AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America (AMA) (issn: 00845841) is a peer reviewed journal first published online after indexing scopus in 1982. AMA is published by Farm Machinery Industrial Research Corp and Shin-Norinsha Co. AMA publishes every subjects of general engineering and agricultural engineering.
WOS Indexed (2026)
07 May 2026 (Vol - 57 , Issue- 05 )
31 May 2026 (Vol - 57 , Issue 05 )
Aim and Scope :
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America (ISSN: 00845841) is a peer-reviewed journal. The journal covers Agricultural and Biological Sciences and all sort of engineering topic. the journal's scopes are in the following fields but not limited to:
Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Electrical Engineering and Telecommunication
Electronic Engineering
Computer Science & Engineering
Civil and architectural engineering
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Industrial and Commercial Design
Information Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Food Engineering
Examining the Prevalence of Drug-Herbal Interactions and Public Knowledge in Saudi Arabia
Herbal remedies are widely used in Saudi Arabia alongside conventional prescription medications. While perceived as safe due to their natural origins, their concurrent use with prescription drugs can lead to drug-herbal interactions (DHIs), resulting in adverse effects or reduced therapeutic efficacy. Awareness of DHIs among the Saudi population remains limited, increasing the risk of unmonitored interactions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of herbal supplement use, public awareness of DHIs, and the role of healthcare providers in mitigating these interactions in Saudi Arabia. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged 18 years and older across Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sampling approach ensured a representative sample of 2,455 respondents. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire addressing demographics, herbal supplement usage, DHI awareness, and perceptions of healthcare providers. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Of the 2,455 respondents, 57.31% reported using herbal supplements, with Black seed (Nigella sativa), ginger, and turmeric being the most commonly consumed. While 70.02% of participants were aware of potential DHIs, only 11.93% consistently discussed herbal supplement use with healthcare providers. Pharmacists were perceived as knowledgeable about DHIs by 50.39% of respondents, though 64.93% had never sought advice from them. Additionally, 62.24% of participants strongly agreed that public education on DHIs is necessary, yet 65.66% had not encountered relevant educational materials in pharmacies. Herbal supplement use is prevalent in Saudi Arabia, yet significant gaps exist in public awareness and communication regarding DHIs. The findings highlight the need for enhanced public education campaigns and greater pharmacist involvement to promote safe and informed use of herbal supplements. Integrating discussions about herbal supplements into routine healthcare consultations is critical to reducing the risks associated with DHIs.
Medical Errors and Their Consequences: Insights from the General Population in Saudi Arabia
Medical errors remain a significant global challenge, representing one of the leading causes of preventable morbidity and mortality. These errors can compromise patient safety, erode public trust in healthcare systems, and impose significant financial burdens on both patients and healthcare providers. In Saudi Arabia, addressing medical errors has become a priority, particularly in light of the healthcare transformation initiatives under Vision 2030. This national strategy emphasizes quality improvement, transparency, and patient-centered care, making the exploration of public awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward medical errors a timely and critical area of study. By understanding the systemic and cultural factors influencing medical errors, this research aims to inform targeted interventions and policy reforms to enhance patient safety. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with a representative sample of the Saudi population. Statistical analyses, including correlation measures, were applied to examine relationships among demographic variables and participants' responses. The findings reveal a predominantly young and educated sample, with a moderate positive correlation between age and education level (r = 0.296), suggesting that older individuals have higher educational attainment. Participants demonstrated high awareness of medical errors, reflecting successful public health campaigns under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. However, gaps in understanding among some respondents highlight the need for tailored educational interventions. Systemic issues, such as communication breakdowns and inadequate training, were identified as primary causes of medical errors, aligning with global findings. Transparency emerged as a critical factor influencing trust, with participants strongly supporting open disclosure policies. Additionally, the willingness to engage in safety initiatives underscores the potential for collaborative efforts in reducing medical errors. Key recommendations include enhancing education, improving communication, promoting transparency, and leveraging public engagement. Despite its contributions, the study acknowledges limitations, including reliance on self-reported data and potential underrepresentation of rural populations. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing systemic healthcare challenges to enhance patient safety and align with Vision 2030 goals.
Investigating the Integration of Health Informatics in Pharmacology Practices in Saudi Arabia
The integration of health informatics into pharmacology has revolutionized medication management, patient education, and drug safety. Despite advancements in Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector, public awareness and utilization of health informatics tools remain underexplored. This study examines the public’s familiarity, usage patterns, and perceptions of these tools, while identifying factors influencing adoption and barriers to utilization. This cross-sectional study recruited 1,200 participants from diverse demographic groups across Saudi Arabia using a random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured, closed-ended questionnaire that assessed familiarity with health informatics tools, their usage, influencing factors, and barriers. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics, employing SPSS version 26.0. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The findings revealed that 45% of participants were familiar with health informatics, while 38% actively utilized these tools. E-prescriptions (53%) were the most commonly used, followed by online drug databases (28%) and telepharmacy services (20%). Key motivators included convenience (60%) and recommendations from healthcare providers (55%). Major barriers were lack of awareness (60%) and privacy concerns (45%). Notably, 78% of participants perceived health informatics as critical for improving medication safety, with 60% strongly agreeing that these tools reduce medication errors. While health informatics tools are recognized for their potential to enhance pharmacology practices, significant gaps in awareness and utilization persist. Addressing barriers through targeted educational campaigns, enhanced privacy measures, and integration of tools into healthcare systems can foster adoption. Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of health informatics on healthcare outcomes and evaluate interventions to bridge the awareness-utilization gap.
Morphological, Pathogenic and Molecular variability of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. Causing Root and Stem rot of Sesame
The root and stem rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. is most important disease of sesame and its causing 5-100% yield losses. Fifteen isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina collected from different major sesame growing areas of India. In cultural and morphological variability, the mycelia growth (fluffy, submerged & partially submerged), colony colour (black, grayish white, blackish grey, grayish black), colony texture (cottony & velvety), and colony diameter (75 to 90mm), sclerotia weight (0.05 to 0.32 mg), intensity (11.66 to 84.66/100X magnification), shape (oblong, irregular & round), distribution (scattered & uniform) and size ranged between 97.858 x 70.382 to 201.880 x 140.169 µm. Among the fifteen isolates of M. phaseolina, MP-1 (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh) isolate of M. phaseolina was more virulent and aggressive as it produced maximum intensity of sclerotia per microscopic field and MP-13 was least virulent having maximum size (201.880 µm x 140.169 µm). Pathogenic variability among 15 isolates of M. phaseolina through cut stem inoculation method was performed for all the isolates of M. phaseolina and MP-1 (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh) isolate causes mean maximum linear stem necrosis (13.96 cm) on different susceptible varieties of sesame, and considered as most virulent and aggressive isolate. Molecular identification and its variability in fifteen isolates of M. phaseolina using universal fungal ITS 1 (forward) & ITS 4 (reverse) primer. Sequences of the ITS region of all the isolates (MP-1 to MP-15) showed 100 percent identity to each other and all the isolates are 95-99 percent similar when compared to a M. phaseolina ITS sequence reported in GenBank (NCBI), which indicates that all the isolates were identified as M. phaseolina. A potential pathogen is often blessed with biodiversity within its population. Basically, variation in pathogen is desirable trait for its existence in nature. This variability among the pathogens underlies their ability to withstand the host environment and its interaction.
Potential of Entophytes and Medicinal Plants Extract for the Management of Leaf Spot of Kalmegh Caused by Corynespora cassiicola
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is an important medicinal crop indigenous to India and Sri Lanka that has been valued in ancient oriental and ayurvedic medicine for its immunopotenting ability against many diseases. All parts of the plant, such as leaves, roots, stems, etc., have value in the national and international markets, and any kind of damage due to diseases decreases value in terms of both quality and quantity. Kalmegh is susceptible to various diseases that reduce the yield and quality. Among different diseases, leaf spot disease caused by Corynespora cassiicola is an important disease of Kalmegh. Therefore, the present study was conducted to develop eco-friendly management strategies for Kalmegh leaf spot disease. With chemical fungicides having adverse effects on the environment and also on human health, new alternatives to disease management such as utilisation of plant parts or leaf extracts, introduction of biocontrol agents, exploration of native endophytes, as well as use of some eco-friendly fungicides to some extent for the commercial profit of the farmers. A total of six plant extracts, two bioagents, three fungal endophytes, and four bacterial endophytes isolated from the leaves and stem of the plant were evaluated against the three pathogens, and the results revealed that among the fungal bioagents, including Trichoderma asperellum and fungal endophytes, the highest inhibition against Corynespora cassiicola, Fusarium oxysporum, and Sclerotinia spp. was exhibited by the endophytic strain KLEPF-2 (49.50%), KLEPF-1 (55.13%) and Trichoderma asperellum (80.33%) respectively. In in vitro evaluation of the pathogens with bacterial endophytes and Pseudomonas fluorescens, the maximum inhibition against Corynespora cassiicola and Fusarium oxysporum was exhibited by Pseudomonas fluorescens by 80.89% and 75.47%, whereas the maximum inhibition was against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum shown by strain KLENB-1 (100%). Among the botanicals tested, Mugwort (Artemisia annua) was found to be most effective in inhibition of all three test pathogens at both 5% and 10% concentrations. Mugwort inhibited 100% mycelial growth in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In the course of the study on integrated management of Corynespora leaf spot in Kalmegh under pot conditions, application of Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole @ 0.1% at the onset of disease development was found to be most effective, with 72.03% reduction observed over control. In conclusion, this study anticipates the use of Trichoderma asperellum and Pseudomonas fluorescens alongwith endophytes may be integrated for the successful management of kalmegh leaf spot disease. This recommendation only after testing at the farmer's field may be recommended for organic production of Kalmegh.