In vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo aphrodisiac activity in male Cavia porcellus of Albizia adianthifolia (Schum.) W. Wight and Pericopsis angolensis (Baker) Meeuwen

This study was carried out to evaluate the aphrodisiac and antioxidant activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of two plants used as aphrodisiac in traditional medicine in Kampemba municipality, in Lubumbashi DR Congo. Aqueous and methanolic root bark extracts of both Albizia adianthifolia and Pericopsis angolensis were administered orally to male Cavia porcellus before evaluating their physical behavior in the presence of females and their testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride contents. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH method. At 200 and 250 mg kg-1 body weight (bw), the extracts exhibited a decrease in rise time and intromission time and an increase in ejaculation time, ascending frequency, intromission frequency, ejaculation frequency and testosterone compared to the control group that received sildenafil (10 mg kg-1 bw) used as a reference. A positive relationship between testosterone level and antioxidant activity has also been observed. The aphrodisiac and antioxidant activity observed in the two species justify their uses in traditional medicine as aphrodisiacs. Further work is needed in order to proceed to the isolation and the identification of the active compounds.

Correlation among Physico-Acoustic Properties of Boscia angustifolia and Albizia adianthifolia Wood

Underutilization of some wood species can be largely attributed to a dearth of scientific information. Therefore, identifying the acoustic characteristics of lesser used wood species such as Boscia angustifolia and Albizia adianthifolia wood is expected to encourage their use in acoustic applications. Thus, studying their acoustic properties and the relationship among these properties will help reveal their use potential for acoustic purposes and also highlight possible predictor variable(s) for other acoustic parameters in wood acoustics. This study aimed at measuring the acoustic properties of B. angustifolia and A. adianthifolia wood and investigating the correlation among these properties. Three trees of each species were felled, and a total of 270 wood samples of 20 by 20 by 300 mm3 were collected. The samples were conditioned before acoustic measurement. The longitudinal free vibration method was adopted to measure the acoustic properties. Some of the mean acoustic results obtained for B. angustifolia and A. adianthifolia wood were 835.89 Hz, 3,657.51 m/s, 0.008, 13.59 GPa, 935.39 m4 kg−1 s−1, and 807.78 Hz, 3,542.66 m/s, 0.009, 12.65 GPa, 731.75 m4 kg−1 s−1, respectively, for fundamental sound frequency (FF), velocity of sound (V), damping factor (tan δ), specific dynamic modulus of elasticity (Es), and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE). The correlation of FF with tan δ was negatively significant (−0.59), while it was positively significant with Es and ACE (0.99 and 0.74). This study found the two wood species suitable for making frame boards only and highlights sound frequency and velocity of sound as the major predicting acoustic variables for measuring good acoustic wood.

DYNAMICS OF GROWTH OF ALBIZIA ADIANTHIFOLIA AND ALBIZIA ZYGIA (TWO LOCAL LEGUMINOUS PLANTS WITH RAPID GROWTH) DURING THE REGENERATION OF THE POST-FARMING FALLOW AND DEGRADED SPACES

The threat which is on the forests and wooded spaces of Africa and particularly those of Côte d'Ivoire is accentuated over the years. The quoted leading causes are the land pressure related to demography, the anarchistic exploitation of the forest woody plants and itinerant agriculture. In many cases, the afforestation is the recommended palliative measure. But with which woody plants does one retimber in Côte d'Ivoire? Which assessment are previous initiatives made? On several occasions the exotic woody plants with rapid growth were used without success. The main objective of this study is to identify local woody plants with rapid growths of which the use will contribute to a significant degree to fast regeneration of our forests, degraded spaces and the post-farming fallow. Floristic inventories and measurements were carried out on the stems of Albizia adianthifolia and Albizia zygia in elementary plots of 400 m ² (20m X 20m). Two local arborescent Leguminous plants with rapid growth were identified for this purpose. They were: Albizia adianthifolia and Albizia zygia. The experiments showed that these species reach the maximas of their growth in height and thickness as from nine (9) years. The sowing of the fallow and/or spaces degraded by these woody species supports the fast regeneration of these degraded spaces.

Albizia Adianthifolia: Botany, Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties

The bark, leaves, and roots ofAlbizia adianthifoliaare highly sought after in tropical Africa as herbal medicines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties ofA. adianthifoliaso as to provide baseline data required for evaluating the therapeutic potential of the species. Information on the botanical profile, medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties ofA. adianthifoliawas undertaken using databases such as ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Medline, SCOPUS, EThOS, ProQuest, OATD, and Open-thesis. Preelectronic literature search of conference papers, scientific articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and theses was carried out at the University library. Literature search revealed thatA. adianthifoliais used as purgative and herbal medicine for diabetes, eye problems, gastrointestinal problems, haemorrhoids, headache, neurodegenerative disorders, reproductive problems in women, respiratory problems, wounds and pain, skin diseases, sexually transmitted infections, and ethnoveterinary medicine. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include apocarotenoids, chalcone, dipeptide, elliptosides, essential oils, fatty acids, flavonoids, histamine, imidazolyl carboxylic acid, prosapogenins, steroids, triterpene saponins, and triterpenoids. Pharmacological studies revealed thatA. adianthifoliaextracts and compounds have acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory, anthelmintic, antiamoebic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, anti-sexually transmitted infections, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and antidepressant, cognitive-enhancing, haemolytic, hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxicity activities. Detailed studies on the pharmacokinetics, in vivo,and clinical research involving compounds isolated fromA. adianthifoliaand extracts of the species are required.