216 research outputs found
Medicinal properties and growth of Merwilla natalensis.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.Merwilla natalensis (Planchon) Speta is ranked as one of the most commonly sold
medicinal plants at most of the informal medicinal plant markets found throughout
South Africa. The increasing demand for medicinal plants has resulted in over-exploitation
of many of the wild populations. Overharvesting has resulted in M. natalensis being declared vulnerable. Although this species is so popular, and reports
state that the bulbs are used for a variety of ailments, very little is known about its
pharmacological activity or phytochemical composition.
Extracts were made from mature M. natalensis bulbs using hexane,
dichloromethane, methanol and water. These extracts were screened for
antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antischistosomal and anthelmintic
activity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the minimal inhibitory concentration
(MIC) assay. Methanol extracts displayed good antibacterial activity against both
Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative
(Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. Anti-inflammatory activity was
evaluated using the COX-1 and COX-2 bioassays. Dichloromethane extracts
displayed the highest inhibitory activity against both COX-1 and -2 enzymes. (80%
and 91% inhibition respectively) Very good activity was displayed against the free-living
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the schistosomula worms of
Schistosoma haematobium using microdilution techniques. Anticancer activity was
evaluated using the biochemical induction assay (BIA) in which DNA-damaging
properties are tested for. No activity was found using this assay, however, these
results do not prove that M. natalensis does not have other anticancer properties.
The phytochemical investigation of mature M. natalensis plants showed the
bulbs to contain both saponins and bufadienolides. One of the bufadienolides had the
same Rf value as proscillaridin A. Cytotoxicity tests reveal M. natalensis to be
extremely cytotoxic, yet the bulbs are commonly sold at traditional medicine markets
around South Africa. This cytotoxicity may be accredited to the presence of saponins
within the bulbs. No alkaloids or tannins were detected in the bulbs.
With the growing population in South Africa, there is an increasing demand for
traditional medicines. This increasing demand is placing tremendous strain on natural
populations growing in the wild. However, as the demand cannot continue to be met
other sources are needed. Tissue cultured plants have been grown at two different
regions of South Africa. These plants have been grown under different conditions to
determine the optimal ones needed to grow M. natalensis as a commercial crop on
small-scale farms.
Plantlets taken directly from tissue culture were acclimatized successfully for
cultivation by means of simple and cost effective methods. Cultivated plants were
harvested on a six-monthly basis for a period of two years. Field cultivation produced
bulbs of almost marketable size (±300g fresh weight) after 24 months. Bulb size was
not dependent on additional fertilizer or irrigation. No significant differences (p<_0.05)
were shown in the average dry weights of bulbs grown under different treatments
(control, fertilizer without irrigation, fertilizer with irrigation). Leaf senescence and
dormancy of young plants were prevented with irrigation. Flowering occurred after 24
months, with the irrigation and fertilizer plot having the most flowering plants. TLC
fingerprinting revealed differences in the chemical composition of the bulbs harvested
at different stages of growth. Noticeable differences were found between bulbs
cultivated at the different growing sites.
Pharmacological screenings were done of the harvested bulbs to investigate
the effect of age (time of harvest) and growing conditions on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
and anthelmintic activity. Methanol extracts were screened against
Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative
(Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. Variations in activity were
found. The time of harvest had a significant effect (p<_0.05) on biological activity, with
the younger plants being more active. Antibacterial activity decreased with an
increase in plants age.
Methanol extracts were also screened for anthelmintic activity against
Caenorhabditis elegans. Activity was found to increase with plant maturity. Irrigation
was found to increase activity at the low rainfall (Fort Hare) site. Bulbs harvested
from the irrigation treatment had significantly higher anthelmintic activity (p<_0.05)
than bulbs harvested from treatments without irrigation. Dichloromethane extracts
from bulbs grown at both sites had high anti-inflammatory activity. There were no
significant differences (p<_0.05) in the activity of bulbs harvested from the different
treatment plots. The time of harvest had an effect on the inhibition of prostaglandin
synthesis by COX-1 enzymes.
This study provides not only scientific verification for the use of M. natalensis
to some extent as a medicinal plant, but also important data needed to successfully
cultivate this species as a crop for small-scale farming
Seed germination of valuable high-altitude medicinal plants of southern Africa
Germination of nine important medicinal plant species from the high altitudes of southern Africa was investigated in relation to different environmental parameters. The seeds were subjected to different constant and alternating temperatures, temperature shifts, light and dark conditions, and cold stratification periods. Temperature regimes of 17-23°C appear most suitable for optimal germination for all the species examined. In some species, a temperature shift from 10°C to 20°C and 30°C to 20°C improved the final percentage germination. In the majority of the species investigated, exposure of seeds to continuous or alternating light significantly promoted germination over continuous dark. However, no phytochrome effect was determined. Tulbaghia alliacea and Dianthus basuticus germinated equally well in light and dark, while Urginea capitata responded significantly to the continuous light treatment. In some species, cold stratification stimulated germination and reduced the mean germination time
Larvicidal, antimicrobial and brine shrimp activities of extracts from Cissampelos mucronata and Tephrosia villosa from coast region, Tanzania
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The leaves and roots of <it>Cissampelos mucronata </it>A. Rich (Menispermaceae) are widely used in the tropics and subtropics to manage various ailments such as gastro-intestinal complaints, menstrual problems, venereal diseases and malaria. In the Coast region, Tanzania, roots are used to treat wounds due to extraction of jigger. Leaves of <it>Tephrosia villosa </it>(L) Pers (Leguminosae) are reported to be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in India. In this study, extracts from the roots and aerial parts of <it>C. mucronata </it>and extracts from leaves, fruits, twigs and roots of <it>T. villosa </it>were evaluated for larvicidal activity, brine shrimps toxicity and antimicrobial activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Powdered materials from <it>C. mucronata </it>were extracted sequentially by dichloromethane followed by ethanol while materials from <it>T.villosa </it>were extracted by ethanol only. The extracts obtained were evaluated for larvicidal activity using <it>Culex quinquefasciatus </it>Say larvae, cytotoxicity using brine shrimp larvae and antimicrobial activity using bacteria and fungi.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Extracts from aerial parts of <it>C. Mucronata </it>exhibited antibacterial activity against <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>, <it>Escherichia coli</it>, <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>, <it>Salmonella typhi</it>, <it>Vibrio cholera</it>, <it>Bacillus anthracis</it>, <it>Streptococcus faecalis </it>and antifungal activity against <it>Candida albicans </it>and <it>Cryptococcus neoformans</it>. They exhibited very low toxicity to brine shrimps and had no larvicidal activity. The root extracts exhibited good larvicidal activity but weak antimicrobial activity. The root dichloromethane extracts from <it>C. mucronata </it>was found to be more toxic with an LC<sub>50 </sub>value of 59.608 μg/mL while ethanolic extracts from root were not toxic with LC<sub>50</sub>>100 μg/mL). Ethanol extracts from fruits and roots of <it>T. villosa </it>were found to be very toxic with LC<sub>50 </sub>values of 9.690 μg/mL and 4.511 μg/mL, respectively, while, ethanol extracts from leaves and twigs of <it>T. villosa </it>were found to be non toxic (LC<sub>50</sub>>100 μg/mL).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results support the use of <it>C. mucronata </it>in traditional medicine for treatment of wounds. Extracts of <it>C. mucronata </it>have potential to yield active antimicrobial and larvicidal compounds. The high brine shrimp toxicity of <it>T. villosa </it>corroborates with literature reports that the plant is toxic to both livestock and fish. The results further suggest that <it>T. villosa </it>extracts have potential to yield larvicidal and possibly cytotoxic compounds. Further studies to investigate the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed biological effects are suggested.</p
The chemistry and biological activity of the Hyacinthaceae
Covering: 1914 to 2012The Hyacinthaceae (sensu APGII), with approximately 900 species in about 70 genera, can be divided into three main subfamilies, the Hyacinthoideae, the Urgineoideae and the Ornithogaloideae, with a small fourth subfamily the Oziroëoideae, restricted to South America. The plants included in this family have long been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of medicinal applications. This, together with some significant toxicity to livestock has led to the chemical composition of many of the species being investigated. The compounds found are, for the most part, subfamily-restricted, with homoisoflavanones and spirocyclic nortriterpenoids characterising the Hyacinthoideae, bufadienolides characterising the Urgineoideae, and cardenolides and steroidal glycosides characterising the Ornithogaloideae. The phytochemical profiles of 38 genera of the Hyacinthaceae will be discussed as well as any biological activity associated with both crude extracts and compounds isolated. The Hyacinthaceae of southern Africa were last reviewed in 2000 (T. S. Pohl, N. R. Crouch and D. A. Mulholland, Curr. Org. Chem., 2000, 4, 1287-1324; ); the current contribution considers the family at a global level
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