Utilization of indigenous food plants in Uganda: A case study of south-western Uganda

The purpose of the study was to document and establish the traditional processin methods of indigenous food plants in Rukungiri district. In order to establish the status and level of utilization and processing of indigenous food plants in southwestern Uganda, a baseline survey was carried out using a participatory method of data collection. Respondents in Rukungiri district cited a total of 94 plants that were used for food. Some of the food plants were classified as indigenous to the area, while others were classified as exotic. The food types generally fell into five broad categories, namely; vegetables, fruits, roots/tubers, pulses and cereals. Vegetables and fruits were the most commonly used food plants and the Amaranths species were found to be the most popular vegetables, whereas wild plums (Carissa edulis) and gooseberries (Physalis minima) were cited among thepreferred fruit species. In spite of the fact that indigenous/traditional food plants have always ensured food security at the household level, the process of collecting them from the wild, their production,consumption and domestication was found to be on the decline in this area. This decline can be attributed to limited available knowledge on their nutritional content and to the emphasis that is placed on commercial, high yielding exotic plants by both the agricultural extension officers and farmers. The majority of farmers are only interested in the cultivation of crops from which they can earn an income, and because no one has cultivated indigenous food plants with the intention of earning an income from them, the plants have not proved their worth. Although the methods of utilization, especially food preparation, varied from one household to another, boiling, steaming and frying were very common and cross-cutting almost all the households. The principal mode of food preservation cited by households, especially for seeds, wassun drying

Bioactive compounds in the stem bark of Albizia coriaria (Welw. ex Oliver)

Albizia coriaria was investigated for the bioactive compounds present in its stem bark. The plant was selected on the basis of its widespread use in traditional herbal medicine. Extraction of the plant material was done with ethyl acetate, methanol and water and the bioactivity of each extract was tested against  Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Separation and purification of the compounds in the most active (ethyl acetate) extract was done using a  combination of chromatographic techniques. The compounds were identified by 1D and 2D -1H and 13C NMR techniques as well as Mass spectrometry (MS). Six compounds, namely: Lupeol (1), Lupenone (2), Betulinic acid (3), Acacic acid lactone (4), (+) – Catechin (5) and Benzyl alcohol (6) were identified and  characterized from the ethyl acetate extract. The results of the bioactivity tests carried out in this study indicated that A. coriaria has potential antimicrobial activity. Four of the characterized compounds (1, 2, 3 & 5) have a wide range of biological activity reported in literature. This justifies the use of this plant in traditional medicine and indicates a promising potential for the development of medicinal agents from A. coriaria stem bark.Keywords: Biological activity, Lupeol, Lupenone, Betulinic acid, Acacic acid lactone, (+) – Catechin

8-Methoxyneorautenol and radical scavenging flavonoids from Erythrina abyssinica

A new pterocarpan (named 8-methoxyneorautenol) was isolated from the acetone extract of the root bark of Erythrina abyssinica. In addition, the known isoflavonoid derivatives eryvarin L, erycristagallin and shinpterocarpin were identified for the first time from the roots of this plant. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The new compound showed selective antimicrobial activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The acetone extract of the root bark of E. abyssinica showed radical scavenging activity towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The pterocarpenes, 3-hydroxy-9-methoxy-10-(3,3- dimethylallyl)pterocarpene and erycristagallin, were the most active constituents of the roots of this plant and showing dose-dependent activities similar to that of the standard quercetin

Antiplasmodial and larvicidal flavonoids from Derris trifoliata

From the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract of the seed pods of Derris trifoliata, a new flavanone derivative (S)-lupinifolin 4´-methyl ether was isolated. In addition, the known flavonoids lupinifolin and rotenone were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Lupinfolin showed moderate in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the D6 (chloroquine-sensitive) and W2 (chloroquineresistant)strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The different parts of this plant showed larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti and rotenoids were identified as the active principles