David Tembo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by David Tembo
International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy
Food Production, Processing and Nutrition, Oct 3, 2023
Journal of Herbal Medicine
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Mar 1, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1998
In the current study an effort was carried out to investigate the fruits of some selected plants ... more In the current study an effort was carried out to investigate the fruits of some selected plants with highest antioxidant potential. For this purpose ethanolic crude extracts of selected plants fruits, frequently used for various medicinal purposes in Pakistan were subjected to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay at different concentrations ranging from 100 to 500µg/ml. The results obtained revealed that the ethanolic crude extract of Juglans regia have DPPH scavenging activity of 95.42% at 500 µg/ml. This plant showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity of all the tested plants. Elaeagnus angustifolia showed 43.90% inhibition of DPPH radical at 500 µg/ml. The ethanolic crude extract of Cydonia oblonga showed DPPH scavenging 27.18% at 500 µg/ml. The ethanolic crude extract of Morus alba showed the lowest DPPH scavenging activity (18.01%) at 500 µg/ml. The DPPH scavenging activity of ethanolic crude extract of Psidium guajava was 12.28% at 500 µg/ml, while Zizyphus jujube exhibited 19.52% inhibition of DPPH radical at the concentration level of 500 µg/ml. The DPPH scavenging activity of Phoenix dactylifera was noted as 37.98% at highest concentration. From the results obtained it is clear that the Juglans regia possess high DPPH scavenging properties. All the extracts showed maximum activities at highest concentrations. These plants needed further exploration to isolate the highly potential antioxidant compounds.
Journal of Food Quality
Maize has been cultivated and continues to be cultivated for its usability in calorie supply to h... more Maize has been cultivated and continues to be cultivated for its usability in calorie supply to humans and livestock. There has been great interest in pigmented landrace maize varieties (PLMVs) due to their importance in the pharmaceutical industry. Landraces are to a large extent a repository of the gene pool that enriches biodiversity and maintains but also stabilizes the ecosystem in a sustainable way. PLMVs are still being cultivated by smallholder farmers in smaller portions of their fields and home surroundings despite the high adoption of white hybrid maize. This study examined the ash, moisture, mineral, crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of three different PLMVs from central (Ntcheu and Dedza districts) and northern (Mzimba district) Malawi. The mineral content of soils from fields where PLMVs were grown was also analyzed. The study areas experience a warm temperate climate and higher rainfall in summer than in winter but they differ in that Ntcheu has the highest...
Functional Foods in Health and Disease
Background: Plant foods, as functional foods, provide not only the essential nutrients needed to ... more Background: Plant foods, as functional foods, provide not only the essential nutrients needed to sustain life, but also bioactive compounds (phytochemicals) for health promotion and disease prevention.Objective of the study: The aim of this research was to screen phytochemicals in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in Malawi. The effect of processing vegetables on phytochemicals was also evaluated.Methods: The potential of some commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in their raw and cooked forms as natural source of phytochemicals was evaluated in both aqueous and methanol extracts. These fruits and vegetables were screened for alkaloids, saponin, tannins, flavonoids, quinones, coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides and anthocyanins, total flavonoids content (TFC) and total phenol content (TPC) using standard procedures. TPC and TFC were also analyzed using spectrophotometric methods.Results: Almost all the phytochemicals screened were found in some of the studied fruits ...
BioMed Research International
The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activi... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of 17 edible wild fruits that are widely distributed and consumed in Malawi for pharmacological value exploration. Qualitative phytochemical analysis, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant activity (TAA), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were performed in aqueous and methanolic fruit extracts. The results showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and quinones. Piliostigma thonningii had the highest total phenolic content ( 1675.33 ± 12.34 mg GAEg-1 FW) in methanolic extracts, and Annona senegalensis gave the highest levels of total flavonoid content ( 649.67 ± 2.08 mg RE g-1 FW) in aqueous extracts. The results of antioxidant activities (FRAP, TAA, and DPPH) varied widely, and th...
Journal of Science and Technology
Maize is one of the most diverse cereal crops that contribute highly in calorie supply to human d... more Maize is one of the most diverse cereal crops that contribute highly in calorie supply to human diet. Pigmented maize secondary metabolites which are phytochemicals of healthy importance include carotenoids and phenolics which act as precursors of vitamin A and antioxidants respectively. Pigmented landrace maize is cultivated by smallholder farmers in their localities. Three different pigmented maize varieties from different growing districts were analysed for total carotenoids content (TCC) and total phenolic content (TPC), using spectrophotometer. The districts experience a warm temperate climate and higher rainfall in summer than in winter but they differ in that Ntcheu has highest average annual temperature of 20.3°C while Dedza receives the highest annual precipitation of about 1010 mm. Mzimba has an average annual temperature of 20.1°C and receives about 915 mm of precipitation annually. Individual carotenoids were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ...
The influence of thermal processing and preservation techniques on selected bioactive compounds o... more The influence of thermal processing and preservation techniques on selected bioactive compounds of baobab fruit pulp and juice from Malawi were analysed using RP-HPLC whereas total phenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were measured by spectrophotometry. 1H NMR-based metabolomics was used to compare the metabolic profile of untreated (UT), high temperature short time (HTST) pasteurised and high temperature short time pasteurised with added citric acid (CAHTST) baobab juice samples and to analyse the temporal changes upon different storage conditions. Malawi baobab pulp contains high levels of procyanidin B2 (533.3 ± 22.6 mg/100 g FW), vitamin C (465.8 ± 2.5 mg/100 g FW), gallic acid (68.5 ± 12.4 mg/100 g FW) and (-)-epicatechin (43.0 ± 3.0 mg/100 g FW) and showed high TPC and antioxidant activity. Vitamin C content of dry baobab pulp and 10% juice (w/v) was retained during heat treatment by microwaving and pasteurisation (72 °C, 15 s) respectively. However vitamin C level in...
Pharmacognosy Research, 2021
There is increase in the use of plants as medicines worldwide , due to lack of access to conventi... more There is increase in the use of plants as medicines worldwide , due to lack of access to conventional drugs, financial challenges and the ineffectiveness and side-effects of some conventional drugs. [1-3] Plant parts such as roots, leaves and barks are usually used as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds that work for treatment of different ailments and as natural antioxidants. [4,5] These bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, anthraquinones, stilbenes, terpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and phenolic compounds are synthesized in plants via different pathways, such as shikimic acid, salonic acid, mevalonic acid and non-mevalonate. [6,7] In many African countries including Malawi, some of these medicinal plants (e.g. S. singueana, L. discolor, M. oleifera and M. azedarach) are used for treatment of different diseases. [8-13] Senna singueana also known as wild Cassia whose family is Fabaceae is used a lot in Africa for treating various ailments. [8,10] It has been claimed that this plant is effective in managing skin cancer, [8,14] diabetes, constipation, stomach pains, sexually transmitted
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2020
population derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Study particip... more population derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Study participants surveyed for sodium intake (mg/day) and physical examinations were conducted where systolic and diastolic BP were recorded. Inclusion criteria included adults age 18-55 years. Our dataset contained 29,404 participants; of these, 11,441 participants met our inclusion criteria and constitute our study sample (2,424 missing data). Amongst these, 5,529 (48.33%) were men and 5,912 (51.67%) were women. In our study sample, the mean age was 35.90 (SD = 11.25). Our study sample constituted 16.05% Mexican Americans, 9.92% other Hispanics, 38.60% Non-Hispanic White, 21.70% Non-Hispanic Black, and 13.73% other Raceincluding Multi-Racial. Measurable Outcome/Analysis: Exposure variable is the consumption of sodium (mg per day). Outcome measure is average systolic and diastolic BP results collected from participants. Spearman Correlation along with regression analysis to quantitatively define the strength of association between sodium consumption vs systolic and diastolic BP.
Journal of Food Chemistry and Nanotechnology, 2021
Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L) is rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds, which are ... more Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L) is rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds, which are vital for healthy living. Boabab juice are produced locally and stored under different storage conditions in Malawi. However, storage of baobab juice under certain conditions can lead to degradation of its bioactive compounds. This study therefore investigated the bioactive compounds in Commercial baobab juice (CBJ) in Malawi, and determined the stability of the compounds under different storage conditions. The organic acids, flavan-3-ol aglycones, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of the CBJ were determined using standard methods. The stability of the bioactive compounds in CBJ were determined in the samples stored at 6, 15 and 30 ⁰C for 49 days. The ferric reducing antioxidant power of CBJ was 71.27±.04 TEAC/100 g FW, and the ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was 112.62± 0.45 mg TEAC/100 g FW. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was 80.94 ± 0.72 %. CBJ bioactive compounds are stable at 15 ⁰C, and contains high concentrations of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activities and procyanidin B 2. In conclusion, commercially sold baobab juice in Malawi is rich in bioactive compounds and have high antioxidant properties, thus, regular consumption of the juice can improve the health and wellbeing of Malawians. Information provided in this study will provide consumers with nutritional profile of CBJ and help juice processors establish adequate storage conditions for the juice.
Background: The study was aimed at screening phytochemicals and evaluating the effects of aqueous... more Background: The study was aimed at screening phytochemicals and evaluating the effects of aqueous and 50% (v/v) methanol stem bark extracts of Newtonia hildebrandtii on male rat reproductive system. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups and were given different treatments of N. hildebrandtii extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. After 8 weeks, body and right testis weight, sperm concentration, hormonal levels, and histological structure of the testis were evaluated. Calorimetric method was used for quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds, whereas gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for fingerprinting of chemical compounds. Results: Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were significantly increased, whereas prolactin levels were significantly decreased in the treated groups compared to the control. Sperm parameters were significantly increased compared to the control. Tre...
Current Traditional Medicine, 2020
Introduction: A lot of unsubstantiated claims have been made regarding the ability of Cassia abbr... more Introduction: A lot of unsubstantiated claims have been made regarding the ability of Cassia abbreviata Oliv. to promote male reproductive function. The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of aqueous and 50% (v/v) methanol stem bark extracts of Cassia abbreviata Oliv. on hormonal levels, sperm parameters, testicular histo-architecture, mean body and right testis weights of the male Wistar rat. Methodology: Thirty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group A, control rats received pure tap water; group B received aqueous extracts at 200 mg/kg body weight; group C received aqueous extracts at 400 mg/kg body weight; group D received 50% (v/v) methanol extracts at 200 mg/kg body weight and group E received 50% (v/v) methanol extract at 400 mg/kg body weight. After 8 weeks, reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters, hormonal levels and histological structure of the right testis were evaluated. Results: Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, follic...
Current Traditional Medicine, 2020
Aim: The present study was aimed at screening phytochemicals of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts and ... more Aim: The present study was aimed at screening phytochemicals of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts and evaluating its effects on male rat reproductive system. Background: Since ancient times, man has found a lot of health benefits from medicinal plants. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about 80% of the world population depends on traditional medicine, which is 90% plant-based,for their health needs [1]. In respect of this, men in Africa use herbal medicines in the management of erectile dysfunction and infertility [2]. Amongst thousands of herbs, folklore has implicated Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils in the treatment of piles, dysentery, syphilis, ulcers, cough, leprosy, diabetes, asthma, cancer and infertility [3]. Despite such great health benefits from D. bulbifera, in vitro studies and clinical data in support of its efficacy as an aphrodisiac are scanty. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts on Wistar rat spe...
Malawi Medical Journal
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2... more The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered an international pandemic that has led to significant public health problems. To date, limited evidence exists to suggest that drugs are effective against the disease. As possible treatments are being investigated, herbal medicines have shown potential for producing novel antiviral agents for the COVID-19 disease. Aim This review explored the potential of Malawi’s traditional medicinal plants for the management of COVID-19. MethodsThe authors searched on PubMed and Google scholar for medicinal plants that are used in Malawi and published in openly available peer reviewed journals. Plants linked with antiviral treatment, anti-COVID-19 activity or COVID-19 symptoms management were targeted. These included activity against pneumonia, inflammation, cough, difficulty in breathing, pain/aches, fever, diarrhoea, rheumatism, fatigue, asthma, immunocompromised and card...
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2017
BACKGROUND In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has le... more BACKGROUND In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has led to increased use of herbal medicines for cancer management. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at identifying medicinal plants that are used for the management of cancer in the southern area of Karonga district, Northern Malawi. METHODS Semi-structured individual questionnaire interviews were used to collect ethnobotanical data from traditional herbal practitioners in the study area. RESULTS A total of twenty-six (26) plant species from seventeen (17) botanical families were reported by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to be effective in the management of cancer. The botanical families with the representation of more than one plant species were Fabaceae with five species, followed by Combretaceae and Anacardiaceae with tree species each and Meliaceaewith two species. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) showed that Senna singueana (RFC = 0.833), Lannea discolour (RFC = 0.833), Melia azedar...
International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy
Food Production, Processing and Nutrition, Oct 3, 2023
Journal of Herbal Medicine
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Mar 1, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1998
In the current study an effort was carried out to investigate the fruits of some selected plants ... more In the current study an effort was carried out to investigate the fruits of some selected plants with highest antioxidant potential. For this purpose ethanolic crude extracts of selected plants fruits, frequently used for various medicinal purposes in Pakistan were subjected to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay at different concentrations ranging from 100 to 500µg/ml. The results obtained revealed that the ethanolic crude extract of Juglans regia have DPPH scavenging activity of 95.42% at 500 µg/ml. This plant showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity of all the tested plants. Elaeagnus angustifolia showed 43.90% inhibition of DPPH radical at 500 µg/ml. The ethanolic crude extract of Cydonia oblonga showed DPPH scavenging 27.18% at 500 µg/ml. The ethanolic crude extract of Morus alba showed the lowest DPPH scavenging activity (18.01%) at 500 µg/ml. The DPPH scavenging activity of ethanolic crude extract of Psidium guajava was 12.28% at 500 µg/ml, while Zizyphus jujube exhibited 19.52% inhibition of DPPH radical at the concentration level of 500 µg/ml. The DPPH scavenging activity of Phoenix dactylifera was noted as 37.98% at highest concentration. From the results obtained it is clear that the Juglans regia possess high DPPH scavenging properties. All the extracts showed maximum activities at highest concentrations. These plants needed further exploration to isolate the highly potential antioxidant compounds.
Journal of Food Quality
Maize has been cultivated and continues to be cultivated for its usability in calorie supply to h... more Maize has been cultivated and continues to be cultivated for its usability in calorie supply to humans and livestock. There has been great interest in pigmented landrace maize varieties (PLMVs) due to their importance in the pharmaceutical industry. Landraces are to a large extent a repository of the gene pool that enriches biodiversity and maintains but also stabilizes the ecosystem in a sustainable way. PLMVs are still being cultivated by smallholder farmers in smaller portions of their fields and home surroundings despite the high adoption of white hybrid maize. This study examined the ash, moisture, mineral, crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of three different PLMVs from central (Ntcheu and Dedza districts) and northern (Mzimba district) Malawi. The mineral content of soils from fields where PLMVs were grown was also analyzed. The study areas experience a warm temperate climate and higher rainfall in summer than in winter but they differ in that Ntcheu has the highest...
Functional Foods in Health and Disease
Background: Plant foods, as functional foods, provide not only the essential nutrients needed to ... more Background: Plant foods, as functional foods, provide not only the essential nutrients needed to sustain life, but also bioactive compounds (phytochemicals) for health promotion and disease prevention.Objective of the study: The aim of this research was to screen phytochemicals in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in Malawi. The effect of processing vegetables on phytochemicals was also evaluated.Methods: The potential of some commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in their raw and cooked forms as natural source of phytochemicals was evaluated in both aqueous and methanol extracts. These fruits and vegetables were screened for alkaloids, saponin, tannins, flavonoids, quinones, coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides and anthocyanins, total flavonoids content (TFC) and total phenol content (TPC) using standard procedures. TPC and TFC were also analyzed using spectrophotometric methods.Results: Almost all the phytochemicals screened were found in some of the studied fruits ...
BioMed Research International
The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activi... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of 17 edible wild fruits that are widely distributed and consumed in Malawi for pharmacological value exploration. Qualitative phytochemical analysis, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant activity (TAA), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were performed in aqueous and methanolic fruit extracts. The results showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and quinones. Piliostigma thonningii had the highest total phenolic content ( 1675.33 ± 12.34 mg GAEg-1 FW) in methanolic extracts, and Annona senegalensis gave the highest levels of total flavonoid content ( 649.67 ± 2.08 mg RE g-1 FW) in aqueous extracts. The results of antioxidant activities (FRAP, TAA, and DPPH) varied widely, and th...
Journal of Science and Technology
Maize is one of the most diverse cereal crops that contribute highly in calorie supply to human d... more Maize is one of the most diverse cereal crops that contribute highly in calorie supply to human diet. Pigmented maize secondary metabolites which are phytochemicals of healthy importance include carotenoids and phenolics which act as precursors of vitamin A and antioxidants respectively. Pigmented landrace maize is cultivated by smallholder farmers in their localities. Three different pigmented maize varieties from different growing districts were analysed for total carotenoids content (TCC) and total phenolic content (TPC), using spectrophotometer. The districts experience a warm temperate climate and higher rainfall in summer than in winter but they differ in that Ntcheu has highest average annual temperature of 20.3°C while Dedza receives the highest annual precipitation of about 1010 mm. Mzimba has an average annual temperature of 20.1°C and receives about 915 mm of precipitation annually. Individual carotenoids were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ...
The influence of thermal processing and preservation techniques on selected bioactive compounds o... more The influence of thermal processing and preservation techniques on selected bioactive compounds of baobab fruit pulp and juice from Malawi were analysed using RP-HPLC whereas total phenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were measured by spectrophotometry. 1H NMR-based metabolomics was used to compare the metabolic profile of untreated (UT), high temperature short time (HTST) pasteurised and high temperature short time pasteurised with added citric acid (CAHTST) baobab juice samples and to analyse the temporal changes upon different storage conditions. Malawi baobab pulp contains high levels of procyanidin B2 (533.3 ± 22.6 mg/100 g FW), vitamin C (465.8 ± 2.5 mg/100 g FW), gallic acid (68.5 ± 12.4 mg/100 g FW) and (-)-epicatechin (43.0 ± 3.0 mg/100 g FW) and showed high TPC and antioxidant activity. Vitamin C content of dry baobab pulp and 10% juice (w/v) was retained during heat treatment by microwaving and pasteurisation (72 °C, 15 s) respectively. However vitamin C level in...
Pharmacognosy Research, 2021
There is increase in the use of plants as medicines worldwide , due to lack of access to conventi... more There is increase in the use of plants as medicines worldwide , due to lack of access to conventional drugs, financial challenges and the ineffectiveness and side-effects of some conventional drugs. [1-3] Plant parts such as roots, leaves and barks are usually used as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds that work for treatment of different ailments and as natural antioxidants. [4,5] These bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, anthraquinones, stilbenes, terpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and phenolic compounds are synthesized in plants via different pathways, such as shikimic acid, salonic acid, mevalonic acid and non-mevalonate. [6,7] In many African countries including Malawi, some of these medicinal plants (e.g. S. singueana, L. discolor, M. oleifera and M. azedarach) are used for treatment of different diseases. [8-13] Senna singueana also known as wild Cassia whose family is Fabaceae is used a lot in Africa for treating various ailments. [8,10] It has been claimed that this plant is effective in managing skin cancer, [8,14] diabetes, constipation, stomach pains, sexually transmitted
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2020
population derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Study particip... more population derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Study participants surveyed for sodium intake (mg/day) and physical examinations were conducted where systolic and diastolic BP were recorded. Inclusion criteria included adults age 18-55 years. Our dataset contained 29,404 participants; of these, 11,441 participants met our inclusion criteria and constitute our study sample (2,424 missing data). Amongst these, 5,529 (48.33%) were men and 5,912 (51.67%) were women. In our study sample, the mean age was 35.90 (SD = 11.25). Our study sample constituted 16.05% Mexican Americans, 9.92% other Hispanics, 38.60% Non-Hispanic White, 21.70% Non-Hispanic Black, and 13.73% other Raceincluding Multi-Racial. Measurable Outcome/Analysis: Exposure variable is the consumption of sodium (mg per day). Outcome measure is average systolic and diastolic BP results collected from participants. Spearman Correlation along with regression analysis to quantitatively define the strength of association between sodium consumption vs systolic and diastolic BP.
Journal of Food Chemistry and Nanotechnology, 2021
Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L) is rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds, which are ... more Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L) is rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds, which are vital for healthy living. Boabab juice are produced locally and stored under different storage conditions in Malawi. However, storage of baobab juice under certain conditions can lead to degradation of its bioactive compounds. This study therefore investigated the bioactive compounds in Commercial baobab juice (CBJ) in Malawi, and determined the stability of the compounds under different storage conditions. The organic acids, flavan-3-ol aglycones, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of the CBJ were determined using standard methods. The stability of the bioactive compounds in CBJ were determined in the samples stored at 6, 15 and 30 ⁰C for 49 days. The ferric reducing antioxidant power of CBJ was 71.27±.04 TEAC/100 g FW, and the ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was 112.62± 0.45 mg TEAC/100 g FW. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was 80.94 ± 0.72 %. CBJ bioactive compounds are stable at 15 ⁰C, and contains high concentrations of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activities and procyanidin B 2. In conclusion, commercially sold baobab juice in Malawi is rich in bioactive compounds and have high antioxidant properties, thus, regular consumption of the juice can improve the health and wellbeing of Malawians. Information provided in this study will provide consumers with nutritional profile of CBJ and help juice processors establish adequate storage conditions for the juice.
Background: The study was aimed at screening phytochemicals and evaluating the effects of aqueous... more Background: The study was aimed at screening phytochemicals and evaluating the effects of aqueous and 50% (v/v) methanol stem bark extracts of Newtonia hildebrandtii on male rat reproductive system. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups and were given different treatments of N. hildebrandtii extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. After 8 weeks, body and right testis weight, sperm concentration, hormonal levels, and histological structure of the testis were evaluated. Calorimetric method was used for quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds, whereas gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for fingerprinting of chemical compounds. Results: Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were significantly increased, whereas prolactin levels were significantly decreased in the treated groups compared to the control. Sperm parameters were significantly increased compared to the control. Tre...
Current Traditional Medicine, 2020
Introduction: A lot of unsubstantiated claims have been made regarding the ability of Cassia abbr... more Introduction: A lot of unsubstantiated claims have been made regarding the ability of Cassia abbreviata Oliv. to promote male reproductive function. The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of aqueous and 50% (v/v) methanol stem bark extracts of Cassia abbreviata Oliv. on hormonal levels, sperm parameters, testicular histo-architecture, mean body and right testis weights of the male Wistar rat. Methodology: Thirty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group A, control rats received pure tap water; group B received aqueous extracts at 200 mg/kg body weight; group C received aqueous extracts at 400 mg/kg body weight; group D received 50% (v/v) methanol extracts at 200 mg/kg body weight and group E received 50% (v/v) methanol extract at 400 mg/kg body weight. After 8 weeks, reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters, hormonal levels and histological structure of the right testis were evaluated. Results: Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, follic...
Current Traditional Medicine, 2020
Aim: The present study was aimed at screening phytochemicals of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts and ... more Aim: The present study was aimed at screening phytochemicals of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts and evaluating its effects on male rat reproductive system. Background: Since ancient times, man has found a lot of health benefits from medicinal plants. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about 80% of the world population depends on traditional medicine, which is 90% plant-based,for their health needs [1]. In respect of this, men in Africa use herbal medicines in the management of erectile dysfunction and infertility [2]. Amongst thousands of herbs, folklore has implicated Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils in the treatment of piles, dysentery, syphilis, ulcers, cough, leprosy, diabetes, asthma, cancer and infertility [3]. Despite such great health benefits from D. bulbifera, in vitro studies and clinical data in support of its efficacy as an aphrodisiac are scanty. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of Dioscorea bulbifera extracts on Wistar rat spe...
Malawi Medical Journal
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2... more The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered an international pandemic that has led to significant public health problems. To date, limited evidence exists to suggest that drugs are effective against the disease. As possible treatments are being investigated, herbal medicines have shown potential for producing novel antiviral agents for the COVID-19 disease. Aim This review explored the potential of Malawi’s traditional medicinal plants for the management of COVID-19. MethodsThe authors searched on PubMed and Google scholar for medicinal plants that are used in Malawi and published in openly available peer reviewed journals. Plants linked with antiviral treatment, anti-COVID-19 activity or COVID-19 symptoms management were targeted. These included activity against pneumonia, inflammation, cough, difficulty in breathing, pain/aches, fever, diarrhoea, rheumatism, fatigue, asthma, immunocompromised and card...
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2017
BACKGROUND In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has le... more BACKGROUND In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has led to increased use of herbal medicines for cancer management. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at identifying medicinal plants that are used for the management of cancer in the southern area of Karonga district, Northern Malawi. METHODS Semi-structured individual questionnaire interviews were used to collect ethnobotanical data from traditional herbal practitioners in the study area. RESULTS A total of twenty-six (26) plant species from seventeen (17) botanical families were reported by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to be effective in the management of cancer. The botanical families with the representation of more than one plant species were Fabaceae with five species, followed by Combretaceae and Anacardiaceae with tree species each and Meliaceaewith two species. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) showed that Senna singueana (RFC = 0.833), Lannea discolour (RFC = 0.833), Melia azedar...