Savina Asiimwe

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Background The emergence of multidrug resistant Candida species to available drugs has led to renewed interest in the use of herbal medicines globally. This study scientifically verified antifungal effectiveness of five commonly used plant species in Pader district, against selected pathogenic candida strains. Methods Powdered roots of Momordica f...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Malaria is among the most prevalent and devastating parasitic diseases globally with most cases reported in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the major reasons for the high malaria prevalence is the ever-increasing emergence of resistant strains of malaria-causing parasites to the currently used antimalarial drugs. This, t...

Background Globally, diarrheal and respiratory diseases are among the main causes of mortality and morbidity. In Uganda, cities are facing proliferation of trade in herbal medicines (HM), including those for diarrhea and/or cough. Information on the economic, and the ethnopharmacological aspects of these HM is scarce, deterring the sector from achi...

The high global bacterial infection burden has created need to investigate the neglected potential drivers of pathogenic bacteria, to inform disease prevention. Kampala is facing a proliferation of herbalists, selling herbal medicine (HM), of largely unregulated microbiological quality. We evaluated the bacterial contamination burden in HM sold in...

Background Rural populations in Uganda rely heavily on medicinal plants for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. However, the efficacy of these medicinal plants for their pharmacological action is not known. The study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of Spermacoce princeae , Psorospermum febrif...

Background Diarrheal and respiratory ailments are major causes of global deaths, and are mostly escalated by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), warranting novel therapies against ARB. In Uganda, plants like C. pyrrhopappa, E. abyssinica, C. limon, M. foetida, C. flexuosus, and C. citrinus are often used to treat diarrhea and/or cough. Some of the...

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance is swiftly increasing all over the world. In Africa, it manifests more in pathogenic bacteria in form of antibiotic resistance (ABR). On this continent, bacterial contamination of commonly used herbal medicine (HM) is on the increase, but information about antimicrobial resistance in these contaminants i...

Some African countries have decriminalized cannabis production for medicinal purposes. This has resulted in the commercial cultivation of the once illegal crop from hidden areas to either indoor or outdoor gardens. Cannabis health and socio-economic effects have been widely researched while ignoring its environmental impacts on commercial-scale cul...

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance globally. Cannabis is an important crop in Africa and was originally cultivated by poor farmers who could not benefit from legal agriculture. Currently, African farmers produce enough cannabis to meet continental demand while exporting small quantities. We reviewed the literature on cannabis cultiv...

Cannabis has been used for recreation and in traditional medicine in Africa for centuries since its introduction by Arab traders from India. Though Cannabis contains a variety of phytochemicals, its psychotropic activity is attributed mainly to the psychoactive compound Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC). Additionally, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabi...

Background Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world, and those caused by bacteria are common in the East African region. In this region, trade and consumption of herbal medicine has been expanding in the recent decades. Herbal medicines may be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria; however, there is lim...

Background: Globally, diarrheal and respiratory diseases are among the top ten causes of mortality, and are the major ailments for which humans seek treatment. Kampala, the capital city of Uganda is facing a proliferation of herbalists that sell herbal medicine (HM) used to manage ailments such as diarrhea and cough. The ethnopharmacological and ec...

Background Medicinal plants form an integral part of many health care systems in Uganda. This study aimed at documenting the therapeutic importance of plant species used in primary health care among communities living adjacent to Mabira and Mpanga forest reserves in Central Uganda. Methods An ethnobotanical study was conducted between April and Ju...

This study was done to document medicinal plants used in the management of dermatological disorders. Documentation of plants is important for conservation especially of rare and endangered plant species. The study was done in Buyende and Kayunga districts in Uganda, between April and July 2017. Data was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires...

According to the World Health Organization, the global burden of neurological disorders (NDs) is projected to increase from 92 at present to 103 million Disability Life Adjusted Years (DALYs) by 2030. However, NDs are not prioritized in modern healthcare systems considering the funds allocated and the limited availability of specialized modern heal...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional medicine plays an important role in the daily lives of the people of Uganda to treat a wide range of health problems. Our study presents results of an ethnobotanical inventory conducted to identify and document medicinal and nutritional plants used in the management of opportunistic infections associated...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Plectranthus amboinicus is used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases and ailments including opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS. However, there is little insight as to the possible toxic effects of this herbal formulation on major organ systems of the body. This study was designed to ass...