Abstract
Background Hoodia gordonii products are widely commercialized for anti-obesity purposes; however, minimal research is available on the other health properties demonstrated by this popular herbal plant.Methods H. gordonii crude extracts (ethanol and ethyl acetate) were assayed for in vitro anti-HIV-1 protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase activity. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assays were used for the antioxidant analysis. In addition, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of the extracts were determined using standard methods.Results H. gordonii extract demonstrated good inhibition against HIV RT with IC50 values of 73.55 ± 0.04 and 69.81 ± 9.45 μg/mL for ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. Both extracts also demonstrated inhibitory activity against HIV PR with IC50 values of 97.29 ± 0.01 and 63.76 ± 9.01 μg/mL for ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. In addition, H. gordonii also showed good antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 124.6 ± 11.3 and 126.2 ± 3.15 μg/mL obtained for ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. The reducing power of H. gordonii extracts increased as the concentration increased which confirmed the presence of antioxidants (reductants) in the extracts. Phytochemical screening of H. gordonii revealed the presence of phenolics, alkaloids, terpenes, steroids, cardiac glycosides and tannins in the ethanolic extract, while the ethyl acetate extract only showed the presence of phenolics, cardiac glycosides and steroids. The total phenolic content was 420 ± 0.17 and 319.9 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g for the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. The ethanol extract, which revealed the presence of tannins, had a tannin content of 330 ± 0.2 mg TAE/g extract.ConclusionThis data suggests that H. gordonii has good in vitro inhibition against selected HIV-1 enzymes as well as antioxidant properties, suggesting new potential uses for this commercial plant.
Highlights
Hoodia gordonii products are widely commercialized for anti-obesity purposes; minimal research is available on the other health properties demonstrated by this popular herbal plant
Due to the absence of tannins in the ethyl acetate extract, as revealed by the phytochemical screening, the total tannin content was only determined for the ethanol extract of H. gordonii and the amount obtained was 330 ± 0.2 mg TAE/g extract
These results indicate that H. gordonii could be a rich source of tannins and phenolic compounds
Summary
Hoodia gordonii products are widely commercialized for anti-obesity purposes; minimal research is available on the other health properties demonstrated by this popular herbal plant. Hoodia is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae. It is widely used and traditionally by the San Bushmen of Southern Africa, who believe that Hoodia is their food, water and medicine [1, 2]. One of the popular Hoodia species used is Hoodia gordonii, a desert plant traditionally used by the San people as an appetite suppressant, thirst quencher and to treat severe abdominal cramps, haemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, minor infections, hypertension and diabetes [2]. H. gordonii has been known by the indigenous populations of Southern Africa for a long time For centuries this plant has been used to stave off hunger during long and tiring hunting trips or when food supplies were low [2]. Despite its popular use and commercialization, the bioactivity of H. gordonii has not been extensively studied
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