Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa. Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Traditional remedies, such as Uvaria chamae, are commonly used in West Africa to treat bacterial infections. To comprehensively evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and resistance induction profiles of U. chamae. Ethanolic, hydroethanolic, and aqueous root and leaves extracts were assayed against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Biofilm inhibition, time-kill kinetics, and bacterial morphology were studied. In vivo efficacy was assessed using a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. Chemical profiling was conducted via UPLC-PDA-QTOF/MS, and cytotoxicity evaluated in A549 and THP-1 cells. The ethanolic extract of the roots was the most potent, showing selective activity against S. aureus and MRSA (MIC = 4 μg/mL, MBC = 8 μg/mL). Time-kill assays confirmed bacteriostatic activity at MIC and bactericidal effects at higher concentrations. The extract effectively disrupted biofilms and did not induce resistance, unlike ciprofloxacin. It did not damage bacterial membranes but altered cell wall morphology. Low cytotoxicity was observed in human cells, and no toxicity was detected in C. elegans. In vivo, the extract significantly reduced bacterial burden in infected nematodes at 14 and 32 μg/mL. LC-MS analysis on active fractions revealed several known antimicrobial compounds, aligning with previously reported metabolite profile of U. chamae roots. U. chamae root extract exhibits strong, selective antibacterial activity with low toxicity, no resistance induction, and in vivo efficacy. These findings support its potential as a locally relevant option to combat AMR in Africa.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Jatropha multifida sap and Artemisia annua Extract on some Clinical Strains Responsible of Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. is a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Benin, treating various diseases such as diabetes, ulcers, parasitic infections, hypertension, and infertility. This plant is under strong anthropogenic pressure due to its overexploitation, putting it in danger of extinction. The study aims to explore the antimicrobial and enzymatic activities of endophytes produced by Pterocarpus erinaceus. Methods: Fresh leaves, stems, and roots of P. erinaceus, collected in two phytogeographical zones of Benin, Savalou and Abomey-Calavi of Benin, were sterilized to eliminate surface microorganisms prior to cultivation and isolation of endophytes. Isolated endophytes were tested for various enzymatic activities (catalase, cellulase, protease, lipase, and amylase), and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated by measuring inhibition diameters. The content of total polyphenols and flavonoids was determined by spectrophotometry. Results: The results showed that bacterial endophytes have a higher colonization (80.55%) and isolation (69.44%) rates than fungal endophytes (44.44% and 50%, respectively). Bacterial endophytes expressed more enzymatic activities such as lecithinase and amylase, whereas fungal endophytes showed little. Only two fungal isolates (HT1a and HF2b) showed antibacterial activity, and one isolate (HF2b) showed antifungal action against Candida albicans, while no bacterial isolate demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity. Fungal isolates show significant variation in polyphenol content, while bacterial isolates show similar levels. As far as flavonoids are concerned, bacterial strains such as F3b and SR2C have high levels, unlike fungal endophytes which contain very few. Conclusion: These results underscore the importance of conserving P. erinaceus while exploring its endophytes for potential therapeutic applications.

Background: Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where type 2 diabetes predominates. In West Africa, Uvaria chamae P. Beauv. is traditionally used for diabetes management. This study investigates previously reported metabolites from Uvaria chamae using an integrated in silico approach to explore their potential antidiabetic activity and underlying mechanisms. Methods: A comprehensive literature survey identified 106 phytochemicals from stems, roots, leaves, and seeds. Diabetes-related protein targets were retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank, while ligand structures were obtained from PubChem and the COCONUT database. Molecular docking, MM-GBSA rescoring, induced-fit docking, QSAR, and ADMET analyses were performed to evaluate interaction profiles, predicted activity, and developability. Results: The integrated analysis supports a polypharmacological mixture-based profile with organ-associated trends. Stem- and root-derived flavonoids, particularly isouvaretin and diuvaretin, showed the most consistent profiles for PPARγ-related pathways, while uvarinol was associated with PTP1B. Leaf alkaloids were mainly linked to DPP-4 and digestive enzyme inhibition. These compounds displayed more favorable predicted pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles compared to acetogenins, which, despite favorable binding energies, were not prioritized as drug-like candidates due to their high lipophilicity, low QED values, and predicted toxicity liabilities, but may contribute to extract-level activity. Conclusion: These findings provide a hypothesis-generating and hierarchical framework for the prioritization of Uvaria chamae metabolites and extracts, supporting further experimental validation through enzymatic, cellular, and gene expression studies.

Uvaria chamae, commonly known as finger root or bush banana, has attracted considerable interest across West Africa due to its ethnomedicinal importance, edible value, and reported antidiabetic and anti-infectious properties. Thus, increasing demand for the species in traditional medicine has led to intensive harvesting from the wild, threatening its survival. Despite its significance, knowledge essential for its sustainable management, conservation, and utilization remains limited and fragmented. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the existing knowledge on U. chamae. Relevant literature was retrieved through systematic searches across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ResearchGate, African Journals Online, and the Environmental Science Collection using structured and targeted search terms. The review covers taxonomy, geographical distribution, ecology, morphological variation, propagation techniques, phytochemical composition, and documented health benefits of the species. In addition, it critically evaluates current evidence regarding its antidiabetic and anti-infectious activities, toxicity profile, and potential clinical applications. The available evidence highlights U. chamae as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential for the development of antidiabetic and anti-infectious therapeutics. By consolidating current knowledge and identifying existing research gaps, this review provides a foundation for future studies and supports ongoing efforts toward conservation, domestication, sustainable utilization, and valorization of U. chamae.