African Traditional Medicine Research Articles

A review on phytopharmacological properties of five jujube species: Ziziphus sativa, Z. mauritiana, Z. mucronata, Z. lotus and Z. spina christi (Rhamnacées)

The genus Ziziphus comprises a very important multi-purpose plant species that has been used in African traditional medicine for ages in the treatment of various devastating human and animal infections. The current paper is aimed at providing an overview of geographical distribution, botanical caracteristics, phytochemistry, uses and biological properties of five jujube species: Ziziphus sativa, Z. mauritiana, Z. mucronata, Z. lotus and Z. spina Christi, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. The information used in the current work was retrieved using various search engines, including Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Scielo, Sci Finder and Scopus. The richness of these plants on phytoconstituents may well explain the reported biological activities.

Antinociceptive and anti-ulcerogenic effect of hydroethanolic stem bark extract of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex. Heckel (Euphorbiaceae): Involvement of the opioidergic pathway and attenuation of oxidative stress

Background and aimApproximately 80% of the population in developing countries is affected by gastric ulcers Gastric ulcers are associated with pain,and there is an urgent need for drugs that can manage both conditions. Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex. Heckel has long been regarded used in managing gastric ulcers and pain in African Traditional Medicine. In the present study, the antinociceptive and anti-ulcer activity of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex. Heckel hydroethanolic stem bark extract (RHE) was evaluated. Experimental procedureThe antinociceptive effect of RHE was tested in ICR mice using the hot plate test, the glutamate-induced nociceptive test, and the formalin test. Gastric ulcers were induced in healthy male adult albino rats in acidified alcohol-induced ulcer (AAIU) and indomethacin-induced ulcer (IIU) models. After ulcer induction, the rats were treated with either RHE (30, 100, or 300 mg/kg, p.o.) or 10 mg/kg omeprazole. The stomachs of the sacrificed animals were removed for further analysis. Results and conclusionRHE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) exhibited an anti-nociceptive effect in the hot plate, formalin and glutamate tests. The opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, reversed the analgesic effect, indicating that the extract may be acting via the opioidergic pathway. But compared to the model group in both AAIU and IIU, oral administration of RHE decreased ulcer index, raised pH levels, increased tissue levels of total antioxidant capacity, catalase, total thiols, and glutathione, and kept gastric histoarchitecture intact. RHE exhibited anti-nociceptive effects, possibly via the opioidergic pathway and anti-ulcer activity via reduction of oxidative stress.

Antiarthritic and Antioxidant Activities of Antrocaryon micraster Seed Extract and Its Fractions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an incurable debilitating disease which attacks the joints and impairs quality of life. Antrocaryon micraster is used to treat RA in African traditional medicine. However, its antiarthritic activity has not been pharmacologically studied. This study, therefore, reports the antiarthritic and antioxidant activities of A. micraster seed extract and its fractions. The seed extract (ASE) was produced by Soxhlet extraction and partitioned into petroleum ether (ASEP), ethyl acetate (ASEE), and aqueous (ASEA) fractions. The total polyphenolic content, DPPH antioxidant activity, and in vitro arthritic activity using the protein denaturation assay were evaluated for ASE and its fractions. The arthritic activity of the crude extract (ASE) and its most effective fraction (ASEA), in the in vitro assay, were then evaluated against CFA-induced arthritis in rats. The polyphenolic constituent of ASE was estimated to be 13.00 ± 0.00 mg/100 mg of GAE. ASEA contained the highest quantity of polyphenolic constituents (10.76 ± 0.00 mg/100 mg of GAE) among the fractions of the extract. ASE and ASEA produced profound antioxidant activity (IC50 = 20.17 ± 1.291 and 19.35 ± 0.865, respectively) which were similar to that of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 17.35 ± 0.500) in the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Furthermore, in vitro antiarthritic activity of ASEA was 13.63 and 5.75 times higher than the antiarthritic activity of the crude extract and diclofenac sodium, respectively. In the CFA-induced arthritis assay, both ASE and ASEA significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited cachexia, paw edema, infiltration of inflammatory cells, pannus formation, and synovium damage. These results indicate that A. micraster seed extract and its fractions possessed significant antiarthritic activity via inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, protein denaturation, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and synovium injury due to its constituents such as polyphenols and phytosterols.

P084 Natural extracts and omega-3 derived molecule: role in resolution of intestinal inflammation

Abstract Background In the last years there is a great interest in the characterization of natural compounds extracted from plants or omega-3 derived molecules for their possible therapeutic effects. In this scenario, the seeds of Nigella sativa and Nigella orientalis (plants with great relevance in North African traditional medicine) have shown beneficial effects in reducing inflammation. Similarly, the addition of Maresin 2 (pro-resolving mediator) to experimental animals improved symptoms in various models of inflammation. However, there is no information on the role that these potential therapies may play in the cellular and molecular processes leading to the resolution of inflammation at the intestinal level. Methods Eight-week-old female C57Bl/6 mice (n=30) were subjected to a DSS-induced colitis model; mice received 1.8% (weight/volume) DSS in the drinking water for 6 days followed by 6 days of regular drinking water. Mice were treated from day 5 to day 12 with vehicle, Nigella Sativa, Nigella Orientalis, and Maresin-2. After that, histology studies, flow cytometry, expression analysis and migration experiments were performed. Results In all the treatment groups there was a significant reduction in weight loss and improved DAI scores compared to control group. Significant differences were also observed in the epithelial score and in the infiltration score. Analysis of the immune cell infiltrate revealed that only neutrophil numbers were downregulated after the administration of the indicated treatments. Further in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that Nigella Sativa and Nigella Orientalis were able to decrease neutrophil viability and migration. By contrast, Mar2 seemed to affect neutrophil infiltration through indirect mechanisms and by regulating the expression of chemotactic factors Conclusion Overall, our study reveals novel compounds able to regulate the resolution of intestinal inflammation in vivo, and this occurs, by the modulation of neutrophil presence into the colon lamina propria.

The Effect of Ethanoic Extract of Xylopiaaethiopica (UDA) on Pain Sensitivity of Female Wistar Rats

Background: In African traditional medicine, the dried pods of Xylopia aethiopica are frequently used to managedifferent human ailments. In Nigeria, it is consumed in soups after childbirth to aid in wound healing, painrelief, uterine recovery, and lactation. The study investigates the impact of Xylopia aethiopicafruit extract on painsensitivity using Wistar rats.Methods: Twelve female Wistar rats were divided into two groups (Group 1 - Control and Group 2 -100mg/kgXylopia aethiopicaextract-fed) and received standard rat chow and water for fourteen days following which painsensitivity was assessed using a hot plate. The results were presented as Mean and Independent Student T-testwas utilized for statistical analysis with significance determined at P≤0.05. Increased pain tolerance indicatedreduced sensitivity.The escape latencies of both groups were 5secs and 8 secs respectively. Group 2 demonstrated a noteworthyincrease in pain tolerance compared to Group 1 (P = 0.003). This experimental study indicates that the ethanoicextract of Xylopia aethiopicafruit has analgesic properties.Conclusion: The result of this study provides support for the use of dried Xylopia aethiopicapods in painmanagement across some communities in Southern Nigeria.

Blood purification practices: Some ethnopharmacological insight from a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ethnopharmacological relevanceBlood purification practices, also referred to as blood cleansing or detoxification, is an ancient concept which is widespread within African traditional medicine. There is, however, limited consolidated information about the selection of plant species, the purpose of use and how the preparation is made. An in-depth examination of how regional communities use medicinal plants for blood purification is needed to better understand this ethnopharmacological practice. Aim of the studyTo gather knowledge on the traditional use of medicinal plants used for the purpose of blood purification by laypersons in northern Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was conducted on medicinal plants used in the rural areas of northern Maputaland for blood purification. Interviews were conducted in 55 homesteads, where the most knowledgeable participant per household was interviewed using structured questionnaires. Information collected included knowledge of the concept of blood purification, purpose for medicating, plant selection, and mode of preparation. The most important species and families were identified through indices. ResultsSixty-four plant species from 35 families were recorded as blood purifiers for the treatment of ailments linked to the need for blood purification. Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC. was the most used plant species (mentioned by 39% of the people interviewed). The conditions that were mostly associated with blood purification were skin complaints, gastro-intestinal disorders, and overall improvement of general health. Blood purification is also commonly used for non-medical purposes such as granting good luck or as a love charm. Six new plant species and five new Zulu vernacular names had not previously been documented for blood purification. ConclusionThe frequently mentioned use of medicinal plants for blood purification by the rural community of northern Maputaland clearly emphasises the importance of this cultural practice. There is no doubt that when examining African traditional medicine, holistic terms such as “blood cleansing” cannot be ignored. Future studies may provide a better understanding of this often misunderstood and undocumented practice.

Implicit and Explicit Solvent Effects on the Global Reactivity and the Density Topological Parameters of the Preferred Conformers of Caespitate

In the search to cover the urgent need to combat infectious diseases, natural products have gained attention in recent years. The caespitate molecule, isolated from the plant Helichrysum caespititium of the Asteraceae family, is used in traditional African medicine. Caespitate is an acylphloroglucinol with biological activity. Acylphloroglucinols have attracted attention for treating tuberculosis due to their structural characteristics, highlighting the stabilizing effect of their intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IHBs). In this work, a conformational search for the caespitate was performed using the MM method. Posteriorly, DFT calculations with the APFD functional were used for full optimization and vibrational frequencies, obtaining stable structures. A population analysis was performed to predict the distribution of the most probable conformers. The calculations were performed in the gas phase and solution using the implicit SMD model for water, chloroform, acetonitrile, and DMSO solvents. Additionally, the multiscale ONIOM QM1/QM2 model was used to simulate the explicit solvent. The implicit and explicit solvent effects were evaluated on the global reactivity indexes using the conceptual-DFT approach. In addition, the QTAIM approach was applied to analyze the properties of the IHBs of the most energetically and populated conformers. The obtained results indicated that the most stable and populated conformer is in the gas phase, and chloroform has an extended conformation. However, water, acetonitrile, and DMSO have a hairpin shape. The optimized structures are well preserved in explicit solvent and the interaction energies for the IHBs were lower in explicit than implicit solvents due to non-covalent interactions formed between the solvent molecules. Finally, both methodologies, with implicit and explicit solvents, were validated with 1H and 13C NMR experimental data. In both cases, the results agreed with the experimental data reported in the CDCl3 solvent.

Qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of Leptadenia hastata: exploring a traditional african medicinal plant.

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is a commonly used food source and prescribed as a traditional African medicine for treatment of various diseases, such as diabetes, skin disorders, wounds, and ulcers. However, quality control has become a bottleneck restricting the therapeutic development and utilization of this plant. In this study, a reliable method for qualitative and quantitative determination of components in Leptadenia hastata was established. The components of L. hastata were profiled using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Subsequently, an ultra-high performance tandem diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD)-based method was used for simultaneous quantitative analysis of five major constituents in six batches of L. hastata samples. As a result, 35 compounds were tentatively identified. The quantities of the five constituents (vicenin-Ⅱ, orientin, schaftoside, chrysin 6-C-arabinoside 8-C-glucoside, chrysin 6-C-glucoside 8-C-arabinoside) were determined as 124.8-156.9μg/g, 170.5-216.0μg/g, 61.31-93.73μg/g, 85.13-119.3μg/g and 99.82-129.4μg/g, respectively. This method offers a successful strategy for precise and effective evaluation of the constituents of L. hastata, providing a robust foundation for holistic quality assessment of medicinal plants.

Rubiaceae in African Traditional Medicine: Comparative Assessment of Antibacteria Activity of the Leave Extracts of Cephalanthus Occidentalis.

The Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the leave extracts of Cephalanthus occidentallis were studied. Preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinoes, saponins, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates and terpenes. Antimicrobial studies showed that the ethanol extract had considerable activities and significant inhibition against streptococcus pyogen, salmonella typhii, shigella dysentery and escherichia coli, Ethanol extract had higher zone of inhibition (32mm) against salmonella typhi at 0.5µg/ml to 5×104 µg/ml. The MIC of ethanol extract against S. pyogene, E. coli, S. dysentery and S. typhii were 12.5mg/ml, 25mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml respectively.

Traditional Medicine Offers Hope for Cancer Management

Traditional medicine practices play a vital role in health care systems in countries with developing economies like China, India, USA and few African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe etc. The aim of this scientific article was to enlighten the public of the use of traditional medicine within local Nigerian communities for cancer management. In this article, we examine the ethnobotanical uses of selected plant species from the Nigerian flora and attempt to correlate the activities of the isolated bioactive principles with known uses of the plant species in African traditional medicine. Hundreds of plant species have been identified and about 100 out of the compounds identified with these plants matched with the ethnobotanical uses of the plants.

Acute and Chronic Oral Toxicity of Hydroethanolic Extract of Sclerocarya birrea (Anacardiaceae) in Wistar Rats.

Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). Hochst, popularly known as Morula, is a plant in the Anacardiaceae family. The bark, fruits, and leaves have traditionally been used to manage a variety of health conditions, most especially diabetes. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of data and publications on the toxicity and safety of this plant. The current study was designed to assess the acute and chronic toxicity of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea in albino rats. Sclerocarya birrea was extracted using an 80-20% hydro-ethanolic solution. For the acute toxicity study, female Wistar albino rats were treated with hydro-ethanolic leaf extract at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight and followed-up for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, 40 healthy Wistar albino rats were divided in 4 groups. The three treatment groups were administered the leaf hydro-ethanolic extract orally at dosages of 30, 150, and 1000 mg/kg once day for 90 days and the fourth group was a control group. Body and organs weights, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. Single-dose oral administration of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sclerocarya birrea at 5000 mg/kg produced no mortality indicating the LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Following 90 days of administration of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea leaves, there was no significant change in body and organs weights. Furthermore, biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters did not vary significantly. This data indicates neither acute or chronic toxicity in rats and is consistent with the widespread and long-term usage of Sclerocarya birrea in African traditional medicine.

Optimization of extraction conditions by the dosage of polyphenols and determination of antioxidant activity: Case of Melothria maderaspatana organs, a plant used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of diabetes

Melothria maderaspatana is a medicinal plant of Asian origin belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It has a wide range of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds. The leaves, roots and fruits are considered to have stomachic activities. It is a plant very rich in phenolic compounds, generally responsible for the biological activity of plants. In this study, we optimized the extraction parameters, including temperature, duration and solvent mass/volume ratio, by determining the total polyphenol contents and the antiradical activity at DPPH●. The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to evaluate the content of phenolic compounds, with gallic acid as a reference. The determination of flavonoids with AlCl3 was carried out with quercetin as a reference. The DPPH● radical made it possible to measure the antioxidant power of the extract, with reference to Trolox. This study showed that the optimal conditions for extraction of bioactive molecules, responsible for antioxidant activity, are obtained for a temperature of 80 °C, for a period of 30 min in a ratio of 1 g for 50 mL of extraction solvent which is distilled water. Under these conditions, the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids are evaluated for the other organs of the plant. The values obtained ​​show that the three parts of the plant contain approximately the same polyphenol contents and exhibit the same DPPH● antioxidant activity. As for the flavonoid content, the leaves are revealed to be the richest part, compared to the stems and fruits. These physicochemical indicators in secondary metabolites and biological activity justify the primary choice reserved for this plant by traditional practitioners for the treatment of numerous pathologies.

Medicinal plants in quilombola communities: integrative literature review

The traditional knowledge in the use of medicinal plants of quilombola communities is wide and diverse and is studied by ethnobotany and/or ethnopharmacology. This paper aims to synthesize the ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants from quilombola communities. This is an integrative review conducted in the Scopus, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online/US National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) and Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science. A total of 165 studies were identified, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. A large number and diversity of plant species and therapeutic indications were evidenced. We concluded that traditional quilombola knowledge in the use of medicinal plants is supported by biomedical and non-biomedical rationalities, such as traditional African and indigenous medicine.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Medicine in Africa

Traditional medicine plays a vital role in healthcare delivery across Africa, where access to modern healthcare facilities may be limited. This review article provides a comprehensive ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in traditional African medicine. Drawing upon a wide range of scholarly sources, ethnographic studies, and indigenous knowledge systems, the review explores the rich diversity of medicinal plants utilized by traditional healers and community members for the prevention and treatment of various ailments. The article examines the botanical diversity, therapeutic properties, preparation methods, and cultural significance of commonly used medicinal plants across different regions of Africa. Additionally, the review discusses the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, sustainable harvesting practices, and the integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems. By documenting and promoting the use of medicinal plants in traditional African medicine, this review contributes to the conservation of biodiversity, preservation of cultural heritage, and enhancement of healthcare accessibility and affordability for diverse populations in Africa.

Anti-malarial and haematological evaluation of the ethanolic, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Chromolaena odorata

Malaria is a global health challenge with endemicity in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are multiple drug-resistant strains and limited access to modern health care facilities, especially in rural areas. Studies indicate that African traditional medicine could make a substantial contribution to the reduction of malaria-related deaths and achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), particularly in these regions. Thus, this study evaluated the curative antimalarial effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract using mouse model. Forty-five (45) albino mice weighing between 18 and 22 g were grouped into nine groups of 5 animals each. Animals in groups 2–9 were infected with the chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium berghei, while animals in groups 3–9 were subsequently treated with 10 mg/kg chloroquine, a combination of 1.4 mg/kg artemether and 8.75 mg/kg lumefantrine (Coartem), and varying concentrations of the fraction from the aqueous leaf extract of C. odorata at day 3 post-infection. The findings from this study indicate that treatment with 400 mg/kg of the ethanolic fraction of the crude extract resulted in a significant decrease in parasite load (97.6%), which was comparable to the activities of the conventional drugs chloroquine (98.6%) and Coartem (98.8%). The ethyl acetate and ethanolic fractions at 400 mg/kg also ameliorated the significant alterations in the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets of the infected animals. The high antimalarial activity displayed by the ethanolic fraction could be due to the presence of quercetin and kaempferol, as detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The findings suggest that the fractions from C. odorata could serve as an alternative source of malaria therapy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

A Systematic Review of Curtisia dentata Endemic to South Africa: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology.

The use of traditional medicine in treating a variety of both human and animal infections is ancient and still relevant. This is due to the resistance exhibited by most pathogenic microbial stains to currently-used antibiotics. The current work reports the phytochemistry, ethno-medicinal uses, toxicology, and most important pharmacological activities that validate the use of the plant species in African traditional medicine. Curtisia dendata is used in the treatment of many human and animal infections, including diarrhea, skin and related conditions, sexually transmitted infections, cancer, and a variety of ethno-veterinary infections. Pharmacologically, the plant species exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogens. Further, both extracts and compounds isolated from the plant species exhibited potent antioxidant, anticancer, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and other important biological activities. Phytochemically, the plant species possess a variety of compounds, particularly triterpenes, that may well explain the various pharmacological activities of the plant species. The toxicological parameters, antimicrobial activities against microorganisms related to sexually transmitted infections, anti-diabetic effects, and inflammatory properties of the plant species are not well studied and still need to be explored. The biological activities observed validate the use of the plant species in African traditional medicine, particularly in the treatment of pulmonary infections associated with Mycobacterium species, and may well be due to the presence of triterpenes prevalent in the leaves.

Capparis sepiaria’s root bark aqueous lyophilisate shows antiamnesic properties on scopolamine induce cognitive impairment in mice

Capparis sepiaria (Capparaceae) is a plant used in African traditional medicine to treat psychiatic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-amnesic effect of aqueous lyophilisate of the root bark of Capparis sepiaria (C. sepiaria) on scopolamine-induced animal model of memory impairment using Swiss albino adult mice of both sexes. Memory integrity was assessed by Morris water Maze test, Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and Object-location memory (OLT) tasks were used to assess behavioural components of memory processes and learning. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), NO levels and catalase were used to assess oxidative stress while acethylcholinesterase activity was used to evaluate acetylcholine activity in the hippocampus tissues. The quantitative phytochemistry and acute toxicity of the roots of C. sepiaria were also evaluated. The aqueous lyophilisate of C. sepiaria at doses of 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg significantly increased the discrimination index in the Morris Water Maze and the objet location tasks. The aqueous lyophilisate of C. sepiaria significantly increased hippocampal GSH and catalase levels and decreased hippocampal MDA, NO levels and achetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. The aqueous lyophilisate of C. sepiaria showed no acute toxicity with a LD50 > 5000 mg/kg, and revealed a content of flavonoids, tannins and phenols. These results suggest that C. sepiaria improve memory impairment induced by scopolamine and therefore possess antiamnesic properties. These properties would result from a modulation of cholinergic neurotransmission as well as an antioxidant activity of the plant.

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the methanol root extract of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. (Olacaceae) in mice and rats

Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. is an important medicinal plant included in African traditional anticancer medicines. Little information about its safety and toxicity appears in the literature. This study thus aimed at evaluating the safety of its methanol root extract orally administered in laboratory animals. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometric analysis of O. subscorpioidea extract was conducted. For acute toxicity, methods within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines were used, with slight modifications. A single female mouse was orally administered a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight of O. subscorpioidea methanol root extract and was monitored for at least 24 h for any signs of toxicity or death. An additional four mice (n = 4, 2/sex) were similarly treated. Another female mouse was orally administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight and observed for at least 24 h. Additional four mice were similarly treated. For sub-acute toxicity, the extract was administered daily to Wistar rats for 21 days at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1,000 mg/kg. General behaviours changes, haematological, biochemical, and histological examinations on rats’ organs were performed. The FTIR spectrum showed no peaks in the 2220–2260 cm−1 region, suggesting that no cyanide groups were present in the extract. A single oral dose at both 2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg did not induce any signs of toxicity or mortality, indicating an oral median lethal dose (LD50) >5000 mg/kg. When compared to the controls, dose-dependent changes were observed in the red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels at 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg (p<0.05). Histopathological examinations showed severe vascular congestion in the liver, and interstitial congestion and haemorrhage with moderate glomerular damage in the kidney. This study showed O. subscorpioidea root's methanol extract as non-toxic in acute administration, but with potential for toxicity in sub-acute oral administration.

Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines by selected southern African medicinal plants in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Ethnopharmacological relevanceBark is frequently used in southern African traditional medicine to treat inflammation, yet it remains to be rigorously examined for its immunological and anti-inflammatory activity. Aim of the studyBarks obtained from ten important and popular southern Africa plants were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties against the secretion of some pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as well as chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2) in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. Materials and methodsThe inhibitory effects of aqueous and ethanol extracts were determined using cytokine multiplex-bead assays in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells. ResultsOverall, the ethanol extracts were more potent cytokine inhibitors compared to the aqueous extracts. The LPS-stimulated cells treated with the ethanol extracts of Erythrina lysistemon Hutch., Pterocelastrus rostratus Walp. Syzygium cordatum Hochst. ex Krauss and Warburgia salutaris (G. Bertol.) Chiov., demonstrated significant (p < 0.005) inhibition up to 85% of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion compared to the LPS control. Additionally, P. rostratus and S. cordatum aqueous bark extracts substantially decreased the secretion of all the tested cytokines and chemokines. Chemical investigation of the S. cordatum extract resulted in the identification of four ellagic acid derivatives: ellagic acid 4-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (1), ellagic acid 4-O-α-4″-acetylrhamnopyranoside (2), 3-O-methylellagic acid 4′-O-α-3″-O-acetylrhamnopyranoside (3) and 3-O-methylellagic acid 4′-O-α-4″-O-acetylrhamnopyranoside (4), along with mixtures of ellagic acid 4-O-α-2″-acetylrhamnopyranoside (5), ellagic acid 4-O-α-3″-acetylrhamnopyranoside (6) and ellagic acid (7). Their structures were confirmed by mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and comparison with data from literature. ConclusionThe cytokine inhibition properties of most of the medicinal plants screened herein are reported for the first time. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of action by which the selected southern African medicinal plants regulate inflammation.

An inventory and analysis of the medicinal plants of Mozambique

Ethnopharmacological relevanceA comprehensive checklist and analysis of medicinal plant species and their uses in Mozambique, and a comparison with South Africa provided a more profound understanding of the broad concept of Traditional African Medicine as a healing culture and the need for a more informative classification system. Aims of the studyThis study was aimed at recording all medicinal plants reported in Mozambique according to literature and answer four main questions. 1. How many medicinal plant species have been recorded for Mozambique? Of those, how many are indigenous to Mozambique, and how many are introduced or cultivated exotics? 2. What are the main medicinal uses in Mozambique and which species are used for which ailments? 3. What are the similarities and differences between the medicinal floras of Mozambique and South Africa – are the same species used for the same ailments and is there evidence of cultural exchange? 4. Do the data provide new insights into Traditional African Medicine as one of the oldest medicine systems in the world? Materials and methodsA literature survey was done to compile the medicinal checklist of Mozambique using 29 available literature sources, which were found from published books, journal articles, reports, unpublished theses, dissertations, and online databases. ResultsA total of 731 medicinal plant species and infraspecific taxa from 447 genera and 120 families was recorded for Mozambique. Of these, 590 (81%) are indigenous, and 87 are non-indigenous (50 naturalised and 37 cultivated exotics). Of the 731 medicinal plant species, 494 (68%) are also used medicinally in South Africa and 148 (30%) are used for the same or similar ailments. Many of the shared taxa and uses have been recorded in the adjoining KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, which has similar vegetation types. ConclusionThe similarity between Mozambique and South Africa (and especially the KwaZulu-Natal Province) not only suggest an exchange of traditional knowledge but also indicates the existence of a hitherto unnamed medicinal system of the southern and eastern African Bantu-speaking cultures that is in need of detailed comparative studies.