Alkaloidal variation in Cissampelos capensis (Menispermaceae)

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An ethnobotanical and chemotaxonomic study of South African Menispermaceae.

The Menispermaceae comprises some 75 genera and 520 species and is widespread in tropical and subtropical countries. Approximately 25 genera with 101 species are found in Africa. The southern African Menispermaceae comprises 7 genera and 13 species, of which one genus (Antizoma) and one species (Cissampelos capensis) are endemic. Field and herbarium surveys succeeded in expanding the knowledge on the geographical distribution of the South African species and a taxonomic synopsis is presented. A key to the 13 species was developed in which they can clearly be distinguished according to leaf morphology. The generic status of Antizoma was always somewhat problematic. Based on morphological features and growth habit, the two species of Antizoma seem to be adaptations to xerophytic conditions and are hardly different to Cissampelos capensis. Cladistic analysis of morphological and alkaloid data indicated strongly that Antizoma is nested within the genus Cissampelos. It is therefore proposed that the genus Antizoma be subsumed within Cissampelos. The family Menispermaceae is highly specialized in its rich diversification of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Because of this richness the family is used worldwide in traditional medicines to treat a wide variety of ailments. From the 13 species Cissampelos capensis [(dawidjies (wortel)] is the best known and most used medicinal plant especially by the Khoisan and other rural people in the western region of South Africa. An ethnobotanical survey had confirmed the known medicinal uses and added several additional anecdotes for this species. Very few medicinal uses were hitherto recorded for the other 12 species and this study now adds several new records. The ethnobotanical survey also indicated that Cissampelos is the most widely and frequently used genus in this family in South Africa, Africa and the rest of the World. Seventeen alkaloids from seven species were isolated, using column chromatography, and identified with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). No new alkaloids were identified during this study. Chemotaxonomic comparisons between species, provenances (different localities) and different plant parts of the same species, were done by using analytical crude alkaloid extracts. Alkaloids in these samples were identified withanalytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using pure reference standards obtained from own isolations. Significant differences in the presence and concentration of alkaloids in different plant parts and between populations indicated that alkaloids can be a useful chemotaxonomic tool, but an appropriate sampling strategy is a pre-requisite. Clear alkaloid patterns emerged for the seven species studied. The occurrence of alkaloids in plants was affected by locality as was confirmed by the difference in alkaloid patterns between coastal and inland forms of Cissampelos capensis. Antimalaria and anticancer screening were done on all 13 species and the significant positive results obtained support the ethnobotanical knowledge that some Menispermaceae species are used as antimalarial and anticancer medicines. The biological activities of some of the identified alkaloids also support the rationale behind the medicinal uses of the 13 South African species. Most of them are used as bitter tonics (“amara”) or stimulants. This study therefore succeeded in contributing to the knowledge about the ethnobotany, chemotaxonomy and biological activities of the South African members of this important and interesting family.Prof. B.E. van Wy

Polar Compounds Isolated from the Leaves of Albertisia delagoensis (Menispermaceae)

Aqueous infusions of the leaves of the shrub Albertisia delagoensis (Menispermaceae) are used in South Africa in traditional Zulu medicine to alleviate a variety of symptoms, including fever, and intestinal problems. We report the analysis of such an aqueous extract using the HPLC-NMR technique. A number of polar compounds were identified, including proto-quercitol, nicotinic acid, allantoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid, phthalic acid and the aporphine alkaloid derivative roemrefidine. Allantoic acid and roemrefidine have been fully characterised by 1H- and 13C-NMR and mass spectrometry. Earlier reports of antiplasmodial activity of roemrefidine and of A. delagoensis extracts are correlated with this study and with the antipyretic properties of neutral aqueous extracts

The use of African traditional medicines amongst Zulu women during childbearing in northern KwaZulu-Natal

In Africa, some women are still heavily depending on traditional medicine during childbearing to maintain healthy pregnancy, postpartum recovery and for infant care. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of traditional medicine use and associated factors of its use during childbearing. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and individual interviews were conducted with 140 women. The results indicated that majority of women (79%) were still using traditional medicine during childbearing for different purposes even with the availability of free health care services. The most commonly used traditional medicine used during pregnancy was isihlambezo. Umhlabelo herbal mixture was the most cited remedy used for post-partum recovery. For infant care, imbiza was the only used traditional remedy. The results of this study highlight the need for health care workers to be aware of this practice and be able to provide mediation during ante-natal care classe

Alkaloidal Variation in Cissampelos Capensis (Menispermaceae)

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Alkaloidal Variation in Cissampelos Capensis (Menispermaceae)

Cissampelos capensis, commonly known by the Afrikaans name “dawidjies” or “dawidjieswortel”, is the most important and best known medicinal plant of the family Menispermaceae used by the Khoisan and other rural people in the western region of South Africa. The main alkaloids in the leaves, stems and rhizomes were isolated and identified. Several of the main compounds were previously found in species of the related genus Antizoma and this similarity indicates that the two genera are closely related if not congeneric. Bulbocapnine (an aporphine alkaloid), dicentrine (an aporphine alkaloid) and salutaridine (a morphinane alkaloid) were the main alkaloids in the leaves, while bulbocapnine, cissacapine, cycleanine and insularine (the last three are bisbenzyltetrahydro-isoquinoline alkaloids) are the major compounds in the stems. The rhizome contains mostly bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, with 12-O-methylcurine, cissacapine and cycleanine as the main ones. Alkaloids appear to be quite variable within different plant parts and different provenances, as confirmed by the difference in alkaloid patterns between coastal and inland forms of Cissampelos capensis (the morphinane alkaloid salutaridine, for example, is the major leaf alkaloid along the coast but is practically absent from the inland form of the species). The variety of alkaloids identified may contribute to the medicinal value of this species. The data on alkaloidal variation in the species has potential value and practical applications in chemotaxonomy, toxicology and pharmacognosy