A robust, well-functioning immune system is the cornerstone of good health. Various factors may influence the immune system’s effectiveness, potentially leading to immune system failure. This review aims to provide an overview of the structure and action of immunomodulators isolated from African medicinal plants. The research was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Full-text access research articles published in English up to December 2023, including plant characteristics, isolated phytochemicals, and immuno-modulatory activities, were screened. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were generated using ChemDraw^® (version 12.0.1076), and convergent and distinctive signaling pathways were highlighted. These phytochemicals with demonstrated immunostimulatory activity include alkaloids (berberine, piperine, magnoflorine), polysaccharides (pectin, glucan, acemannan, CALB-4, GMP90-1), glycosides (syringin, cordifolioside, tinocordiside, aucubin), phenolic compounds (ferulic acid, vanillic acid, eupalitin), flavonoids (curcumin, centaurein, kaempferin, luteolin, guajaverin, etc.), terpenoids (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, boswellic acids, corosolic acid, nimbidin, andrographolides). These discussed compounds exert their effects through various mechanisms, targeting the modulation of MAPKs, PI3K-Akt, and NF-kB. These mechanisms can support the traditional use of medicinal plants to treat immune-related diseases. The outcomes of this overview are to provoke structural action optimization, to orient research on particular natural chemicals for managing inflammatory, infectious diseases and cancers, or to boost vaccine immunogenicity.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide pharmacological evidence of Pseudocedrela kotschyi and Ximenia americana in preventing or healing peptic ulcers claimed by traditional healers in Burkina Faso. Methods: The trunk bark of Pseudocedrela kotschyi and the roots bark of Ximenia americana (Olacaceae) were macerated in mixed ethanol/water (80:20), respectively, to obtain dried extracts. Two models of hydrochloric acid (HCl, 0.3 M/ethanol, 60%) and hypothermic stress-induced peptic ulcer were used. The cytoprotective effect of individual or combined plant extracts was assessed at 1; 10; 30mg/kg. bw. Then, the healing effect of the extracts at 10mg/kg.bw was evaluated within 21 days of treatment on the hydrochloric acid-induced ulcer model. The extracts’ antioxidant activity and phenolic content were assessed to support the plant extracts’ efficiency. Results: The extracts of P. kotschyi and X. americana at 10 mg/kg.bw reduced ulceration index in hydrochloric acid- and hypothermic stress-ulcer models by more than 83% and 65%, respectively. The extract from X. americana at 10mg/kg.bw allowed complete ulcer healing but not the association of the two plant extracts. The plant extracts had IC₅₀of inhibition of DPPH radical lower than 5μg/mL and total ferric reducing antioxidant power of more than 77 mg EQAA/100mg. The total polyphenolic content was 64.82 ± 0.99 and 53.75 ± 1.39 mg EGA/g of dried extract of P. kotschyi and X. americana, respectively. Conclusion: X. americana extract is better than the combined two plant extracts in gastric cytoprotection and ulcer healing. Further investigations are needed to highlight mechanism-based effects.

INPLASY202410116 A Systematic Review Of Chemical Compounds With Immunomodulatory Action Isolated From African Medicinal Plants Keywords: African medicinal plants ; Phytochemicals; Immunomodulators …

Carica papaya is used alone or with other herbs in traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases; nonetheless, comprehensive scientific validation of this claim is limited. We conducted this preliminary study to explore its immunomodulatory potential through cytokine modulation. An aqueous ethanolic crude extract of plant leaves was evaluated for phytochemical groups, total flavonoid, and phenolic content using aluminum chloride and Folin-Ciocalteu’s methods. The crude extract and its derived fractions were compared with thin-layer chromatography, and antioxidant properties were assessed using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and the Ferric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power assay. Additionally, the effects of the extracts on cell proliferation, cytokine, and nitric oxide release by mouse peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow multipotent cells in culture were evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and the Griess reagent. The cells were collected from Swiss strain mice (12 mice). Carica papaya leaf crude extract contained alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and terpenoids. The crude extract’s total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 14.07±5.76 gallic acid equivalents and 22.58±3.05 quercetin equivalents per gram of extract. The crude extract showed more potent antioxidant activity. Crude extract and fractions stimulated the proliferation of peritoneal macrophages at 1–10μg/mL and bone marrow multipotent cells at 0.01–0.3μg/mL in a concentration-dependent manner. Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α production were significantly increased, while interleukin-1β production was inhibited in treated peritoneal macrophages. Treated bone marrow cells increased granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, stem cell factor, and thrombopoietin secretion and decreased interleukin-3 production. Nitric oxide production was 10–20 times higher in bone marrow compared to peritoneal macrophage cells. Carica papaya leaf crude extract and fractions exhibit immunomodulatory effects by promoting cytokine release and peritoneal macrophage and bone marrow cell proliferation, explaining the use of C. papaya in infectious diseases in traditional medicine. Further exploration is needed for applications in immune-related diseases.

Background: Newborns are exposed to drug therapeutic risks due to off-label prescribing and immaturity. The purpose of this study is to identify drug-related problems through the prescription and administration of drugs in the neonatology Unit and identify the need for pharmaceutical interventions. Methods: To assess drug-related problems, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted over five days at the neonatology Unit of the Pediatric University Hospital Charles de Gaulle in Burkina Faso. The study population consisted of newborns receiving drug prescriptions and treatment for five days. Results: Prematurity (50%) and early neonatal infection (53.3%) were the most common reasons for admission. A total of 380 prescription lines were recorded. Injectable and oral forms represented 72.1% and 26.3% respectively. Prescription lines in 16.8% were off-label medicines. An accuracy of drug dosages at 6.1% and an accuracy of prescribed doses at 52.7%, characterized therapeutic regimens. The prescribed drug administrations were performed in 80.0% with compliant doses and administration scheduled time 1 hour in 53.4 % and 54.6 %, respectively. Prescribers and nurses accepted 92.6% and 93.9% of proposed pharmaceutical interventions to solve drug-related problems. Conclusion. Our study emphasizes the importance of a clinical pharmacist within the health care team for the safe and efficient prescription and administration of newborn medication.