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Mogha NG, Kalokora OJ, Amir HM, Kacholi DS. Ethnomedicinal plants used for treatment of snakebites in Tanzania - a systematic review. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 60:1925-1934. [PMID: 36205572 PMCID: PMC9553154 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2123942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Snake envenomation is one of the neglected health problems in Tanzania. Since most people, especially in rural areas, suffer from its burden, their cases are not documented due to reliance on medicinal plants. Despite the pivotal role of medicinal plants in treating snakebites, there is a paucity of information. OBJECTIVE This review documents medicinal plants used to treat snakebites in Tanzania. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search using electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct and grey literature was conducted to retrieve relevant information on medicinal plants used to treat snakebites in Tanzania. The review was conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The obtained information from 19 published articles was organized and analysed based on citation frequency. RESULTS A total of 109 plant species belonging to 49 families are used as snakebite antivenom in Tanzania. Fabaceae had the highest number of medicinal plants (19.3%). The dominant plant growth forms were trees (35%) and shrubs (33%). Roots were the most frequently used plant part (54%), followed by leaves (26%) and bark (11%). Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae), Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) (Fabaceae), Suregada zanzibariensis Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), Antidesma venosum E.Mey. ex Tul. (Phyllanthaceae), Cissampelos pareira L. (Menispermaceae) and Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. (Fabaceae) were the most cited medicinal plants. CONCLUSIONS Tanzania has diverse plants used for snakebite treatment; a few have been analysed for their bioactive components. Further study of the phytochemicals may provide scientific information to develop snakebite drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neema Gideon Mogha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Olivia John Kalokora
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Halima Mvungi Amir
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - David Sylvester Kacholi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Veldman S, Ju Y, Otieno JN, Abihudi S, Posthouwer C, Gravendeel B, van Andel TR, de Boer HJ. DNA barcoding augments conventional methods for identification of medicinal plant species traded at Tanzanian markets. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 250:112495. [PMID: 31877364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMALOGICAL RELEVANCE In Africa, traditional medicine is important for local healthcare and plants used for these purposes are commonly traded. Identifying medicinal plants sold on markets is challenging, as leaves, barks and roots are often fragmented or powdered. Vernacular names are often homonymic, and identification of material lacking sufficient morphological characters is time-consuming, season-dependent and might lead to incorrect assessments of commercialised species diversity. AIM OF THE STUDY In this study, we identified cases of vernacular heterogeneity of medicinal plants using a tiered approach of literature research, morphology and DNA barcoding. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 870 single ingredient medicinal plant samples corresponding to 452 local names were purchased from herbal markets in Dar-es-Salaam and Tanga, Tanzania, and identified using conventional methods as well as DNA barcoding using rbcL, matK and nrITS. RESULTS Using conventional methods, we could identify 70% of samples to at least family level, while 62% yielded a DNA barcode for at least one of the three markers. Combining conventional methods and DNA barcoding, 76% of the samples could be identified to species level, revealing a diversity of at least 175 species in 65 plant families. Analysis of the market samples revealed 80 cases of multilingualism and over- and under-differentiation. Afzelia quanzensis Welw., Zanthoxylum spp., Allophylus spp. and Albizia anthelmintica Brongn. were the most evident cases of multilingualism and over-differentiation, as they were traded under 8-12 vernacular names in up to five local languages. The most obvious case of under-differentiation was mwingajini (Swahili), which matched to eight scientific species in five different plant families. CONCLUSIONS Use of a tiered approach increases the identification success of medicinal plants sold in local market and corroborates findings that DNA barcoding can elucidate the identity of material that is unidentifiable based on morphology and literature as well as verify or disqualify these identifications. Results of this study can be used as a basis for quantitative market surveys of fragmented herbal medicine and to investigate conservation issues associated with this trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Veldman
- Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Yingzi Ju
- Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joseph N Otieno
- Institute of Traditional Medicine Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Siri Abihudi
- Institute of Traditional Medicine Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Nelson Mandela African Institution for Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Chantal Posthouwer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Gravendeel
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands; University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tinde R van Andel
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hugo J de Boer
- Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway
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Tewari D, Samoilă O, Gocan D, Mocan A, Moldovan C, Devkota HP, Atanasov AG, Zengin G, Echeverría J, Vodnar D, Szabo B, Crişan G. Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Used in Cataract Management. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:466. [PMID: 31263410 PMCID: PMC6585469 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cataract is the leading reason of blindness worldwide and is defined by the presence of any lens opacities or loss of transparency. The most common symptoms of cataract are impaired vision, decreased contrast sensitivity, color disturbance, and glare. Oxidative stress is among the main mechanisms involved in the development of age-related cataract. Surgery through phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation is the most effective method for cataract treatment, however, there are chances of serious complications and irreversible loss of vision associated with the surgery. Natural compounds consisting of antioxidant or anti-inflammatory secondary metabolites can serve as potential leads for anticataract agents. In this review, we tried to document medicinal plants and plant-based natural products used for cataract treatment worldwide, which are gathered from available ethnopharmacological/ethnobotanical data. We have extensively explored a number of recognized databases like Scifinder, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus by using keywords and phrases such as “cataract”, “blindness”, “traditional medicine”, “ethnopharmacology”, “ethnobotany”, “herbs”, “medicinal plants”, or other relevant terms, and summarized the plants/phytoconstituents that are evaluated in different models of cataract and also tabulated 44 plants that are traditionally used in cataract in various folklore medical practices. Moreover, we also categorized the plants according to scientific studies carried out in different cataract models with their mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devesh Tewari
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Ovidiu Samoilă
- Department of Ophthalmology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Gocan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Mocan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cadmiel Moldovan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Hari Prasad Devkota
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Atanas G Atanasov
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland.,Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Javier Echeverría
- Departamento de Ciencias del Ambiente, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Dan Vodnar
- Department of Food Science, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bianca Szabo
- Department of Anatomy, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gianina Crişan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Auditeau E, Chassagne F, Bourdy G, Bounlu M, Jost J, Luna J, Ratsimbazafy V, Preux PM, Boumediene F. Herbal medicine for epilepsy seizures in Asia, Africa and Latin America: A systematic review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2019; 234:119-153. [PMID: 30610931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
RELEVANCE More than 70 million people suffer epilepsy worldwide. Low availability of anti-epileptic drugs, side-effects and drug-resistant epilepsy affect the quality of life of persons with epilepsy in countries with a poorly developed health system. Herbal medicine is frequently used for this neurological condition. OBJECTIVES The main objective was to provide a detailed analysis of Herbal Medicine used for neurological conditions related with epilepsy in Asia, Africa and Latin America. More broadly, this study aims to highlight species with assessed efficacy (cross-cultural use, pharmacological effects on models of epileptic seizures) and safety (toxicological data in laboratory) information, in order to point out species of interest for further studies. A critical assessment of models used in pharmacological evaluations was done. MATERIALS AND METHODS The systematic search for Herbal Medicine treatments for epilepsy was performed considering all the articles published until February 2017 through three scientific databases. It was made with MeSH terms and free text defining the epilepsy seizures and plant species. We included studies carried out in Asia, Africa and Latin America. All articles reporting the use of Herbal Medicine to treat epilepsy seizures and/or their pharmacological evaluation were retained for further analysis. RESULTS The search yielded 1886 articles, from 30 countries. Hundred and six articles published between 1982 and 2017 were included, corresponding to a total of 497 use reports for 351 plant species belonging to 106 families. Three hundred and seventy seven use reports corresponding to 264 species in ethnopharmacological surveys and 120 evaluation reports corresponding to 107 species were noted. Twenty-nine reports, for 29 species, combined both ethnopharmacological and pharmacological evaluation. Fifty eight studies originated from Africa, 35 studies from Asia and 18 from Latin America. Highest use report was noted for rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. (12 use report in 1 country) and leaves of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (8 use report in 2 countries). Therefore these species display the highest use convergence. Regarding pharmacological evaluation most studied species were: Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. (4 evaluation reports in 1 country), Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. (3 evaluation reports in 2 countries) and Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand. (3 evaluation reports in 1 country). In vivo models of chronic epilepsy were more relevant than in vitro models or chemical models inducing acute seizures for pharmacological assessment. CONCLUSION Species with the highest use report were not those with pharmacological evaluation. It will be pertinent to assess the pharmacological effects and safety of medicinal plants used mostly by traditional healers on predictive models of seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Auditeau
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
| | - François Chassagne
- UMR 152 Research Institute for the development, University Toulouse 3, Pharmaceutical sciences Faculty, 35 chemin des Maraîchers, 31400 Toulouse, France; Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Geneviève Bourdy
- UMR 152 Research Institute for the development, University Toulouse 3, Pharmaceutical sciences Faculty, 35 chemin des Maraîchers, 31400 Toulouse, France.
| | - Mayoura Bounlu
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Institute of Francophonie for Tropical Medicine, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
| | - Jérémy Jost
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
| | - Jaime Luna
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
| | - Voa Ratsimbazafy
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
| | - Pierre-Marie Preux
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
| | - Farid Boumediene
- INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France.
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Bello OM, Jagaba SM, Bello OE, Ogbesejana AB, Dada OA, Adetunji CO, Abubakar SM. Phytochemistry, pharmacology and perceived health uses of non-cultivated vegetable Cyphostemma adenocaule (Steud. ex A. Rich.) Desc. ex Wild and R.B. Drumm: A review. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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Evaluation of terpene-rich extract of Lantana camara L. leaves for antimicrobial activity against mycobacteria using Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjbas.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Posthouwer C, Veldman S, Abihudi S, Otieno JN, van Andel TR, de Boer HJ. Quantitative market survey of non-woody plants sold at Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 222:280-287. [PMID: 29723630 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In Tanzania, traditional medicine plays a significant role in health care and local economies based on the harvesting, trade and sale of medicinal plant products. The majority of this plant material is said to originate from wild sources, and both traditional healers and vendors are concerned about the increasing scarcity of certain species. AIM OF THE STUDY A market survey of non-powdered, non-woody medicinal plants was conducted at Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam, the major hub for medicinal plant trade in Tanzania, to assess sustainability of traded herbal medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this study, fresh and dried herbs, seeds and fruits were collected and interviews were conducted to obtain information on vernacular names, preparation methods, monthly sales, uses and prices. Bundles of herbal medicine offered for sale were weighed and counted to calculate the value and volumes of daily stock at the market. RESULTS A total of 71 medicinal plant products belonging to 62-67 different species from at least 41 different plant families were identified. We identified 45 plant products to species level, 20 products to genus level and four to family level. Plant species most encountered at the market were Suregada zanzibariensis, Myrothamnus flabellifolia and Sclerocarya birrea. The major use categories reported by the vendors were ritual purposes, digestive disorders and women's health. Annual sales are estimated to be in excess of 30 t and close to 200,000 USD, and trade in herbal medicine at Kariakoo Market provides subsistence income to many local vendors. CONCLUSIONS A large diversity of wild-harvested plant species is traded as medicinal products in Tanzania, including species listed on CITES Appendices. Identifying and monitoring temporal changes in availability per season and from year to year will reveal which species are most affected by this trade, and help relevant authorities in Tanzania to find alternative sources of income for dependent stakeholders and initiate targeted efforts to protect threatened plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Posthouwer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Sarina Veldman
- Department of Organismal Biology, Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyv. 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Siri Abihudi
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Joseph N Otieno
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tinde R van Andel
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo J de Boer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Organismal Biology, Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyv. 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Postboks 1172, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
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Maregesi SM, Messo CW, Mathias J. Ethnomedical survey and safety evaluation of traditional eye medicines used in Misungwi district, Tanzania. JOURNAL OF COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE RESEARCH 2016; 6:75-83. [PMID: 28163964 PMCID: PMC5289092 DOI: 10.5455/jice.20161116071244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed at documenting products used as traditional eye medicine (TEM) in Misungwi district, Tanzania, and performing preliminary analysis on safety status. Methodology: Ethnomedical study was conducted in Misungwi district. Information was sourced by face-to-face interview with traditional healers, traditional medicine vendors, and knowledgeable people guided by a well-structured questionnaire. Safety was evaluated by determining pH using pH meter and mineral analysis using the Delta, Portable X-ray fluorescence equipment, and qualitative chemical tests. Results: A total of 23 TEM products were recorded from botanical (79%) and zoological (21%) sources including animal excreta. Liquid preparation ranked highest among dosage forms. Safety evaluation showed that only one product possessed the pH value of 7.4 as recommended for topical ophthalmic medicines. Fourteen minerals were detected and quantified in three samples; some of these minerals are known for their negative effects to the eyes, of medical interest is strontium used for the management of benign eye tumors. Information providers were unaware of health risks associated with the use of TEM. Conclusion: This study has revealed the common use of TEM in Misungwi district. The majority of the products are from the botanical source. Although literature provides supporting data for the application to some of the recorded TEM, safety evaluation by pH and mineral analysis in this study have indicated possible ophthalmological medical problems that could result from using such products. Extensive scientific studies including animal experiments and identification of bioactive compounds are essential to develop safe TEMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila M Maregesi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Charles W Messo
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Juma Mathias
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Omosa LK, Midiwo JO, Masila VM, Gisacho BM, Munayi R, Chemutai KP, Elhaboob G, Saeed MEM, Hamdoun S, Kuete V, Efferth T. Cytotoxicity of 91 Kenyan indigenous medicinal plants towards human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 179:177-96. [PMID: 26721219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Plants from Kenyan flora are traditionally used against many ailments, including cancer and related diseases. Cancer is characterized as a condition with complex signs and symptoms. Recently there are recommendations that ethnopharmacological usages such as immune and skin disorders, inflammatory, infectious, parasitic and viral diseases should be taken into account when selecting plants that treat cancer. AIM The present study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity of a plethora of 145 plant parts from 91 medicinal plants, most of which are used in the management of cancer and related diseases by different communities in Kenya, against CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS Extracts from different plant parts (leaves, stems, stem bark, roots, root barks, aerial parts and whole herb) were obtained by cold percolation using different solvent systems, such as (1:1v/v) dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and n-hexane (1), methanol (MeOH) and CH2Cl2 (2); neat MeOH (3), 5% H2O in MeOH (4) and with ethanol (EtOH, 5); their cytotoxicities were determined using the resazurin reduction assay against CCRF-CEM cells. RESULTS At a single concentration of 10μg/mL, 12 out of 145 extracts exhibited more than 50% cell inhibition. These include samples from the root bark of Erythrina sacleuxii (extracted with 50% n-hexane-CH2Cl2), the leaves of Albizia gummifera, and Strychnos usambarensis, the stem bark of Zanthoxylum gilletii, Bridelia micrantha, Croton sylvaticus, and Albizia schimperiana; the root bark of Erythrina burttii and E. sacleuxii (extracted with 50% CH2Cl2-MeOH), the stem bark of B. micrantha and Z. gilletii (extracted using 5% MeOH-H2O) and from the berries of Solanum aculeastrum (extracted with neat EtOH). The EtOH extract of the berries of S. aculeastrum and A. schimperiana stem bark extract displayed the highest cytotoxicity towards leukemia CCRF-CEM cells, with IC50 values of 1.36 and 2.97µg/mL, respectively. Other extracts having good activities included the extracts of the stem barks of Z. gilletii and B. micrantha and leaves of S. usambarensis with IC50 values of 9.04, 9.43 and 11.09µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provided information related to the possible use of some Kenyam medicinal plants, and mostly S. aculeastrum, A. schimperiana, C. sylvaticus, Z. gilletii, B. micrantha and S. usambarensis in the treatment of leukemia. The reported data helped to authenticate the claimed traditional use of these plants. However, most plants are used in combination as traditional herbal concoctions. Hence, the cytotoxicity of corresponding plant combinations should be tested in vitro to authenticate the traditional medical practitioners actual practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonidah K Omosa
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Jacob O Midiwo
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Veronica M Masila
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Boniface M Gisacho
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Renee Munayi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Gihan Elhaboob
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P. O. Box 321-11115, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed E M Saeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sami Hamdoun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Victor Kuete
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Otieno J, Abihudi S, Veldman S, Nahashon M, van Andel T, de Boer HJ. Vernacular dominance in folk taxonomy: a case study of ethnospecies in medicinal plant trade in Tanzania. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2015; 11:10. [PMID: 25971902 PMCID: PMC4429978 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-11-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicinal plants are traded as products with vernacular names, but these folk taxonomies do not always correspond one-to-one with scientific plant names. These local species entities can be defined as ethnospecies and can match, under-differentiate or over-differentiate as compared to scientific species. Identification of plant species in trade is further complicated by the processed state of the product, substitution and adulteration. In countries like Tanzania, an additional dimension to mapping folk taxonomies on scientific names is added by the multitude of ethnicities and languages of the plant collectors, traders and consumers. This study aims to elucidate the relations between the most common vernacular names and the ethnicity of the individual traders among the medicinal plant markets in Dar es Salaam and Tanga regions in Tanzania, with the aim of understanding the dynamics of vernacular names in plant trade. METHODS A total of 90 respondents were interviewed in local markets using semi-structured interviews. The ethnicity of each respondent was recorded, as well as the language of each ethnospecies mentioned during the interviews. Voucher collections and reference literature were used to match ethnospecies across languages. RESULTS At each market, the language of the majority of the vendors dominates the names for medicinal products. The dominant vendors often represent the major ethnic groups of that region. Independent of their ethnicity, vendors offer their products in the dominant language of the specific region without apparently leading to any confusion or species mismatching. CONCLUSIONS Middlemen, traders and vendors adapt their folk classifications to those of the ethnic groups of the region where they conduct their trade, and to the ethnicity of their main customers. The names in the language of the traders are not forgotten, but relegated in favor of the more salient names of the dominant tribe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Otieno
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Siri Abihudi
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Sarina Veldman
- Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Michael Nahashon
- Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Tinde van Andel
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 4, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Hugo J de Boer
- Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 4, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- The Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, NO-0318, Oslo, Norway.
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Babiaka SB, Ntie-Kang F, Lifongo LL, Ndingkokhar B, Mbah JA, Yong JN. The chemistry and bioactivity of Southern African flora I: a bioactivity versus ethnobotanical survey of alkaloid and terpenoid classes. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra01912e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As a whole, the African continent is highly endowed with a huge floral biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smith B. Babiaka
- Department of Chemistry
- Chemical and Bioactivity Information Centre
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
| | - Fidele Ntie-Kang
- Department of Chemistry
- Chemical and Bioactivity Information Centre
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
| | - Lydia L. Lifongo
- Department of Chemistry
- Chemical and Bioactivity Information Centre
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
| | - Bakoh Ndingkokhar
- Department of Chemistry
- Chemical and Bioactivity Information Centre
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
| | - James A. Mbah
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
- Cameroon
| | - Joseph N. Yong
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
- Cameroon
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Yong JN, Ntie-Kang F. The chemistry and biological activities of natural products from Northern African plant families: from Ebenaceae to Solanaceae. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra15377d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional medicinal practices significantly affect the livelihoods of populations in countries with developing economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph N. Yong
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
- Cameroon
| | - Fidele Ntie-Kang
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- University of Buea
- Buea
- Cameroon
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13
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Adzu B, Amizan MB, Okhale SE. Evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of standardised rootbark extract of Xeromphis nilotica. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 158 Pt A:271-275. [PMID: 25446639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Xeromphis nilotica (Stapf) Keay (Rubiaceae), popularly known as 'barbaji' (in Nigeria), is a lowland shrub that grows wild in tropical areas of Africa and Asia. The plant׳s extract is used for the treatment of various diseases in folk medicine including pain related ailments. Important bioactive constituents have been isolated from the plant among them are coumarin, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenes. This study is aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of standardised aqueous extract of the plant using in vivo models of pain and inflammation in mice and rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Aqueous extract of Xeromphis nilotica root bark was prepared and standardised using HPLC technique. Three dose levels (25, 100 and 400mg/kg) of the extract were used, administered orally to laboratory mice and rats. Acetylsalicylic acid (100mg/kg, p.o.) was used as the positive control. Nociception was induced in laboratory rodents: chemically using acetic acid and formalin, and mechanically using analgesy meter; while inflammation was induced using fresh raw egg albumin. RESULTS The extract showed 11 constituents peak profiles in the HPLC analysis. The extract alleviates mice response to acetic acid-induced writhing, analgesy-meter and formalin tests. It significantly decreased the oedema induced by egg albumin induced inflammation, but failed to show significant effect beyond 80min of the test. CONCLUSION The extract has antinociceptive effect and short acting anti-inflammatory activities. The results justify its usage in the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions, and also provided evidence of its potential as source of new pain relief drug prototype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulus Adzu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Nigeria.
| | - Mohammed Barau Amizan
- Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria
| | - Samuel Ehiabhi Okhale
- Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, NIPRD, Abuja, Nigeria
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Danjuma NM, Chindo BA, Abdu-Aguye I, Anuka JA, Hussaini IM. Psychopharmacological properties of saponins from Randia nilotica stem bark. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2014; 52:1-7. [PMID: 23845096 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.784343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Decoctions of Randia nilotica Stapf. (Rubiaceae) have been used in the Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of epilepsy, anxiety, depression and psychosis for many years and their efficacies are widely acclaimed among the rural communities of Northern Nigeria. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to establish whether the saponins present in R. nilotica are responsible for its acclaimed beneficial effects in Nigerian traditional medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS The behavioural properties of the saponin-rich fraction (SFRN) of R. nilotica stem bark were studied on hole-board, diazepam-induced sleep, rota-rod and beam-walking in mice. The anticonvulsant properties of SFRN were also examined on maximal electroshock, pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizures in mice. RESULTS The intraperitoneal LD₅₀ of SFRN in mice and rats were estimated to be 11.1 and 70.7 mg/kg, respectively. SFRN significantly prolonged the duration of diazepam-induced sleep; diminished head dip counts in the hole-board test and protected mice against maximal electroshock seizures. SFRN failed to protect mice against pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizures; and had no effect on motor coordination on the rota-rod treadmill at the doses tested. SFRN significantly decreased the number of foot slips in the beam-walking assay in mice with no effect on time to reach the goal box. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION This study provides evidence of the psychopharmacological effects of SFRN, thus supporting further development of the psychoactive components as remedies for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Danjuma
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria , Nigeria
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15
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Zongo F, Ribuot C, Boumendjel A, Guissou I. Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Waltheria indica L. (syn. Waltheria americana): a review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2013; 148:14-26. [PMID: 23608240 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.03.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Waltheria indica L. (syn. Waltheria americana) is commonly used in traditional medicine in Africa, South America and Hawaii, mainly against pain, inflammation, conditions of inflammation, diarrhea, dysentery, conjunctivitis, wounds, abscess, epilepsy, convulsions, anemia, erectile dysfunctions, bladder ailments and asthma. Aim of the review to provide an up-to-date overview of the botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, pharmacological activities and toxicity data of Waltheria indica. Additionally, studies providing an evidence for local and traditional uses of Waltheria indica are discussed. Further phytochemical and pharmacological potential of this species are suggested for future investigations. MATERIALS AND METHODS The information was collected from scientific journals, books, theses and reports via academic libraries and electronic search. These sources include Pubmed, Web of Science, Portal de Portales-Latindex, Science Research.com and Google scholar. These studies about the medical botanical, traditional uses, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological data on Waltheria indica were published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, German and French. RESULTS Crude extracts and isolated compounds from Waltheria indica were investigated and showed analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, anti-anemic, anti-oxidant, sedative and anticonvulsant activities. The phytochemical investigations showed the presence of cyclopeptid alkaloids, flavonoids (e.g., (-)-epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-(6″-E-p-coumaryl)-glucopyranoside), tannins, sterols, terpenes, saponins, anthraquinones. Studies of acute toxicity in animal indicated that Waltheria indica can be toxic. CONCLUSION Waltheria indica possess therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammation, malaria, infectious diseases (e.g., lungs infection due to Klebsiella pneumoniae, diarrhea due to Candida albicans or Escherichia coli) and prevention of oxidative stress. Further studies are necessary to explore pure compounds responsible for the pharmacological effects and the mechanisms of action. Further investigations are also needed to provide an evidence base for traditional uses of this species against pain, anemia, convulsions and epilepsy. In addition, there is a pressing need to investigate the other traditional uses such as dysentery, syphilis, erectile dysfunctions and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Zongo
- Laboratoire HP2-U1042, Inserm, Grenoble, France, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France.
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16
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Kazmi I, Afzal M, Rahman S, Iqbal M, Imam F, Anwar F. Antiobesity potential of ursolic acid stearoyl glucoside by inhibiting pancreatic lipase. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 709:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Kinyungu EN. Analgesia and anesthesia in pre-colonial Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 28:26-30. [PMID: 22849203 DOI: 10.1016/s1522-8649(10)50016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Ngugi Kinyungu
- University of Chicago, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Molander M, Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Jäger AK, Rønsted N. Cross-cultural comparison of medicinal floras used against snakebites. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2012; 139:863-872. [PMID: 22209885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Envenomation causes an estimated 1.8-2.5 million incidences per year with a mortality level of 100-125,000 persons annually and more than 100,000 individuals suffer from severe complications, which may end in amputation of the attacked limb. The use of plants is a major part of the traditional practitioners' treatment of snakebites. MATERIALS AND METHODS A database was created for plants used to treat snakebites worldwide. From this database, we selected five countries with a high number of entries and representing different cultures, geography and floristic zones: Brazil, Nicaragua, Nepal, China and South Africa. The datasets were analysed by regression and binominal analysis to see if any family or genus used against snakebites was overrepresented in the respective traditional medicinal systems relative to the abundance in the local flora. The families from the different geographical areas were compared to ascertain whether the same plant families are preferred by different peoples. RESULTS Three 'hot' families (Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae) were recovered in at least two of the five compared countries in the regression analyses and one 'hot' family (Zingiberaceae) was recovered in two of the compared countries in the binomial analyses. Four out of five floras possess families identified as outliers in both regression and binomial analyses. Eight families were recovered by both the binomial and the regression analysis (40-62% of all highlighted families respectively). At the genus level, only Piper (Piperaceae) was recovered as a 'hot' genus in at least two floras. Seven genera were highlighted by both analyses (25-44% of the highlighted genera). CONCLUSIONS Cross-cultural comparison of medicinal floras used against snakebites appears to be useful for highlighting candidate families and genera for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Molander
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Kumar RS, Kumar KA, Murthy NV. Antitumour and antioxidant activity of Scutia myrtina against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. Nat Prod Res 2011; 26:1504-9. [PMID: 22007751 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2011.563421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the antitumour and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice. Twenty-four hours after tumour inoculation, EESM was administered at doses 100, 200 and 300 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight/mice/day for 21 days. EESM caused a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in ascites volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count, and also prolonged the life span of EAC tumour-bearing mice. Haematological profiles reverted to near-normal levels in extract-treated mice (p < 0.01). EESM also produced protective effects by significantly decreasing the activity of serum enzymes and bilirubin and increasing the protein and uric acid levels (p < 0.05). EESM significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation, while it significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The results indicate that EESM exhibited significant antitumour and antioxidant activities in EAC-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanathan Sambath Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, 7th of April University, Al-Zawia, Libya.
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Nguta JM, Mbaria JM, Gathumbi PK, Gakuya D, Kabasa JD, Kiama SG. Ethnodiagnostic skills of the digo community for malaria: a lead to traditional bioprospecting. Front Pharmacol 2011; 2:30. [PMID: 21738507 PMCID: PMC3125516 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2011.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health problem that is presently complicated by the development of resistance by Plasmodium falciparum to the mainstay drugs. Thus, new drugs with unique structures and mechanism of action are required to treat drug-resistant strains of malaria. Historically, compounds containing a novel structure from natural origin represent a major source for the discovery and development of new drugs for several diseases. This paper presents ethnophytotherapeutic remedies, ethnodiagnostic skills, and related traditional knowledge utilized by the Digo community of the Kenyan Coast to diagnose malaria as a lead to traditional bioprospecting. The current study was carried out in three Digo villages of Diani sub-location between May 2009 and December 2009. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, and open and close-ended questionnaires. A total of 60 respondents (34 men and 26 women) provided the targeted information. The results show that the indigenous knowledge of Digo community on malaria encompasses not only the symptoms of malaria but also the factors that are responsible for causing malaria, attributes favoring the breeding of mosquitoes and practices employed to guard against mosquito bites or to protect households against malaria. This knowledge is closely in harmony with scientific approaches to the treatment and control of the disease. The Digo community uses 60 medicinal plants distributed in 52 genera and 27 families to treat malaria. The most frequently mentioned symptoms were fever, joint pains, and vomiting while the most frequently mentioned practices employed to guard against mosquito bites and/or to protect households against malaria was burning of herbal plants such as Ocimum suave and ingestion of herbal decoctions and concoctions. The Digo community has abundant ethnodiagnostic skills for malaria which forms the basis of their traditional bioprospecting techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Mwanzia Nguta
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of NairobiNairobi, Kenya
| | - James M. Mbaria
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of NairobiNairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter K. Gathumbi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of NairobiNairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Gakuya
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of NairobiNairobi, Kenya
| | - John David Kabasa
- Department of Physiology, Makerere UniversityKampala, Uganda
- Department of Pharmacology, Makerere UniversityKampala, Uganda
| | - Stephen Gitahi Kiama
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of NairobiNairobi, Kenya
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Nguta JM, Mbaria JM, Gakuya DW, Gathumbi PK, Kiama SG. Traditional antimalarial phytotherapy remedies used by the South Coast community, Kenya. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2010; 131:256-267. [PMID: 20600756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Revised: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY This study was conducted to document herbal medicines used in the treatment of malaria as well as the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to malaria recognition, control and treatment in South Coast, Kenya. METHODS Data was collected using semistructured questionnaires and interviews. A focused group discussion held with the community members, one in each of the study villages supplemented the interview and questionnaire survey. RESULTS The respondents were found to have a good understanding of malaria and could distinguish it from other fever types. They were also aware that malaria was spread by mosquitoes. Malaria prevalence was high, and affected individuals an average of four times a year. Community members avoided mosquito bites by using mosquito nets, clearing bushes around their homesteads and burning plant parts to generate smoke. They prevented and treated malaria by taking decoctions or concoctions of traditional herbal remedies. Forty plant species in thirty-five genera distributed in twenty-four families were used as antimalarials in the study area. Five plant species, namely; Heeria insignis Del. (Anacardiaceae), Rottboelia exaltata L.F (Gramineae), Pentanisia ouranogyne S. Moore (Rubiaceae), Agathisanthenum globosum (A. Rich) Hiern (Rubiaceae), and Grewia trichocarpa Hochst ex A. Rich (Tiliaceae) are documented for the first time in South Coast, Kenya, for the treatment of malaria. CONCLUSIONS The plants documented in the current study are a potential source for new bioactive compounds of therapeutic value in malaria treatment. The results provide data for further pharmacological and toxicological studies and development of commercial antimalarial phytotherapy products.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Nguta
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Nguta JM, Mbaria JM, Gakuya DW, Gathumbi PK, Kiama SG. Antimalarial herbal remedies of Msambweni, Kenya. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2010; 128:424-32. [PMID: 20096761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2009] [Revised: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious cause of mortality globally. The disease is of regional concern in Africa and of national interest in Kenya due to its high morbidity and mortality as a result of development of resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum to many existing drugs such as chloroquine. Alternative medicine using herbal remedies are commonly used to treat malaria in Kenya. However, plants used in some rural areas in Kenya are not documented. Many antimalarial drugs have been derived from plants. This study was conducted to document medicinal plants that are traditionally used by the Msambweni community of Kenyan South Coast to treat malaria, where the disease is endemic. Herbalists were interviewed by administration of semistructured questionnaires in order to obtain information on medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of malaria. Focused group discussions held with the herbalists supplemented the interview and questionnaire survey. Twenty-seven species of plants in 24 genera distributed in 20 families were reported to be used in this region for the treatment of malaria. Labiatae, Rutaceae and Liliaceae families had each eleven percent of the plant species reported and represented the species that are most commonly used. Thirteen plant species, namely; Aloe deserti Berger (Liliaceae), Launea cornuta (Oliv and Hiern) C. Jeffrey (Compositae), Ocimum bacilicum L. (Labiatae), Teclea simplicifolia (Eng) Verdoon (Rutaceae), Gerranthus lobatus (Cogn.) Jeffrey (Cucurbitaceae), Grewia hexaminta Burret. (Tiliaceae), Canthium glaucum Hiern. (Rubiaceae), Amaranthus hybridus L. (Amaranthaceae), Combretum padoides Engl and Diels. (Combretaceae), Senecio syringitolius O. Hoffman. (Compositae), Ocimum suave Willd (Labiatae), Aloe macrosiphon Bak. (Liliaceae) and Laudolphia buchananii (Hall.f) Stapf. (Apocynaceae) are documented from this region for the first time for the treatment of malaria. These results become a basis for selection of plants for further pharmacological, toxicological and phytochemical studies in developing new plant based antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Nguta
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
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Teshome K, Gebre-Mariam T, Asres K, Engidawork E. Toxicity studies on dermal application of plant extract of Dodonaea viscosa used in Ethiopian traditional medicine. Phytother Res 2010; 24:60-9. [PMID: 19441008 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in the understanding of the medicinal properties of many herbs, the consumer today is confronted with the lack of or misinformation concerning the safety of these herbs that rivals the heyday of the patent medicine era. In the present study, Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), a medicinal plant commonly used for skin diseases in Ethiopia was subjected to a systematic dermatotoxicity study. To this effect, the dermatotoxicity of an 80% methanol extract of the leaf was investigated in animals following standard procedures for irritation, sensitization, acute toxicity and repeated toxicity tests. The skin irritation test in rabbits showed the extract to be a slight or negligibly slight irritant, with a primary irritation index of 0.45. A sensitization test in mice by the mouse ear swelling test method revealed the extract to be a non-sensitizer in the dose range 12-30 mg/mL. The percent responder was zero. The acute and repeated dermal toxicity tests on rats did not show any overt sign of toxicity. The findings of this study collectively indicate that dermal application of D. viscosa is not associated with any toxicologically relevant effects and the data could provide satisfactory preclinical evidence of safety to launch a clinical trial on a standardized formulation of the plant extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefale Teshome
- School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Langwick S. From Non-Aligned Medicines to Market-Based Herbals: China's Relationship to the Shifting Politics of Traditional Medicine in Tanzania. Med Anthropol 2010; 29:15-43. [DOI: 10.1080/01459740903517378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Elisabetsky E, Castilhos ZC. Plants Used as Analgesics by Amazonian Caboclos as a Basis for Selecting Plants for Investigation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.3109/13880209009082838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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M. Nuhu D, Abdu-Aguye I, A. Anuka J, M. Hussain I, U. Zezi A, B. Maiha B, Sani M. Behavioural Effects of Hydroalcoholic Stem Bark Extract of Randia nilotica stapf. in Mice. INT J PHARMACOL 2008. [DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2008.264.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Muthaura CN, Rukunga GM, Chhabra SC, Mungai GM, Njagi ENM. Traditional antimalarial phytotherapy remedies used by the Kwale community of the Kenyan Coast. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2007; 114:377-86. [PMID: 17904318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2007] [Revised: 06/08/2007] [Accepted: 08/13/2007] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In Kenya, most people especially in rural areas use traditional medicine and medicinal plants to treat many diseases including malaria. Malaria is of national concern in Kenya, in view of development of resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum to drugs especially chloroquine, which had been effective and affordable. There is need for alternative and affordable therapy. Many antimalarial drugs have been derived from medicinal plants and this is evident from the reported antiplasmodial activity. The aim of the study was to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat malaria by the Digo community of Kwale district. Traditional health practitioners were interviewed with standardized questionnaires in order to obtain information on medicinal plants traditionally used for management of malaria. Twenty-five species in 21 genera and 16 families were encountered during the study. Celestraceae, Leguminosae and Rubiaceae families represented the species most commonly cited. Three plant species, namely; Maytenus putterlickioides, Warburgia stuhlmannii and Pentas bussei are documented for the first time for the treatment of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Muthaura
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.
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29
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Senn M, Gunzenhauser S, Brun R, Séquin U. Antiprotozoal polyacetylenes from the Tanzanian medicinal plant Cussonia zimmermannii. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2007; 70:1565-1569. [PMID: 17922552 DOI: 10.1021/np0702133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
From the petroleum ether extract of the root bark of Cussonia zimmermannii four polyacetylenes, 1- 4, were isolated, three of which ( 1- 3) were active against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Senn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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30
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Maregesi SM, Ngassapa OD, Pieters L, Vlietinck AJ. Ethnopharmacological survey of the Bunda district, Tanzania: plants used to treat infectious diseases. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2007; 113:457-70. [PMID: 17720340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2007] [Revised: 05/29/2007] [Accepted: 07/01/2007] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was carried out in six villages in the Bunda district, Mara Region, Tanzania, where the use of plants still has a special meaning to the society, in the treatment of various diseases. Information was obtained from the traditional healers and other experienced persons, having some knowledge on medicinal plants. Fifty-two plants were reported for use in the treatment of various infectious diseases. These plants belong to 29 families, with Papilionaceae being the most represented. Leaves ranked the highest, especially for use in topical preparations. Oral administration was the most frequently used route of administration. Twenty-one percent of the recorded plants were reported for treating venereal diseases, with syphilis and gonorrhea being the most commonly mentioned. Information providers requested feedback with regard to the plants proven scientifically to be toxic in order to avoid risks while offering their services. From this work it was found out that, people in this area commonly use medicinal plants with trust they have built on the curative outcome witnessed. As the first ethnobotanical study in Bunda district recording 52 plants in a small area covered, publication of this work is expected to open up more studies to record many useful medicinal plants unfolded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Mgole Maregesi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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31
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Hamza OJM, van den Bout-van den Beukel CJP, Matee MIN, Moshi MJ, Mikx FHM, Selemani HO, Mbwambo ZH, Van der Ven AJAM, Verweij PE. Antifungal activity of some Tanzanian plants used traditionally for the treatment of fungal infections. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2006; 108:124-32. [PMID: 16829001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2005] [Revised: 04/05/2006] [Accepted: 04/26/2006] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Using the ethnobotanical approach, some Tanzanian plants reported to be used by traditional healers for the treatment of oral candidiasis and fungal infections of the skin were collected and screened for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans. A total of 65 crude methanol extracts belonging to 56 plant species and 38 families were screened using the broth microdilution method, according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) (formerly, National Committee for Clinical and Laboratory Standards) [National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 2002. Reference Method for Broth Dilution Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts. Approved Standard-2nd Edition M27-A2, National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Wayne, PA, USA]. Among the tested plant species, 45% (25 species) showed antifungal activity against one or more of the test fungi. The most susceptible yeasts were Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis. The least susceptible were Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Strong antifungal activity was exhibited by extracts of Clausena anisata Oliv., Sclerocariya birrea Sond, Turraea holstii Gurk, Sterculia africana (Lour) Fiori, Acacia robusta subsp. Usambarensis (Taub) Brenan, Cyphosterma hildebrandti (Gilg), Desc, Elaeodendron buchannanii (Lows), Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild ex Del, Jatropha multifida L., and Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar J M Hamza
- Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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32
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Runyoro DKB, Ngassapa OD, Matee MIN, Joseph CC, Moshi MJ. Medicinal plants used by Tanzanian traditional healers in the management of Candida infections. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2006; 106:158-65. [PMID: 16458463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2004] [Revised: 09/02/2005] [Accepted: 12/12/2005] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
An ethnomedical survey in Coast, Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Tanga regions of Tanzania has resulted in the identification of 36 plant species belonging to 21 plant families that are used traditionally for the treatment of Candida infections. Twenty-one plants constituting 58.3% of all collected plants are used to treat of oral candidiasis (Utando) one of the important signs of HIV/AIDS. The knowledge of traditional healers for the treatment of Candida infections has been highly supported by the literature in that 13 (36.1%) out of the 36 plants identified have been proven to be active against Candida albicans and/or other species of Candida. Also, some of the plants were reported to be active against other species of fungi including Cryptococcus neoformans, one of the important pathogenic fungi in HIV/AIDS. It can be seen that ethnomedical information from traditional healers provides a solid lead towards development of new drugs than random screening. The task that remains is to screen extracts prepared from these plants and perform a bioassay-guided fractionation of the active extracts so as to isolate the active compounds from these plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K B Runyoro
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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33
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Adzu B, Abubakar MS, Izebe KS, Akumka DD, Gamaniel KS. Effect of Annona senegalensis rootbark extracts on Naja nigricotlis nigricotlis venom in rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2005; 96:507-513. [PMID: 15619571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2004] [Revised: 09/03/2004] [Accepted: 09/27/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Annona senegalensis Pers (family: Annonaceae) is used traditionally in Nigeria to treat victims of snakebite. The potency of the methanol extract of the root bark of the plant was tested against cobra (Naja nigricotlis nigricotlis Wetch) venom in rats. The extract was also tested on brine shrimp (Artemia saline Leach). The activity of the extract against the venom induced mortality, occurrence of toxic signs, activity on liver enzymes as well as its ability to reverse experimentally induced increase in body temperature were evaluated. Results indicated that the extract caused reduction in the induced hyperthermia and directly detoxified the snake venom used by 16-33%. It, however, failed to restore the biochemical functions (sGOT and sGPT) of the liver. The extract exhibited an LC(50) of 232.7 microg/ml in the brine shrimp test.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Adzu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), PMB 21 Abuja, Nigeria.
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34
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de Boer HJ, Kool A, Broberg A, Mziray WR, Hedberg I, Levenfors JJ. Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity of some herbal remedies from Tanzania. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2005; 96:461-9. [PMID: 15619565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2004] [Revised: 08/27/2004] [Accepted: 09/20/2004] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Plants are not only important to the millions of people to whom traditional medicine serves as the only opportunity for health care and to those who use plants for various purposes in their daily lives, but also as a source of new pharmaceuticals. During interviews with the Pare people from Northeastern Tanzania, 29 plants that are used for medicinal purposes as well as 41 plants used for non-medicinal purposes were reported. Six medicinally used plants were selected for bioactivity analysis. Extracts of Coccinia adoensis, Cineraria grandiflora, Pavonia urens, Marattia fraxinea, Clutia abyssinica var. usambarica, and Vangueria infausta were made using ethyl acetate, methanol, cold water and boiling water. The antimicrobial activity was tested on Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium culmorum, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas syringae, and Erwinia amylovora. All plants showed activity against several test organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo J de Boer
- Department of Systematic Botany, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden. hugo@
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35
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Getie M, Gebre-Mariam T, Rietz R, Höhne C, Huschka C, Schmidtke M, Abate A, Neubert RHH. Evaluation of the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities of the medicinal plants Dodonaea viscosa, Rumex nervosus and Rumex abyssinicus. Fitoterapia 2003; 74:139-43. [PMID: 12628410 DOI: 10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00315-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The crude extracts of the leaves of Dodonaea viscosa and Rumex nervosus as well as of the root of Rumex abyssinicus were tested for anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities. It was observed that the three plants possess antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus and strong activity against Coxsackie virus B3 and influenza A virus. In contrast, none of them exhibited anti-fungal activity. The anti-inflammatory activity test results verified that only R. abyssinicus inhibited the synthesis of prostaglandin (PG) E(2).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Getie
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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36
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Abstract
Conjunctivitis is a major occular external infection in tropical countries. Although not a very serious disease, it gives much discomfort and sometimes leads to partial blindness or blindness due to corneal involvement. Conjunctivitis has been known to occur in epidemic proportions in different parts of the world, mainly African and Asian regions. The indigenous cure of conjunctivitis using herbal products has been popular for centuries. This paper is an attempt to compile information on plants mentioned as a cure for conjunctivitis during ethnobotanical surveys between 1933 and 2000. Plants mentioned as a cure in various systems of medicine, namely Siddha and Ayurveda, are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Sharma
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Information Services, National Institute of Science Communication (CSIR), Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi - 110012, India.
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37
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Omolo OJ, Chhabra SC, Nyagah G. Determination of iron content in different parts of herbs used traditionally for anaemia treatment in East Africa. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 1997; 58:97-102. [PMID: 9406897 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(97)00093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The iron content in different parts of eight plants traditionally used to treat anaemia in Eastern Africa was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Extracts were made of plant samples using both wet and dry oxidation procedures. Results obtained from both procedures agree significantly and the average of both methods was taken as the iron content in each plant part. In most cases, the values obtained for the rootbark had a higher total iron content than the corresponding leaves and stembark. The prominent iron contents of 35.69 and 35.21 mg/100 g were found in the rootbark of Bridelia cathartica and Lannea stuhlmannii, respectively. The iron content of the decoctions prepared in the traditional way was low. However, the therapeutic potential of the herbs cannot be established on the basis of available iron content alone as other factors play a role in the absorption of iron in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- O J Omolo
- Department of Chemistry, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
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38
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Ethnomedical, Biological, and Clinical Support for Medicinal Plant Use on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1300/j044v04n03_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
In a recent survey, 106 local healers in Israel were interviewed concerning the use of Solanaceae as medicinal plants. The main findings reveal that: (a) only four species (Lycium europeaum, Solanum nigrum, Hyoscyamus aureus, Hyoscyamus albus) are extensively used today; (b) the use of some traditional plants has been almost abandoned (Datura spp., Mandragora autumnalis, Withania somnifera); (c) today all the plants are applied externally, they are rarely used as narcotics; (d) most use of these plants is local, only in a few cases is a uniform use found throughout the whole country, and in all ethnic groups; (e) the extensive distribution of modern, safe narcotics, sedatives and anaesthetics has reduced the use of the Solanaceae for these purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dafni
- Institute of Evolution, Haifa University, Israel
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40
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Gessler MC, Nkunya MH, Mwasumbi LB, Heinrich M, Tanner M. Screening Tanzanian medicinal plants for antimalarial activity. Acta Trop 1994; 56:65-77. [PMID: 8203297 DOI: 10.1016/0001-706x(94)90041-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Forty-three different plant species commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria were selected and screened for their antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Thirteen of the 43 species were obtained directly from traditional healers who use these plants for the treatment of malaria. The other plant species were collected on the basis of ethnomedicinal information in the literature. The plant material was collected from Morogoro, Dar es Salaam and Kagera regions in Tanzania. Fifty-eight plant samples from these 43 plant species, including leaves, roots and stem bark, were investigated. Apart from the crude EtOH extracts, petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EtAc) and H2O fractions of these extracts were also tested. The in vitro testing revealed that 37% of the investigated plants showed strong antimalarial activity with IC50 values below 10 micrograms/ml. The four most active plants included Cissampelos mucronata, Maytenus senegalensis, Salacia madagascariensis and Zanthoxylum chalybeum.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Gessler
- Swiss Tropical Institute, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Basel
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41
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Chhabra SC, Mahunnah RL, Mshiu EN. Plants used in traditional medicine in eastern Tanzania. VI. Angiosperms (Sapotaceae to Zingiberaceae). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 1993; 39:83-103. [PMID: 8412248 DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90024-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Fifty-three Angiosperm species (Sapotaceae to Zingiberaceae), which are used by traditional healers in five regions of Eastern Tanzania (Coast, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and Tanga) are listed. For each species, the botanical name, vernacular name, collection number, locality, habit, geographic distribution and medicinal uses are given. Additionally, information from the literature on medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological effects are also provided. Data analysis and conclusions to cover all the six parts of the papers previously published are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Chhabra
- Chemistry Department, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
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42
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Samuelsson G, Farah MH, Claeson P, Hagos M, Thulin M, Hedberg O, Warfa AM, Hassan AO, Elmi AH, Abdurahman AD. Inventory of plants used in traditional medicine in Somalia. IV. Plants of the families Passifloraceae-Zygophyllaceae. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 1993; 38:1-29. [PMID: 8479201 DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90075-g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Thirty-seven plants are listed, which are used by traditional healers in the central and southern parts of Somalia. For each species are listed: the botanical name with synonyms, collection number, vernacular name, medicinal use, preparation of remedy and dosage. Results of a literature survey are also reported including medicinal use, substances isolated and pharmacological effects. Three plants which should have been included in Part I of the series have been added and some corrections to that paper have been made. With these additions the series comprises 180 different plant species, distributed in 59 plant families.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Samuelsson
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Sweden
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43
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Chhabra SC, Mahunnah RL, Mshiu EN. Plants used in traditional medicine in eastern Tanzania. V. Angiosperms (Passifloraceae to Sapindaceae). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 1991; 33:143-157. [PMID: 1943163 DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(91)90173-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Sixty-one Angiosperms (Passifloraceae to Sapindaceae) are listed, which are used by traditional healers in five regions of Eastern Tanzania, namely, Coast, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and Tanga. For each species listed, the botanical name, vernacular name, collection number, locality, habit, distribution and medicinal uses are given. Additionally, information from the literature on medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological effects are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Chhabra
- Chemistry Department, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
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