Phytochemistry Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Ethnobotanical Survey and Phytochemistry of Medicinal plants used in the Management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda

Ethnobotanical Survey and Phytochemistry of Medicinal plants used in the Management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda

Biodiversity and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used against diarrhea in Benin

Diarrheal diseases are still a public health problem in developing countries and for this, it is essential to take care of them with the use of traditional medicine because for its effectiveness and character in using natural molecules. In this work, 140 people including traditional healers, sellers of medicinal plants, herbal healers, were identified and chosen at random in the 4 major cities of Benin, namely: Porto-Novo, Cotonou, Abomey and Parakou. For information collection the method of individual semi-structured interviews was used and took into account the names of the plants, the conditions treated, the parts of plants used, the methods of preparation, and the therapeutic and traditional use against diarrhea. Phytochemical analysis of plants was carried out using the method based on coloring and precipitation reactions. The results showed that 40% were respondents are traditional healers, 45% were medicinal plant dealers, 10% were herbal healers and 5% represented mothers with babies. The survey carried out indicated a list of 14 species divided into 13 genera and 11 families, among which Combretaceae and Fabaceae (27.27%) are the most represented families. The leaves (85.71%) were the most used with the decoction (71.42%) as the frequent mode of preparation. The preparations were administered orally (67.38%) in the form of a drink. The phytochemical profile showed the presence of 13 chemical groups for all species. The most common being steroids, tannins, reducing compounds, mucilages, saponosides and alkaloids. The tannins and saponins justify preliminary the antidiarrheal properties attributed to these plants. This study was showed the chemical characterization of diarrheal Beninese species.

Ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of medicinal plants against enterocyte bacteria-linked infections and diarrhoea in some African countries: a systematic review

Abstract Background There is a dearth of relevant bioactive translational progress and post-scientific evidence on the ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of plants with anti-diarrheal potential in Africa. This study synthesized scientific evidence on commonly used African folkloric medicinal plants in the management/control of diarrhoea and antibiotic-resistant enterocyte-infecting bacteria in some African countries. Main body Published articles from different databases on folk medicinal plants used in the treatment/management of bacteria-linked enterocyte infections and diarrhoea were reviewed systematically. The ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of 75 folkloric plant species belonging to 67 families and 58 genera, including Asteraceae (10.45%), Myrtaceae (7.46%), (Anacardiaceae, Celastraceae, Fabaceae and Hydnoraceae) (5.97%) are the most used anti-diarrheal folkloric plants in the region. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (0.018 mg/ml–8.45 mg/ml) or (39 μg/ml–2000 μg/ml) and 14.35 g/kg–8317.64 mg/kg LD50 on enterocyte bacteria strains. A solo author reported MIC of the pure component 6.25 μg/ml. Tree (38%) and tuber (3%) were the highest and least life forms of the folkloric plants used. Leaves (41%) were the most frequently used for folk preparations, while aerial, fruits, seeds and combination of shoots + leaves (1.45%) were the least used. Fourteen authors’ studies revealed the phytochemical profile, while six further elucidated the bioactive components of the folkloric plants used to manage diarrhoea. Conclusion Our findings revealed the antibacterial potency of folkloric plants against diarrhoea and multiple antibiotic-resistant organisms. It suggests a gap in the appropriate documentation, application of such medicinal/folkloric plants, and low post-research advancement of effectively tested plant types or bioactive agents, calling for well-organized future research engagements.

Plant Secondary Metabolites as Potential Anticancer Agents and Cancer Chemopreventives

A. Douglas KinghornProgram for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of MedicinalChemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 SouthWood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, U.S.ATel.: (312) 996-0914, Fax: (312) 996-7107, E-mail: kinghorn@uic.eduThere is considerable interest in the screening of plant and other natural product extracts in moderndrug discovery programs, since structurally novel chemotypes with potent and selective biological ac-tivity may be obtained [1-4]. A consideration of biological activity in addition to the isolation andstructure elucidation stages in a phytochemical investigation may add a great deal to the overall scien-tific significance of the work. Phytochemists may gain considerable information by using panels ofsimple bioassays and/or more specialized in vitro bioassays to follow each step of a purification proce-dure [3]. In the following paragraphs, recent examples of bioactive compounds obtained in the author’slaboratory in projects directed towards the search for novel anticancer agents and cancer chemopre-ventives from higher plants will be presented.In the United States in 1999, it is estimated that over 1.2 million persons will be diagnosed with in-vasive forms of cancer, and over 1,500 people will die as a result of cancer each day [5]. Among manyrecent advances in cancer chemotherapy, plant natural products have played an important role in con-tributing to the arsenal of the approximately 60 cancer chemotherapeutic drugs on the market. For in-stance, in the United States, there are now four structural classes of plant anticancer agents available,constituted by the Catharanthus (Vinca) alkaloids (vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine), the epipodo-phyllotoxins (etoposide, etoposide phosphate, teniposide), the taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel), andthe camptothecin derivatives (irinotecan and topotecan) [6]. Several other plant-derived compoundsare currently in preclinical and clinical trials [6,7].As part of a National Cooperative Natural Products Drug Discovery Group (NCNPDDG) researchproject funded by the United States National Cancer Institute (1995-2000), our collaborative team atthe College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, Illinois), and Research TriangleInstitute (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (Princeton, New Jersey)is evaluating about 400 plant samples per year, with the aim of discovering and evaluating novel plant-derived anticancer agents. During the funding period 1990-1995, the industrial partner was GlaxoWellcome Medicines Research Centre (Sevenage, U.K.), and past progress made in the project hasbeen reviewed [8]. Since 1995, the primary plant samples have been collected in the Dominican Re-public, Peru, and Indonesia. Plant recollections have taken place mainly in Thailand and Zimbabwe in