Respiratory tract infections have gained worldwide recognition especially due to the increased incidence of HIV/AIDS. The bacteria responsible for these infections have also become increasingly resistant to chemotherapeutic agents in lower respiratory infections in Kibwezi in Kenya. Interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires and detailed discussions with respondents. During ...

BACKGROUND The study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory activity of fractions and extracts obtained from Strychnos spinosa leaves on a mediator of inflammation nitric oxide (NO). MATERIALS AND METHODS Leaves were extracted with acetone and separated into fractions with different polarities by solvent-solvent fractionation. The Griess assay was used to determine the nitric oxide (N...

The selective modulation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux pumps overexpressed in multidrug resistant cancers (MDR) and attendant resensitization to chemotherapeutic agents represent a promising strategy for treating cancer. We have synthesized four novel pentacyclic Strychnos alkaloids alstolucines B (2), F (3), and A (5) and N-demethylalstogucine (4), in addition to known Strychnos alkaloi...

Strychnos potatorum Linn.F. is a medicinally important endangered forest tree species which belongs to Loganiaceae and is also known as nirmali and clearing nut tree. In traditional medicinal systems like Ayurveda, Siddha and Greek, the plant parts are used for treating eye and urinary tract infections; gonorrhoea and kidney troubles, leucorrhoea, tuberculosis, diabetes, venereal diseases and a...

Co-aggregation was attempted in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS-571 with other agriculturally important microorganisms such as Azospirillum brasilense MTCC-125, Azotobacter chroococcum MTCC-446, Bacillus megatherium MTCC-3353, and Pseudomonas fl uorescens MTCC-4828 to develop coaggregates with multiple benefi ts using seed powders of diff erent plants viz., Moringa oleifera, Strychnos potatorum an...

In 1897, Eduard Tangl observed striations between cells in the cotyledons of Strychnos nuxvomica and hypothesized that the “the protoplasmic bodies. . . are united by thin strands passing through connecting ducts in the walls, which put the cells into connection with each other and so unite them to an entity of higher order” (for review, see 2). This was a prophetic view of the symplasm, a term...

Strychnos wallichiana (Loganiaceae) is a critically endangered medicinal plant, commonly used in several native medical practices. The majority of members of the Strychnos genus shares a similar chemical composition and contains common indole alkaloids. Purification of strychnine and brucine from a few species of Strychnos have already been reported; however, we have purified and quantified the...

Isostrychnopentamine (ISP) is an indolomonoterpenic alkaloid that is present in the leaves of Strychnos usambarensis, a well known African shrub or little tree. The roots contain quaternary alkaloids, which are used to make a curare-like arrow poison. However, tertiary alkaloids isolated from the same plant possess cytotoxic activities against mammalian cells and protozoa. The effect of ISP has...