Anti-Malaria Activity of Three Zulu Medicinal Plants

April 23, 2014 Avery Hudson

Anti-plasmodial activity of some Zulu medicinal plants and of some triterpenes isolated from them

Mthokozisi B. C. Simelane, Addmore Shonhai, Francis O. Shode, Peter Smith, Mogie Singh and Andy R. Opoku
Molecules
2013 Oct 8;18(10):12313-23
PubMed PMID: 24108397

Mimusops caffra (Source: Wikimedia Commons User Michaelwild)

Researchers at the University of Zululand, University of Cape Town, and University of KwaZulu-Natal analyzed crude extracts and specific isolates of three medicinal plants used by the Zulu people as treatments for malaria, for activity against Plasmodium falciparum (one of the parasites that causes malaria in humans): Mimusops caffra, Mimusops obtusifolia, and Hypoxis colchicifolia.

The team verified anti-malaria activity of M. caffra in particular, which though not as high as that reported for the standards (chloroquine and artesunate), was found to be dose dependent, and with low toxicity levels, and encouraged continued exploration of M. caffra in managing malaria in traditional medicine.

From the Introduction:

“Malaria is one of the major health problems in tropical Africa, South-east Asia, Central South America and Oceania. Despite the various efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations aimed at eradicating the disease, malaria is said to kill a child every 30 s. Malaria cases have been reported in other areas of the World that were previously considered eradicated of malaria. In Africa, herbal medicines are an important part of the culture and traditions of its people.
“Traditional healers use different concoctions prepared from medicinal plants to treat malaria. Given the remarkable anti-malarial properties of Cinchona bark that have been known for more than 300 years, resulting in the discovery of quinine and the more recent development of artemisinin derivatives, the potential of plant species to provide effective drugs for the treatment of malaria cannot be overemphasized. Furthermore, the drug resistance of the malaria parasite to chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, and also the toxicity of the currently available drugs have stimulated the search for alternative medicines which are naturally derived. In addition, modern health care to the rural people is still a far-reaching goal, due to economic constraints and many vulnerable groups depend on plant-based traditional healing. The anti-malarial activity of many plants has been reported. An ethonobotanical survey revealed the extensive utilization of M. caffra, M. obtusifolia and H. colchicifolia for the management of malaria in Zulu traditional medicine.”

Read the complete article at PubMed.

The information on my blog is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge. A physician should always be consulted for any health problem or medical condition.

Health, Social Progress

Medicinal Plants Used by the Mandai

April 16, 2014 Avery Hudson

Medicinal plants used by the Mandais–a little known tribe of Bangladesh

Ishita Malek, Tabibul Islam, Ehasanul Hasan, Shakila Akter, Masud Rana, Protiva Rani Das, Walied Samarrai, and Mohammed Rahmatullah
Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med
2012 Jul 1;9(4):536-41
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3746648

Tangail District, Bangladesh (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Armanaziz adapted by Himalayan Explorer)

Researchers at the University of Development Alternative and New York City College of Technology conducted an ethnomedicinal survey among Mandai tribal practitioners to document their use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments.

From the Introduction:

“The Mandais are a small tribal community residing in Tangail district of Bangladesh with an estimated population of less than 10,000. They claim to have originally come from Coochbehar region in India for which reason they add the word Cooch to their names. However, they are different from the Kuch tribe of Bangladesh. Their society is patriarchal. Their language is known as Mandai but they have no alphabet. The word ‘Mandai’, according to them has originated from the Sanskrit words Mendi or Manda meaning hole. Since this tribe originally used to live in holes dug in forested regions, they referred to themselves as Mandai or “people living in holes”. Their main diet consists of rice, pulses and vegetables together with fish and meat when those can be afforded. They are mostly illiterate but have acquired a good fluency in the Bengali language in recent times. They are a much neglected tribe with a poor socio-economic status. Now-a-days, they mostly work as agricultural laborers in farms of more affluent neighboring villages of the Bengali-speaking mainstream population. They profess themselves to be Hindus and conduct worships of multiple gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion. The Mandais are fast losing their separate identities because of the influence of the dominant culture of the mainstream Bengali-speaking population. The younger generations are losing interest and have started to forget their ancient rituals and practices. As a result, the elderly people, who have still maintained their own culture, apprehend that the language and traditional knowledge of the Mandais will soon be forgotten. This knowledge includes knowledge of their traditional medicinal practices.”

The team identified 31 plant species used to treat various ailments including diabetes, low semen density, jaundice, gastrointestinal tract disorders (stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, and diarrhea), leucorrhea, pain (rheumatic pain, joint pain), skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders (coughs, mucus, and allergy), debility, fever, and helminthiasis.

Curculigo orchioides (Source: Wikimedia Commons User Viren Vaz)

The authors particularly recommend further scientific studies of a combination of plants used by the Mandai for the treatment of diabetes: Curculigo orchioides, Tamarindus indica, Syzygium cumini, and Asparagus racemosus.

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health

Medicinal Plants against Dengue Fever

April 15, 2014 Avery Hudson

Potential anti-dengue medicinal plants: a review

Siti Latifah Abd Kadir, Harisun Yaakob, and Razauden Mohamed Zulkifli
J Nat Med
2013 Oct;67(4):677-89
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3765846

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Source: Wikimedia Commons, National Plant Data Center)

Researchers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia reviewed potential anti- dengue fever activities from plants distributed around the world, finding 69 studies describing 31 species, including Alternanthera philoxeroides, Andrographis paniculata, Azidarachta indica, Boesenbergia rotunda, Carica papaya, Cladogynos orientalis, Cladosiphon okamuranus, Cryptonemia crenulata, Cymbopogon citratus, Euphorbia hirta, Flagellaria indica, Gymnogongrus griffithsiae, Gymnogongrus torulosus, Hippophae rhamnoides, Houttuynia cordata, Leucaena leucocephala, Lippia alba and Lippia citriodora, Meristiella gelidium, Mimosa scabrella, Momordica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, Piper retrofractum, Psidium guajava, Quercus lusitanica, Rhizophora apiculata, Tephrosia crassifolia, Tephrosia madrensis and Tephrosia viridiflora, Uncaria tomentosa, and Zostera marina.

From the conclusion:

“The development of new anti-dengue products from bioactive compounds is necessary in order to find more effective and less toxic anti-dengue drugs. Therefore, any extensive study on the potential of plants with isolated active compounds that have shown anti-dengue activity should go through additional in vitro and in vivo animal testing followed by toxicity and clinical tests. This route may reveal a promising compound to be optimized and thus be suitable for application in the production of new anti-dengue compounds. If pursued from drugs derived from medicinal plants around the continents, this work may prove valuable to the health of individuals and to nations. Moreover, such discoveries may lead to the development of highly efficient and safe anti-dengue treatments. However, to identify potential anti-dengue plants or compounds, knowledge of the mechanisms of virus infection need to be understood in order to facilitate the search for and development of the most appropriate drugs. Further research is needed to determine how to target the most appropriate stages to prevent the spread of virus infection. Focusing on each phase in the life cycle of the virus, new compounds could prevent (1) infection of host cells, (2) the viral maturation process, (3) synthesis of viral RNA, or (4) the spread of viral particles.”

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health, Social Progress

Medicinal Plants Used by the Soren Clan of Bangladesh

April 14, 2014 Avery Hudson

Medicinal plants and formulations used by the Soren clan of the Santal tribe in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh for treatment of various ailments

Mohammed Rahmatullah, Abid Hasan, Waheda Parvin, Md Moniruzzaman, Asha Khatun, Zubaida Khatun, Farhana Israt Jahan, and Rownak Jahan
Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med
2012 Apr 2;9(3):350-9
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3746673

Researchers from the University of Development Alternative conducted an ethnomedicinal survey among the Soren clan of the Santal community residing in two villages of Tanor Santal Para in Rajshahi district to collect information on their use of medicinal plants.

The team obtained information on 53 medicinal plants used to treat ailments including skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders, gastro-intestinal disorders, sexual dysfunctions, sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, helminthiasis, pain, urinary problems, filariasis, leprosy, tuberculosis, epilepsy, snake bite, enlarged heart, and paralysis.

Medicinal plants used by the Soren clan include Vanda tessellata, Zingiber officinale, Datura metel, and Justicia adhatoda.

The authors note that “The medicinal plants used by the Santals merit further scientific studies for some of their formulations are used to treat diseases like diabetes, paralysis, enlarged heart, tuberculosis, and filariasis for which modern medicine has no known cure or medicines have developed resistant vectors.”

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health, Social Progress

Medicinal Plants of the Pahan & Teli Communities of Bangladesh

April 10, 2014 Avery Hudson

Survey and scientific evaluation of medicinal plants used by the Pahan and Teli tribal communities of Natore district, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah, Zubaida Khatun, Abid Hasan, Waheda Parvin, Md Moniruzzaman, Asha Khatun, Mostafi Jumrut Mahal, Md Shaiful Alam Bhuiyan, Sadia Moin Mou, and Rownak Jahan
Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med
2012 Apr 2;9(3):366-73
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3746669

Researchers from the University of Development Alternative undertook a study to document traditional usage of medicinal plants by the Pahan and Teli indigenous communities of Natore district in western Bangladesh and to evaluate the medicinal uses against modern research-based pharmacological activity studies on the plants.

From the abstract:

“The Pahans and the Telis are two of the smallest indigenous communities in Bangladesh. The Pahans, numbering about 14,000 people are widely scattered in several northern districts of the country, while the Telis are such a small community that nothing has been reported on their numbers and lifestyle. Both tribes are on the verge of disappearance.”

Withania somnifera (Source: Wikimedia Commons User Wowbobwow12)

The team identified 13 plants used by Pahan tribal practitioners for treatment of 14 ailments, and 15 plants used by Teli practitioners for treatment of 17 different. One plant, Withania somnifera, was found to be in common use by Pahan and Teli practitioners alike. The authors recommend extensive scientific research of this plant, along with Moringa oleifera, Vitex negundo, Mucuna pruriens, Curculigo orchioides and Cocculus hirsutus.

The authors note that both Pahan and Teli traditional medicinal practices may have been influenced to some extent by Ayurvedic medicine.

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health, Social Progress

Herbalism of Marakwet District, Kenya

April 7, 2014 Avery Hudson

A study of the medicinal plants used by the Marakwet Community in Kenya

Wilson Kipkore, Bernard Wanjohi, Hillary Rono, and Gabriel Kigen
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
2014 Feb 20;10(1):24
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3974104

Rift Valley Province, Kenya (Source: Wikimedia Commons User: TUBS)

Researchers from the University of Eldoret, Ministry of Health, and Moi University School of Medicine undertook a study on medicinal plants used by herbalists in Marakwet district of the Rift Valley Province, Kenya.

The authors describe the ecological diversity of Marakwet district:

“The district is one of the most forested in the country, with natural forests covering 43% of the land, a total of 65, 000 hectares. In addition, unlike other regions of Kenya such as the Mau forest, it has relatively not suffered heavy deforestation, and is a source of many streams which feed Lake Victoria in the Western part, and Lake Turkana in the East. Cherangani Hills is part of the five main closed forests areas in Kenya that are protected by the government. The others are the Aberdares, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon and South West Mau. Although still heavily forested, Cherangani now faces risk of serious degradation due to illegal forest clearing. The escarpment region is about 1000 m, and is part of the Great Rift Valley. It is mainly semi arid with temperatures rising up to 35°C.
“The geographical landscape provides a uniquely wide topography, with a rich biodiversity comprising of different plant species, and in some instances largely undisturbed indigenous forests. The plant biodiversity in the Valley is particularly luxuriant and varied especially on the escarpment. Stunted trees, shrubs, succulents (Sanseviera spp.), and myriad of plants grow here in profusion. The herbalists use the numerous plants found throughout the diverse ecosystems from the Kerio Valley to the highlands.”

The team identified 111 plants with medicinal or related uses, based on interviews with more than a hundred practicing herbalists. The most commonly used medicinal plants were Warburgia ugandensis, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, and Indigofera arrecta, as well as six species of Acacia.

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health, Social Progress

Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress

April 3, 2014 Avery Hudson

Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Water Demand by the Numbers

Shareholder, Lender & Operator Guide to Water Sourcing
A Ceres Report Authored by Monika Freyman
February 2014
www.ceres.org

The sustainability NGO Ceres has published a comprehensive report on the volumes of water used for hydraulic fracturing by specific companies in major oil and gas plays in the US and Canada in the context of local water stress, groundwater depletion and drought.

Among the key findings:

Nearly half (47%) of oil and gas wells recently hydraulically fractured in the US are in regions with high or extremely high water stress.
More than 55% all US wells are in areas experiencing drought.
36% percent of all U.S. wells are in areas experiencing groundwater depletion.

The report details volumes of water used by specific companies and reports on regions of intense shale development including Eagle Ford Play (Texas), Permian Basin (Texas & New Mexico), Denver-Julesburg Basin (Colorado), The Marcellus (Pennsylvania & West Virginia), and California. Recommendations to mitigate water risk are included.

From the Executive Summary:

“Shale development in many regions is highly reliant on groundwater resources, which are generally less regulated than surface waters, thus increasing risks of water resource depletion and water competition. Over 36 percent of the 39,294 hydraulically fractured wells in our study overlay regions experiencing groundwater depletion.
“Company exposure to shale water risks is best understood at the county or municipal levels. In many instances, well development was concentrated in just a few counties for each play, with water use for hydraulic fracturing in these regions often exceeding annual water use by local residents. In California, North Dakota’s Bakken play and Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg basin, most of the hydraulic fracturing wells were concentrated in three or fewer counties. Over 30 different counties used at least one billion gallons of water (roughly equivalent to daily water use of eight million people in New York City) for hydraulic fracturing operations during the report’s study period. Dimmit County, Texas in the Eagle Ford play had the largest volume of water use for hydraulic fracturing nationally—about four billion gallons. Garfield and Weld counties in Colorado and Karnes County in Texas were the highest water use counties in regions with extreme water stress—each using over two billion gallons of water for hydraulic fracturing over the multi-year period.
“This trend highlights the oftentimes intense and localized nature of shale development, which creates challenges for smaller counties that often lack resources to manage water availability constraints.”

Download the complete report at www.ceres.org.

Health, Social Progress

Medicinal Plants of the Oromo People in Harla

April 2, 2014 Avery Hudson

Ethnomedicinal plants used to treat human ailments in the prehistoric place of Harla and Dengego valleys, eastern Ethiopia

Anteneh Belayneh and Negussie F Bussa
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
2014 Feb 5;10(1):18
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3933041

Dire Dawa Administrative Region, Ethiopia (Source: Wikimedia Commons, USAID Ethiopia Map Room)

Researchers at Haramaya University undertook a comprehensive ethnomedicinal investigation of the indigenous Oromo community living in the prehistoric Harla and Dengego valleys “in an attempt to safeguard the deteriorating ethnomedicinal knowledge that can be used as a steppingstone for phytochemical and pharmacological analysis.”

The team identified a total of 83 traditional medicinal plant species against human ailments, based on interviews with 55 informants including 10 traditional herbalists, discussions, and guided field walks.

Medicinal species with the highest frequency of citation included Aloe megalacantha, Cissampelos mucronata, Aloe harlana, and Ocimum lamiifolium.

The authors discuss the historical context of the medicinal plant knowledge of the Oromo people:

“The Oromo people who currently inhabit the prehistoric Harla and the entire catchments might be the descendents of the former Harla people of the Harla kingdom which had been ruled between 13th to 16th centuries. They are expected to be the guardians of valuable indigenous knowledge on the use of traditional medicinal plants of their surroundings, which they use for treating human and livestock ailments. Scientific investigations indicated that there is an endemic plant species named after this prehistoric place called Aloe harlana Reynolds due to its availability only in Harla locality. It has been traditionally used by the Oromo people in Harla for the treatment of various infectious and inflammatory diseases. The latex and isolated compounds of A. harlana possess promising antimicrobial activity particularly against the Gram-negative bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae. Unpublished documents suggested that there are many more potential medicinal plants in this unique geographic setting and complex landscape areas.”

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

Health, Social Progress

Medicinal Plants of the Tamang People

April 1, 2014 Avery Hudson

Medicinal plants used by the Tamang community in the Makawanpur district of central Nepal

Dol Raj Luitel, Maan B Rokaya, Binu Timsina, and Zuzana Münzbergová
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
2014 Jan 10;10(1):5
PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3904474

Makwanpur District, Nepal (Wikimedia Commons User Author Hégésippe Cormier)

Researchers from the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (Kathmandu), the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Global Change Research Centre AS ČR, and Charles University undertook an ethnobotanical study to validate reported medicinal uses of plants by the indigenous Tamang community dwelling in the Makwanpur district of central Nepal.

The team identified 161 plant species used to treat 89 human ailments were documented. Traditional uses for 60 plant species were consistent with published pharmacological and phytochemical studies. The highest number of plant species was used for gastrointestinal-related diseases followed by cuts and wounds, and fever.

The authors recommend sustainable harvesting practices and cultivation of the medicinal plants, many of which are in danger of depletion:

Asparagus racemosus (Source: Wikimedia Commons User Neha Vindhya)

“Harvesting of plant species from the wild is a common trend worldwide. Seven of the species used by the Tamang people in Makawanpur are protected, including Acacia catechu, Bombax ceiba, Juglans regia, Shorea robusta, and Taxus wallichiana. None of these plant species was traded outside the study area. However, many of these plant species (e.g., Acacia catechu, Acorus calamus, Asparagus racemosus and Paris polyphylla) possess the potential to boost the economy in the future. The use of plants from the wild in these regions demonstrates that medicinal plants face the long-term danger of depletion, and therefore, their cultivation should be initiated to save this component of biodiversity, and maintain the existing ecosystems. In addition, populations of many medicinal plant species are often reduced by deforestation, habitat encroachment, shifting cultivation, forest fires, grazing, and other anthropogenic activities. Therefore, cultivation techniques for several medicinal plant species are currently being tested at Daman Botanical Garden and Tistung Botanical Garden (e.g., Acorus calamus, Amomum subulatum, Asparagus racemosus, Astible rivularis, Berginia ciliata, Lobelia pyrimidalis, and Mentha piperata) by the Department of Plant Resources under the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Nepal. Knowledge of the cultivation techniques required should be transferred to the local farmers in the study area.”

Read the complete article at PubMed Central.

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Monthly Archives: April 2014

Medicinal Plants against Dengue Fever

Potential anti-dengue medicinal plants: a review

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