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In this chapter, the traditional uses, the phytochemistry, and the cytotoxic potential of Albizia adianthifolia (Schum.) (Fabaceae) have been provided. The plant is traditionally used to treat sexually transmitted infections, gastrointestinal tract disorders, headaches, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, respiratory disorders, injuries, pain, and female fertility problems. Several pharmacological studies have demonstrated the activity of botanicals from different parts of this plant against human cancer cell lines. Phytochemical studies of the plant revealed 26 compounds belonging to terpenoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. Their cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines has been reported. Botanicals and phytochemicals from A. adianthifolia are potential sources of cytotoxic drugs to fight cancers including the refractory phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with cancer have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections. This study was carried out to determine the bacterial origins of enteric disorders in cancer patients and noncancer patients at the Oncology Department of Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to March 2023. Stool samples from 307 cancer patients with enteric disorders and 200 noncancer patients with enteric disorders were examined to diagnose the presence of bacteria using various techniques. Among all participants in this study, 62.13% were female and 37.87% were male. The average age of the participants was 46.38 ± 15.81 years, with a minimum age of 10 years and a maximum age of 84 years. The average age of participants was significantly higher (p < 0.000) in cancer patients (49.54 ± 14.65 years) compared to noncancer patients (41.53 ± 16.33 years). Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Yersinia intemedia, and Klebsiella oxytoca were more frequently isolated in cancer patients than in noncancer patients, with the respective percentages of 56.25% versus 43.75%, 50.00% versus 50.00%, 61.66% versus 38.34%, 66.66% versus 33.34%, 72.22% versus 27.78%, 80.00 versus 20.00%, and 100% versus 0.00%. Most isolates were sensitive to imipenem (IMP), gentamicin (GEN), and amikacin (AMK). Proteus vulgaris, the most prevalent isolate, showed significantly high resistance (with p < 0.05) in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients at amoxicillin/clavuranic acid (AMC) (89.13% versus 41.30%), ceftriaxone (CTR) (63.04% versus 39.13%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (65.22% versus 34.18%), and tetracycline (TET) (93.48% versus 63.04%). Multidrug resistance was observed in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients for Klebsiella pneumoniae (85.00% versus 60.00%), Salmonella typhi (84.62% versus 60.00%), and Klebsiella oxytoca (86.49% versus 43.48%). The increase in the number of Gram‐negative infections among cancer patients, as shown in the present study, highlights the need for broad‐spectrum therapy and effective planning of control programs to reduce bacterial diseases among cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the highest incidence of cervical cancer is seen in Sub-Saharan Africa. Plants have long been recognized as a fascinating source of anti-tumor medications. The present chapter aimed at compiling information on African medicinal plants and the phytochemicals they produce that have been reported for their anticancer properties and modes of action against cervical malignancies. Based on the established cutoff points for the classification of anticancer activity of natural products, 55 anti-cervical cancer plants were identified from eleven African countries. The most active African botanicals against cervical cancer are Rosmarinus officinalis, Sarcocephalus pobeguinii, Acokanthera schimperi, Kalanchoe petitiana, and Euphorbia schimperiana. Among the identified compounds from African medicinal plants, the most active against cervical cancer lines are diterpenoids ent-trachyloban-3β-ol (1) and ent-trachyloban-3-one (3). The potent cytotoxic botanicals and phytochemicals identified are potential sources of anti-tumor drugs against cancer and should be further explored to develop herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals to tackle cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancer diagnosed but causes most fatalities. It is the most prevalent malignancy diagnosed in the United States. Scientific databases like Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar were used to retrieve information on the cytotoxic activity of botanicals and phytochemicals from the flora of Africa toward drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant (MDR) melanoma cancer cells. This information was further compiled. As a result, botanicals from Piper capense and Callicarpa longissimi as well as 8,8-bis-(dihydroconiferyl)-diferulate (1), licarin A (2), and soyauxinium chloride (3) were the more suitable samples that could be helpful to combat the multidrug resistance of melanoma cell lines. Extensive preclinical and clinical studies on these natural products are required, to develop novel anti-melanoma drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor. In this document, data on the cytotoxicity of plant products from the flora of Africa against drug sensitive and multidrug-resistant (MDR) GBM cell lines were collected from various scientific databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Scholar Google. As a result, the cytotoxicity of 42 botanicals and 112 cytotoxic phytochemicals are reported. They were further compiled and ranked following rationally established cut-off values for cytotoxic products from natural sources, to identify the potential phytomedicine. The crude extracts from Vepris soyauxii, Albizia adianthifolia, Curcuma longa, Piper capense, Anonidium mannii, and Uapaca togoensis were identified as the most suitable to combat the drug resistance GBM cells. Compounds identified as the most suitable to fight the multidrug resistance of GBM were isotetrandrine (5), aridanin (11), 7,7″-di-O-methylchamaejasmin (12), isoxanthochymol (13), and canniflavone (14), guieranone A (15), guttiferone E (16), isogarcinol (17), epunctanone (21), hydnocarpin (23), soyauxinium chloride (25), arborinine (27), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (28), licarin A (30) and B (31), and bidwillon A (32). These natural products deserve further investigations to produce novel naturally based medicine to combat glioblastoma, including the MDR phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the paucity of information on the relative frequency of cancers around the world and their socio-economic consequences in different regions, relatively little is known about the global burden of cancer and associated drug resistance. Although there is no reliable data on its incidence and evolution, with estimates varying according to the development index of the countries concerned, cancer is one of the main causes of death and disability in the world. Several treatments are available, but many treatment methods are ineffective because of resistance to anticancer drugs. Although previously thought to be rare in some communities, cancer, and drug-resistant cancer have recently been found to be common, and the situation has worsened since the HIV-AIDS pandemic about three decades ago. Drug resistance may be due to the activation of intrinsic (pre-existing) or acquired (drug-induced) mechanisms, and favors therapeutic failure, hence the need to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of drug resistance. The advanced stage of diagnosis and the unavailability/high cost of therapeutic agents result in a significant economic burden for the patient, his or her family, the community, and the country. This chapter of the book describes the incidence and burden of cancer, as well as global concerns about cancer drug resistance and resistance mechanisms, and finally provides updates on the global burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Opportunistic infections are the second cause of death among cancer patients. This study aimed at determining the antimicrobial profile and the prevalence of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL)‐gene carriage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates among cancer patients at the Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Littoral Region of Cameroon. Between October 2021 and March 2023, 507 study participants were recruited among whom 307 (60.55%) were cancer patients, compared to 200 (39.45%) noncancer patients. Fifty‐eight P. aeruginosa isolates were isolated from fecal samples of forty‐five cancer patients and thirteen noncancer patients using Cetrimide agar. The antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates was determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. The polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase genes among P. aeruginosa isolates. P. aeruginosa showed significant resistance rates in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients to imipenem, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime, piperacillin‐tazobactam, ticarcillin‐clavulanic acid, and ciprofloxacin. The multidrug resistance (MDR) rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cancer patients than in noncancer patients. The frequency of beta‐lactamase genes in the 58 ESBL‐producing P. aeruginosa isolates was determined as 72.41% for blaTEM, 37.93% for blaOXA, 74.14% for blaCTX‐M, and 44.83% for blaSHV genes. The study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of fecal carriage of ESBL‐producing P. aeruginosa with a high rate of MDR among cancer patients. It indicates that regular monitoring and surveillance of ESBL‐producing P. aeruginosa among cancer patients are needed to improve the management of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]