International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 2 (6), pp. 219-224, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the antiplasmodial activity of extracts of plants used in traditional medicine in Kenya

Sylvain Beourou^1,2,3, Anne-Cécile Le Lamer^1,2, Séverine Maurel-Chevalley^1,2, Patrick B. Chalo Mutiso⁴, Florence Souard^1,2,a, Claude Moulis^1,2, Nicolas Fabre^1,2, Alexis Valentin^1,2*

¹Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Natural and Pharmacophores Redox substances), University of Toulouse, Narbonne, Toulouse, France.

²IRD, UMR 152 LPSNPR, F-31062 Toulouse, France.

³ Pasteur Institut of Côte d'Ivoire, Malariology Unit, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

⁴School of Biological sciences, University of Nairobi Herbarium, Nairobi, Kenya.

^a Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, St. chemistry, St Martin d'Heres, University of Grenoble,France.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:[email protected]. Tel. 33 (0)5 62 25 68 93. Fax. 33 (0)5 62 25 98 02

Accepted 24 July, 2013

Abstract

Malaria is still a major public health problem because of resistance to therapeutic drugs. Among strategies for the development of new antimalarial, a study of plants traditionally used in Africa particularly that of Kenya against malaria has been pursued. The present study is to evaluate In vitro antiplasmodial activity of extracts from Kenyan plants commonly used by traditional healers for the treatment of malaria and other diseases. For each species, n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts were evaluated on a chloroquine (CQ) -resistant (FcB1-Colombia) and on a CQ-sensitive (F32-Tanzania) strain of Plasmodium. The extracts were tested at 50, 10, 5, 1, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.05 µg/ml. Cytotoxicity on a fibroblast cell line (VERO) was also evaluated for the potentiality active extracts. Ten extracts from six plants with a good selectivity index (SI) whose, Alangium chinense (Lour.) Harms (Alangiaceae) (IC₅₀= 2.81 μg/ml; SI= 12.3 and 6.15 μg/ml with SI= 14.4 on FcB1 and F32, respectively), Cadaba farinosa Forssk. (Capparaceae) (IC₅₀ = 3.05 μg/ml with SI> >32 on FcB1), Schizozygia coffaeoides Baill. (Apocynaceae) (IC₅₀ = 4.80 μg/ml; SI=14.4 on FcB1) were found to have a promising antiplasmodial activity and should be pursued to characterize the constituents responsible for antiplasmodial activity.

Key words: Malaria, antiplasmodial, falciparum, scolopia zeyheri, apocynacea.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 2 (5), pp. 215-218, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethno- medicinal field study of anti-fertility medicinal plants used by the local people in Keffi Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Alqasim Abdullahi Mustapha

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected] . Tel: +2347061646600

Accepted 24 July, 2013

Abstract

An ethno-medicinal field study was undertaken to gather information about the use of contraceptive medicinal plants in Keffi Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Keffi Local Government was surveyed through interviewing of randomly selected 321 participants using semi-structured questionnaire and regular field visit. The investigations revealed that 27 species of medicinal plants distributed in 22 genera belonging to 26 families used commonly by the local people. The study revealed that the local peoples are using folklore medicinal plants for contraceptive purpose. This survey can be a source for the discovery of novel pharmacologically bio-active compounds.

Key words: Herbal contraceptive, medicinal plants, local people, ethno-medicine, Keffi Local Government, Nasarawa.

Full Length Research Paper

Antibacterial activities and phytochemical screening of the acetone extract from Euphorbia hirta

Jalil Kader, Hanina Mohd Noor, Salina Mat Radzi,*Nur Aishah Abdul Wahab

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]. Tel: +6014-8409085

Accepted 13 May 2013

Abstract

Euphorbia hirta is widely used as traditional medicine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate E. hirta parts and whole plants for the antibacterial activities plus phytochemical exist through acetone extracts. Antibacterial assay was carried out via agar well diffusion assay for screening purpose and finally through micro dilution method in order to determine minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against 10 selected bacteria. Gram positive bacteria were more susceptible compared to Gram negative bacteria via agar well diffusion assay. Whole plants E. hirta extracts very useful for inhibitory bacterium purpose.  Whilst, all E. hirta extracts exhibited the bactericidal effect towards the ten bacteria tested. All bacteria tested susceptible to the roots extract based on the MBC/MIC value which is less than or equal to 4 (≤4). Phytochemical screening of E. hirta extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, lipids, protein, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, resins, steroids, acidic compounds, tannins, glycosides, phenols and terpenoids.  

Key words: Euphorbia hirta, antibacterial activities, agar well diffusion assay, micro dilution method, phytochemical screening.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN : 2169-303X Vol. 2 (2), pp. 204-208, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anatomical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies of roots of Cnicus benedictus L.

Chabane Djamila^1, Assani Akym², Mouhoub Faiza¹, Bourakba Chahinez¹, Nazeli Nacer-bey^3.

¹Research Laboratory on Arid Zones (L.R.Z.A), Faculty of Biology , University of Sciences and Technology  (USTHB), Bab Ezzouar, Algiers 16111, Algeria.

²Cargill Guelph Department of Quality Control 165 Dunlop Dr, Guelph, ON N1L 1P4.

³Research and Development Center CRD Saidal. Algiers, Algeria

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 25 April, 2013

Abstract

Cnicus benedictus L., named Blessed thistle, is a medicinal endemic plant in Algeria, well known by locals as the "march grass" for its effectiveness against burns and wounds. This study aims to provide information on the anatomical properties of the roots, their capacity of chemical compounds in relationship with reduction of burned area. Anatomical studies include cross sections of the roots. Phytochemical screening methods were applied to identify the major chemical compounds in this species. In addition, pharmacological tests were performed on the rats by measuring the diameter of wound healing skin after application of the root extract in comparison with commercial healing ointment “Baneocin”.

Key words:  Cnicus benedictus L., anatomical study, phytochemical screening, pharmacological analysis, wound healing. 

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 2 (4), pp. 190-197, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant activities and inhibitory action of Solanum macrocarpon and Hibiscus esculentus phenolic containing leaf extracts against lipid oxidation

SO Salawu* ^{1, 2}, AA. Akindahunsi ¹, EO. Ibukun¹ and KG Duodu²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Nigeria.

²Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 February, 2013

Abstract

There is a growing interest in preventive health care for the development and evaluation of natural antioxidants from plant food. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the phenolic composition of Solanum macrocarpon and Hibiscus esculentus leaves using HPLC/DAD/MS techniques, evaluate the radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing properties and assess the inhibitory action of the vegetable extracts against Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and egg yolk lipid- rich oxidation. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of cynamoyl derivative, two chlorogenic acid derivatatives, rutin and Kaempferol-3-rutinoside in S. macrocarpon and five dicaffeoyl derivatives, unidentified flavonoid and isoquercitrin in Hibiscus esculentus leaf. The result indicated  that the total phenolic content (mg tannic acid equivalent/g) and 2, 2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging (µmol trolox equivalent/g) activities were higher in Hibiscus esculentus phenolic extract (12.96± 0.04; 2.44E-05 ± 4.52E-06), respectively. Similarly, ferric reducing antioxidant power (mg ascorbic acid/g ) and 1, 1-diphenyly-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (µmol trolox equivalent/g ) activities were slightly higher in Hibiscus esculentus extract (10.60 ± 0.14; 2.68E-05 ± 1.56E-05), respectively. The result also showed that the studied vegetable extracts inhibited both human LDL and lipid rich egg homogenate oxidation.  Overall, the antioxidant action and protection against lipid oxidation could be linked with the presence of the phenolic compounds in the vegetable extracts and the consumption will be of immense benefit in the prevention of a number of free radical mediated diseases.

Key words: Antioxidant Activities, Hibiscus esculentus, Lipid oxidation, Phenolic compounds, Solanum macrocarpon.

International Journal of Medicinal Plant Research ISSN: 2169-303X  Vol. 2 (4), pp. 187-189, April, 2013. © International Scholars  Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of growth regulators on the in vitro multiplication of Viola odorata

Zahoor. A. Kaloo*, Rukhsana Akhtar, Zafrul-Haq and B. A. Wafai

Department of Botany University of Kashmir, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 23 September, 2012

Abstract

The present work as undertaken to study the effect of auxins and Cytokinins on the in vitro multiplication of nodal cuttings with axillary buds and runner tips with apical buds of Viola odorata a medicinal herb growing in Kashmir and western Himalayas. The growth medium used was MS (1962) basal medium supplemented with BAP, Kn and NAA at varying concentrations. The multiplication rate of shoots increased with increasing the concentration of BAP and Kn. However the optimum results were obtained on MS medium supplemented with a combination of 15 µm NAA and 10 µm BAP. Nodal segments showed better results than runner tips.

Key words: Nodal segment, benzylaminopurine, naptheleaciticacid, kinetin, multiplication, viola odorata.