Abstract
BackgroundMedicinal plants represent an important opportunity to rural communities in Africa, as a source of affordable medicine and as a source of income. Increased patient awareness about safe usage is important as well as more training with regards to traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ethnomedicinal prowess of some indigenous South African plants commonly used in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa for the treatment of skin and respiratory tract infections, HIV and their toxicity potential.MethodsCassine transvaalensis, Vangueria infausta, Croton gratissimus and Vitex ferruginea were tested for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). Cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 activities of plants were tested using MTT Assay (3- (Dimethylthiozole-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)) and anti- HIV-1iib assay. In search of bioactive lead compounds, Cassine transvaalensis which was found to be the most active plant extract against the two Staphylocoous bacteria was subjected to various chromatographic. Thin layer chromatography, Column chromatography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), (1H-1H, 13C-13C, in DMSO_d6, Bruker 600 MHz) were used to isolate and characterize 3-Oxo-28-hydroxylbetuli-20(29)-ene and 3,28-dihydroxylbetuli-20(29)-ene bioactive compounds from C. transvaalensis.ResultsThe four plants studied exhibited bioactive properties against the test isolates. The zones of inhibition ranged between 16 mm to 31 mm for multi-drug resistant staphylococci species. MIC values varied between 0.6 and 0.02 μg/ml. C. gratissimus and C. transvaalensis exhibited the abilities to inhibit HIV-1iib. Two bioactive compounds were isolated from C. transvaalensis.ConclusionData from this study reveals the use of these plant by traditional healers in the Eastern Cape. Furthermore, C. transvaalensis and C. gratissimus were found to be more active as against HIV-1iib. While C. transvaalensis was most active against the two Staphylococcus bacteria.
Highlights
Medicinal plants represent an important opportunity to rural communities in Africa, as a source of affordable medicine and as a source of income
Antibacterial susceptibility against medicinal plants The four plant extracts used in this study demonstrates good to moderate bioactivities as confirmed by different assays in the study
The plant extracts (0.1 g/ml) exhibited antibacterial activities against multidrug resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains isolated from patients (Table 1)
Summary
Medicinal plants represent an important opportunity to rural communities in Africa, as a source of affordable medicine and as a source of income. Plants have been used as medicine to manage both animals and humans’ health throughout history, and studies have shown that wild animals eat certain plants to treat themselves from certain ailments [1,2,3]. In all the continents of the world, medicinal plants are consumed by humans for management of health related issues, the practices and mode of uses may differ from country to country and from tribe to tribe [4]. The upper surface of the leaves is dark-green and shiny without hairs, while the under surface is covered with scales resulting in silvery colour. It is found over a wide range of altitudes in a variety of wood land type, often associated with rocky outcrops [6]. In Botswana, the leaves are used for treating coughs [6,7], while Zimbabweans, use the roots infusions for healing abdominal pains [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
