponibilité et du nombre de plantes médicinales vendues. Il s'agit du Marché des Chèvres et du Marché Nkololoun. Un échantillon de 40 vendeurs (soit 20 par marché) a été interviewé indépendamment du sexe, de l'âge et de l'ethnie. Chacun d'eux a fourni des informations sur l'utilisation dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle de 10 plantes. La liste des plantes à flavonoïdes a été dressée et l'indice de performance (Ip) a permis de mettre en évidence pour une maladie donnée, les traitements les plus significatifs. Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques réalisées auprès de 40 vendeurs des plantes médicinales ont permis de recenser 75 plantes à flavonoïdes reparties en 73 genres et 42 familles dont la plus importante est celle des Fabaceae. Ces plantes comptent 50 ligneux et 25 herbacées et les feuilles sont les organes végétatifs les plus utilisées dans la préparation des recettes à base de ces plantes. Les plantes à flavonoïdes les plus utilisées sont : Combretum micranthum, Aloe vera, Ageratum conizoïdes, Cylicodiscus gabonensis, Eremomastax speciosa, Panax ginseng. Elles rentrent dans le traitement de 73 maladies parmi lesquelles, le paludisme, la typhoïde, les dermatoses, la jaunisse, le mal de reins, les coliques, le diabète, les maladies cardio-vasculaires, et l'hypertension artérielle sont les plus importantes. Les indices de performances de ces plantes pour différentes maladies ont été évalués afin de justifier leur utilisation dans le traitement de ces maladies. Les plantes à flavonoïdes apparaissent comme étant de puissants antioxydants, antiradicalaires, diurétiques, purgatifs, désinfectants, analgésiques, anti-inflammatoires, antipyrétiques et antispasmodiques. Conclusion et application des résultats : Ces propriétés dues à la présence de nombreuses molécules flavaniques, donnent à ces plantes une place de choix en phytomédecine. Mots clés : Flavonoïdes, enquête ethnobotanique, indice de performance, marché des Chèvres, marché Nkololoun, plantes médicinales. They return in the treatment of 73 diseases including, malaria, typhoid, skin diseases, jaundice, sore kidneys, colic, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure are the most important. The indices of performance of these plants for different diseases were evaluated in order to justify their use in the treatment of these diseases. Flavonoids appear to be potent antioxidants, radical scavengers, diuretics, laxatives, disinfectants, analgesics, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antispasmodic. Conclusion and application of the results: These properties due to the presence of numerous flavanic molecules, give these plants a special place in phytomedicine.

BackgroundHelichrysum species are used extensively for stress-related ailments and as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts and sores. It has been reported that Helichysum species are used to relief abdominal pain, heart burn, cough, cold, wounds, female sterility, menstrual pain.ResultsFrom the extracts of Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench, six known compounds were isolated and identified. They were 7, 4′-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanone (1), 6′-methoxy-2′,4, 4′-trihydroxychalcone (2), 6′-methoxy-2′,4-dihydroxychalcone -4′-O-β-D-glucoside (3), apigenin (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (5), kaur-16-en-18-oic acid (6) while two known compounds 3,5,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (12), 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (13) together with a mixture of phytosterol were isolated from the methanol extract of Helichrysum mechowianum Klatt. All the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods, and by comparison with literature data. Both extracts and all the isolates were screened for the protease inhibition, antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, the phytochemical profiles of both species were investigated by ESI-MS experiments.ConclusionsThese results showed that the protease inhibition assay of H. foetidum could be mainly attributed to the constituents of flavonoids glycosides (3, 5) while the compound (13) from H. mechowianum contributes to the stomach protecting effects. In addition, among the antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the isolates, compound (6) was found to possess a potent inhibitor effect against the tested microorganisms. The heterogeneity of the genus is also reflected in its phytochemical diversity. The differential bioactivities and determined constituents support the traditional use of the species. Molecular modelling was carried out by computing selected descriptors related to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET).Graphical abstractCompounds isolated from Helichrysum species (Compositae).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13065-015-0108-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.