Browsing by Author "Ripanda, Asha S."

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    Identification of novel psychoactive substances in urine specimen from drug abuse patients
    (The University of Dodoma, 2018) Ripanda, Asha S.
    There is an alarming prevalence of drug abuse worldwide. Often the consumers are not aware about the types of substances they are using and the interrelated risks. In recent years, new psychoactive substances appeared in the illicit market. It has been frequently reported that there is the presence of novel psychoactive substances, such as synthetic cathinones, cannabinoids and phenethylamines, which are known to be pharmacologically and toxicologically hazardous. The current study was set to deal with identification of novel psychoactive substances from drug abuse patients maintained by methadone therapy, Liquid Chromatography Fourier transform mass Spectrometry, followed by a post-run library matching was conducted for every sample with an in-house database containing over 300 novel compounds and known metabolites. Data acquisition was in MS/MS and full-scan modes and belonging to different chemical classes were identified. Screening for novel psychoactive substances in urine from patients revealed that designer cathinones were highly preferred (32.26 %) followed by designer cannabinoids (19.34 %) and fentanyl analogues were least preferred at (0.51 %). A prescription drug Gabapentin was detected from patients who already in methadone therapy (1.48 %) and from new patients (3.47 %). Prevalence level of opioids use was found to be significantly associated with age of patients (p = 0.0408) and duration of treatment (p = 0.0194) while sex (p =0.9204) found to be not significant predictor of prevalence level of opioids use. Study of drug abuse patterns revealed a high prevalence of multiple drug abuse among all study subjects regardless of their treatment status. Key words: New psychoactive substances, synthetic cathinones, cannabinoids and phenethylamines, pharmacologically, toxicologically hazardous and Liquid Chromatography Fourier transform mass Spectrometry.
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    A review on contaminants of emerging concern in the environment: a focus on active chemicals in sub-Saharan Africa
    (Scientific Research Publishing, Inc., 2022) Ripanda, Asha S.; Rwiza, Mwemezi Johaiven; Nyanza, Elias C.; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said A. H.; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Active chemicals are among the contaminants of emerging concern that are rarely covered in regulatory documents in sub-Saharan Africa. These substances are neither in the list of routinely monitored substances nor in the guidelines for routine environmental monitoring activities. This has been of concern to public health officials, toxicologists, communities, and governments, hence the need for risk assessment and regulation of these substances. In this review article, the presence of active chemicals in the sub-Saharan African environment was investigated. The results indicate the availability of few studies in some countries, while in other countries no reports of active chemicals were found, hence the need for further research targeting such countries. It was further observed that mixtures of active chemicals from different therapeutic categories—such as antibiotics and analgesics—were reported. The natural environment is increasingly at risk due to the presence of these substances, their metabolites, and their transformation by products. These substances are characterized by persistence as a result of their non-biodegradable nature; hence, they circulate from one environmental compartment to another through the food chain, causing harm along the way. Most studies that evaluated the toxicity of these substances considered the effects of a single drug, but observations indicated the presence of drug mixtures, hence the need for further evaluation of the effects of drug–drug interactions—including synergistic and additive effects—for environmental sustainability. The presence of ACs in several environmental compartments at quantifiable quantities was discovered in this investigation, indicating the potential for ecosystem injury as a result of bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, and biomagnification through the food chain. This necessitates further research on the subject in order to ensure a healthier environment.
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    A review on the potential of underutilized Blackjack (Biden Pilosa) naturally occurring in sub-Saharan Africa
    (Elsevier, 2022) Mtenga, Deodata V.; Ripanda, Asha S.
    Several Indigenous edible vegetables in sub-Saharan countries have potential bioactive compounds, including underutilized Biden pilosa (BP). Bioactives from Indigenous edible vegetables are re-evolving as an alternative medicine potential for drug formulations. BP has also been used to mitigate over 40 different diseases in people and animals as herbal medication. Due to globalization and urbanization, people move from more active to more sedentary lifestyles, home-cooked meals to fast foods and snacks, organic foods to processed food with high sugar, salt, and fat. The consumption of native fruits and vegetables is now replaced by a highly processed calory diet, leading to metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, obesity, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases. Hence this article was designed to investigate the existing reports on the use, knowledge and the need to utilize the potentiality of BP further to overcome nutritional deficiencies, food scarcity and mitigation of medical conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of plant-based drugs will aid to decrease the health capitation load as most countries do not have enough funds for purchasing synthetic chemicals used to mitigate diseases.