Suriname Research Articles

Effects of plants with presumed cardiotonic properties on the decreased contractility of isolated guinea pig atria caused by acetylcholine: Implications for their clinical usefulness

Heart failure (HF) has been related to a chronic imbalance between autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic activation. In the Republic of Suriname (South America), this condition is regularly treated with plant-derived preparations with presumed cardiotonic properties, mostly by traditional healers. In this study, aqueous extracts from Annona muricata (leaf), Mansoa alliacea (leaf), Momordica charantia (leaf and stem), Gossypium barbadensis (leaf), Artocarpus altilis (leaf), Chrysophyllum cainito (leaf), Solanum melongena (unripe fruit), and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (leaf and stem) were evaluated at serial dilutions for their capability to reverse the decreased contractility and for their effects on the decreased beating frequency of isolated guinea pig atria caused by EC50 acetylcholine (10-7 M). The effects of the plant extracts alone were also investigated. Experiments were for 3 min with 2 x 2-min intervals in Ringer-Locke buffer, 100% O2, and 30 °C. Results (g/sec and beats/min, means ± SDs; n ≥ 3) were expressed relative to those found with acetylcholine alone or buffer alone, and compared for statistically significant differences using one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). None of the extracts reversed the decreased contractility and beating frequency of the atria caused by acetylcholine, but those from M. alliacea (0.001 mg/mL) and S. melongena (0.001 and 0.01 mg/mL) lowered these activities by more than 50%. The latter extracts exerted similar effects on their own. Thus, the preparations did not display useful cardiotonic properties against parasympathetic abnormalities in HF, and those from M. alliacea and S. melongena might even be cardiotoxic, warranting care when they are medicinally used.

Possible involvement of pro-angiogenic activities in the traditional use of the stembark of Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. (Arecaceae) for wound healing in the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Angiogenesis is an important part of the wound healing process. In this study, the aqueous extracts from seven plant species that are used for wound care in the Republic of Suriname (South America), were evaluated at sub-toxic concentrations for their stimulatory effects on the closure of scratch-wounds in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the formation of capillary-like structures by these cells, and the growth of sub-intestinal blood vessels in developing Tg (fli1a: EGFP) y1/+ zebrafish embryos. Sub-toxic extract concentrations were about one-third of IC50 values in HUVECs which were established using a sulforhodamine B assay after a 3-day exposure period. Data were expressed relatively to those found with untreated controls and considered statistically significantly different from each other when p values < 0.05 (ANOVA). When compared to untreated controls, the Oenocarpus bacaba stembark extract decreased HUVEC scratch-wound areas by about 30%; increased tube length, number of branching points, and number of loops formed by HUVECs by 50-70%, and increased total sub-intestinal blood vessel length in the zebrafish embryos by about 30%. The extracts from Morinda citrifolia (leaf), Luffa acutangula (fruit juice), Momordica charantia (leaf), Psidium guajava (leaf), Cecropia peltata (branch tops), and Spondias mombin (leaf) had no statistically significant effect on any of these variables. These observations suggest that the O. bacaba sample, unlike the other samples, possessed pro-angiogenic properties which may be involved in its beneficial effects in wound healing. Future studies should more elaborately evaluate these plants in order to definitely establish their therapeutic value in wound healing.

Possible involvement of pro-angiogenic activities in the traditional use of the stembark of Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. (Arecaceae) for wound healing in the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Possible involvement of pro-angiogenic activities in the traditional use of the stembark of Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. (Arecaceae) for wound healing in the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Insight into the antioxidant activities of ten Fabaceae plant species that are medicinally used by the Aucan Tribal Peoples from the Republic of Suriname (South America).

Fabaceae are associated with a high antioxidant activity (AA) and a high total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), and selenium content (SeC). In this study, the aqueous extracts from ten Fabaceae species that are medicinally used by the Aucan Tribal Peoples from Suriname (South America), were evaluated for AA using a DPPH and a FRAP assay, and for TPC, TFC, and SeC using Folin-Ciocalteu's, an AlCl3 colorimetric, and an azure B-based method. Associations between pairs of these variables were determined by Pearson correlation coefficient. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's test was used to evaluate the data for statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The I. stipularis (bark), C. guyanensis (bark), A. jupunba (twigs), and M. urens (fruit) extracts had the highest DPPH IC50 values (36 - 70 μg/mL) and FRAP values (346 - 573 μM FeE/100 μg) and the highest TPC (25 - 41 GAEq/100 μg), TFC (21 - 39 REq/100 μg), and SeC (4 -17 μg/g). The values for the T. indica (leaf), P. macroloba (bark), M. pigra (whole plant), S. quinquangulata (leaf), A. sensitiva (whole plant), and L. leucocephala (leaf) extracts were > 10-fold lower. AA, TPC, TFC, and SeC correlated well with each other (correlation coefficient ≥ 0.83, p ≤ 0.0030). Thus, AA, TPC, TFC, and SeC may represent important determinants of the health benefits of the former four samples but not of the others. Future studies should focus on the precise contribution of AA, TPC, TFC, and SeC to the therapeutic value of medicinal Fabaceae.

Insight into the antioxidant activities of ten Fabaceae plant species that are medicinally used by the Aucan Tribal Peoples from the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Insight into the antioxidant activities of ten Fabaceae plant species that are medicinally used by the Aucan Tribal Peoples from the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Mercury concentrations and sourcing mercury exposures in pregnant women from the Republic of Suriname, South America

Mercury concentrations and sourcing mercury exposures in pregnant women from the Republic of Suriname, South America

Baron Aarnoud van Heemstra, Humanitarian Governor of Suriname and Grandfather of Audrey Hepburn

Baron Aarnoud van Heemstra, Humanitarian Governor of Suriname and Grandfather of Audrey Hepburn

Suriname:

Suriname:

Complete-genome sequencing elucidates outbreak dynamics of CA-MRSA USA300 (ST8-spa t008) in an academic hospital of Paramaribo, Republic of Suriname

We report the investigation of an outbreak situation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that occurred at the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) in the Republic of Suriname from April to May 2013. We performed whole genome sequencing with complete gap closure for chromosomes and plasmids on all isolates. The outbreak involved 12 patients and 1 healthcare worker/nurse at the AZP. In total 24 isolates were investigated. spa typing, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, ad hoc whole genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST), stable core genome MLST (cgMLST) and in silico PFGE were used to determine phylogenetic relatedness and to identify transmission. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) showed that all isolates were members of genomic variants of the North American USA300 clone. However, WGS revealed a heterogeneous population structure of USA300 circulating at the AZP. We observed up to 8 SNPs or up to 5 alleles of difference by wgMLST when the isolates were recovered from different body sites of the same patient or if direct transmission between patients was most likely. This work describes the usefulness of complete genome sequencing of bacterial chromosomes and plasmids providing an unprecedented level of detail during outbreak investigations not being visible by using conventional typing methods.

Epidemiological, Biological and Clinical Aspects of Leishmaniasis with Special Emphasis on Busi Yasi in Suriname

The parasitic disease leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania which are transmitted by sand fly vectors of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. Transmission can either be anthroponotic (human to human) or zoonotic through mammalian reservoirs such as dogs and rodents. Leishmaniasis has three principal clinical manifestations, namely cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The cutaneous form characteristically causes skin ulcers, the mucocutaneous form manifests as lesions of skin, mouth, and nose, and the (potentially lethal) visceral form affects the internal organs such as spleen and liver and also invades the bone marrow. Leishmaniasis is endemic in about ninety-eight countries and the diverse types of the disease occur in different regions of the world. CL is most common in Afghanistan, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Brazil, and Colombia; MCL is mainly restricted to countries of the Amazon Basin; and VL is most frequently seen in the Indian sub-continent, the Horn of Africa (Sudan and Ethiopia), and Brazil. The current global prevalence is estimated at about 12 million, and each year, the disease in one of its forms makes about 2 million new victims and claims up to 50,000 fatalities. This paper presents epidemiological, biological, and clinical aspects of leishmaniasis throughout the world; then focuses on the disease in the Republic of Suriname (South America); addresses in more detail the species of Leishmania parasites in that country; and concludes with potential future directions to improve our understanding of leishmaniasis in Suriname.

Traditional healing and medicine in Winti: a sociological interpretation

During the period of the slave trade (1650-1830), people were brought from the whole West Coast of Africa to Suriname. The majority had a Fante-Akan (Ghana), Ewe-Fon (Togo and Benin), or a western Bantu (Congo, Zaire and Angola) background, while the Mandingo (Senegal, Sierra Leone and Liberia) formed a minor fraction (Wooding 1972: ch. II). In the course of time they amalgamated into the Afrosurinamese population group, which is subdivided into two main groups: the coastal Creoles and the inland Bushnegroes.

English

Culex mosquitoes play a vital role in transmitting pathogens which continue to have a harmful impact on human beings. Indeed, Innovative vector control strategy like use of plant extracts as alternative sources of insecticidal and larvicidal agents against vector-borne diseases has become unavoidable. In this context, the purpose of the present search was to explore the larvicidal properties of Jatropha curcas L. leaf and seed extracts against Culex pipiens L. The larvicidal activity was evaluated in eight different provenances recently introduced in Tunisia (Tanzania (ARU), Mozambique (MOZ), Surinam (SUR) and Brazil represented by five provenances: Paran&aacute; (PAR), Norte de Minas (NMB), Mato Grosso (MGB), Regiao Sureste (RSB) and Vale do Fequitinhonha (VFB). The assessment of larval activity showed after 24 h of exposure, 100% mortality for aqueous seed extract and between 60 and 100% for aqueous leaf extract according to provenances. Highest mortality is observed at 1 mg/ml against C. pipiens L with LC50 values of 0.49 and 0.5% for aqueous seed extract and leaf extract, respectively. Commonly, the mortality increase with the increase in concentration of each extract. However, the inhibitory effect of seeds extract on C. pipiens was more pronounced than that of leaves. These results suggest that the aqueous seed and leaf extracts of J. curcas have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly compound for the control of hurtful mosquito larvae. &nbsp; Key words: Aqueous extract, Culex pipiens L., Jatropha curcas L., larvicidal activity.

New species of Macrobaris Champion grass weevils from the New World tropics and subtropics (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Baridinae)

Macrobaris Champion is synonymized with Iops Casey (new synonym), transferred from Baridini: Baridina to Apostasimerini: Madopterina (new placement), and revised. Twenty one species are documented from fourteen countries, ranging from the USA in the north to Paraguay in the south. Thirteen new species are described: M. acutipennis new species (Mexico), M. aquilonia new species (USA), M. balicosa new species (Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela), M. colemycter new species (Mexico), M. exerens new species (Venezuela), M. laciniosa new species (Mexico), M. lateriquetra new species (Costa Rica, Panama), M. leptochele new species (Peru), M. runa new species (Panama, Peru), M. spinigera new species (Brazil, Venezuela), M. stictica new species (Ecuador, Peru), M. unguiculus new species (Ecuador), and M. zacatensis new species (Costa Rica). Iops bicolor Hustache is excluded from the genus and transferred to Madopterina incertae sedis (new placement). Five species were collected from Poaceae, four of them from bamboos. A dichotomous key for the identification of currently known species is provided, with M. sparsa Casey treated as a morphologically unresolved complex. Limnobaris rufula Champion is transferred to Valdenus Casey, as V. rufulus new combination, and is reported from Costa Rica for the first time. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Suriname: Selected Issues

Suriname: Selected Issues

Taxonomic and distributional notes on Telebasis Selys, 1865, with a redescription of T. pallida Machado, 2010, and an evaluation of the T. racenisi Bick & Bick, 1995 “complex” of species (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

A full checklist of the species of Telebasis Selys, 1865, housed in the Brazilian collections Colecao Entomologica “Prof. Jose Alfredo Pinheiro Dutra”, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Janeiro (DZRJ), and Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo (MZSP) is presented. A total of 325 specimens representing 19 species were studied. Ten new records for Brazilian States were found for T. carmesina Calvert, 1909 (Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul), T. corallina (Selys, 1876) (Pernambuco), T. demarara (Williamson, 1917) (Maranhao), T. filiola (Perty, 1834) (Paraiba and Santa Catarina), T. gigantea Daigle, 2002 (Sao Paulo), T. inalata (Calvert, 1961) (Mato Grosso do Sul), T. pallida Machado, 2010 (Goias) and T. obsoleta (Selys, 1876) (Mato Grosso do Sul), as well as a new record of T. carminita Calvert, 1909 for Suriname. Telebasis pallida Machado, 2010 is redescribed and diagnosed based on 14 males collected near the type locality, and its genital ligula is described and illustrated for the first time. Furthermore, the status of the three species of the Telebasis racenisi Bick & Bick, 1995 “complex” is evaluated. Of these, Telebasis pareci Machado, 2010 syn. n. is proposed as junior subjective synonym of Telebasis lenkoi Machado, 2010, and a possible synonymy among the three species is discussed under T. racenisi. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Systematic revision of the New World Olixon Cameron with descriptions of O. melinsula sp. n. and the hitherto unknown female of O. bicolor (Hymenoptera, Rhopalosomatidae)

The New World species of the brachypterous wasp genus Olixon Cameron are revised and five species are recognized: Olixon atlanticum Fernandez & Sarmiento-M., O. banksii (Brues), O. bicolor Roig Alsina & Martinez, O. melinsula sp. n. and O. testaceum Cameron. The new species and the previously unknown female of O. bicolor are described. An identification key and a distribution map for the New World Olixon are provided. The genus Olixon is more widely distributed throughout the New World than previously thought and here newly recorded from Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Nigella sativa: Holy Herb of the Middle East

Alternative and Complementary TherapiesVol. 17, No. 2 Nigella sativa: Holy Herb of the Middle EastEric Yarnell and Kathy AbascalEric YarnellSearch for more papers by this author and Kathy AbascalSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:3 May 2011https://doi.org/10.1089/act.2011.17203AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byEffect of Black Seed Fiber, on the Physical, Thermal, Mechanical, Morphological, and Biodegradation Properties of Cornstarch-Based Biocomposites15 February 2023 | Fibers and Polymers, Vol. 16The history of medicinal use of black cumin seed and its position in various culturesBlack cumin (Nigella sativa L.) essential oil and aroma qualityTraditional Islamic Herbal Medicine and Complementary Therapies6 July 2022Virtual screening of phytoconstituents from miracle herb nigella sativa 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Does epigenetic polymorphism contribute to phenotypic variances in Jatropha curcas L.?

BackgroundThere is a growing interest in Jatropha curcas L. (jatropha) as a biodiesel feedstock plant. Variations in its morphology and seed productivity have been well documented. However, there is the lack of systematic comparative evaluation of distinct collections under same climate and agronomic practices. With the several reports on low genetic diversity in jatropha collections, there is uncertainty on genetic contribution to jatropha morphology.ResultIn this study, five populations of jatropha plants collected from China (CN), Indonesia (MD), Suriname (SU), Tanzania (AF) and India (TN) were planted in one farm under the same agronomic practices. Their agronomic traits (branching pattern, height, diameter of canopy, time to first flowering, dormancy, accumulated seed yield and oil content) were observed and tracked for two years. Significant variations were found for all the agronomic traits studied. Genetic diversity and epigenetic diversity were evaluated using florescence Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (fAFLP) and methylation sensitive florescence AFLP (MfAFLP) methods. Very low level of genetic diversity was detected (polymorphic band <0.1%) within and among populations. In contrast, intermediate but significant epigenetic diversity was detected (25.3% of bands were polymorphic) within and among populations. More than half of CCGG sites surveyed by MfAFLP were methylated with significant difference in inner cytosine and double cytosine methylation among populations. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on Nei's epigenetic distance showed Tanzania/India group distinct from China/Indonesia/Suriname group. Inheritance of epigenetic markers was assessed in one F1 hybrid population between two morphologically distinct parent plants and one selfed population. 30 out of 39 polymorphic markers (77%) were found heritable and followed Mendelian segregation. One epiallele was further confirmed by bisulphite sequencing of its corresponding genomic region.ConclusionOur study confirmed climate and practice independent differences in agronomic performance among jatropha collections. Such agronomic trait variations, however, were matched by very low genetic diversity and medium level but significant epigenetic diversity. Significant difference in inner cytosine and double cytosine methylation at CCGG sites was also found among populations. Most epigenetic differential markers can be inherited as epialleles following Mendelian segregation. These results suggest possible involvement of epigenetics in jatropha development.

Caries prevalence in Suriname schoolchildren.

The aim of this study was to establish the oral health status of children living throughout the Interior of Suriname in order to define needs for dental care in line with WHO goals and guidelines. In this cross sectional study, dental caries was recorded according to the criteria of the WHO. Decayed, missing and filled (DMF)-teeth (T) and surfaces (S) indices for caries prevalence were used. A total of 951 children from four different regions and between 5-15 years of age, were examined. There was an approximately equal distribution of boys and girls. The children were divided into three age categories. The mean dmfs in the youngest children (5-7.5 yrs) was 11.81 (SD 11.19) and the mean dmft 5.16 (SD 3.93). 17.2% of the children was caries free. Statisticaly significant regional, racial and gender differences were found The mean dmfs of children in the middle age category (7.5-10 yrs) was 5.37 (SD 6.42) and the mean DMFS was 0.84 (SD 1.30). A mean DMFS of 2.31 (SD 4.97) was recorded in the oldest children. No regional, racial or gender differences were found in the last two categories. The results indicate that caries prevalence in young children in the Interior of Suriname is high according to the criteria of the WHO. In contrast, children in older age groups were found to experience low to moderate caries levels. This finding has consequences for the organisation and planning of future oral health care which should be focused on young children.

Re-democratization in Guyana and Suriname: Critical Comparisons

Guyana and Suriname both re-assumed the path to democracy in the early 1990s. Guyana had from 1968 to 1992 experienced an authoritarian regime with the People’s National Congress (PNC), led by Forbes Burnham, maintaining power by rigged elections and the support of the security forces. In Suriname, on the other hand, the elected government of Prime Minister Henck Arron was overthrown by a military coup in 1980. This article traces the establishment of authoritarianism in these two countries and examines the factors which propelled each country towards the restoration of democracy. The central argument is that authoritarianism in Guyana resulted from the success of Forbes Burnham in subordinating the military to party rule while the military take-over in Suriname resulted from the mismanagement of civil-military relations by the government of Henck Arron. However, maintaining an authoritarian regime proved costly in both cases. The need for external aid rendered the regimes susceptible to foreign pressure for a return to free and fair elections. All of this occurred in a new hemispheric context shaped by the end of the Cold War, the stated goal of the United States to have the area become a zone of democracy, and impending foreign military intervention to restore the ousted Aristide government to power in Haiti. Resumen: Redemocratizacion en Guyana y Suriname: Comparaciones Criticas Tanto Guyana como Suriname retomaron el camino hacia la democracia a comienzos de la decada de los noventa. Desde 1968 hasta 1992, Guyana tuvo un regimen autoritario con el Congreso Nacional del Pueblo (People’s National Congress o PNC), liderado por Forbes Burnham, que se mantuvo en el poder gracias a la manipulacion de las elecciones y al apoyo de las fuerzas de seguridad. En Suriname, por otro lado, el gobierno electo del primer ministro Henck Arron fue derrocado por un golpe de estado militar en el ano 1980. Este articulo describe el establecimiento del autoritarismo en estos dos paises y examina los factores que empujaron a cada uno de ellos hacia la restauracion de la democracia. El argumento central es que el autoritarismo en Guyana fue consecuencia del exito de Forbes Burnham a la hora de subordinar el ejercito al partido, mientras que en Suriname el golpe de estado militar fue el resultado de la negligencia en el manejo de las relaciones civiles-militares por parte del gobierno de Henck Arron. Sin embargo, el mantenimiento de un regimen autoritario demostro ser costoso en ambos casos. La necesidad de ayuda externa hizo que ambos regimenes fueran vulnerables a la presion extranjera a favor de un retorno a las elecciones libres y justas. Todo esto ocurrio en un contexto hemisferico delineado por el fin de la Guerra Fria, el claro objetivo de los Estados Unidos de hacer que el area se convirtiera en una zona de democracia, y una inminente intervencion militar para restaurar en el gobierno de Haiti al derrocado Aristide.