Editor: Akhmetova Aigerim
Author: Aldiyarbek Nurlan
Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are a group of infectious and parasitic diseases that mainly affect the poorest segments of the population in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Chronic infections of schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis can be fatal. Schistosomiasis is caused by the blood flukes Schistosome haematobium and S. mansoni . Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus . Lymphatic filariasis, also called elephantiasis, is caused by the parasitic filariasis worm Wuchereria bancrofti .
In the new work, Dorcas Osei-Sappho of the University of Ghana and her colleagues obtained 15 traditional medicines used to treat NTD in local communities from the Ghana Federation of Traditional Practitioners. Medicines were available in the form of water-based herbal preparations or dried powdered herbs. In all cases, raw extracts were prepared from herbs and tested in the laboratory for their ability to treat various NTD.
Two extracts, NTD-B4-DCM and NTD-B7-DCM, showed high activity against adult S. mansoni worms, reducing their movement by 78.4% and 84.3%, respectively. Another extract, NTD-B2-DCM, was most active against adult Onchocera onchengi worms, killing 100% of males and more than 60% of females. Eight of the 26 crude extracts tested, including NTD-B4-DCM and NTD-B2 - DCM, also showed good activity against trypanosomes, parasites that cause other human diseases, but were not the initial target for traditional drugs.
"By leveraging indigenous knowledge systems that have evolved over the centuries, we can potentially uncover a wealth of untapped research and shape it by conducting robust scientific research to create safe, effective, and high-quality medicines," the researchers say.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201231143821.htm
