https://ir.cut.ac.zw:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9 2026-06-06T05:31:25Z 2026-06-06T05:31:25Z Mtemeli, Floryn L. Walter, Irene Tinago, Tawanda Shoko, Ryman https://ir.cut.ac.zw:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/766 2026-05-22T10:24:03Z 2021-03-01T00:00:00Z

An assessment of themolluscicidal potential of Cucurbita maxima seed extracts on Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Bulinus globosus snails Mtemeli, Floryn L.; Walter, Irene; Tinago, Tawanda; Shoko, Ryman Reports of snails’ resistance to niclosamide appeared recently and finding new molluscicides becomes necessary. We investigated the molluscicidal effects of Cucurbita maxima seed extracts on Biomphalaria pfeifferi, and Bulinus globosus snails under laboratory conditions. For B. pfeifferi, we tested seed extracts on juvenile and adult snails while only adult B. globosus were available for testing. Snails were exposed to water and crude ethanol extracts for 72 h and significant concentrationdependent mortality rates were observed. The number of B. pfeifferi juveniles collected was not enough for a comprehensive investigation against both solvents. We, therefore, tested them against water extracts only. A lethal concentration of 0.02 mg/mL killed 50% of the snails (LC50) for both water and ethanol extracts on adult B. pfeifferi snails. Our results suggest that pumpkin seed extracts have a significant molluscicidal effect on B. pfeifferi and B. globosus snails. The LC50 values for all the extracts in B. pfeifferi and B. globosus snails are within the threshold set for potential molluscicides by the World Health Organisation. We propose that C.maxima seed extracts be considered as potential molluscicidal agents in Schistosomiasis transmission control.

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z Mugari, Pardon Dzomba, Pamhidzai Nyoni, Stephen https://ir.cut.ac.zw:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/746 2026-05-08T10:41:49Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Chemical composition by PTP 1B inhibitory activity guided analysis of a plantbased antidiabetic polyherbal drug used in ethnomedical systems Mugari, Pardon; Dzomba, Pamhidzai; Nyoni, Stephen Background Due to growing resistance and continued depletion of drugs that can be used as replacements, people turn to herbal antidiabetic medicines. A polyherbal drug consisting of a mixture of two herbal plants, Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Xeroderris stuhlmannii root powder mixed in equal amounts using a tea cup, was studied to investigate its chemical composition and possible mode of action. Methods Phytochemicals were isolated using Column and Thin Layer Chromatography, and antidiabetic activity was ascertained using an enzyme inhibition model. Active compounds identity was established using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HSQC-NMR, UV, FT-IR and MS spectroscopy. Results Results showed that the polyherbal drug consisted of two alkaloids and three anthocyanins as the major active components. PTP 1B inhibition of alkaloids was not significantly different from that of metformin with percentage inhibition of 78.6 ± 3.2 and 79.6 ± 2.3%. The anthocyanins inhibited PTP 1B enzyme significantly better than metformin with percentage inhibition of 88.2 ± 3.2, 90.3 ± 2.3 and 93.6 ± 2.9%. One new compound, an alkaloid, 1, 2-dimethoxy-12-methyl-7-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-12, 13-dihydro [1,3] benzodioxolo [5,6-c] phenanthridin-13-ol, one previously reported alkaloid berberine, IUPAC name, 9,10-dimethoxy-5,6-dihydro[1,3] dioxolo [4’,5’:6,7] isoquinolino [2,1-b][2] benzazin-7-ium and three anthocyanins,, malvidin 3-o-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-O-gucoside and malvidin 3, 5-O-diglucoside were identified as the active compounds in the polyherbal drug extract. Conclusion Presence of alkaloids and anthocyanins that have PTP 1B inhibitory activity showed that the polyherbal drug is a potential medicine for managing diabetes.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Samambgwa, Henry Musora, Thomas Mamutse, Dennis https://ir.cut.ac.zw:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/739 2026-05-07T10:10:31Z 2025-12-12T00:00:00Z

Modelling and Forecasting the Value of Special Drawing Rights: An ARIMA Approach Samambgwa, Henry; Musora, Thomas; Mamutse, Dennis In 1969, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as a financial instrument to supplement currency reserves of member states. SDR allow members to draw money in a currency of their choosing. 2025 IMF data valued SDR held by member states at over USD 660 billion. SDR are, thus, a critical financial indicator of significant potential impact on global economic stability. This study analysed SDR prices from November 2015 to October 2025. The Minimal Information Criterion and the Bayesian Information Criterion were applied to compare ARIMA models, and the ARIMA (1,1,0) emerged as the best fit. Model diagnostics confirmed that no validity assumptions were violated. Observed values were regressed against fitted values. The R^2 value was over 90%, indicating a very strong linear relationship, which is very plausible. The model was then used to forecast SDR prices for the months from November 2025 to April 2026. The findings revealed a slight decline in SDR prices in the forecasted period. These insights have a significant impact on IMF member states, investors and international economic policy makers.

2025-12-12T00:00:00Z Samambgwa, Henry Musora, Thomas Kamusha, Joseph https://ir.cut.ac.zw:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/738 2026-05-07T10:02:34Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Deriving mathematical models from neural networks: A method for deducing individual effects of factors on a response variable Samambgwa, Henry; Musora, Thomas; Kamusha, Joseph This research outlines a novel approach to obtaining mathematical models from neural networks. The target scenario is one where a response variable depends on a number of factors, each factor has an effect which is a function of the factor and the response variable is the sum of the effects of the factors. A neural network was trained such that response values were generated from factor values. It was assumed that each effect was zero when the underlying factor was set to zero. The effect of a factor could be isolated by setting all other factors to zero, so that the response value became equal to the effect of the factor being isolated. In that way each effect was isolated and then modelled as a function of the factor. Thus, the technique was developed, for modelling a response variable as a function of its input factors.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z