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EFFECTS OF COLD STRATIFICATION AND GA3 ON GERMINATION OF ARBUTUS UNEDO SEEDS OF THREE PROVENANCES
Get PDFBackground: Arbutus unedo is a valuable Mediterranean shrub as an ornamental plant as well as fruit tree. Fresh fruits of A.
unedo are a good source of antioxidants, of vitamins C, E and carotenoids and also are characterized by the high content of
mineral elements.
Materials and Methods: The effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and cold stratification (CS) on seed germination performance were
investigated in A. unedo seeds collected from three provenances in the Northern part of Greece. Seeds of each provenance were
soaked in solutions of GA3 (500, 1000 or 2000 ppm) for 24 h and subsequently were subjected to CS at 3 – 5ºC for 0, 1, 2, and 3
months.
Results: Non-stratified seeds of the three A. unedo provenances which were not treated with GA3 solutions exhibited very low
germination. However, seed germination was significantly improved after a one-month period of CS. Similarly, the non-stratified
seeds of all three provenances became non-dormant after the treatment with 2000 ppm GA3 and they germinated at high
percentages. However, in untreated seeds with GA3, after a one-month CS period the seeds of the Pieria provenance exhibited
higher germination percentage than that of Rodopi provenance seeds. Furthermore, in non-stratified seeds, the Pieria provenance
seeds treated with GA3 germinated at higher percentages and more rapidly than those of the other two provenances.
Conclusion: The results indicated that untreated seeds exhibited very low germination at 20/25ºC. However, in all three
provenances seed germinability was significantly improved by a one-month period of CS or treatment of seeds with 2000 pp
INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFBackground: Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) are plants that have migrated from one geographical region to non-native region either intentional or unintentional.The general view of IAPs in environment is regarded as destructive to the ecosystem and they pose threat to native vegetation and species. However, some of these IAPs are utilized by local inhabitants as a substitute for scarce indigenous plants. The aim of the study is to conduct ethnobotanical survey on medicinal usage of invasive plant species in Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Materials and methods: An ethnobotanical survey on invasive plant species was conducted to distinguish species used for the treatment of various ailments in the Waterberg, District in the area dominated by Bapedi traditional healers. About thirty Bapedi traditional healers (30) were randomly selected via the snowball method. A guided field work by traditional healers and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information. The questionnaire was designed to gather information based on the local name of plants, plant parts used and methods of preparation which is administered by the traditional healers.
Results: The study revealed that Schinus molle L., Catharanthus roseus (L.), Datura stramonium L., Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Opuntia ficus- indica, Sambucus canadensis L., Ricinus communis L., Melia azedarch L., Argemone ochroleuca and Eriobotrya japonica are used for treatment of various diseases such as chest complaint, blood purification, asthma, hypertension and infertility. The most plant parts that were used are 57.6% leaves, followed by 33.3% roots, and whole plant, seeds and bark at 3% each. Noticeably, most of these plants are cultivated (38%), followed by 28% that are common to the study area, 20% abundant, 12% wild, and 3% occasionally. Schinus molle is the most frequently used plant species for the treatment of various ailments in the study area.
National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) (10/2004) and Conservation of Agricultural Resource Act (CARA) were consulted to confirm the invaders status. Only eight plants (60%) are regulated by CARA (10/2004). Of 10 IAPs, 80% (8 species) are listed in both NEMBA and CARA legislation. Only 20% (2 species) are listed in NEMBA alone.
Conclusion: Invasive alien plants are utilized by communities to combat various ailments in humans and these plants can help to reduce pressure on heavily harvested indigenous plant
IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY SCREENING OF XYLARIA HYPOXYLON
Get PDFBackground: Fungi have a potential of using both as nutritive and medicinal food stuff. Because of containing several therapeutic
agents, they are reported to be used for hundreds of years to treat several diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The
aim of this study is to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Xylaria hypoxylon, which were collected from Yomra, Trabzon,
Turkey.
Materials and Methods: X. hypoxylon samples were air dried and extracted by using ethanol. Antimicrobial activity of X. hypoxylon
ethanol extracts were investigated against 21 bacterial and 2 fungal strains, namely, Bacillus subtilis DSMZ 1971, Bacillus subtilis
ATCC 6633, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida albicans DSMZ 1386, Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048, Enterococcus
durans, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Escherichia coli CFAI, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Listeria innocula, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Pseudomonas aeruginosa DSMZ 50071, Pseudomonas
fluorescence P1, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13075, Salmonella infantis, Salmonella kentucky, Salmonella typhimurium SL 1344,
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus carnosus MC1.B, Staphylococcus epidermidis DSMZ 20044 and Streptococcus
agalactiae DSMZ 6784 by using the disk diffusion method.
Results: It is observed that ethanol extracts of X. hypoxylon has antimicrobial activity against several Gram positive and Gram
negative microorganisms tested. As a result of the study, an antimicrobial activity of X. hypoxylon found against most of strains used
in the study.
Conclusion: The results of our study clearly puts forward that X. hypoxylon could have a possible medicinal use
SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS REPLICATION BY ALPHA-ZAM, A NIGELLA SATIVA SEED FORMULATION
Get PDFBackground: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection became curable because of the development of direct acting antivirals (DAAs).
However, the high cost of DAAs has greatly impeded their potential impact on the treatment of HCV infection. As a result, hepatitis C
will continue to cause substantial morbidity, and mortality among chronically infected individuals in low and middle income countries.
Thus, urgent need exists for developing cheaper drugs available to hepatitis C patients in these countries.
Materials and Methods: Alpha-zam, an indigenous herbal formulation from Nigella sativa seed, was examined for its anti-HCV activity
and cytotoxicity in genotype 1b HCV replicon cells. The antiviral activity was determined by luciferase expression and viral RNA
synthesis, while the cytotoxicity was assessed by viable cell number and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase RNA synthesis in
the replicon cells.
Results: Alpha-zam was found to be a selective inhibitor of HCV replication. The 50% effective dilution and 50% cytotoxic dilution of
Alpha-zam were 761- and < 100-fold, respectively, in the subgenomic replicon cells LucNeo#2. Its selective inhibition of HCV was also
confirmed by HCV RNA levels in LucNeo#2 and in the full-genome HCV replicon cells NNC#2 using real-time reverse transcriptase
polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the anti-HCV activity of Alpha-zam was not due to the induction of interferon.
Conclusion: Alpha-zam selectively inhibits HCV replication and therefore has potential for a novel antiviral agent against HCV
infection
IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT Senna didymobotrya (FRESEN.) H.S. IRWIN & BARNEBY PLANT PARTS
Get PDFBackground: Herbal medicines have been in use for many years and remain widespread in developing countries; whereas, the use
of complementary alternative medicine is on the increase in developed countries. Senna didymobotrya is important for its medicinal
benefits among most communities in treating a wide range of ailments.
Materials and methods: Plants were collected from a cluster in Siaya, Nandi and Nakuru counties (Kenya). Stem bark, root bark,
leaves, flowers and immature pods were obtained; air-dried and ground into fine powder. Methanol was used to extract the plant
extracts. The extracts were reconstituted in water and incorporated into growth media to obtain 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%.
Bioassays were carried out on T. tonsurans (ATCC 28942) and C. albicans (14053). The growth of cultures on the plates was
measured over a period of sixteen days. The area under disease progress stairs was determined and subjected to ANOVA and
comparison of means using LSD.
Results: Results indicated that the growth of C. albicans was not significantly affected by the plant extracts. Growth of T. tonsurans
was completely inhibited by immature pods extract at 10%, the leaves and flowers extracts inhibited the growth at 7.5%. The stem
and root bark extracts inhibited growth at low dosages of 2.5- 5 %.
Conclusion: There is need to carry out research on root and stem barks to identify the active phytochemicals that contribute to their
high efficacies. On species conservation, harvesting of roots may lead to depletion of S. didymobotry
THE SERUM PROTEIN FRACTIONS IN THYMOQUINONE TREATED RATS
Get PDFBackground: TQ has been used as treatment and preventive agent for many diseases over the years. The goal of this study was to
investigate the effects of TQ supplement on fractions of serum proteins.
Materials and methods: Fourteen male Wistar-Albino rats (200-250 g weight) were used as material for two groups; (control (C)
and thymoquinone (TQ) respectively. Each group contained seven rats. The control group had only corn oil, while the TQ group was
dissolved in corn oil. 30 mg/kg/day were given by oral gavage for four weeks. The serum protein fractions were identified using
cellulose acetate technique.
Results: The total protein level and albumin, α-1, α-2 fractions and A/G ratio have showed no difference between groups (p>0.05).
β-globulin fractions of TQ group were higher than control’s (
PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC PROPERTIES OF PENTANISIA PRUNELLOIDES FROM THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFBackground Pentanisia prunelloides is a medicinal plant widely used to remedy various ailments including infections, fever and
rheumatism in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. There is scanty report on the phytochemical and biological properties of the
plant; hence various solvent extracts of the dried plant materials were phytochemically screened, and its aqueous extract evaluated for
acute toxicity effect, analgesic and antiinflammatory properties in rodents.
Methods and Materials: Different extracts of both leaf and rhizome were obtained separately with ethanol, methanol and water.
Portions of the filtrate were used for qualitative screening of secondary metabolites and remaining portions were concentrated and
dried. Dried grounded leaf and rhizome of the plant were also used for quantitative screening for some major components. The aqueous
extract of the leaf and rhizome were used for acute toxicity (LD50) test, antiinflammatory and analgesic activities in rodents.
Results: The qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of several phytoconstituents with saponins, flavonoids and
alkaloids constituting highest constituents in the leaf and rhizome. The LD50 of the aqueous extracts (from leaf or rhizome) was found
to be ≥5000 mg/kg orally. The leaf and rhizome aqueous extract (250-500 mg/kg) significantly (
EMODIN EFFICACY ON THE AKT, MAPK, ERK AND DNMT EXPRESSION PATTERN DURING DMBA-INDUCED ORAL CARCINOMA IN GOLDEN SYRIAN HAMSTERS
Get PDFBackground: The present study has evaluated the Emodin efficacy on the Akt, MAPK, ERK and DNMT expression pattern during
7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinoma in golden Syrian hamsters, in order to explore its antitumor
potential.
Materials and methods: Oral tumors were developed in the buccal pouches of golden Syrian hamsters using the carcinogen,
DMBA.
Results: While the incidence of tumor formation was 100% in hamsters treated with DMBA alone, the tumor formation was not
noticed in DMBA+ Emodin treated hamsters. Also, Emodin reduced the severity of precancerous pathological lesions such as
dysplasia, in the hamsters treated with DMBA. Emodin administration corrected the abnormalities in the expression pattern of Akt,
MAPK, ERK and DNMT in the buccal mucosa of hamsters treated with DMBA.
Conclusions: The present study thus suggests that the tumor preventive potential of Emodin is partly related to its modulating effect
on the Akt, MAPK, ERK and DNMT expression pattern, as these molecular markers have a pivotal role in the process of cell
proliferation, inflammation, invasion, and apoptosis
GEOGRAPHICAL IMPACT ON ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION OF ENDEMIC KUNDMANNIA ANATOLICA HUB.-MOR. (APIACEAE)
Get PDFBackground: Kundmannia anatolica Hub.-Mor. is an endemic specie of Apiaceae diversified in Turkey. Several parts
of the plant may contain essential oils in different quantity which can be influenced by environmental factors, mainly
altitude. The aim of this study was to test whether there is any altitude effect on volatile chemical constituents of
essential oil obtained from the fruits of K. anatolica growing spontaneously in different altitudes of Lakes Region in
Turkey.
Materials and Methods: K. anatolica was collected in 2015 at different altitudes (400, 820, 1002 and 1560 m) of
Lakes Region Turkey. The fruits of the plants were distilled for 3 h using a Clevenger type apparatus according to the
British Pharmacopiea (1980). Essential oils of the fruits were collected using hydro distillation method and analyzed by
GC–MS/FID.
Results: Essential oil contents of fruits increased by corresponding increase in altitude level. Predominant compounds
were α-Pinene (27.87-61.94%) and β-Pinene (24.92-36.46%) of the total oil of K. anatolica. Other important
compounds were α-Thujene (2.66-8.15%), l-Limonene (1.83-8.23%), α-Phellandrene (1.85-5.01%) and these
compounds were higher in low altitudes.
Conclusion: Altitude change affected the terpenoid biosynthesis and oxygenated monoterpenes generally and were
greatest when low; while sesquiterpene constituents were greatest at high altitudes. The influence of altitude seems to
be an important factor for yielding the chemical profile of K. anatolica essential oils. Thus, the location of the plant
must be taken into account depending on the intended use
IMMUNOSUPPRESIVE EFFECTS OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM CAINITO LEAVES ON MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS
Get PDFBackground: The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the methanol extract
(MeOH) from Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on the MΦs functions.
Material and Methods: Peritoneal murine MΦs isolated from Balb/c mice were treated with the MeOH extract
and stimulated with LPS. The effect on the phagocytosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The nitric
oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was measured by the Griess reagent and phenol red
reaction, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-was measured using an ELISA kit. Viability of MΦs and Vero
cells was determined by the MTT method.
Results: The MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves inhibited significantly the phagocytosis, and decreased IL-6 and
TNF-α production as well as NO and H2O2 released by the MΦs, in a concentration-dependent manner. In
addition, MeOH extract of C. cainito showed low cytotoxicity effect against the cells.
Conclusion: These results suggest that MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves has an immunosuppressive effect on
murine MΦs, without effects on cell viability. GC-MS chromatogram analysis of MeOH extract showed that
lupeol acetate and alpha-amyrin acetate are the principal compounds