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Asparagus africanusLam. (Asparagaceae) is a widely used plant in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, for the treatment of nervous disorders and epilepsy. The objective of this work was to study the anticonvulsant effects ofA. africanusroot decoction in white mice (Mus musculusSwiss) induced by pilocarpine. The experimental induction of "status epilepticus" and the evaluation of the anticonvulsant effects ofA. africanusroot decoction on pilocarpine-induced clonic and tonic convulsions were carried out. Seizure severity, latency, duration and number of clonics and tonics convulsions were evaluated. Concentrations of GABA, GABA-T, TNF-α and stress markers in the brains of mice were also estimated.A. africanusdecreased the duration and number of clonic and tonic convulsions which increased the latency time of onset of clonic and tonic convulsions significantly and in a dose-dependent manner. GABA increased significantly in the brains of animals treated withA. africanusand a significant decrease of GABA-T and TNF-α.A. africanusalso showed antioxidant effects. These results show thatA. africanushas anticonvulsant effects.A. africanuswould thus contain beneficial antiradical constituents in the treatment of epilepsy. These constituents would thus oppose free radicals. These results would justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine in the treatment of epilepsy.

The present work aims to show the biodiversity of traditional vegetables consumed by the people of the Nyong and Kelle division by an inventory. Traditional vegetables are those vegetables which originate from a locality or imported from another area, but are consumed by the people of the locality for many years (between twenty five and thirty) years. The consumption habit is transmitted from generation to generation. These vegetables become the heritage of the people consuming them. Some traditional vegetables are been abandoned nowadays in a way that if nothing is done they will disappear and this will lead to the loss of the food identity of this people. A systematic survey was carried out to identify the traditional vegetables found in the markets and crop farms in ten sub divisions of the Nyong and kelle division. In all 25traditional vegetables were recorded and fell under 15 botanical families according to the Linear Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III classification. According to parts of vegetables consumed 76% leafy, 12% fruit, 4%seed, 4% stem and 4% root vegetables were recorded .76% of the vegetables was cultivated and 14%was not cultivated. Some vegetables were used in folk medicine by the people to heal certain illnesses. The abandoned vegetables have to be encouraged for sustainable development and for the preservation of the food identity of the people of the Nyong and kelle division.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections in most countries and they are usually caused by the so-called uropathogenic (UP) microorganisms, including Escherichia coli (80%–90%), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Over the years, the growth of resistance to antibiotics has complicated the treatment of UTIs and has direct consequences on the cost of treatment, the severity of infections, and the length of hospitalization. Medicinal plants, used for thousands of years to treat various diseases, constitute a serious alternative to antibiotics in the public health issue of antimicrobial resistance. In this review, the in vitro and in vivo use of medicinal plants and their nanoparticles (silver, gold, zinc, copper oxide, magnesium oxide, iron, etc.) in the management of uropathogens and their virulence factors (VFs) as well as in the management of UTIs themselves have been discussed. Given the advantages offered by the biologically active compounds of medicinal plants as well as their green-synthetized nanoparticles whether used as such or in combination with conventional antibiotics, it can be concluded that herbal medicine can significantly help in the management of UTIs.

Asparagus africanusLam. (Asparagaceae) is a plant widely used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, for the treatment of nervous disorders and insomnia. The aim of this work was to study the sedative and hypnotic effects of the roots ofA.africanusdecoction on white mice (Mus musculusSwiss). Sleep potentiation tests induced by diazepam and sodium pentobarbital were used. The sleep latency period onset and the sleep duration were recorded. The concentrations of GABA a[nd GABA-T in the brains of mice were also estimated.A. africanussignificantly decreased the sleep latency period onset and increased the sleep duration induced by diazepam and sodium pentobarbital. Bicuculline, a competitive photosensitive antagonist of the GABAA receptor complex, did not prevent this potentiation. The effect ofA. africanuson the sleep time was not blocked by flumazenil, a specific antagonist to the benzodiazepine site in the GABAA receptor complex. GABA increased and GABA-T decreased in the animals brainA. africanustreated significantly. Therefore the sedative properties ofA. africanusmight be possibly mediated by the activation of GABAergic neurotransmission on inhibitory receptors and by the decrease in the recapture of GABA by inhibiting GABA-T. These properties justified its use against insomnia in traditional medicine.

No Abstract Available Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences Vol.4(2) 2004: 125-132