Discovery Phytomedicine Journal
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BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM EIGHT PLANT SPECIES TRADITIONALLY USED IN MADAGASCAR AS MEDICINES: A mini-review
Get PDFThe aim of this mini-review was to give an overview on our recent findings on some plant species ethno-medically used in the south of Madagascar. Based on ethno-pharmacological approach, we used the consistent in vitro model systems and modern phytochemical techniques for the scientific validation of the bioactivity of selected medicinal plants and their molecules. In this work, we reported 45 compounds identified from the essential oils of four aromatic plants (Croton greveanus, C. borarium, C. geayi and Hazomalania voyronii). This oil displayed bactericidal. Eight biologically active molecules were isolated and characterized from four medicinal plants (Salacia leptoclada, Diospyros quercina, Eliea articulate and Cymbopogon pruinosus) justifying their use in traditional medicine. These results show that the Malagasy plant species can serve as source of antibacterial, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic and vasodilator hits
Thrombolytic activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa Leaves
Get PDFAim: to investigate the thrombolytic activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa leaf extract.
Methods: thrombolytic activity assayed by an in vitro thrombolytic activity model performed on 10 apparently healthy subjects (both male and female), where the clot lysis ability of methanolic extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves compared with Streptokinase a positive control and saline water as a negative control.
Result: Fraction of methanolic extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa exhibited significant percentage (%) of clot lysis of 25.42% compared to positive control streptokinase of 31.06% loss of clot while the negative control water revealed 3.81% loss of the clots.
Conclusion: The present investigation revealed that the methanol extracts of the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa possess potent thrombolytic properties may refer to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases
Effects of Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii extracts on ovarian corpora lutea and reproductive hormones.
Get PDFUvariodendron kirkii and Croton menyharthii are traditionally used as fertility regulators in Kenya. The rapidly increasing population has put a strain on the limited resources and poses serious challenge to national planning. The aim of the study was to validate the traditional claims by investigating the effect of root bark extract of both plants on reproductive hormones and ovarian structures. Twenty five mature normocyclic female winstar rats were used. Group 1 consisted of 5 animals that acted as control. Group 2 and 3 with 5 animals each; received 500 and 800mg/Kg Croton menyharthii respectively on alternative days for 28 days through intra- abdominal gavage. Group 4 and 5 were treated in a similar manner but received Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. Serum was harvested from all animals on 28th day and hormone levels determined. Left ovaries were harvested and processed for histomorphology. Both Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii caused a significant increase of progesterone in a dose dependent manner. Croton menyharthii extracts caused a degeneration of corpora lutea. At 800mg/kg Croton menyharthii caused a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers but a decline in size. Uvariodendron kirkii caused hypertrophy and a significant increase in corpora lutea numbers. Enhanced/ hypertrophied corpora lutea possibly led to high levels of progesterone seen, interfered with the implantation window due to disrupted hormonal milieu thereby leading to compromised fertility and implantation index. The study validates the traditional use of the plant in fertility regulation. We suggest further investigation on these potential plants to address the call for novel contraceptive drugs
Elucidation of membrane stabilizing Potentials of Methanolic Extract of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) Linn (seed)
Get PDFDifferent concentration of methanolic extracts of seeds of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) Linn collected from the local area of Noakhali, Bangladesh were studied for membrane Stabilizing Assay. V.unguiculata Linn seeds were initially collected, processed and extracted with methanol. Then, five different concentration (1mg/ml, 3mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 7mg/ml, 9mg/ml) of methanolic extract of Cowpea (V.unguiculata) were subjected for determination of membrane stabilizing activity. In the assay for membrane stabilizing activity, five different concentration of crude methanol extract capable to inhibit hemolysis of erythrocyte membrane dose dependently in hypotonic solution and heat- induced conditions, which indicates the anti-inflammatory property of the samples. Where, Acetyl salicylic acid was used as standard drug. From the above discussion it is clear that Vigna unguiculata Linn seeds methanolic extract showed significant anti-inflammatory potentials. So, it will be very much possible source for isolating lead compound for curing inflammatory disorder
In vivo antidiarrheal activity evaluation of the seeds of Sorghum bicolor L. (Poaceae)
Get PDFThe seeds of Sorghum bicolor (Family: Poaceae) have been used traditionally for treatment of diarrhea but its efficacy needs to be evaluated. This study was carried out to evaluate the in vivo antidiarrheal activity of 80% methanol crude extract of the seeds of locally grown S.bicolor. This screening was conducted at 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg extract doses by using three standard methods of bioassay: castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced enteropooling and castor oil-induced gastrointestinal transit tests. Depending on the model, data on the onset of defecation, number of wet feces, total number of feces, weight of intestinal fluid as well as length of intestinal transit were collected. In addition, preliminary phytochemical and acute toxicity studies were conducted. The presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and sterols in the extract was confirmed. On the other hand, the oral median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was estimated to be higher than 2000mg/kg. The 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg extract doses especially demonstrated a very significant (
Phytochemical screening and Antiplasmodial activity of Mundulea antanossarum seeds from Madagascar
Get PDFMalaria is one of the three deadly dangerous infectious diseases and is successfully treated with medicinal plants in endemic regions. This work was carried out with the aim of to investigate the phytochemical screening and to assess the in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities of Mundulea antanossarum seeds extract using two standardized parasites strains (Plasmodium falciparum FcM29-Cameroon and P. yoelii subsp nigeriensis) as model systems. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the plant extracts was evaluated by isotopic micro-test, while the in vivo anti-malarial activity was determined by the classical 4-day suppressive test. Chemical screening was done according to standard method. The ethanolic crude extract and Dichloromethane fraction of the seeds of Mundulea antanossarum showed very good in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with the IC50 values of 1.08 ± 0.072 μg/ml and 0.215 ± 0.008 μg/ml respectively. The in vivo bioassay revealed also that ethanol and dichloromethane soluble extracts have interesting bioactivity with the ED50 values of 5.020 ± 0.563 and 2.500 ± 0.462 mg/ kg bw/day, respectively. The phytochemical screening analysis of Mundulea antanossarum seeds extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, and total phenols. However, alkaloids were absent. The present findings validated the ethno-medical claim that the extract of Mundulea antanossarum could be useful in treating malaria and fever. For the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the antimalarial activity of this plant species in the literature
Antisickling and antibacterial activities of Uvariopsis congensis
Get PDFThe aim the present study was to evaluate the Chemical composition and bioactivity of Uvariopsis congensiss against Sickle cell disease and associated bacteria. This plant species ingested by wild chimpanzees as medicinal food could inhibit the human hemoglobin S polymerization inducing hemolysis of sickle erythrocytes (as it does by inhibiting the Plasmodium falciparum inducing hemolysis of infected erythrocytes in great apes). The antisickling and antibacterial activities were assessed according respectively to Emmel and micro-dilution methods. The results revealed that Uvariopsis congensis contains various secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, total polyphenols (87.942±0.536 µg GAE/g), flavonoids (0.623±0.630 µg QE/g), tannins (0889±0.002 µg TAE/g), anthocyanis (0.150±0.017 µg M-3GE/g), leuco-anthocyanins, quinones, terpenes and steroids. Ethanolic extract displayed interesting antisickling activity which was confirmed by the appearance of radius, the increase of the cell area and the decrease of it perimeter (
A review on Phytochemical and biological properties of Calotropis gigantea (Linn) R.Br.
Get PDFCalotropis gigantea Linn is a well known medicinal herb commonly known as Madar and has been used in Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine for years. It is a native of India, China and Malaysia and distributed in almost all over world. All parts of the plant have been used as a medicine as well as an important ingredient in a number of Unani formulations used for the treatment of various ailments. In classical Unani literature it is mentioned to have anthelmintic, appetizer, anti flatulence, astringent, tonic, expectorant, emetic, diaphoretic, anti inflammatory, sedative, wound healer, antidote and digestive properties and used in asthma, stomach ache, cholera, amenorrhea and toothache. Phytochemical constituents include giganteol,ï¡ and ï¢ calotropeol, ï¢-amyrin, giganteol and isogiganteol etc. The drug has been reported for its anti asthmatic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, wound healing, antiinflammatory, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities. In this article the recently published papers were reviewed. Well known scientific search engines viz. Pub med, Medline, Google scholar, and Science Direct were used to retrieve online literature. All referred studies published in peer reviewed indexed journals were included. For Unani literature classical text and manuscripts were referred
A review on the anti-carcinogenic and anti-metastatic effects of flax seed lignan secolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG)
No full textFlaxseeds contain phenolic compounds called lignans and secolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is a major lignan with putative health benefits such as antioxidant and anticancer effects. The role of SDG and its metabolites such as enterolignans is gaining attention due to their mitigating effects against cancers especially prostate and breast cancer. Several epidemiological, in vitro and animal studies add evidence to this anti-cancer benefit of SDG. However, more research activities, especially clinical and pharmacokinetic studies in humans are required to corroborate this evidence. This review attempts to focus on the roles of SDG and its metabolites in preventing breast tumors, including an evaluation of potential mechanisms of action
Bioactivity validation of Phyllanthus amarus using cell lines as model systems
Get PDFMedicinal plants constitute an important component of flora and are widely distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The aim of the present study was to validate scientifically both the anti-malarial effectiveness and safety of Phyllanthus amarus a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat malaria in DRC using standardized model systems. Ethanolic crude extracts of P. amarus were evaluated for the inhibitory effects on two malaria parasites strains (P. falciparum FcM29 & P. yoelii subsp nigeriensis) while cytotoxicity of the plant extract was carried out against leukaemia P-388 cell lines. Results indicate that, P. amarus displayed good activity both in vitro and in vivo. While the crude extract displayed toxic effect towards P-388 cells. So, the wide use of this medicinal plant in Congolese Folk Medicine as anti-malarial herbal could constitutes a great risk of population poisoning. From this study, it can be predicted that P. amarus possess secondary metabolites with considerable cytotoxic potency and could lead to the discovery of useful anti-cancer drugs of plant origin