Ethnobotanical Survey, Bioactivity and Safety of Medicinal Plants used in the Management of Candidiasis in Pader District, Northern Uganda

dc.contributor.author Akwongo, Betty
dc.date.accessioned 2024-12-09T15:54:17Z
dc.date.available 2024-12-09T15:54:17Z
dc.date.issued 2024-09-13
dc.description A Thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in Fulfillment for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Makerere University. en_US
dc.description.abstract Background: The emergence of resistant Candida species to most conventional drugs has led to resurgence in herbal usage. Objectives: This study documented anti-candida plants in Pader district, assessed their antifungal activities and safety. Methods: Ethnobotanical data of potential anti-candida plants was collected using questionnaires among 63 herbalists identified by snowball technique. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to ascertain community’s perceptions on the use of anti-candida plants using interview guide. Roots/ stem barks of five priority anti-candida plants: Sansevieria dawei Stapf, Momordica foetida Schumach., Distimake dissectus (Jacq.) A. R. Simões & Staples, Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC. and Mitragyna rubrostipulata (K.Schum.) Havil. were collected and extracted using petroleum ether, methanol and total water extraction. Agar well diffusion and broth micro dilution methods were respectively used to screen and verify antifungal activity of these plants against resistant and susceptible strains of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Toxicity assessment of methanolic stem bark extracts of K. anthotheca was done according to OECD guidelines 425 and 407 for acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation respectively. Results: Thirty-two plant species were documented for treatment of candidiasis. Five priority plants were Momordica foetida (26), Sansevieria dawei (20), Khaya anthotheca (15), Mitragyna rubrostipulata (05) and Distimake dissectus (05), of which, the aqueous extract at 24.4 oC of M. rubrostipulata (ZOI: 18.00±1.00 - 38.33±0.17; MIC: 3.13±0.00 - 20.83±4.17), methanol extract of K. anthotheca (10.11±0.31 -15.11±0.65; 1.04±0.26-12.50±0.00), and combination of aqueous extract at 60 oC of D. dissectus + methanol extract of K. anthotheca (7.89±0.26 - 19.67±0.37; 0.78±0.00- 50.00±0.00) exhibited activity against all tested Candida species, unlike the positive controls that cleared only some. Generally, the methanolic stem bark extract of K. anthotheca was safe at LD50 ˃ 5000mg/kg b.w, and was well tolerated at 125mg/kg b.w at sub-acute. However, higher subacute doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w were toxic to the liver and stomach. Conclusion: Thirty two plants used by Pader communities against candidiasis were documented. Methanol extract of K. anthotheca, aqueous extract at 24.4 oC of M. rubrostipulata, and combination of aqueous extract at 60 oC of D. dissectus + methanol extract of K. anthotheca demonstrated activity against all Candida species tested. The most efficacious plant, K. anthotheca was generally safe at acute (LD50 ˃ 5000mg/kg body weight) and subacute (125mg/kg of body weight) toxicity tests. However, the long term treatment with higher extract doses above 250 mg/kg was toxic to the liver and stomach. Thus, long term administration of the extract at high doses should be done with cautions of the likely side effects. en_US
dc.description.sponsorship MAKRIF for PhD students, RUFORUM en_US
dc.identifier.citation Akwongo, B. (2024). Ethnobotanical Survey, Bioactivity and Safety of Medicinal Plants used in the Management of Candidiasis in Pader District, Northern Uganda . (PhD Botany). (Unpublished PhD Thesis). Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10570/13922
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Makerere University. en_US
dc.subject medicinal plants en_US
dc.subject Candidiasis en_US
dc.subject fungal infections en_US
dc.subject Antifungal activity en_US
dc.subject Candida species en_US
dc.subject Multidrug resistance en_US
dc.subject Acute toxicity en_US
dc.subject Sub-acute toxicity en_US
dc.subject Khaya anthotheca en_US
dc.subject Safety en_US
dc.subject bioactivity en_US
dc.subject Hematological parameters en_US
dc.subject Biochemical parameters en_US
dc.subject Histopathology en_US
dc.subject Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) en_US
dc.subject Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) en_US
dc.title Ethnobotanical Survey, Bioactivity and Safety of Medicinal Plants used in the Management of Candidiasis in Pader District, Northern Uganda en_US
dc.type Thesis en_US
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