Evaluation of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra: Phytolaccaceae) as a Larvicide Against Anopheles arabiensis, the Principal Vector of Malaria in Ethiopia

The synergistic effect of waste cooking oil and endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) on the production of high-grade laundry soap

A green viewpoint based on the production of soap using waste products such waste cooking oils (WCOs) and Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) is presented. The process of saponification, which involves reacting triglycerides with fats and oils in an alkaline solution, produces soap. With the help of WCO and Endod as manufacturing inputs, this study intends to create high-quality, commercially viable eco-friendly soaps. The optimal blend of WCO and Endod with sodium hydroxide solution was used in the current investigation to create laundry soaps. Evaluations were done on the cleansing effects and physico-chemical makeup of prepared soap. As a reference control, the raw oil soaps made without and with frying were employed. The free caustic alkali content, chloride content, moisture content, ethanol-insoluble-matter, total fatty matter, pH, and foam height values of the prepared soap were found to be in the range of 0%, 0%, 16.56-22.52%, 0.1-3.05%, 63.41-75.46%, 9.22-9.82%, and 3.3-8.1 cm respectively. The results obtained by blending fried WCOs and Endod were comparable to the Physico-chemical properties of the Endod-free uncooked/fresh oil soap. The soap made by blending WCO and Endod has higher cleansing power and better lather formation than the prepared soap with WCO without Endod. Moreover, the observed data are comparable with similar data reported in other literature, recommended acceptable standards (EAS, CES), and from many countries including the British, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Cooking oils fried at different temperatures do not have much effect on the quality of soap making. This suggested that the blending of WCOs and Endod can be used as raw materials to prepare high-quality and economically feasible soaps by replacing imported oils and fats.

Triterpenoid and Saponin Rich Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit (Endod): A Review on Its Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit (Endod) is the most extensively studied plant among 35 known species in the genus Phytolacca (Family: Phytolaccaceae). The plant has been used as a viable treatment for various ailments, such as malaria, rabies, ascariasis, and skin disorders, in many parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, the dried and powdered Endod berries have been used for a long period of time as a detergent to clean clothes. Since the discovery of the molluscicidal activities of its berries more than five decades ago, P. dodecandra has been a research focus worldwide and several phytochemicals mainly of triterpenoids and saponins were reported. Additionally, various biological activities, including larvicidal, insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities of its isolated compounds and crude extracts were investigated. Furthermore, some of the findings from pharmacological and phytochemical investigations were patented to be used in various medicinal formulations. The plant is still the subject of many investigations and hence, a thorough up-to-date review is required to provide comprehensive information needed for future exploitation of the plant. In this review, the phytochemical compositions and pharmacological activities are comprehensively addressed and discussed in details.

Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy?

The popularity of natural medicine is growing worldwide. Unlike conventional licensed medicines, herbal medicine practices are usually not supported by effectiveness, efficacy, or safety studies, which raise concerns about potential risks involved in their usage, particularly in high-risk patients such as pregnant women where teratogenicity is a concern. Despite a lack of science-based evidence, the use of herbal products for the management of pregnancy-associated challenges is common, due to the common notion that they are free of toxic effects and adverse reactions because they are "natural." The lack of concern about utilizing herbal remedies during pregnancy is strengthened by the lack of regulation in most countries for their marketing. However, plant-based remedies are not free of adverse reactions. Medicinal plants and herbal remedies contain substances that can be toxic to the human body and the fetus. Potential effects of indiscriminate use of medicinal plants are embryotoxicity, teratogenic, and abortifacient effects. Some plant constituents can cross the placenta and reach the fetus. Phytochemicals and their metabolites are known to induce stimulation of uterine contraction and hormone imbalance that could result in abortion. The alterations to the hormonal profile can affect conception, induce teratogenic activity, and halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation. Due to the wide range of modes of action of phytochemicals, some medicinal plants may be safe to use during certain trimesters of pregnancy and harmful at other stages. This manuscript reviews available scientific information concerning potential health hazards associated with the consumption of herbal medicines during pregnancy, highlighting those herbs that should be avoided due to their potential abortifacient and/or teratogenic activity. We focused on plants that were tested by preclinical studies, and studies of these plants are summarized. Common therapeutic use of these herbs, estimated effects, toxicological effects, and animal studies of these plants is summarized. The literature reviewed suggests that consumption of the following medicinal plants should be avoided during pregnancy: Abrus precatorius, Achyranthes aspera, Ailanthus excelsa, Aloe vera, Aristolochia indica, Areca catechu, Bambusa vulgaris, Cassia occidentalis, Cicer arietinum, Cimicifuga racemose, Dolichandrone falcate, Ginkgo biloba, Hydrastis canadensis, Indigofera trifoliate, Lavandula latifolia, Maytenus ilicifolia, Momordica cymbalaria, Moringa oleifera, Musa rosacea, Oxalis corniculate, Phytolacca dodecandra, Plumeria rubra, Ricinus communis, Ruta graveolens, Stachys lavandulifolia, Senna alata, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Vitus agnus-castus, and Valeriana officinalis.

Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Toxicity Profiles of Phytolacca dodecandra L'Hér: A Scoping Review

Introduction

Phytolacca dodecandra L'Hér. is a native plant of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar which is traditionally used for various ailments. Concerned with the scope of the available evidence, we designed a scoping review to critically analyze scientific evidence on P dodecandra's pharmacology, toxicity, and phytochemistry to validate its ethnomedical use.

Methods

We searched without language restriction in MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science through December 2019. Both published and unpublished articles were assessed for relevance and reviewed.

Results

Of 600 articles retrieved through database search, a total of 48 articles were finally included. The butanol extract of berries was more potent molluscicidal than aqueous extract. The berries had also miracidial, anthelmintic, antifungal activity, and antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella spp. The methanol extracts of roots had an antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Phytolacca dodecandra was toxic to aquatic invertebrate and fish. The fishes were up to 4 times more sensitive than snails. Saponins were the main phytoconstituent isolated from berries. Terpenoid and phenolic were abundant in leaves and bark extracts.

Conclusions

Studies validated the traditional use of P dodecandra against snails, worms, and various bacterial and fungal infections. Limited phytochemical data call for future research to focus on isolation of compounds; test their toxicity and activity; and establish mechanism of action.

Larvicidal effect of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) seed products against Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to determine the larvicidal effect of 'Endod' (Phytolacca dodecandra) seed products on Anopheles arabiensis, in Ethiopia.

RESULTS

Experimental study was conducted using a total of 2400 third instars larvae of A. arabiensis. The seed products P. dodecandra showed larvicidal activity against 3rd-stage larvae of both the laboratory and field population of A. arabiensis. The LC99 values for P. dodecandra's seed powder and its extract form against the laboratory reared larvae were 121.07, and 616.46 mg/l, respectively. The LC50 and LC95 values were also determined.