The world is currently facing a novel COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 that, as of July 12, 2020, has caused a reported 12,322,395 cases and 556,335 deaths. To date, only two treatments, remdesivir and dexamethasone, have demonstrated clinical efficacy through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in seriously ill patients. The search for new or repurposed drugs for treatment of COVID-19 continues. We have witnessed anecdotal use of herbal medicines, including Artemisia spp. extracts, in low-income countries, and exaggerated claims of their efficacies that are not evidence based, with subsequent political controversy. These events highlight the urgent need for further research on herbal compounds to evaluate efficacy through RCTs, and, when efficacious compounds are identified, to establish the active ingredients, develop formulations and dosing, and define pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and safety to enable drug development. Derivatives from the herb Artemisia annua have been used as traditional medicine over centuries for the treatment of fevers, malaria, and respiratory tract infections. We review the bioactive compounds, pharmacological and immunological effects, and traditional uses for Artemisia spp. derivatives, and discuss the challenges and controversies surrounding current efforts and the scientific road map to advance them to prevent or treat COVID-19.

Background/Aims: Traditional edible plants are good sources of minerals, fibers, proteins and others useful phytochemicals for human nutrition and health. Mondia whitei and Pyrenacantha klaineana leaves are underutilized, wild edible plants considered as food and spice in habitants in some part of Northern Angola. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional value and mineral contents of M. whitei and P. klaineana leaves. Materials and Methods: The leaves were harvested from a forest. The samples were analyzed for proximate and mineral contents using the standard methods. The results were analyzed statistically using mean and standard deviation. Results: The proximate composition of M. whitei raw and cooked leaves showed that the samples had ranged of ash, 9.53 - 12.93%, fiber 13.16 - 15.11%, protein 16.48 - 19.24%, fat 2.95 - 4.94%, carbohydrates 51.59 - 54.48% and energy (kcal) 310.39 - 326.10 in 100 g respectively. The proximate composition of P. klaineana raw and cooked leaves showed that the samples had range of ash, 4.13 - 6.74%, fiber 40.45 - 43.56%, protein 14.93 - 18.80%, fat 1.13 - 3.78%, carbohydrates 29.74 - 36.58% and energy (kcal) 217.77 - 227.88 in 100 g respectively. The mineral contents of the P. klaineana raw leaves, K 2459.20 mg, Ca 2126.33 mg, P 239.90 mg, Se 77.86 mg are richer than M. whitei raw leaves, K 1149.83 mg, Ca 844.87 mg, P 175.89 mg, etc. Conversely, the leaves of M. whitei are richer in Se 87.80 mg and Cu 3.14 mg/ 100 g than the P. klaineana (Se 77.86 and Cu 2.84 mg/100 g). Conclusion: The wild edible leaves are rich in nutritional value and mineral composition such as fiber, protein, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, P, Se etc. The consumption of M. whitei and P. klaineana leaves should be vulgarized to nutrition, diversity diet and food security.

Methanolic and dichloromethane extracts from the leaves of Congolese Hibiscus species were characterised by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques and their in vitro biochemical activities against ROS production were evaluated in cellular models and on an enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), involved in inflammation. Hibiscus acetosella has a chemical fingerprint different from Hibiscus cannabinus and Hibiscus sabdariffa both having similar fingerprints. Major compounds were polyphenols, represented mainly by caffeoyl-hydroxycitric acid for H. acetosella and neochlorogenic acid for the two other spiecies. All extracts displayed high cellular antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.5 to 3 μg mL−1 using lucigenm on neutrophils. Dichloromethane extracts showed more efficient effects on extracellular ROS production and MPO activity. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of caffeoyl-hydroxycitric acid were significantly higher than those of neochlorogenic acid. The bioactivities of Hibiscus species were positively correlated with their phytochemical content and could justify the use as local nutraceutical resources and medicines.

Abstract:In accordance with statistics from the World Health Organization, nearly 80% of populations depend on traditional medicine for primary health care. In order to scientifically validate the phyto-therapeutic wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three plants were chosen namely: Afromomum alboviolaceum, Annona senegalensis and Mondia whitei. The objective of our study was to assess the antisickling, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the ethanolic extracts and the dichloromethane fractions of these three plants. Sickle cell blood was supplied from Centre de Médecine Mixte and Anémie SS of Yolo Sud, Kinshasa. Three bacterial strains were used including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC 9027. The ethanolic extracts of A. alboviolaceum and A. senegalensis and dichloromethane fractions of A. alboviolaceum and M. whitei showed IC50 values < 100 µg/mL in the ABTS test. Only the dichloromethane fraction of A. senengalensis showed an IC 50 value of less than 100 µg/mL for the DPPH test. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC 50 ) values obtained from the ABTS test are lower than those of the DPPH test. All tested extracts possess a high antisickling activity and only soluble dichloromethane extracts are active vis-à-vis Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 31.5 µg/mL). These results constitute a scientific evidence validating the use of these three medicinal plants for the management of sickle-cell anemia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.