International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 096-100, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants used in Nigeria

Ajayi A.O.

Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 01, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 04 March, 2016

Abstract

Forty eight medicinal plants in Nigeria were screened for their antimicrobial activity. Twenty three (47.91%) of the plants caused over 70% mortality of the test organism which include anopheline and culicine larva. Bacillus spp. and Escherichia coli were shown to be susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of some plants. The antimicrobial activities of plants examined in this study showed that plants are capable of producing toxic materials, which may exert some physiological effect on the target organisms.

Key words: Antimicrobial, medicinal, nature, Nigeria, plants.

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 091-095, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Inhibition of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal growth using Algerian medicinal plants

M. Beghalia^1,2*, S. Ghalem¹, H. Allali¹, A. Belouatek² and A. Marouf³

¹Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Analysis (COSNA), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University Aboubekr Belkaïd BP 119, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria.

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Abdel Hamid Ibn Badis, 27000 Mostaganem, Algeria.

³Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Senia, 31000 Oran, Algeria.

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

Accepted 06 January 2016

Abstract

A large number of people in this world are suffering from urinary stone problem. Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) containing stones (calculi) are commonly found. In the present study, COM crystals were grown by artificial urine is prepared by mixing and stirring two equal volumes of solutions A and B. A screening of plant extracts from wild species antilithic agents using a urolithic could lead to the urinary risk factors of urolithiasis. Ten extracts of different parts of plant species from West and South of Algeria, belonging to different botanical families, were harvested in 2006 and 2007. From each sample aqueous extract is obtained using decoction. Activity was tested in bioassays using different parts of the plants according to the traditional medicine way. Crystal of calcium oxalate growth inhibition was significantly induced when extracts were incorporated at 100%. The most active plants were: Ammodaucus leucotrichus, Ajuga iva, Erica multiflora and Stipa tenacissima . However, only with A. leucotrichus inhibition was 97.94% and 97.68% at (75%) and (100%) respectively. The extracts of Globularia alypum, Atriplex halimus, Tetraclinis articulata, Chamaerops humilis and Erica arborea give percentages of inhibition which varies with the concentration of plant and the time to crystallisation.

Key words: Plants extracts, inhibition, calcium oxalate, crystallization.

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 085-090, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of some plants used in the treatment of cancer in South Africa

Nalise Low Ah Kee¹, Nandipha Mnonopi¹, Hajierah Davids², Ryno J. Naudé¹ and Carminita L. Frost¹*

¹Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.

²Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +27 41 5044123. Fax:  +27 41 5042814.

Accepted 11 February, 2016

Abstract

Nine plants available in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were tested for antithrombotic and/or anticoagulant activity. Organic (methanol) and aqueous (distilled water) extractions were performed on the various plant parts. The thrombin assay and clotting time assays (thrombin-induced and CaCl₂-induced) were utilised. Several extracts displayed activity, but in most cases this was due to the presence of tannins. Only the aqueous extracts displayed activity after tannin removal. The Sutherlandia frutescens leaf extract displayed antithrombotic activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.17 mg/ml. Gloriosa superba and Zantedeschia aethiopica leaf extracts displayed anticoagulant properties by inhibiting thrombin-induced clotting, with IC₅₀ values of 2.97 and 3.05 mg/ml, respectively. The Leonotis leonurus root extract was found to decrease the CaCl₂-induced clotting time by 50% at 8.88 mg/ml. A decrease in this value accompanied by a decrease in fibrin formation was preferable for the CaCl₂-induced assay, since decreased fibrin formation may have a role in the prevention of cancer metastasis. As tannins were found to contribute minimally to the anticoagulant effect of L. leonurus, the cytotoxicity potential of the extracts of this species against five cell lines was determined. Only the organic extract yielded significant cytotoxity.

Key words: Antithrombotic, anticoagulant, anticancer, medicinal plants.

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 070-079, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of medicinal plants in the provision of health care in Lao PDR

Claudio O. Delang

Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sino Building, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 10 July, 2016

Abstract

The Lao People’ Democratic Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an income per capita of less than US$2 a day. The provision of health care is severely underfunded, and outside the largest cities often provided by poorly qualified health workers. Under these circumstances, most people – both in the capital and the rural areas – prefer to use traditional medicine rather than synthetic drugs. Medicinal plants form a central tenet of Lao traditional medicine, and are believed to be more efficient than synthetic drugs, since synthetic drugs are thought to address the symptoms of the illness, while medicinal plants its causes. This article presents the result of a survey of the medicinal plants on sale in the capital city – Vientiane – in August 2006. A total number of 61 medicinal plants were on sale, of which 52 were identified and their use, mode of preparation, price, and province of origin recorded.

Key words: Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, Vientiane, Laos.

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 063-069, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of 50 medicinal plants from Nigeria

D. Kubmarawa¹*, G. A. Ajoku², N. M. Enwerem³ and D. A. Okorie⁴

¹Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Abuja, Nigeria.

³Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 18 February, 2015

Abstract

Ethanolic extracts of 50 plant species were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The results indicated that of the 50 plant extracts, 28 plant extracts inhibited the growth of one or more test pathogens. Four plant extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and essential oils.

Key words: Medicinal plant, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical, ethnomedicinal.

International Journal of Phytotherapy and Ethnobotany ISSN 4536-1835 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 080-0084, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of phenolic compounds by methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants

Dzingirai, B. ², Muchuweti, M¹* , Murenje, T.¹, Chidewe, C.¹, Benhura, M.A. N and Chagonda, L. S².

¹Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, M.P. 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

²Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, M.P. 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00263 (0) 4 308047, Fax: 00263 (0) 4 308046.

Accepted 14 December, 2015

Abstract

Two commonly known medicinal plants from Zimbabwe were analyzed for total phenolic content, superoxide radical scavenging activity and the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in rat brain extracts. The plant samples used in this study were Elionurus muticus and Hypoxis hemerocallidea. The Folin Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content. The total phenolic content was high in H. hemerocallidea which had 0.268 ± 0.02 mg/100mg dry mass of plant extract and lowest in E. muticus root extract had 0.041 ± 0.03 mg/100mg dry mass of plant extract. The scavenging activities on the superoxide ion of the plant extracts was dose dependent with maximum scavenging activity being obtained from E. muticus whole plant (69.12% ± 0.12 at 80 mg/ml) and the least activity were detected in H. hemerocallidea (52.92% ± 0.95 at 80 mg/ml). The plant extracts also gave a dose dependent protection against lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate with the highest protection detected from E. muticus whole plant and the least from H. hemerocallidea.

Key words: Phenolic compounds, medicinal plants, phospholipid peroxidation.