The Antimalarial and Antimicrobial Activity and Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Clematis Brachiata Extracts

The in vitro antimalarial activity of the root extract in partly supports the ethnobotanical use of the plant to manage malaria. Clematis brachiata Thunberg (Ranunculaceae) is used in Kenya for the management of headaches, malaria and other febrile illnesses, abdominal disorders, yaws and for skin disorders. Old stems and leaves are chewed for the management of toothaches and sore throats. Extracts of the plant were subjected to tests for antimalarial, antibacterial and antifungal activity. The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The root extract gave the highest in vitro antimalarial activity against the mulitidrug resistant strain, Plasmodium falciparum VI/S (IC50=39.24 mg/ml). The stem and leaf extracts had insignificant antiplasmodial activity. The leaf, stem and root extracts had no bacterial or fungal inhibitory effects even at very high concentrations of 10 mg/ml. The LD50 values of the stem and leaf methanol extracts against the brine shrimp larvae was 365.60 and 66.5 mg/ml, respectively. (E & C Afr Jnl Pharm Sci: 2002 5(1): 15-18

Germination capacity and seed storage behaviour of threatened metallophytes from the Katanga copper belt (D.R. Congo): Implications for ex situ conservation

peer reviewedBackground and aims - Plant species adapted to metalliferous soil are of high conservation value, and actions for preserving these species (some of them are endemics) are urgent given the threat of mining activities. In the framework of an integrated conservation programme of cuprophytes (plants that tolerate a soil with a high level of copper) in Katanga (D.R.Congo), this study aims at: (1) providing new data on species whose germination has never been studied so far; (2) gaining new insight into the storage behaviour of these species; (3) discussing implications for ex situ conservation of these highly threatened species. Methods - Germination tests were conducted on fresh seeds of nineteen species. These tests were repeated after 6, 12 and 24 months of storage in dry-cold conditions. Key results - Most species kept or increased their germination capacity after 2 years storage in dry-cold conditions. Nine species showed a slight decrease in their viability (from 100% to > 80%) after 2 years storage in dry-cold conditions. The present study gives evidence that at least six of the 19 studied species are desiccation-tolerant (orthodox). Among these, two are strict endemics, Haumaniastrum robertii and Faroa malaissei, and two are broad endemics, Diplolophium marthozianum and Gladiolus robiliartianus. This means that ex situ seed banking of these species could form a useful part of a more comprehensive conservation strategy. Only two species have been identifed as desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant), i.e. inappropriate for conservation in standard seed bank conditions. An orthodox behaviour has not been ruled out for the other species tested, but their response was less clear and needs further investigation. © 2013 National Botanic Garden of Belgium and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium

Germination capacity and seed storage behaviour of threatened metallophytes from the Katanga copper belt (D.R.Congo): implications for ex situ conservation

peer reviewedBackground and aims - Plant species adapted to metalliferous soil are of high conservation value, and actions for preserving these species (some of them are endemics) are urgent given the threat of mining activities. In the framework of an integrated conservation programme of cuprophytes (plants that tolerate a soil with a high level of copper) in Katanga (D.R.Congo), this study aims at: (1) providing new data on species whose germination has never been studied so far; (2) gaining new insight into the storage behaviour of these species; (3) discussing implications for ex situ conservation of these highly threatened species. Methods - Germination tests were conducted on fresh seeds of nineteen species. These tests were repeated after 6, 12 and 24 months of storage in dry-cold conditions. Key results - Most species kept or increased their germination capacity after 2 years storage in dry-cold conditions. Nine species showed a slight decrease in their viability (from 100% to > 80%) after 2 years storage in dry-cold conditions. The present study gives evidence that at least six of the 19 studied species are desiccation-tolerant (orthodox). Among these, two are strict endemics, Haumaniastrum robertii and Faroa malaissei, and two are broad endemics, Diplolophium marthozianum and Gladiolus robiliartianus. This means that ex situ seed banking of these species could form a useful part of a more comprehensive conservation strategy. Only two species have been identifed as desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant), i.e. inappropriate for conservation in standard seed bank conditions. An orthodox behaviour has not been ruled out for the other species tested, but their response was less clear and needs further investigation. © 2013 National Botanic Garden of Belgium and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium