Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Geniosporum rotundifolium Briq and Haumaniastrum villosum (Bene) AJ Paton (Lamiaceae) Essential Oils from Tanzania

Purpose: To determine the chemical composition and antimicrobial potential of essential oils from two aromatic plants of Tanzania, Geniosporum rotundifolium Briq. and Haumaniastrum villosum (Benè) A.J. Paton (Lamiaceae).Method: Essential oils from the aerial parts of the plants were extracted by hydro-distillation for 3 h using a Clevenger type of apparatus. The constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC/MS).The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the essential oils were determined for eight bacterial strains and three pathogenic fungi using agar dilution method.Results: The constituents of G. rotundifolium oil were mainly oxygenated derivatives of mono- and sesquiterpenes; spathulenol (12.46 %), α-terpineol (4.65 %) and germacrene-D (3.71 %) were the most abundant. Those of H. villosum oil were predominantly sesquiterpenes (72.61 %) with caryophyllene oxide (19.01 %), humulene epoxide II (11.95 %), β-bourbonene (5.7 %), α-humulene (5.63 %) and β- caryophyllene (5.39 %) being more abundant. The oil of G. rotundifolium exhibited weak to moderate activity against the bacterial species but showed no activity against the test fungi. However, H. villosum oil showed very promising activity against all the test microorganisms (MIC 0.08 – 10.34 mg/mL).Conclusion: The major components of G. rotundifolium essential oil were oxygenated derivatives of mono- and sesquiterpenes whereas those of H. villosum were sesquiterpenes. All tested microorganisms were susceptible to H. villosum oil.Keywords: Geniosporum rotundifolium, Haumaniastrum villosum, Essential oils, Chemical composition, Antimicrobial activit

Biopiracy <i>versus </i>one-world medicine – from colonial relicts to global collaborative concepts

Background: Practices of biopiracy to use genetic resources and indigenous knowledge by Western companies without benefit-sharing of those, who generated the traditional knowledge, can be understood as form of neocolonialism.Hypothesis: : The One-World Medicine concept attempts to merge the best of traditional medicine from developing countries and conventional Western medicine for the sake of patients around the globe.Study design: Based on literature searches in several databases, a concept paper has been written. Legislative initiatives of the United Nations culminated in the Nagoya protocol aim to protect traditional knowledge and regulate benefit-sharing with indigenous communities. The European community adopted the Nagoya protocol, and the corresponding regulations will be implemented into national legislation among the member states. Despite pleasing progress, infrastructural problems of the health care systems in developing countries still remain. Current approaches to secure primary health care offer only fragmentary solutions at best. Conventional medicine from industrialized countries cannot be afforded by the impoverished population in the Third World. Confronted with exploding costs, even health systems in Western countries are endangered to burst. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is popular among the general public in industrialized countries, although the efficacy is not sufficiently proven according to the standards of evidence-based medicine. CAM is often available without prescription as over-the-counter products with non-calculated risks concerning erroneous self-medication and safety/toxicity issues. The concept of integrative medicine attempts to combine holistic CAM approaches with evidence-based principles of conventional medicine.Conclusion: To realize the concept of One-World Medicine, a number of standards have to be set to assure safety, efficacy and applicability of traditional medicine, e.g. sustainable production and quality control of herbal products, performance of placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trials, phytovigilance, as well as education of health professionals and patients

Screening of Tanzanian medicinal plants for anti-Candida activity

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans has become resistant to the already limited, toxic and expensive anti-Candida agents available in the market. These factors necessitate the search for new anti-fungal agents. METHODS: Sixty-three plant extracts, from 56 Tanzanian plant species obtained through the literature and interviews with traditional healers, were evaluated for anti-Candida activity. Aqueous methanolic extracts were screened for anti-Candida activity by bioautography agar overlay method, using a standard strain of Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). RESULTS: Twenty- seven (48%) out of the 56 plants were found to be active. Extracts of the root barks of Albizia anthelmintica and Balanites aegyptiaca, and roots of Plectranthus barbatus showed strong activity. CONCLUSION: The extracts that showed strong anti-Candida activity are worth of further investigation in order to isolate and identify the active compounds

Bioactive constituents of Kokoona ochracea (Celastraceae) and Tetrapleura tetraptera (Leguminosae).

Bioactive constituents of Kokoona ochracea (Celastraceae) and Tetrapleura tetraptera (Leguminosae)

Screening of Plants Used as Traditional Anticancer Remedies in Mkuranga and Same Districts, Tanzania, Using Brine Shrimp Toxicity Bioassay

Background. Inadequate specialized cancer hospitals and high costs are contributing factors that delay cancer patients from accessing health care services in Tanzania. Consequently, majority of patients are first seen by Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) before they access specialized services. This study presents ethnomedical information and preliminary evaluation of 25 plant species claimed by THPs in Mkuranga and Same districts of Tanzania on use for treatment of cancer. Literature search and laboratory investigation results are presented to support evaluation. Methods. This study was a single disease ethnomedical enquiry focusing on plants being used for cancer treatment. Face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were administered to eight (8) THPs in Mkuranga and Same districts on the claimed plants and their use for management of cancer. Plants were selected based on being frequently mentioned and emphasis given by THPs. Literature search and brine shrimp toxicity (BST) of methanol : dichloromethane (1:1) extracts was used as surrogates to evaluate strength of the claims. Results. This study reports 25 plant species used by the THPs in two districts of Tanzania. Eight plants (32%) have been reported in the literature to have activity against cancer cells. BST results revealed, 14 (56%) plants exhibited high toxicity against brine shrimps. The most active plants included Croton pseudopulchellus Pax (LC50 4.2 μg/ml), Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. (LC50 6.8 μg/ml), Loranthus micranthus Linn (LC50 4.0 μg/ml), Ochna mossambicensis Klotzsch (LC50 3.3 μg/ml), and Spirostachys africana Sond. (LC50 4.4 μg/ml); their toxicity was comparable to that of Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don. (LC50 6.7 μg/ml), an established source of anticancer compounds. Nine other plants had LC50 values between (19.8 and 71.6) μg/ml, indicating also potential to yield anticancer. Conclusion. Literature search and BST results provide a strong support of the potential of the claimed plants to yield active anticancer compounds