Abstract
Although orthodox medications are available for skin diseases, expensive dermatological services have necessitated the use of medicinal plants as a cheaper alternative. This study evaluated the pharmacological and phytochemical profiles of four medicinal plants (Drimia sanguinea, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Helichrysum paronychioides, and Senecio longiflorus) used for treating skin diseases. Petroleum ether and 50% methanol extracts of the plants were screened for antimicrobial activity against six microbes: Bacillus cereus, Shigella flexneri, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans using the micro-dilution technique. Antioxidant activity was conducted using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid models. Cytotoxicity was determined against African green monkey Vero kidney cells based on the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. Spectrophotometric and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) methods were used to evaluate the phytochemical constituents. All the extracts demonstrated varying degrees of antimicrobial potencies. Shigella flexneri, Candida glabrata, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans were most susceptible at 0.10 mg/mL. In the DPPH test, EC50 values ranged from approximately 6–93 µg/mL and 65%–85% antioxidant activity in the β-carotene linoleic acid antioxidant activity model. The phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 3.5–64 mg GAE/g and 1.25–28 mg CE/g DW, respectively. The LC50 values of the cytotoxicity assay ranged from 0.015–5622 µg/mL. GC-MS analysis revealed a rich pool (94–198) of bioactive compounds including dotriacontane, benzothiazole, heptacosane, bumetrizole, phthalic acid, stigmasterol, hexanoic acid and eicosanoic acid, which were common to the four plants. The current findings provide some degree of scientific evidence supporting the use of these four plants in folk medicine. However, the plants with high cytotoxicity need to be used with caution.
Highlights
Skin diseases contribute significantly to the public health burden and continue to affect people of all ages
We provided baseline pharmacological and phytochemical data of the four tested plants which are prescribed by Batswana traditional health practitioners for skin-related diseases
The observed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities provided the scientific rationale for the traditional uses of the investigated plants for treatment of skin diseases
Summary
Skin diseases contribute significantly to the public health burden and continue to affect people of all ages. The increased rate of skin infections associated with immune compromised persons due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has put skin problems in the spotlight. They constitute about 34% of occupational health problems encountered. Secondary symptoms of some infections such as syphilis manifest on the skin, impact negatively on the self-esteem and emotions of affected persons [1,2]. Conditions such as poor hygiene, improper sanitation, lack of clean water, humid conditions and density of households are known to exacerbate the spread of skin diseases [3]. Despite the presence of conventional drugs for skin diseases, challenges such as unwanted side effects and development of resistance by microorganisms as well as the high cost of medications have prompted the shift of attention towards natural sources for remedies against skin diseases [4,5]
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