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Background: The study argues that managing tacit knowledge (TKM) would reduce smalland medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operational discontinuity and knowledge loss in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. Objectives: The article examined the strategies put in place by SMEs for tacit knowledge management (TKM) practices and to develop a framework that will promote TKM for SMEs. Method: The study adopted a quantitative research method and targeted 326 SMEs using Google Forms. One hundred and eighty (180; 55.2%) useful responses were obtained and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: Most of the SME owners are aware and affirmed that there is a particular tacit knowledge that is of importance to business. The most common methods of capturing tacit knowledge among SMEs are monitoring, practical sessions, in-house training programmes, and brainstorming. Tacit knowledge is shared during meetings (such as project teams) and when dialoguing. The study also revealed that electronic files in computers are the major tools for storing the collected tacit knowledge. Conclusion: The study concluded that TKM among SMEs in KZN required improvement and recommended improving teams and informal networks and making information and communication technology tools available to preserve tacit knowledge. The SMEs that can afford it can consider employing the services of consultant knowledge management officers to conduct periodic knowledge audits to identify knowledge gaps for proactive solutions. Contribution: The study contributed to knowledge management, tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, and TKM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Growth parameters and yield components of Celosia argentea cultivated in a greenhouse were investigated in order to establish its availability at all times of the season in South Africa. Three harvest periods at preflowering(PRE), flowering (FLW) and post-flowering (PST) stages of growth were investigated. Growth parameters were measured two weeks after transplanting (WAT) from five randomly selected pots in each row. Two separate pot experiments were conducted between October 2017- January 2018 and March- May 2018 respectively. Results revealed that the first trial had the highest values for all the growth parameters evaluated except the number of flowers and branches. Reduction in the number of leaves was observed for both trials at 10 WAT, while the post-flowering stage of growth had the highest values for fresh and dry yield. The study revealed that high yield of C.argentea could be expected around 7-9 weeks after transplanting and that planting in the field is to be encouraged during summer or late spring for best farm management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic that affects 500 million people worldwide and is predicted to increase to one billion people by 2030. The prevalence of obesity is increasing across populations in South Africa. However, questions still remain surrounding the predisposing factors and obesity-related health problems especially in the rural areas. This study evaluated several lifestyle factors such as dietary habits, physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake, co-morbidities and their association with the prevalence of obesity and overweight in Nkonkobe Municipality of the Eastern Cape.Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted among 118 residents in four rural/sub-urban townships of the study area. Measurements including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), physical activity and dietary habits were determined using a validated questionnaire.Results: The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 38 and 19%, respectively. The highest prevalence of obesity (70%) was observed among those who do not undertake any physical activity. Close to half (48.48%) of the respondents who eat fast foods always were obese, and 30.30% were overweight; when combined, the prevalence for obesity is 78.78%. A negative association with obesity was observed among regular smokers (26.92%) and consumers of alcohol (4.00%). Arthritis, hypertension and tuberculosis were co-morbidities significantly (P < 0.05) associated with obesity in the study area.Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that lack of physical activity, overindulgence on fast and fried foods, low fruit and vegetable consumption as well as arthritis, hypertension and tuberculosis were significant risk factors of obesity in Nkonkobe Municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the nutritional composition and elemental constituents of Kedrostis africana and their safety aspect. Methods Proximate parameters (moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude fat, proteins, and carbohydrate and energy) were evaluated using ALASA methods, and elemental analysis by ICP-OES technique. Results The results from nutritional analysis showed that the tuber used for this study had a low content of crude fat and high content of ash, crude protein, crude fibre, carbohydrate and energy having the recommended dietary allowances. The tuber was rich in major minerals Na, K, Ca and Mg, there was sufficient amount of trace elements Fe, Cu, and Zn while the anti-nutrients oxalate, phytate, alkaloids, and saponins were detected in amounts that are not harmful according to Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. Conclusions The outcome of this study suggests that this wild plant has very good nutritional potentials to meet the recommended dietary allowance and it could be a cheap source of essential nutrients that may ameliorate most nutritional challenges and can contribute remarkably to the amount of nutrient intake in human and animal diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whole plant of Vernonia mespilifolia is widely used as a traditional remedy for obesity in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity and cytotoxic effects of Vernonia mespilifolia extracts in vitro. The α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Vernonia mespilifolia were investigated, while the cytotoxic effects of these extracts were analyzed using Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide (PI) dual staining on a human cervical HeLa cell line. The results showed that the LC50 (the concentration of a material will kill 50% of test organisms) values of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Vernonia mespilifolia were >200 and 149 µg/mL, respectively, to HeLa cells. Additionally, the ethanol extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on the pancreatic lipase (Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 331.16 µg/mL) and on α-amylase (IC50 = 781.72 µg/mL), while the aqueous extract has the strongest α-glucosidase (IC50 = 450.88 µg/mL). Our results suggest that Vernonia mespilifolia's acclaimed anti-obesity effects could be ascribed to its ability to inhibit both carbohydrate and fat digesting enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective.: To evaluate the phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of the acetone, aqueous, and methanol extracts of the fruit, leaf, and root of Cucumis africanus L.f. Methods.: Total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. The free radical scavenging activity of the acetone, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the fruit, leaf, and root were evaluated against DPPH+, ABTS+, and phosphomolybdenum. Alkaloid and saponin contents were also determined. Results.: The acetone extract of the fruit revealed the highest polyphenol content when compared with the other solvent extracts analyzed. Total phenol content of the parts tested ranged from 3.66 ± 0.17 to 44.98 ± 3.41, flavonoid content ranged from 4.63 ± 3.33 to 401.33 ± 7.89, and proanthocyanidin content ranged from 8.84 ± 2.65 to 504 ± 36.6. Significant amount of alkaloids present was observed in the fruits, leaf, and root (10.68 ± 0.68, 14.12 ± 1.67, and 12.15 ± 4.74), respectively, while saponin content was 33.33 ± 11.55, 26.67 ± 11.55, and 20.00 ± 0.00 for the fruit, leaf, and root, respectively. Solvent extracts showed significant antioxidant activity, with acetone showing highest antioxidant ability in correlation with the polyphenol contents. Based on the IC50 values, acetone extract of the root revealed the best DPPH radical scavenging ability, the leaf aqueous extract had the highest IC50 value for ABTS, and the methanol extract of the leaf was best for phosphomolybdenum assays. Conclusion.: This study suggests that fruit, leaf, and root of Cucumis africanus could be a potential source of natural antioxidant and justifies its use in ethnomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia mespilifolia Less. is a shrub of the Asteraceae family used in the South African traditional medicine system for the management of weight loss, hypertension, and heartwater disease. There is a need for scientific evaluation to validate its ethnomedicinal usage. In vitro assays were conducted to evaluate the polyphenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different solvent extracts (acetone, aqueous, and ethanol) of the whole plant of Vernonia mespilifolia spectrophotometric and agar dilution techniques, respectively. The result revealed varying amounts of polyphenolics in the different solvent extracts corresponding to the antioxidant activities. Also, only the acetone and ethanol extracts inhibited the growth of the selected bacteria and fungi. These findings reveal that the extracts have strong bioactive compounds and hence support its ethnomedicinal application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]