Zanthoxylum Leprieurii Research Articles

Anticandidosis activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Harungana madagascariensis, Zanthoxylum leprieurii and Xylopia aethiopica

Some ailments have been cured either by the use of plant parts or by mixing different plant parts (recipes). It is with this in mind that this study originated, focusing on the valorization of plants from the African pharmacopoeia. Thus, the activity of single extracts and aqueous and hydroalcoholic mixtures of the bark and leaves of Harungana madagascariensis, the bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii and the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica was evaluated on the in vitro growth of Candida strains (Candida albicans 18650 and Candida albicans 18792 and Candida glabrata). Antifungal tests were carried out by plating 1,000 cells of each fungal germ on Sabouraud agar medium using the double dilution slant tube method. Deth70% extract inhibited the growth of Candida albicans 18650 and Candida albicans 18792 at an FMC value of 25 mg/mL, and Candida glabrata at an FMC value of 50 mg/mL. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of chemical compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, saponosides, gallic and catechic tannins and the absence of sterols.

Anti-Anemic Potential of a Herbal Recipe Against Phenylhydrazine-Induced Anemia in Rats

Anemia is characterized by an abnormal decrease in the level of hemoglobin or the number of red blood cells in the blood. It is a public health problem that mainly affects pregnant women and young children. In the present study, the objective was to evaluated the anti-anemic potential of a recipe composed of three medicinal plants, <i>Xylopia aethiopica </i>(Dunal) A. Rich<i>, Zanthoxylum leprieurii (GUILL) </i>and<i> Harungara madagascariensis (LAM), </i>used to treat sickle cell anemia in rats. Aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of recipe composed were first prepared and quantitative phytochemical tests were carried out. Then, the anti-anemic activity of the recipe extracts was assessed. The anemia was induced in animals by intraperitoneal injection of phenylhydrazine at a repeated dose of 40 mg/kg bw for two days. Treatment was carried out with the aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of the plant recipe at doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg bw. The obtained results indicated that recipe composed contains total phenols (43.31±0.92 mg GAE/g and 33.82±0.6 mg GAE /g of dry weight), total flavonoids (17.07±0.89 mg QE and 19.76±1.15 mg QE/g of dry weight) and total tannin (8.65±0.01 mg QE and 26.5±0.95 mg Cat E/g of dry weight) in decocted and hydroethanol extracts respectively. The anemia was effectively corrected after 21 days of oral administration of the extracts to the rats. The extracts significantly increased hemoglobin (P < 0.05), red blood cell count (P < 0.001), and hematocrit (P < 0.01) as early as the 7^th days of treatment compared with untreated controls. These results show that the plant recipe composed of <i>Xylopia aethiopica, Zanthoxylum leprieurii </i>and<i> Harungara madagascariensis </i>possess antianemic properties.

Two new compounds and the anti-mycobacterial activity of the constituents from Zanthoxylum leprieurii root bark

Two new compounds and the anti-mycobacterial activity of the constituents from Zanthoxylum leprieurii root bark

The Impact of the Recipe from Zanthoxylum leprieurii Bark, Harungara madagascariensis Leaves and Xylopia aethiopica Fruits on Nociception and Inflammation in Wistar Rats

Inflammation has a major role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, in fact when it is recurrent, it contributes more to the obstruction of blood vessels through several biochemical mechanisms by provoking vaso-occlusive crises. In order to mitigate these adverse effects in sickle cell patients, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of extracts of a combination of organs of three plants were evaluated in this study. The analgesic and anti- inflammatory activities of the aqueous (DZHm) and hydroethanolic (EZHm) extracts (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) were evaluated in rats as models of acetic acid-induced torsion and Carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, using Diclofenac and Ibuprofen as reference molecules. Oral administration of ZHm extracts at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg produced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. These extracts significantly reduced edema and pain. These effects are time and dose dependent. In terms of analgesic effect, the dose of 800 mg/kg bw generated a high inhibition rate of 84.51% and 73.06% for DZHm and EZHm respectively, while the inhibition percentage of Ibuprofen was 78.3 ± 2.09 at the dose of 100 mg/kg bw. The anti-inflammatory effect was 60, 55% for DZHm, 56.08% for EZHm and 62.91% for Diclofenac at 10 mg/kg Pc. Diclofenac and Ibuprofen used for these two tests generated similar activities with ZHm extracts at the dose of 800 mg/kg Pc. The tested extracts (DZHm and EZHm) have analgesic and peripheral anti-inflammatory potentials justifying the use of this recipe in the traditional environment.

Novel Approaches for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Pharmacognosy Research,2023,15,2,235-241.DOI:10.5530/pres.15.2.025Published:February 2023Type:Review ArticleAuthors:Sonam Pushkar, Vibhav Varshney, Pushpendra Pushkar, and Harish Kumar Sagar Author(s) affiliations:Sonam Pushkar1,*, Vibhav Varshney2, Pushpendra Pushkar3, Harish Kumar Sagar4 1Department of Pharmacy, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. 2Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. 3Department of Pharmacology, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. 4ICMR National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. Abstract:Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious disease that caused the deaths of a total of 1.5 million people in 2020 and is one of the top causes of death globally. India is a country with the highest TB burden, and it may affect all age groups. It is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, an intracellular pathogen, and its multidrug and extensively drug-resistant strains, which continue to emerge and spread, resulting in the deadliest infectious disease. After a gap of more than 40 years, the FDA approvals over the past decade of three second-line anti-TB drugs, bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid, have been major forward steps in the management of drug-resistant-TB (DR-TB). Many medicinal plants such as Zanthoxylum leprieurii, Lantana camara, and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta have extensive therapeutic potential and represent a prospective option to fight against DR-TB. Some novel compounds are in the early clinical trial phases such as DprE1 inhibitors TBA-7371 and BTZ-043, and many others that are showing promising futures. This review describes DR-TB and its current chemotherapy guidelines including novel and repurposed drugs that are included in the anti-TB regimens, medicinal plants that have therapeutic potential for the development of drug-hit candidates, drugs that are currently in clinical development, host-directed therapy, and new drug delivery systems to better understand the novel therapeutic approaches that are currently being studied for the efficacious and safe management of DR-TB, a worldwide health problem. Keywords:Drug-resistant tuberculosis, immunomodulators., Medicinal plants, Nanotubes, NitroimidazolesView:PDF (189.22 KB)

Anti-Mycobacterial Activity of Medicinal Plant Extracts Used in the Treatment of Tuberculosis by Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Uganda

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health challenge and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. TB is preventable and curable. However, treatment of tuberculosis has continued to be difficult as a result of rapid increase of multidrug and extensively drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Medicinal plants have for centuries been traditionally used in treatment of tuberculosis and similar ailments. They possess antimicrobial properties which render them a new hope as a source of novel bioactive leads in the development of antimycobacterial agents. In this study, 2 plant species commonly used traditionally in Uganda for treatment of tuberculosis, Zanthoxylum leprieurii and Rubia cordifolia were screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains; pan sensitive MTB H37Rv, Rifampicin resistant TMC 331 strain and two wild strains (one rifampicin resistant and another one rifampicin susceptible). Antimycobacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic plant extracts was determined using Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). Both plant extracts exhibited significant in vitro antimycobacterial activity against all strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of methanolic crude extracts of both plants ranged from 23.4 μg/mL to 187.5 μg/mL. Comparatively, methanol extracts of both plants possessed superior antimycobacterial activity against all Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Our findings indicated that both plants exhibited activity against susceptible and resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While antimycobacterial activity of Z. leprieurii confirms results from previous studies, activity of the extracts of R. cordifolia is reported for the first time in East Africa. Further studies aimed at determining the effects of combination of these plant extracts and standard anti-TB drugs should be carried out.

Phytochemical investigation and antisickling properties of a Poly-herbal formula on the HBSS Red Blood Cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sickle-formation inhibition of a recipe of three plants: Zanthoxylum leprieurii, Xylopia aethiopica and Harungara madagascariensis. The 70% hydroethanolic extract (EZHm) and the decoctate (DZHm) were used to determine the chemical groups by colorimetric and precipitation reactions. These extracts were also used to evaluate the antisickling properties by Emmel&#39;s method, following the protocol described by Image. The biological tests revealed that the total extracts have concentration-dependent and time-dependent anti-sickle cell activity. These extracts act by reducing the polymers of sickle cells. After 120 min the inhibition percentages were 87.35% DZHm, 87.28% EZHm and 85.07% phenylalanine in the presence of 10 mg/mL of the test substances. Plant extracts show a strong antisickling activity which would be due to its phytochemical constituents such as primary (aromatic amino acid) and secondary (alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponosides, sterols, polyterpenes) metabolites found in these extracts. These extracts, even if they are crude, constitute a hope for the discovery of many antisickling active principles. This natural poly-herbal formula product could improve the quality of life of people with sickle cell disease.

Cameroonian Spice Extracts Modulate Molecular Mechanisms Relevant to Cardiometabolic Diseases in SW 872 Human Liposarcoma Cells.

The molecular pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases is known to be influenced by dysfunctional ectopic adipose tissue. In addition to lifestyle improvements, these conditions may be managed by novel nutraceutical products. This study evaluatedthe effects of 11 Cameroonian medicinal spice extracts on triglyceride accumulation, glucose uptake, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and interleukin secretion in SW 872 human adipocytes after differentiation with 100 µM oleic acid. Triglyceride content was significantly reduced by all spice extracts. Glucose uptake was significantly increased by Tetrapleura tetraptera, Aframomum melegueta and Zanthoxylum leprieurii. Moreover, Xylopia parviflora, Echinops giganteus and Dichrostachys glomerata significantly reduced the production of ROS. Concerning pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, we observed that Tetrapleura tetraptera, Echinops giganteus, Dichrostachys glomerata and Aframomum melegueta reduced IL-6 secretion. In addition, Xylopia parviflora, Monodora myristica, Zanthoxylum leprieurii, and Xylopia aethiopica reduced IL-8 secretion, while Dichrostachys glomerata and Aframomum citratum increased it. These findings highlight some interesting properties of these Cameroonian spice extracts in the modulation of cellular parameters relevant to cardiometabolic diseases, which may be further exploited, aiming to develop novel treatment options for these conditions based on nutraceutical products.

Antimycobacterial Activity of the Extract and Isolated Compounds From the Stem Bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. and Perr.

Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. and Perr. (Rutaceae) stem bark is used locally in Uganda for treating tuberculosis (TB) and cough-related infections. Lupeol (1), sesamin (2), trans-fagaramide (3), arnottianamide (4), ( S)-marmesinin (5), and hesperidin (6) were isolated from the chloroform/methanol (1:1) extract of Z. leprieurii stem bark. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques and by comparison with literature data. Furthermore, the extract and isolated compounds were subjected to antimycobacterial activity. The extract exhibited moderate activity against the susceptible (H37Rv) TB strain, but weak activity against the multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB strain with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 586.0 and 1172.0 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 3 (trans-fagaramide) showed significant antimycobacterial activity against the susceptible (H37Rv) TB strain (MIC 6 μg/mL), but moderate activity against the MDR-TB strain (MIC 12.2 μg/mL). Compounds 2, 5, 6, and 1 showed moderate activities against the susceptible (H37Rv) strain (MIC 12.2-98.0 μg/mL) and moderate to weak activities against the MDR-TB strain (MIC 24.4-195.0 μg/mL). This study reports for the first time the isolation of compounds 1 to 6 from the stem bark of Z leprieurii. trans-Fagaramide (3) may present a vital template in pursuit of novel and highly effective TB drugs.

In vitro assessment of the synergism between extracts of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum leprieurii and some standard antibiotics

In vitro assessment of the synergism between extracts of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum leprieurii and some standard antibiotics

1-Hy-droxy-3,4-dimeth-oxy-10-methyl-acridin-9-one.

There are two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C16H15NO4, which was isolated from fruits of Zanthoxylum leprieurii. The atoms of the three rings of each mol-ecule are close to coplanar with the largest deviations from the least-squares planes being 0.084 (3) Å and 0.069 (2) Å. Each molecule features an intramolecular O-H⋯·O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, C-H⋯·O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions link the mol-ecules into a three-dimensional network.

Sickling Cells Inhibition and Radical Scavenging Activities of Zanthoxylum leprieurii’s (GUILL) Bark Extracts: Comparative Study

Aims: In traditional medicine, several plant species from Rutaceae’s family have been used to treat sickle cell anemia. However, more studies are needed to corroborate the antisickling activity of Zanthoxylum leprieurii species. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the sickling cell inhibition and radical scavenging activities of hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of Zanthoxylum leprieurii’s bark, a plant species used in the management of sickle cell anemia in eastern Côte d’Ivoire.&#x0D; Methods: Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii were prepared. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical tests were carried out. In addition, diphenyl 1, 2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to determine the antioxidant potential of these two extracts. The antisickling activity of two extracts was determined by the Emmel method.&#x0D; Results and Discussion: Zanthoxylum leprieurii’s barkextracts have demonstrated antioxidant property. The IC50 value of the hydroethanolic extract (0.308±0.06) was lower than that of the decocted (0.434 ±0.06). At 10 mg/mL, the sickling cell inhibition of DZL was 81% ±2.66 while EZL was 89% ±0.44. The presence of alkaloids, sterols, Polyterpenes and phenolic compounds in both extracts could explain the sickling inhibition activity of these extracts. All the extracts revealed an antioxidant and antisickling activities higher than the standard.&#x0D; Conclusion: The hydroethanolic extract (EZL) demonstrated a higher antisickling activity and exhibited a better free radical scavenging activity. The use of Zanthoxylum leprieurii’s bark in the traditional management of sickle cell anemia is justified.

Variation of essential oil composition of fruits of &lt;i&gt;Zanthoxylum leprieurii&lt;/i&gt; Guill. et Perr (Rutaceae) from different sample locations and during their maturation period

The fruits of Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. &amp; Perr. (Rutaceae) are traditionally used in Africa, particularly in Cameroon, as a spice and in the treatment of sickle cell anaemia. The objective of this study was to investigate the fruit essential oils from different sample locations and during their maturation period by using GC and GC-MS. Except for one sample collected in Aniak which consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes, the volatile composition of Z. leprieurii fruits exhibited relative high amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (61.1-90.9%) such as (E)-β-ocimene (13.4-75.2%) and a-pinene (1.1-40.7%). The influence of the maturity stage on the chemical composition of the essential oils has resulted in an increase of oil yield and variations in the content of volatile compounds (a-pinene 13.3-75.6; (E)-β-ocimene 2.9-64.0%).&#x0D; Keywords: Senegal, Zanthoxylum leprieurii fruits, essential oil, chemical variability, stage of maturity and GC-MS.

Seasonal Effect on the Chemical Composition, Insecticidal Properties and Other Biological Activities of Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. & Perr. Essential oils.

This study focused, for the first time, on the evaluation of the seasonal effect on the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils hydrodistillated from leaves, trunk bark and fruits of Zanthoxylum leprieurii (Z. leprieurii), a traditional medicinal wild plant growing in Côte d’Ivoire. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh organs of Z. leprieurii growing on the same site over several months using a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Leaf essential oils were dominated by tridecan-2-one (9.00 ± 0.02–36.80 ± 0.06%), (E)-β-ocimene (1.30 ± 0.50–23.57 ± 0.47%), β-caryophyllene (7.00 ± 1.02–19.85 ± 0.48%), dendrolasin (1.79 ± 0.08–16.40 ± 0.85%) and undecan-2-one (1.20 ± 0.03–8.51 ± 0.35%). Fruit essential oils were rich in β-myrcene (16.40 ± 0.91–48.27 ± 0.26%), citronellol (1.90 ± 0.02–28.24 ± 0.10%) and geranial (5.30 ± 0.53–12.50 ± 0.47%). Tridecan-2-one (45.26 ± 0.96–78.80 ± 0.55%), β-caryophyllene (1.80 ± 0.23–13.20 ± 0.33%), α-humulene (4.30 ± 1.09–12.73 ± 1.41%) and tridecan-2-ol (2.23 ± 0.17–10.10 ± 0.61%) were identified as major components of trunk bark oils. Statistical analyses of essential oil compositions showed that the variability mainly comes from the organs. Indeed, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) allowed us to cluster the samples into three groups, each one consisting of one different Z. leprieurii organ, showing that essential oils hydrodistillated from the different organs do not display the same chemical composition. However, significant differences in essential oil compositions for the same organ were highlighted during the studied period, showing the impact of the seasonal effect on essential oil compositions. Biological activities of the produced essential oils were also investigated. Essential oils exhibited high insecticidal activities against Sitophilus granarius, as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and moderate anti-plasmodial properties.

The Flavonoid Compounds from Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. et Perr (Rutaceae) Extracts and their Antioxidant Activity against ABTS•+

Screening of flavonoid compounds in fruit, leaf, stem and root bark extracts of Z. leprieurii was achieved by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS2). Among the 186 reference compounds tested, four flavonoids were identified in one or other of the organ extracts from each plant (fruit, leaf, root barks and stem): neodiosmin and hesperidin were identified in all extracts. The presence of datiscin was reported only in leaves while that of rutin was identified in fruits and leaves. Of these four flavonoids, three (neodiosmin, datiscin and rutin) are detected for the first time in Z. leprieurii. The antioxidant properties of different extracts were tested regarding their scavenging activities on ABTS•+ radical. Fruit, leaf and stem extracts had low antioxidant potential and root bark extracts exhibited very low antioxidant activity.&#x0D; Keywords: Zanthoxylum leprieurii, flavonoids, LC-MS/MS and antioxidant activity.

Chemical Variability of Essential Oils from Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. et Perr (Rutaceae) According to Plant Organs

Zanthoxylum leprieurii belonging to Rutaceae family, is a medicinal and aromatic plants widely used in ethnopharmacology. Like other plants of Rutaceae family such as Citrus sp., the essential oils of this species could be used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Thus, the essential oils of Z. leprieurii from different plant organs (fruit, leaf, stem and root) were investigated by using GC and GC-MS. The volatile composition of Z. leprieurii fruits exhibited relative high amounts of hydrocarbons monoterpenes (90.9%) such as (E)-β-ocimene (50.9%) and a-pinene (30.4%). The chemical composition of fruit oils was compared with volatile fractions of leaves, stems and roots from the same plant station. Germacrene B (9.0%), b-phellandrene (7.6%), caryophyllene oxide (7.2%) and b-caryophyllene (5.3%) were identified as the major constituents of leaves whereas the essential oil composition of the roots dominated by sesquiterpenes (83.3%) such as germacrone (23.5%), germacrene B (19.1%), g-elemene (6.0%), elemenone (4.0%) and b-elemene (2.4%) in the essential oil of the stems, b-Phellandrene (12.7%), germacrene B (5.0%), germacrene D (4.7%) and cis-9-Octadecen-1-ol (4.6%) have been reported as majority compounds.

Anti-cancer and anti-trypanosomal properties of alkaloids from the root bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill and Perr

Purpose: To isolate the anti-cancer and anti-trypanosomal principles of Zanthoxylum leprieurii, a medicinally versatile wild tropical plant used for managing tumours, African trypanosomiasis, and inflammation in southeastern Nigeria. Methods: The pure compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods. The structural elucidation of the pure compounds was based on their NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectral data as well as chemical test results. Structure-activity relationships were based on the structural differences among the compounds. The cytotoxicity of the extracts and compounds (1, 2, 3, and 4) was evaluated in HeLa (human cervix adenocarcinoma) cell line while the trypanocidal activities were evaluated on Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Results: Two acridone alkaloids, 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-10-methylacridin-9 (10H)-one, named fabiocinine (1), and 1-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-10-methylacridin-9 (10H)-one (arborinine, 2), together with a furoquinoline alkaloid, skimmianine (3), and a chelerythrine derivative, 6-acetonyl-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine (4) were isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii. Skimmianine (3) exhibited cytotoxicity and anti-trypanosomal IC50 of 12.8 and 13.2 µg/mL respectively (p < 0.05). Compound (1) and arborinine (2) were selectively cytotoxic to HeLa cells with cytotoxicity IC50 of 28.49 and 62.71 µg/mL, respectively, while (4) did not show significant activity (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Zanthoxylum leprieurii root bark contains cytotoxic and trypanocidal compounds, and is thus a potential source of anti-cancer and anti-trypanosomal leads.

Potential of Zanthoxylum leprieurii as a source of active compounds against drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is still a global health problem mainly due to development of resistance and co-infection with the Human immune Virus (HIV). Treatment of multi and extensively drug resistant TB requires use of second line drugs which are less efficacious, expensive and very toxic. This has necessitated a need to search for new treatment regimens especially from medicinal plants. Zanthoxylum leprieurii, a plant species from Rutaceae is used locally in the treatment of tuberculosis in Uganda. The aim of the study was to isolate, identify and characterize bio active compounds from Z. leprieurii stem bark with antimycobacterial activity.MethodsCrude extracts, fractions and compounds from air dried stem bark of Z. leprieurii were tested against pan sensitive (H37rv), isoniazid resistant (TMC 301) and rifampicin resistant (TMC 331) strains of M. tuberculosis using micro plate alamar blue assay. Isolation of active compounds was done by using column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. They were analysed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy.ResultsThe methanol extract had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 47.5, 75.3 and 125.0 μg/ml on the pan sensitive strain, rifampicin resistant and isozianid resistant strains of M. tuberculosis respectively. The chloroform extract had MIC values of 260 μg/ml agnaist the pan sensitive strain and 156 μg/ml on the rifampicin resistant strain. Of the sixteen fractions from the methanol extract, fraction Za4 (MIC = 6.3 μg/mL, 23.0 μg/mL, 11.7 μg/mL) and Za6 (MIC = 11.7 μg/mL 31.2 μg/ml, 31.2 μg/ml) were the most active. Three acridone alkaloids; hydroxy-1, 3-dimethoxy-10-methyl-9-acridone (1), 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-10-methyl-9-acridone (2) and 3-hydroxy-1, 5, 6-trimethoxy-9-acridone (3) were isolated from Za4 and Za6. The MIC of compound 3 was found to be 5.1 μg/ml, 4.5 μg/ml and 3.9 μg/ml on H37rv, TMC 331 and TMC 301 while that of 1 was found to be 1.5 μg/ml, 8.3 μg/ml and 3.5 μg/ml respectively.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that Z. leprieurii is active on resistant strains of M. tuberculosis and could be a potential source of new leads against resistant tuberculosis. It also verifies the local use of the plant in treatment of tuberculosis.

Effect of mild heat treatments on the antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Curcuma longa, Xylopia aethiopica, Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum leprieurii against Salmonella enteritidis

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) from spices and medicinal plants or their constituents has gained increasing interest. However, studies on their use in combination with other antimicrobials or technologies are still scarce. In this paper, the survival of Salmonella enteritidis exposed to a combined effect of four EOs (from Xylopia aethiopica, Curcuma longa, Zanthoxylum leprieurii and Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides) and mild heat treatments (55° and 60°C) were assessed. Salmonella enteritidis demonstrated a biphasic inactivation curve at 55°C in the absence of EOs, while in the presence of EOs the Weibull model was used. The combination of temperature and EOs reduced the treatment time needed to inactivate 7 log cfu/mL of S. enteritidis: this reduction ranged, with respect to the control, from 92.6% to 96.4% when the treatment was performed at 55°C, and from 20.5% to 27. 5% at 60°C. The efficiency of the interaction of the combination of EOs and mild thermal treatment is related to increased vapor pressure of EO constituents, which became more soluble in the membrane of stressed cells.

Knowledge on plants used traditionally in the treatment of tuberculosis in Uganda

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The disease is especially important because of increasing drug resistant strains and co infection with human immune virus (HIV) and acquired immune disease syndrome (AIDS). Because of this there is need to identify new leads that can be developed into new drugs. The objectives of this study were to (1) document plant species commonly used by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to treat TB, methods of preparation and administration of drugs (2) document disease recognition by TMPs and (3) document medicine preservation and packaging practices by TMPs. Materials and methodsWe interviewed 40 TMPs from Mpigi and Butambala districts using a guided questionnaire. ResultsA total of 90 plant species, distributed within 44 families were documented. Priority plants identified include Zanthoxylum leprieurii, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Albizia coriaria and Rubia cordifolia which were most mentioned by TMPs. TMPs had knowledge of how TB is transmitted and they admitted that it is closely associated with HIV. Decoctions of multiple plant species were commonly used. Plant parts frequently used were leaves followed by the stem bark and root bark. The TMPs had insufficient knowledge about packaging and preservation techniques. ConclusionPlant based therapies for treating TB have been identified in this study and further investigation of these plants is appropriate as these, may be developed into new drugs to curb the resistant strains of TB.