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Abstract. Agelanthus dodoneifolius DC Danser (Loranthaceae)is used for the treatment of various diseases including asthma. The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic and bronchorelaxant activities. The present study investigates the effects of the aqueous decoction and the diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions of Agelanthus dodoneifolius DC Danser (Loranthaceae) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and myeloperoxidase (MPO) release by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated equine neutrophils and on purified equine MPO activity. ROS production and MPO release by the PMA-stimulated neutrophils were measured by the lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence and ELISA assays, respectively. Specific immunological extraction followed by enzymatic detection (SIEFED) was used to specifically measure the equine MPO activity. Identification and quantification of the individual and total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were performed using UPLC-MS/MS equipment and colorimetric methods involving Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl 3 , respectively. All the tested extracts displayed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the oxidant activities of neutrophils; a stronger effect was observed with the organic fractions than the aqueous decoction. These findings could be correlated with a high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The results confirm the previously shown anti-inflammatory effect of Agelanthus dodoneifolius and its potential use for the treatment of neutrophil-dependent inflammatory diseases. IntroductionPolymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the primary effector cells in host responses to injury and infection (1-4). The antimicrobial function of stimulated PMNs is based on their phagocytic capacity and their ability to release oxidant and proteolytic enzymes as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in the destruction of microorganisms. ROS play important roles in the pathogenesis of various serious diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, aging, cancer, cataracts, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis (5,6).Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme peroxidase enzyme stored in the azurophilic granules of neutrophils, plays a crucial role in the destruction of bacteria inside PMNs. The bacterial killing process mainly uses hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and the chloride anion (Cl -) to produce hypochlorous

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The authors report here the results of study on Parkia biglobosa seeds used in Burkina Faso for arterial hypertension treatment. Investigations were done on acute toxicity and vascular properties of fermented and roasted seeds. Acute toxicity test using mice, revealed by the intraperitoneal route a lethal dose 50 (LD 50 ) of 1800 mg/kg and 1600 mg/kg of body weight for aqueous extract from roasted and fermented seeds respectively. According to the scale of Hodge and Sterner and that of the World Health Organization, such drugs would be classified lightly toxic. Oral administration (up to 3000 mg/kg) did not induce any death of animal. For the vascular properties, the effects of these products were tested on the aorta isolated from rats. The cumulative administration of extract from roasted and fermented seeds (0.1-10 mg/mL) in an organ bath induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the aorta pre contracted by phenylephrine, with or without functional endothelium. The extracts (10 mg/mL) inhibited for 100% the contraction induced by phenylephrine. The EC 50 values in presence and absence of endothelium were respectively of 5.37 ± 0.12 and 4.19 ± 1.02 mg/mL for fermented seeds; for roasted seeds these values were respectively, 5.39 ± 1.12 and 5.93 ± 0.95 mg/mL. Nevertheless, low concentration of roasted seeds (1-4 mg/mL) induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and this effect was inhibited by indomethacin (10 -5 M), and not by L-NAME (310 -4 M). These experimental results revealed a vasorelaxant effect of P. biglobosa seeds. P. biglobosa seems to act directly on the smooth muscle and via endothelium involving the generation of vasodilatating prostaglandins. This vasodilator effect would be in favor of an anti hypertensive property of P. biglobosa seeds.

A b s t r a c tSickle cell disease is a major public health problem. It is the first genetic disease in the world. FACA syrup offers an alternative treatment. It is a dry powder preparation of two components, the roots barks of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam. (Rutaceae) Zepernick, Timler and Calotropis procera.Ait. R.B.r. (Asclepiadaceae). The product was developed at Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IRSS) from a traditional recipe used in Burkina Faso for treatment of sickle cell crises. This study aimed to establish physical-chemical, pharmaco technical and microbiological control parameters essential for the standardization of the phytomedicine. This valuation concerned specifications of moisture content, pH, the fingerprint by thin layer chromatography, pesticide residues, heavy metal content, microbial quality, and total ash. These charcteristics were determined by the methods prescribed by the World Health Organization (1998) and the European Pharmacopoeia 6th edition. The results have shown that dry syrups and reconstituted syrups were sweet, slightly spicy with a bitter after taste, a white room color and a faint odor. The density at the preparation was 0.985 and the pH was 5.93. After 2 months of storage in the laboratory, the organoleptic parameters of the reconstituted syrups have not changed. They were mold free, the density remained around 1 and the pH between 5 and 4. These parameters have shown that the quality of plants powders and this medicine comply with the recommendations of the European pharmacopoeia. Faca syrup may contribute to the better management of sickle cell disease in children.

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Diabetes mellitus is a socially significant disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids due to reduced function of insulin. Medicinal plants, rich in bioactive components that promote prevention and treatment, are inexpensive and no side effects. Apium graveolens, Cleome gynandra, and Hibiscus sabdariffa from Burkina Faso were investigated for their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities. The high-performance thin-layer chromatography profile revealed flavonoids, tannins, and sterols in these herbaceous. The Hibiscus sabdariffa methanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic (138.4 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (52.8 ± 0.6 mg RuE/g DW) contents comparatively to Cleome gynandra and Apium graveolens. Hibiscus sabdariffa methanolic extract also presented the highest antioxidant activity (IC 50 = 0.31 ± 0.002 mg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity assay. A high correlation between flavonoid contents and hydrophilic antioxidant activities (r = 0.99) was observed, indicating that flavonoids contribute significatively to these herbaceous antioxidant properties.Apium graveolens, Cleome gynandra, and Hibiscus sabdariffa constitute a natural source of phenolic compounds that could be exploited in diabetes mellitus management.

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