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Students undergoing programmes in healthcare will play an important role in the management of antibiotic resistance which is still a global problem. Their knowledge and attitude should be adequately documented. This study is carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among healthcare students in Central University, Ghana. In this study, 1027 students offering courses in pharmacy, nursing and physician assistantship participated in a survey to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and perception on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Data obtained was analyzed using STATA statistics DATA analysis software version 12.0. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared test was employed. Students displayed very good knowledge of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance with students studying physician assistantship and nursing showing greater knowledge. The attitude of the respondents on the use of antibiotics was slightly above average. There was a significant difference (p = 0.029) between students’ programme of study and how they obtained their last course of antibiotics. Students displayed average knowledge on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance but there is a need for more education to improve their perception and attitudes in order to contribute towards curbing the global problem of antibiotic resistance.

Crinum pedunculatum (R.Br) has been used by traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana for the topical management of inflammation and associated disorders. This study investigated the anti-arthritic activity of the methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate extract of the bulbs of Crinum pedunculatum using Sprague Dawley rats. The anti-arthritic activity of Crinum pedunculatum at various doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) in rat model. After successful induction of the arthritis, the paw oedema, hematological parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokines and arthritis marker were assessed. Also, the radiological and histopathological evaluations were also performed. There was a significant inhibition (P

Background and objectives: The resistance of infectious pathogens to antimicrobial drugs is an underestimated threat to public health. This rapidly developing phenomenon necessitates the discovery of new treatment strategies. Combining natural compounds with first-line antimicrobials is one treatment strategy to mitigate the emergence of resistant pathogens. Andrographolide, a diterpene lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata has been reported to possess potent anti-infective activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the combination effect of andrographolide with first-line antimicrobial drugs to fight emerging resistance. Method: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), fold increase in antimicrobial efficacy and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) of andrographolide and ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, amikacin, clindamycin and fluconazole were determined using the high throughput spot culture growth inhibition (HT-SPOTi) assay against ten isolated clinical strains; Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella paratyphi B and Candida albicans. Results: Combination of andrographolide and the first-line antimicrobials showed various degrees of susceptibility and efficacy against the tested microorganisms with the highest MIC, 0.85 μg/mL recorded. The FICI (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Indices) for synergy ranged between 0.00 to 0.28 depending on the microorganism and antimicrobial drug. Conclusion: Use of andrographolide with first-line antimicrobials could aid in combating the menace of resistance pathogens. However, this should be done with caution as some of the antimicrobials tested exhibited antagonistic effects.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a lung disease characterized by scaring of lung tissue that impairs lung functions. The estimated survival time of patients with pulmonary fibrosis is 3–5 years. Bleomycin (BLM) is used clinically in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma and testicular germ-cell tumors. Bleomycin’s mechanism of action is the inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis. This happens when leukocytes induce the release of cytokines and chemokines which increase the pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-13, IL-1β and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β). Crinum asiaticum L. bulbs (CAE) are widely found in parts of Africa, Asia and Indian Ocean Island. It is also prevalent in southern part of Ghana and traditionally used by the indigenes to treat upper respiratory tract infections, and for wound healing. Betulin (BET) is found in the bulbs of Crinum asiaticum L. but widely isolated from the external bark of birches and sycamore trees. Betulin as a lupine type triterpenes has been researched for their pharmacological and biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activities and anti-liver fibrosis effects.Aim of the study: The aim was to study the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effect of Crinum asiaticum L. bulbs extract and betulin in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Materials and method: There was a single oropharyngeal administration of bleomycin (80 mg/kg) in mice followed by the treatment of CAE and BET after 48 h of exposure to BLM. Results: There was increased survival rate in CAE and BET treatment groups compared to the BLM induced group. There was a marked decreased in the levels of hydroxyproline, collagen I and III in the CAE and BET treatment groups compared to BLM-treated group. The treatment groups of CAE and BET significantly down regulated the levels of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations such as TGF-β1, MMP9, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-alpha compared to an increased in the BLM treated groups. The histological findings of the lungs suggested the curative effects of CAE and BET following BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice, the study showed improved lung functions with wide focal area of viable alveolar spaces and few collagen fibers deposition on lungs of treatment groups. Conclusion: CAE and BET attenuated pulmonary fibrosis by down regulating pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as improving lung function. This could be a lead in drug discovery where compounds with anti-fibrotic effects could be developed for the treatment of lung injury.

Amaryllidaceae is a significant source of bioactive phytochemicals with a strong propensity to develop new drugs. The genera Allium, Tulbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum biosynthesize novel alkaloids and other phytochemicals with traditional and pharmacological uses. Amaryllidaceae biomolecules exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects. Traditionally, natural products from Amaryllidaceae are utilized to treat non-communicable and infectious human diseases. Galanthamine, a drug from this family, is clinically relevant in treating the neurocognitive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, which underscores the importance of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Although Amaryllidaceae provide a plethora of biologically active compounds, there is tardiness in their development into clinically pliable medicines. Other genera, including Cyrtanthus and Tulbaghia, have received little attention as potential sources of promising drug candidates. Given the reciprocal relationship of the increasing burden of human diseases and limited availability of medicinal therapies, more rapid drug discovery and development are desirable. To expedite clinically relevant drug development, we present here evidence on bioactive compounds from the genera Allium, Tulgbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum and describe their traditional and pharmacological applications.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of natural products with important biological activities. The discovery and characterization of the multifunctional FAD-dependent enzyme LgnC is now described. The enzyme is shown to convert indolizidine intermediates into pyrrolizidines through an unusual ring expansion/contraction mechanism, and catalyze the biosynthesis of new bacterial PAs, the so-called legonmycins. By genome-driven analysis, heterologous expression, and gene inactivation, the legonmycins were also shown to originate from non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). The biosynthetic origin of bacterial PAs has thus been disclosed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional Baeyer–Villiger enzyme LgnC catalyzes the transformation of indolizidines into pyrrolizidines by carbamate formation, hydrolysis, decarboxylation‐driven ring contraction, and hydroxylation. In their Communication on page 12697 ff., H. Deng, Y. Yu et al. show that these are the crucial steps for the biosynthesis of the legonmycins, new bacterial pyrrolizidine alkaloids named after their association with Legon, Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Das multifunktionelle Baeyer ‐ Villiger ‐ Enzym …︁…︁ LgnC katalysiert die Umsetzung von Indolizidinen zu Pyrrolizidinen durch Carbamat ‐ Bildung, Hydrolyse, decarboxylierende Ringkontraktion und Hydroxylierung. In ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 12888 ff. zeigen H. Deng, Y. Yu et al., dass dies die entscheidenden Schritte bei der Biosynthese der Legonmycine sind – neuartige bakterielle Pyrrolizidin ‐ Alkaloide, benannt nach der ghanaischen Stadt Legon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new strategy for the identification of known compounds in Streptomyces extracts that can be applied in the discovery of natural products is presented. The strategy incorporates screening a database of 5555 natural products including 5098 structures from Streptomyces sp., using a high-throughput LCMS data processing algorithm that utilizes HRMS data and predicted LC retention times (t R ) as filters for rapid identification of known compounds in the natural product extract. The database, named StrepDB, contains for each compound the structure, molecular formula, molecular mass, and predicted LC retention time. All identified compounds are annotated and color coded for easier visualization. It is an indirect approach to quickly assess masses (which are not annotated) that may potentially lead to the discovery of new or novel structures. In addition, a spectral database named MbcDB was generated using the ACD/Spectrus DB Platform. MbcDB contains 665 natural products, each with structure, experimental HRESIMS, MS/MS, UV, and NMR spectra. StrepDB was used to screen a mutant Streptomyces albus extract, which led to the identification and isolation of two new compounds, legonmaleimides A and B, the structures of which were elucidated with the aid of MbcDB and spectroscopic techniques. The structures were confirmed by computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) methods using ACD/Structure Elucidator Suite. The developed methodology suggests a pipeline approach to the dereplication of extracts and discovery of novel natural products.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of natural products with important biological activities. The discovery and characterization of the multifunctional FAD-dependent enzyme LgnC is now described. The enzyme is shown to convert indolizidine intermediates into pyrrolizidines through an unusual ring expansion/contraction mechanism, and catalyze the biosynthesis of new bacterial PAs, the so-called legonmycins. By genome-driven analysis, heterologous expression, and gene inactivation, the legonmycins were also shown to originate from non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). The biosynthetic origin of bacterial PAs has thus been disclosed for the first time., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)