Use of Maerua Decumbens as a Natural Coagulant for Water Purification in the Dry Lands of Kenya

ABSTRACT: Indigenous management and utilization of naturally occurring tree species and shrubs/lianas is not a new culture worldwide. Various communities in the world use their indigenous tree /shrub / liana species to meet their needs for food (human and livestock), shelter and medicine among other diverse wood and non-wood forest products. Introduction of new exotic species has eroded the importance of some of these important indigenous plant species to great extends. It is however, important to consider that while these exotic species have multiple uses, most of them are not well adapted to our arid and semi-arid regions hence the need to promote the management and sustainable use of the indigenous species. Maerua decumbens is a shrub or woody herb species in the Capparaceae family and grows to a height of 0.5 to 3m with a large swollen root. It mostly occurs naturally in the arid and semiarid areas in Kenya and is used traditionally by rural communities for medicinal and water purification purposes. Members of the Mearua species are indicated as poisonous and probably a health risk and yet some of the communities chew the roots of Mearua decumbens against thirst and also use them for purifying water (Beenje H.1994). The study was done to enhance the use of Maerua decumbens as a natural coagulant for water purification by determining whether the plant used for water purification in Mutha in Kitui County is toxic or not. A reconnaissance survey was done to confirm its use for water purification and toxicity tests were done to determine the safety of the plant for human utilization as a natural coagulant for water purification. The results of the study revealed that M.decumbens is completely safe for human consumption and does not have any heavy metals that pose a risk to human health

Traditional healers and the managment of malaria in Kisumu District, Kenya

No Abstract. East African Medical Journal Vol. 84 (2) 2007: pp. 51-5

Antimicrobial Activity of Pentacyclic Triterpenes Isolated from Acacia Mellifera

Acacia mellifera has been used widely in traditional African medicines against various diseases. Among the Kipsigis community of Kenya, water extracts from the plant is used for the treatment of skin diseases, coughs and gastrointestinal ailments. The aim of the study was to provide scientific rationale for the use of the plant in traditional medicine through bioassay-guided fractionation of A. mellifera stem bark. Bioactivity testing was done against selected microbes using disc diffusion technique as outlined in Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on 1D and 2D NMR analyses, including HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY correlations. Fractionation yielded three triterpenoids; (20S)-oxolupane-30-al, (20R)-oxolupane-30-al, and betulinic acid. The three compounds were active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and only (20S)-oxolupane-30-al against clinical isolate of Microsporum gypseum. The three compounds had no activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterococcus feacalis, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Candida krusei, Microsporum gypseum, and Sacharomyces cerevisiae. These results explain and support the use of A. mellifera stem barks for the treatment of infectious diseases in traditional Kenya medicine. It also shows that the antimicrobial activity is concentrated in the triterpenoid fractions

The antiplasmodial activity of spermine alkaloids isolated from Albizia gummifera

In the present study the methanolic extract of Albizia gummifera was fractionated into various fractions. These fractions were tested against choroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (ENT30) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. All other fractions apart from the alkaloidal fraction showed low activity with IC 50 above 3 ug/ml. The alkaloidal fraction exhibited strong activity against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 of 0.16 ± 0.05 and 0.99 ± 0.06 ug/ml, respectively. Five known spermine alkaloids were isolated from the alkaloidal fraction. These alkaloids exhibited activities against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 ranging from 0.09 ± 0.02 to 0.91 ± 0.10 ug/ml. Four of the alkaloids were further evaluated for in vivo activity against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The alkaloids showed percentage chemosuppression of parasitaemia in mice ranging from 43 to 72%. The use of the extracts A. gummifera for treatment of malaria in traditional medicine seems to have a scientific basis