Antimalarial activity of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in S. Tomé and Prí­ncipe islands

The present study investigates the antimalarial activity of 13 medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in S. Tomé and Prí­ncipe (STP) islands in the Gulf of Guinea, aiming at identifying the most effective plants for further research. Fieldwork was carried out with the collaboration of 37 traditional healers from both islands, during an ethnobotanical study, which was conducted from 1993 to 1999. Our results indicate that the traditional healers in STP use several medicinal plants against fever and/or [`]malaria' which reveal strong antiparasitic activity in vitro: four of the plant extracts have evident antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum, with IC50 values <10 [mu]g/ml, and also revealed hepatic schizontocidal activity (<5-35 [mu]g/ml). In vivo, the extracts caused partial reduction of Plasmodium berghei parasitaemia in mice.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T8D-452WHB8-3/1/6a9a0385ccbedbaacf74ee6a1ac9521

Lesne vrste centralnoafriške republike : vsebnost pepela in silikatov

Izmerjena je bila vsebnost pepela in silicijevega dioksida za 28 tropskih afriških listavcev in ene enokaličnice (Dracaena mannii). Vsebnost pepela je močno variirala. Večina zabeleženih vrednosti se je gibala med 0,3-1,4 %. Najvišja vrednost je bila zabeležena pri Desplatsia floribunda (4,54 %) in najnižja pri Pachyleasma tessmannii (0,07 %). Pri večini vrst je bil SiO2 določen le v sledeh (manj kot 0,01 %). Njegova vsebnost nad 0,1 % je bila izmerjena le pri Gambea beguei (0,128 %) in Manilkara fouilloyana (0,138 %).Data on ash and silica content of 28 Central African hardwoods and one monocotyledon (Dracaena mannii) are presented. Ash content varied considerably. Most of the values were in the range 0.3 - 1.4 %. The highest value was noted for Desplatsia floribunda (4.54 %) and the lowest for Pachyleasma tessmannii (0.07 %). In most species, silica was present only in trace amounts (less than 0.01 %). More than 0.1 % silica was found only in theGambea beguei (0.128 %) and Manilkara fouilloyana (0.138 %)

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Ethno Botanical Survey of Plants Used For Malaria Treatment in Igboora, Ibarapa Central Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria

Malaria remains a global scourge particularly in Nigerian rural areas where sanitation is poor and access to health facilities is also poor. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Igboora, Ibarapa Central North Local Government Area of Oyo State on latitude 7. 53° and longitude 3.08°. A semi structured questionnaire was administered on thirty three respondents in the study area. Information obtained included the plants used in the treatment of malaria, parts used, time of collection, the availability of the plants, mode of preparation and mode of administration. The respondents were mostly males ranged from 30 to 92 years and were mainly herbalists, farmers and teachers. Twenty eight recipes were obtained from the respondents while thirty three plant species were documented for the management and treatment of malaria in the study area. The plants belong to 25 families. Two plants, Carica papaya and Cymbopogon citratus were particularly very common in the recipes with a percentage occurrence of 70%.The more prominent families in the recipes obtained were the Asteraceae, Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Anarcadiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae. The major mode of preparation is mainly by concoction while infusion or decoction may be used in a few cases. Leaves are the most common plant parts used although the bark or whole plants are used in some cases. The juice from Citrus aurantifolia and water from fermented seeds of Zea mays in most cases constitute the solvent in which other plants are boiled. The lists of plant and recipes obtained are provided. This study highlights potential sources for the development of new antimalaria drugs from indigenous medicinal plants found in Igboora, Nigeria

Assessment of Variation in Some Medicinal Plant Species Envisaged of Having the Potential for the Preservation of Herbal Products Using Some Statistical Models

A survey research was conducted on some medicinal plant species envisaged of having the potential for preservation of herbal preparations. The aim was to determine whether there is an interspecific relationship among some selected medicinal plant species using their total extracts as the basis for computerization. To this end, statistical model comprising the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were applied to the total extract obtained from the medicinal plant species harvested from Mampong- and Mamfe-Akuapem environs to determine the existence of variations. The results showed the existence of variation and some of the medicinal plant species were more influential or weighted more than others

Catálogo preliminar de plantas vasculares de la isla de Bioko (Guinea Ecuatorial)

We present a list of taxa of vascular plants growing on Bioko (Equatorial Guinea). We are aware that there are still many unexplored areas,so it should be consider just as a first draft list. It is based on both herbarium specimens and on bibliographic references. The complete data, supportingeach record, can be consulted in our online database at http://www.floradeguinea.com/herbario/. To the moment, there are known 2029taxa from the island.Presentamos el catálogo de táxones de plantas vasculares que crecen en Bioko (Guinea Ecuatorial). Somos conscientes de que existen aun numerosas zonas inexploradas, de manera que debe ser considerada únicamente como una lista preliminar. El catálogo está basado tanto en material de herbario como en referencias bibliográficas. Los datos sobre los que se basa cada cita pueden consultarse directamente en nuestra base de datos en http://www.floradeguinea.com/herbario/. Hasta el momento se conocen 2029 taxones de la isla

In vitro Assessment of Morinda lucida Benth on Methanogenesis and Fermentation Parameters in West African Dwarf Goats

Ruminants produce methane gas which is an energy loss to them, and also one of the greenhouse gases which cause global warming. This study assessed the effect of varying levels of Morinda lucida Benth leaf powder (MLLP) on methane production and rumen fermentation parameters using in vitro technique. Six concentrate diets were formulated to contain MLLP as an additive at levels 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10mg g-1 DM. Fresh Panicum maximum Jacq. leaves were air dried to constant weight, milled and combined with each of the concentrate diet in the ratio 60 : 40 to serve as the substrate for the in vitro study. Incubation was carried out for 48 hours with 12 replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and significant means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test. Results obtained showed that MLLP contained saponin (8.62%), alkaloids (3.48%), tannin (511.4 mg 100 g-1), phenolic acids (328.15 mg 100 g-1), oxalate (110.58 mg 100 g-1), cyanogenic glycoside (4.34 mg 100 g-1), flavonoids (595.63 mg 100 g-1) and trypsin inhibitor (4.35 TIU g-1). Inclusion of MLLP up to 10 mg g-1 in the diet did not (P > 0.05) affect metabolizable energy, short chain fatty acids, total volatile fatty acids production and pH. However, net gas production, methane production, in vitro organic matter digestibility, in vitro dry matter digestibility and ammonia nitrogen concentration decreased (P < 0.05) at 8 and 10 mg g-1 DM. The study therefore concluded that MLLP could be used to manipulate rumen fermentation at 2 mg g-1 DM to depress methanogenesis without negative effect on dry matter digestibility and ammonia nitrogen concentration

Suppressive, curative, and prophylactic potentials of Morinda lucida (benth) against mice-infective chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK-65.

Malaria caused by plasmodium parasite is at the moment the highest killer disease in the tropics, killing mostly pregnant women and children under the age of five years. Efforts are on to developing more potent antimalarials from plants’ sources that will be cheaper, withoutadverse effects, readily available and will be able to replace existing antimalarials that are already facing resistance by plasmodium. Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant used in many part of Nigeria for the treatment of malaria and other diseases. This work was set out toinvestigate the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of M. lucida in mice. The oral median lethal dose (LD50) was calculated to be 6400 mg kg-1 body weight. The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of M. lucida against early infection, curative effect against established infection andprophylactic effect against residual infection were as well studied in chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK-65 –infected mice. The extract at all the doses (100, 200, 400, and 800 mg kg-1, p.o) administered, produced significant (p&lt;0.05), dose-dependent activityagainst the parasite in the suppressive, curative and prophylactic studies. The result of this study showed that M. lucida aqueous leaf extract posses potent antimalarial effects and may therefore offer a potential drug lead for development of a safe, effective and affordableantimalarial