Abstract
Wild ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf) B.L Burtt) is used in traditional medicines in the West and South of Africa. In the present study, the crude hexane extract of wild ginger was evaluated for in vitro bioactivity. The components isolated from the plant for the first time are: epi-curzerenone, furanodienone (sesquiterpenes), 8(17),12E-labdadiene-15,16-dial, 15-hydroxy-8(17),12E-labdadiene-16-al and 16-oxo-8(17),12E-labdadiene-15-oic acid (labdanes). Cytotoxicity determinations using five cell lines: SH-SY5Y (human, Caucasian, bone marrow, neuroblastoma), Jurkat (human, peripheral blood, leukaemia T cell), L929 (mouse, CH3/connective tissue, areolar and adipose tumour cells), Hep G2 (human, Caucasian, hepatocellular carcinoma) and Hs 27 (normal, human, foreskin cells) were carried out. Anti-trypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (S427) blood stream forms and anti-bacterial activity against Mycobacterium aurum (CIP .104482) were also investigated. Activity against M. aurum was moderate and at 100µg/ml, the crude extract together with the labdanes showed specific cytotoxicity, indicating anti-cancer potency. Anti-trypanosomal activity was observed in the crude extract which increased with the pure components: 8(17),12E-labdadiene-15,16-dial (MIC = 5.3 µM) and the sesquiterpenoids (MIC = 6.9 µM) as compared to suramin activity (MIC = 10 µM). This anti-trypanosomal activity which is being reported for the first time indicates possible usage against sleeping sickness and nagana in cattle.
Highlights
Wild ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf) B.L Burtt) is an annual plant of the Zingiberaceae family growing in Nigeria which has purple flowers with white corolla tubes
The Igede people of Benue State in Nigeria use the rhizome as a spice
Column chromatographic separation of the crude extract was performed on 2.00-3.00cm internal diameter glass columns using silica gel MN-60
Summary
Wild ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf) B.L Burtt) is an annual plant of the Zingiberaceae family growing in Nigeria which has purple flowers with white corolla tubes. The flowers start shooting out of the ground between April to May after the early rains and appear before the leaves. The South African varieties have white to bright pink flowers with yellow markings on lip and appear between October to February (Kiew, 1980; Holzapfel et al, 2002). The rhizomes of both varieties are used medicinally for colds, coughs, influenza, hysteria, infections, wound dressing, fevers and pain amongst other ailments. The Igede people of Benue State in Nigeria use the rhizome as a spice
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