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Preformulation Characterization of Aqueous Extracts from The Leaves of Antimalarial Plants-Artemisia Annua L., Vernonia Amygdalina Del., And Microglossa Pyrifolia (Lam.) Kuntze
(International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics, 2025) Angupale, Jimmy R.; Ajayi, Clement O.; Tusiimire, Jonans; Ngwuluka, Ndidi C.
Objective: The current study aimed at characterising relevant physical and chemical properties of antimalarial aqueous extracts from the leaves of Artemisia annua (Aa), Vernonia amygdalina (Va), and Microglossa pyrifolia (Mp) to build a solid foundation for the development of stable dosage forms.
Methods: The aqueous extracts were profiled for key antimalarial chemical markers, aqueous solubility, partition coefficient, permeability, and powder flow properties using standard procedure with modifications where applicable. The powder compaction behaviours were studied using Kawakita and tablet ability models.
Results: Aa extract had 11.2 % of total flavonoids and 0.27 % of artemisinin as its antimalarial chemical markers. Va and Mp extracts contained 0.07 % and 28.5 % total terpenoids as their respective chemical markers. All the extracts exhibited high solubility and low permeability, qualifying them as class III crude drugs based on the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). Mp had excellent flow (angle of repose 18.9, Hausner Ratio 1.2, and Carr’s Index 13 %) while Va and Aa had passable flow, thus requiring a glidant. The powder samples underwent plastic deformation, according to the Kawakita plot. Aa also showed the highest level of tabletability, followed by Va, and lastly, Mp (Area under curves of 18.5, 9.2, and 7.8 for Aa, Va and Mp, respectively).
Conclusion: Based on their chemical and physical properties, the Aa, Va, and Mp aqueous extracts can be incorporated into stable, bioavailable, and modern herbal drug delivery systems or dosage forms.
Perception of medical students at public universities in Uganda on their education environment: a cross-sectional study
(BMC Medical Education, 2024) Muganzi, David Jolly; Kintu, Timothy Mwanje; Nakandi, Racheal Mukisa; Mukisa, Racheal; Atim, Immaculate Kaducu; Mwaka, Francis; Kizza, Blair; Ngonzi, Joseph
Background: The healthcare workforce is one of the six core components of a well-functioning and sufficient health system. The WHO highlights that improving education and training of the health workforce is critical to improving health systems. Medical education is a pillar of the healthcare workforce. The educational environment - the physical circumstances or conditions under which learning takes place - is an important factor determining medical education’s effectiveness. Its academic and clinical effects significantly determine medical students’ attitudes, knowledge, skills, progression, and behaviors. To ensure strong health systems, there is a need for improvement in medical education. Improvement must be contextual and informed by locally relevant data. This study, which assessed Ugandan medical students’ perception of their learning environment, provides crucial context-specific data highly relevant to the current state of medical education in Uganda.
Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students across five medical schools in Uganda between December 2021 and February 2022. Participants completed an online questionnaire with a demographics section and the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) tool. The data was analyzed using R in R Studio version 2021.09.0+351. The average score for each DREEM sub-scale and the total DREEM score were calculated, and their relationship with demographic characteristics was examined.
Results: The average total DREEM score of the 335 participants was 112.27/200 (56.12%). We found that 69% (231/335) of the students had a positive perception. The sub-scale mean scores were as follows: Perception of Atmosphere – 25.14/48, Social Self-perception −14.94/28, Perception of Teachers −24.86/44, Perception of Learning −28.8/48, and Academic Self-perceptions – 19.04/32. “There is a good support system for students who get stressed” was the item with the lowest mean score (1.41/5).
Conclusions: The study’s findings indicate that medical students’ perceptions of their learning environment are just above average. This suggests a need for improvement, particularly in the atmosphere and social support, to ensure the training of a robust health workforce. The results of this study should motivate stakeholders to initiate changes that will enhance the quality of medical education in Uganda.
Ethnobotany, floristic and phytochemical studies of medicinal plants used to treat uterine fibroids in Mbarara City, Uganda
(Phytomedicine Plus, 2025) Nantinda, Calton; Kisakye, Esther Lynnet; Musana, David; Ssessanga, Isaac; Ssenabulya, Ukashar; Omara, Timothy; Kahwa, Ivan; Nalimu, Florence
Uterine fibroids (UF) are the most common non-cancerous benign gynaecologic tumours in premenopausal females. In Uganda, the prevalence of UF is estimated at 20%, and several risk factors have been identified as contributing to this prevalence. This study aimed to document the ethnobotanical knowledge of traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda on the use of medicinal plants for UF management. The TMPs play a vital role in the healthcare within this region, often incorporating conventional diagnostic methods such as ultrasound scans before providing herbal treatments. To achieve the study aim, data was collected from April 2024 to May 2024 using structured questionnaires administered. Twenty-six (26) respondents were selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were gathered on sociodemographic characteristics, treatment-seeking behaviour, and use of herbal formularies for treatment of UF. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics, and computation of the frequency of citation, relative frequency of citation and fidelity level. Our results indicated that most TMPs knew about UF and valued conventional means of diagnosis before initiating herbal treatment. Forty-seven (47) plant species belonging to 32 families and 45 genera were identified. Fabaceae (10.6%), Asteraceae, Lamiaceae (8.5% each), Asparagaceae and Cucurbitaceae (6.4% each) were the most ordinary families. At the same time, Oxygonum sinuatum, Hoslundia opposita, Opuntia ficus-indica, Sesamum angustifolium, Phyllathus niruri, Ricinus communis, Erythrina abyssinica and Leonotis nepetifolia were the most frequently cited species. Leaves (47.6%), stems (17.5%) and flowers (9.5%) of herbs (61.7%), trees (23.4%) and shrubs (14.9%) were the primarily utilized plant parts for preparing decoctions that are administered orally (94%). Classical phytochemical screening of plant organs from the eight most cited species indicated flavonoids, phytosterols, terpenoids, saponins and alkaloids. With initial evidence of the bioactive secondary metabolites, this study underscores the need for further bioassay-guided studies to isolate and characterize bioactive molecules associated with the anti-fibroid efficacy of the species.
Liver fluke and schistosome cross-infection risk between livestock and wild mammals in Western Uganda, a One Health approach
(International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 2024) Namirembe, Daisy; Huyse, Tine; Wangalwa, Rapheal; Tumusiime, Julius; Tolo, Casim Umba
Trematodiases strongly reduce the welfare of humans and animals causing a great decline in health and productivity. Insufficient data on the extent of trematode infection in definitive hosts and associated risk factors remain a great threat to its control. A cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the; prevalence of liver flukes and schistosomes in livestock and wild mammals and the socio-ecological risk factors associated with their spread. Fresh dung samples were collected opportunistically (n = 865) and examined using formal ether sedimentation and microscopy for parasite eggs. Twelve abattoir visits were conducted to examine the livers of animals killed for mature flukes. Key informants (n = 110) including farmers, butchers, game rangers, and herders were interviewed to document the socio-ecological risk factors. In the abattoirs, 57.1%(CI 0.422–0.712) of cattle were infected with Fasciola flukes and not sheep and goats. Cattle dung had the highest prevalence (56% CI 0.518–0.604) of Fasciola eggs, followed by sheep (50%, CI 0.319–0.681) and goats (28.2%, CI 0.218–0.353). Among wild mammals, hippos’ dung (66%; 95% CI 0.53–0.777) had the highest prevalence of Fasciola followed by warthogs (8%; 95% CI 0.002–0.385) and baboons (6.7%; CI 0.002–0.319). No Fasciola eggs were observed in elephant dung (n = 21) and monkeys (n = 2). Schistosoma bovis was found in cattle dung from Mpeefu (2.6%; 95% CI 0.007–0.066) and Ndaiga (4.3%; 95% CI 0.022–0.075) while S. mattheei in goats’ (1.4%; 95% CI 0.00–0.075) and cattle (0.39%; 95% CI 0.00–0.021) dung samples from Ndaiga. Key informants had moderate knowledge of fasciolosis (62.7%), highest among butchers (89.7%), and lowest among herders (31.8%). Only veterinary officers knew about schistosomiasis in animals. Free-range grazing and unsafe water sources for livestock, shared with wild animals, were the risky practices by most farmers (66–100%). Fasciola was prevalent in livestock and wild mammals, while Schistosoma in cattle and goats.
Methods families use to raise funds for anorectal malformation treatment at a single public referral hospital in Southwestern Uganda
(World Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2024) Oyania, Felix; Eze, Anthony N; Ullrich, Sarah; Kotagal, Meera; Ozgediz, Doruk
Background: In Uganda, only two public hospitals provide pediatric surgery services. With less than 10 pediatric surgeons serving approximately 20million children in Uganda, most patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs) must make several trips to the hospital before undergoing surgery. As a result, households borrow money, sell assets, or solicit contributions from friends and relatives to meet healthcare expenses. We used a crosssectional study to examine methods families use to raise funds for the treatment of ARMs at a single institution in Southwestern Uganda.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric surgery unit at a Regional Referral Hospital/ University Teaching Hospital in Southwestern Uganda from June 2021 to July 2023. Participants included caretakers of children presenting with ARMs for treatment at our referral hospital.
Results: A total of 157 participants were enrolled. Mothers were the main caregivers (77.9%) present at the hospital. Out of a median monthly household income of UGX200 000 (US$51.68), families spent a median of UGX50 000 (US$12.92) to travel to the hospital. To raise funds for healthcare expenses, 68% of households reported selling assets.
Conclusion: Families sell household assets to afford ARMs treatment in Southwestern Uganda. Financial protection by the government through a national child health insurance policy would shield families from substantial health related expenditures and decrease this burden. In addition, targeted policy to strengthen pediatric surgical capacity through workforce expansion and skills training such as the Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course, may minimize costs, improve timeliness of care, and prevent case cancellations.