NOPR Collection:

Anti-HIV, pro-inflammatory and cytotoxicity properties of selected Venda plants

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Anti-HIV, pro-inflammatory and cytotoxicity properties of selected Venda plants Authors: Sigidi, Muendi Tshililelwa; Traoré, Afsatou Ndama; Boukandou, Marlaine Michelle; Tshisikhawe, Milingoni Peter; Ntuli, Siyabulela Sboniso; Potgieter, Natasha Abstract: The use of medicinal plant species among rural communities has played a role in the development of various traditional medical systems. Such development has also accelerated the exploration of different plant species in order to correlate traditional practices to scientific findings. In the Vhembe district (Limpopo, South Africa), a vast majority of traditional medicine is indigenous based and knowledge of the pharmacological activities of plants is solely grounded on the understanding by traditional healers. The anecdotal claims by traditional healers to treat HIV using these plants and their safety are being investigated in this study. RAW 264.7, U937, MeWo and Vero cells were treated to various concentrations (50, 100, 125, 250 μg/mL) of Elaeodendron transvaalense, Cassia abbreviata, Ornithogalum ornithogaloides, Ochna holstii, Lannea edulis, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Coccinia rehmannii and Jatropha zeyheri for anti-inflammation and cytotoxicity testing’s. Reverse Transcriptase (RT) assay was used for the anti-HIV activity of the plants. There was no anti-inflammatory activity observed for the plants tested. However, in the absence of LPS stimulation there was an increase of NO production indicating that the extracts might have pro-inflammatory properties. The cytotoxicity observed in human tumor cancer cell lines U937 (p < 0.0001) and MeWo (p < 0.0001) was more pronounced with O. orithogaloides and E. transvaalense. However, cytotoxicity of the same extracts was not observed in both resting and activated macrophages (RAW cells). With the exception of J. zeyheri, all the extracts tested, induced reverse transcriptase inhibition with some of the extracts showing significant inhibitory activity (p < 0.0001). There was no cytotoxicity on mouse macrophage cell line. The study demonstrated the inhibitory potential of selected Venda plants and their pro-inflammatory properties however; further studies are needed in order to rule out other effects. Page(s): 545-552

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, acetylcholinesterase and thioredoxin reductase inhibitory activities of nine selected Turkish medicinal plants

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, acetylcholinesterase and thioredoxin reductase inhibitory activities of nine selected Turkish medicinal plants Authors: Ozsoy, Nurten; Yilmaz-Ozden, Tugba; Serbetci, Tuba; Kultur, Sukran; Akalin, Emine Abstract: Ethyl acetate, methanol, dichloromethane, petroleum ether and water extracts of nine selected plant species, which are commonly used as herbal medicines for anticancer and anti-inflammatory purposes in Turkey, were evaluated for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents and in vitro antioxidant potency with a thiobarbituric acid assay using the lipid peroxidation of phosphatidylcholine liposomes, DPPH· and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assays. Inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase (COX) was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts. As thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) has emerged as a new target for anticancer drug development, the extracts were investigated for their inhibitory activities on TrxR. The ability of the extracts to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is a target for cholinesterase inhibitors, used for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, was also examined. The results showed that the extracts of C. coggygria and M. officinalis subsp. officinalis are the most effective hydrogen and electron donors and contained the highest amounts of phenolic compounds; thus, they can be considered the best antioxidants among the nine plants selected for the study. All the plants showed inhibitory effects against AChE, COX-1 and COX-2, therefore may be of potential therapeutic interest for the treatment of neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders. It was found that M. officinalis subsp. officinalis, C. coggyria, S. aucuparia and P. major subsp. major have a strong inhibitory effect on TrxR by up to 99 %, highlighting their potential as preventive therapeutics for cancer. This study confirmed the use of these plants in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. Page(s): 553-561

Traditional use of Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz in two regions of southern Algeria and contribution to study the antioxidant activity

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Traditional use of Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz in two regions of southern Algeria and contribution to study the antioxidant activity Authors: Cherif, Hamida Saida; Ferrah, Rekia; Bennacer, Amel; Tail, Ghania; Saidi, Fairouz Abstract: Algerian flora holds a rich diversity of medicinal and endemic plants, many of which are used in Algerian traditional medicine and have the potential to provide pharmacologically active natural products. The present study focuses on a spontaneous species of the central and Septentrional Sahara, Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz. The ethnobotanical survey of 122 people, among herbalists, town’s people and traditional healers took place in two towns; Tamenrasset and Bechar. Various informations were collected on the traditional use of the chamomile of the Sahara, its various vernacular names (Ouazouaza) and preparation methods, such as decoction (38.80 %). Similarly, it was proved that many diseases are treated by the use of Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz, such as joint disease (26.20 %), fever (17.50 %), cough (14.50 %), and asthma (11.70 %). Regarding the toxicity of the plant, the majority of respondents (96.70 %) reported the absence of side effects. The survey on the field was very profitable, therefore, the Sahara chamomile is a species to preserve and increase. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and saponins, the antioxidant power of infused is put out by the iron reduction method (FRAP) and it proved good comparing with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Page(s): 562-567

In vitro screening for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of five commercial Origanum species from Turkey

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: In vitro screening for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of five commercial Origanum species from Turkey Authors: Taskin, Turgut; Sadikoglu, Narin; Birteksoz-Tan, Seher; Bitis, Leyla Abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of methanol extracts of the five Origanum species, which are commercial importance in Turkey. Antioxidant activity was measured employing three methods namely, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS⁺ radical cation scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant/power activity, including total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. In addition, antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts from five Origanum species aerial parts were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans test organisms using the disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Antioxidant studies suggested that methanol extracts behaved as a strong DPPH free radical, ABTS⁺ radical cation scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant/power activity. The antimicrobial test results showed that the methanol extracts of all Origanum species had great potential of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. As a conclusion of this study, the methanol extracts of five Origanum species showed strong antioxidant and antibacterial activity and therefore, they can be used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and/or pharmaceutical industry. Page(s): 568-575