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The danger of uncontrolled slaughter of animals delivered to the market was the subject of a study conducted in the City of Yakoma, in the province of Nord Ubangi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on its border with the Central African Republic. The aim of this investigation was to provide the population of the city of Yakoma with knowledge on the danger that they are facing due to the negligence of the Veterinary Inspection Service, and to popularize the consequences. Experiments by participatory assistance were carried out on 14 cattle of two different breeds (Zebu and Taurine) for three months with two observations per month. Three samples showed seizure (partial and total), resulting in a prevalence rate of 21.4%. Older cattle had more identification than younger cattle. Several public health contamination hazards are permanent due to the absence of slaughter structures and the unwillingness of the meat inspection service to simply collect taxes instead of controlling the circulation of meat.

The purpose of this mini-review was to summarize and update knowledge on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Cola nitida, with the view of providing baseline data for herbal drug formulation. In January 2021, a non-exhaustive online search of relevant articles was carried out on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of C. nitida from scientifically well-established databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciELO. The plant's scientific name as well as phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, bioactivity and toxicology were used as keywords. The chemical structures of the compounds isolated from this plant were drawn using ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0 software. A literature survey has revealed that C. nitida is highly appreciated by African populations in various cultures, especially in West Africa. Phytochemical analyses showed that C. nitida contains interesting compounds like catechin, caffeine, epicatechin, polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, bromelain, cardenolides, proanthocyanidins, triterpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones, steroids, anthocyanins, glycosides, alkaloids, etc. The presence of these phyto-compounds in the investigated plant species justifies its used as an antimicrobial, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-coagulant agent. Thus, C. nitida could be used as a raw material for manufacturing efficient medication against various diseases, including sickle cell disease.

Medicinal plants are suppliers of molecules used in both modern and traditional therapy. One of these plants is Azadirachta Indica (also known as the neem tree).Originally from Asia (India), this plant is currently widespread and cultivated in several countries in the world, including in Africa, because of its extraordinary therapeutic properties. A survey carried out on the Internet revealed that A. indica contains various secondary metabolites such as: Azadirone, Nimocimol, Azadiradione, Epoxyazadiradione, nimbinin, salannin, nimbanal, salannol acetate, nimbandiol, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, gedunin, nimbinene, nimbolide, mahmoodin, margolonone, isomargolonone, azadirachtin, epicatechin, catechin, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, anthraquinone, anthocyanins. The main structures of these different molecules were drawn using the ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0 software package. As a result, it has been demonstrated that these compounds confer several pharmacological properties on the neem tree, including anticancer, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, antiplasmodial, and anthelmintic activities. Because of its high anthocyanin content, A. indica could be an interesting candidate for the development of an anti-sickle cell drug.

Democratic Republic of the Congo is a real reservoir of medicinal plants. These plants play a major role in the treatment of certain common pathologies in tropical regions. The aim of this study was to list the ethnomedical uses of Uvariodendron molundense, a medicinal and aromatic plant from the Ubangi ecoregion. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Gbado-Lite with 200 people using stratified probability sampling. The respondents were interviewed individually on the basis of free consent. The study revealed that the majority of respondents were men (72%) and had a secondary education (37%), followed respectively by illiterates (34%) and those with a primary education (28%), and finally, university graduates represented only 1% of the respondents. 83% of the respondents were farmers, while 79% of the respondents were married. The leaf is the most used organ (81%) followed by stem and root bark. U. molundense is used both as food and medicine. The plant treats eight diseases (pain, malaria, cold, hypertension, gastritis, infection, headache and rheumatism). The calculated value of the informant consensus factor is 0.96 and indicates that there is a high degree of consensus among informants regarding the use of U. molundense against these diseases in Gbado-Lite. Decoction is the most commonly used method of preparation (89%) and 50% of the respondents stated that the species is currently not very abundant, while 31% of the respondents felt that the plant was rare. The calculated value of the vulnerability index shows that U. molundense is very vulnerable in its natural environment (Iv ˃ 2.5).

La Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC) ainsi que sa foret tropicale est un grand biome terrestre riche en diversite tant floristique que faunique dont les ophidiens. La distribution geographique des especes des ophidiens de la RDC est tres peu connue du fait qu’une grande partie de ces especes ne sont pas encore decrite. Cette revue de litterature a revele que huit familles differentes des ophidiens (Atractaspididae, Boidae, Calabaridae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Natricidae, Typhlopidae et Viperidae) sont presentes dans les zones forestieres de la RDC. Les Colubridae, Elapidae et Viperidae sont les plus abondants. Le succes du traitement de leurs morsures en milieu rural passe par l’implication des tradipraticiens de sante. Au total, 17 plantes medicinales appartenant a 16 familles botaniques sont utilisees contre les morsures des serpents dans les zones forestieres. L’ecorce et la feuille sont les organes les plus utilises; la calcination est le mode de preparation le plus employe tandis que la scarification et l’application locale sont les voies les plus utilisees. Il est donc souhaitable que des etudes phytochimiques, pharmaco-biologiques, toxicologiques et cliniques soient realisees sur ces plantes afin d’apporter les preuves/evidences scientifiques quant a l’efficacite therapeutique leur attribuee, d’identifier de nouvelles cibles pharmacologiques et les composes bioactifs, de facon a constituer une phytochimiotheque antivenimeuse d’utilite publique.

The aim of this study was to investigate industrial logging in Businga Territory. The survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire addressed to 235 people including 150 men (64%) and 85 women (36%) between 31 and 100 years of age, on the basis of free and informed consent. It emerged from this study that 110 subjects out of the 235 (46.8%) were from SICOTRA company and its surroundings and 125 respondents (53.2%) belonged to from KKF company and its surroundings. Of the 235 people surveyed, only 104 (or 44.3%) were workers from two companies, the rest were heads of groups, capitas, local notables and those who had not worked in either company. 44.6% of the respondents had a primary level followed by 31.9% (or 75 people) with a secondary level. There are 55 illiterate people (23.4%). No university executives were met in the area during the survey. The logging by these two companies (KKF: from 1949 to 1998 (49 years of exploitation) and SICOTRA: from 1980 to 1998 (18 years)) has caused enormous destruction of the ecosystem and the population is today confronted with multiple difficulties and problems of supply of Non Timber Forest Products (caterpillars, snails, mushrooms, Cola acuminata, etc.) and the erosion of biodiversity. Of the 17 forest species exploited in this Sector, 03 have totally disappeared: Diospyros crassiflora Hiern, Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild.) Merr. and Prioria balsaminfera (Vermoesen) Breteler. The majority contacted had no notion of protecting the forest (67.2% vs. 32.8%); the population had no notion of drawing up specifications (95 vs. 5%). The results revealed that the indigenous population did not benefit from their forest, nor did they benefit from basic social infrastructures of community interest. In order to remedy this situation, a good regulation of the forestry exploitation code, the popularization of the new forestry code and the elaboration of specifications in collaboration with local communities are necessary to correct this situation in the future.

Laterite is one of the most widespread raw materials, especially in Madagascar. Its valorization as a building material would help to solve many socio-economic problems in Madagascar as well as in Africa. The use of this type of material fits well within the framework of high environmental quality, since the process uses an abundant material that does not require too much energy for its manufacture because it is dried in the open air. The aim of this work was to stabilize the laterite with cassava starch. The valorization of the latter would contribute to the development of new building materials. The study focuses on the mechanical characterization of specimens made with Vontovorona laterite in different proportions, which goes hand in hand with the determination of the physico-chemical parameters of the starch. To make specimens, we used techniques such as extraction, sieving, heating, laterite-stabilizing dosage, mixing, rotting, moulding, clamping, demoulding, drying. The results obtained show that the best stabilizing material is obtained if 15% of starch is mix to lateritic soil. The compressive strength in the dry state of the test specimens (samples) gave a significantly interesting result with a value of 54.8 bars (85% laterite with 15% starch). Thus the use of starch as a stabilizer in construction gave satisfactory results. This eco-friendly process, simple in its steps and practice, should be popularized among artisanal brick makers. Thus, replacing proportions of the Portland cement in soil stabilization with Cassava starch will reduce the overall environmental impact of the stabilization process.

The therapeutic virtues of medicinal plants are known and used in Africa and in Madagascar where natural products form the basis of Traditional Medicine. More than 300 million people worldwide consume dietary supplements and herbal plants. Scientific studies confirm that Aloes contains pharmacologically active ingredients associated with diverse biological activities including fungicidal, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, laxative, immunomodulating, and anticancer effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of orally administered extracts of two Aloe species: A. helenae, A. analavelonensis on mice. Mice were gavaged with crude whole leaves extracts after 24 hours of empty stomach. The extracts administration was found to be not acute toxic at the dose 1200 mg/kg with 100% survival of mice. Since the Aloe helenae is traditionally used against intestinal worms in sheep and goats, it is thus desirable that the plant species could be submitted to phytochemical for the isolation and characterization of new antihelminthic compounds.

The World Health Organization reported that at least 80% of populations rely on traditional medicine and medicinal plants for their primary health care. Due to their phytochemical compounds, the plants of the Aloe genus are reported to have high potential antiCovid-19 (and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of some Malagasy endangered species of Aloe genus. The ethanolic extract of few Aloe of Madagascar leaf extracts was fractionated by liquid-liquid partition using hexane. In total 18 different fractions from 9 species have been used to determine their antioxidant activity through in vitro model by using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Both hexanic extract and aqueous extract displayed antioxidant activities in four species. The most evident antioxidant activity was expressed by A. helenae.

Medicinal plant is an important element of indigenous medical systems all over the world. The ethno botany provides a rich resource for natural drug research and development. Carica papaya is used in Traditional Medicine since a long time. Our investigations started by a search of relevant literature on the plant species. Databases such as Science direct, PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus were used successively to retrieve the articles on C. papaya. The chemical structures of isolates compounds from this plant were drawn using ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0 software package. Finally, bibliographical references were made using bibliographical software "Mendeley". Results show that the plant C. papaya contains various secondary metabolites, minerals and vitamins. The plant species is reported to possess various pharmacological properties like anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, larvicidal effects, etc. These pharmacological activities could due to the presence of various phytochemicals present in this plant species. The present review can therefore help inform future scientific research towards the development of novel drugs of relevance from C. papaya to combat various ailments including Sickle cell disease.

Aims: The aim of this research was to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of victims and stakeholders on environmental disasters occurring in Businga territory. Study Design: This research employed a descriptive study design whereby the characteristics of respondents were described. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Bodangabo, Businga and Karawa sectors of Businga territory in Nord-Ubangi, Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2016 and December 2017. Methodology: A survey was conducted on 150 respondents among the victims and stakeholders in the prevention and management of environmental disasters in three sectors of Businga territory to whom the semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Results: The findings show that 54% of environmental disasters originate from bushfire and 46% from floods. The bushfire is more evident in the area of Bodangabo and Karawa, while the flood is noticed in the area of Businga precisely in the city, because the ¾ is largely crossed by streams (Likpolo, Lokame, Legbala, Mongala). Thus, 80% of disaster victims are not satisfied with the support. However, 96% of respondents denied the provincial government's contribution, 92% confirmed the total absence of the environmental disaster prevention policy, and 88% confirmed the inefficiency of disaster prevention mode in Businga territory. With regard to the period of onset of disasters, it is clear from this survey that the floods are sporadic and occurring every two or three years compared to the bushfire which is manifested every year. 68% of the difficulties are due to lack of awareness due to insufficient financial resources and 32% to the shortage of qualified personnel for the prevention and management of these disasters. Conclusion: The lack of a policy of prevention and management of environmental disasters both at the provincial and local levels is at the base of this high frequency. Therefore, it is relevant that a provincial body responsible for alerting and advocating to the stakeholders involved in the prevention and management of environmental disasters, to settle in all Businga sectors. Furthermore, it is necessary to install the early warning system as tool of disaster prevention.

The emergence of new infectious agents is a potential risk associated with genetic manipulation and field cultivation of genetically modified organisms and constitutes a new challenge in molecular epidemiology. The main objective of the current study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles and evaluate the antibacterial activity of these nanoparticles. E. coli and Enterococcus sp. were isolated from wastewater samples collected from Kalamu River. The preliminary characterization of silver nanoparticles was carried out using UV-visible spectrophotometer. Noble metals, such as silver nanoparticles, exhibit unique and adjustable optical properties due to their external plasmon resonance. The reduction of silver ions was monitored by measuring the UV-visible spectrum of the solutions after dilution of a small aliquot (0.2 mL) of the aqueous component. The antibiotic susceptibility test results confirmed the inactivity of these antibiotics tested against the wild strain of Enterococcus sp. The synthesized silver nanoparticles displayed a good antibacterial activity against Enterococcus sp. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles is designed precisely to alleviate this situation; and these results provide a strong evidence that silver nanoparticles can be used to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

It was recently reported a rare association of two genetic diseases notably sickle cell anemia and diabetes in one patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both diseases constitute a serious public health problem and have a common denominator that is to make patients susceptible to bacterial infections. Given the difficult and limited management of these diseases, the use of medicinal plants is considered as an effective alternative. Leaves of Anacardium occidentale and Zanthoxylum rubescens collected in the surroundings of University of Kinshasa and Gbadolite in Kinshasa and Nord Ubangi provinces respectively and these plants were selected through a chemo-taxonomic approach while a phytochemical screening was performed using a qualitative approach. Bacterial strains used to assess the antibacterial activity were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and mice were used for the antidiabetic activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids, bound quinones as well saponins and alkaloids. The aqueous extracts of A. occidentale and Z. rubescens showed an antisickling activity. Only S. aureus was sensitive to A. occidentale where petroleum ether extract (MIC = 125 μg.mL-1) showed a good activity than other extracts and no activity was observed on E. coli. Meanwhile, Z. rubescens showed no antibacterial activity on both strains (MIC = > 500 μg.mL-1). The mean values of blood glucose after 120 minutes in untreated and treated mice were 99.5 ± 7.77mg.dL-1 (0.9% NaCl), 41.6 ± 10.07mg.dL-1 (Glibenclamide 10mg.Kg-1) and 64 ± 13.98mg.dL-1 (methanolic extract of A. occidentale 500mg.Kg-1). These findings show that A. occidentale plant possess an antihyperglycemic activity. To our knowledge, it is for the first time that the antisickling activity of A. occidentale and Z. rubescens is reported thus validating the chemotaxonomic approach used as a criterion of selection of these two plants. It is also for the first time that antidiabetic activity of A. occidentale is reported.