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

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 &mu;g/mL) of <em>Elaeodendron transvaalense, Cassia abbreviata</em>, <em>Ornithogalum ornithogaloides</em>, <em>Ochna holstii</em>, <em>Lannea edulis</em>, <em>Elephantorrhiza elephantina</em>, <em>Coccinia rehmannii</em> and <em>Jatropha zeyheri </em>for anti-inflammation and cytotoxicity testing&rsquo;<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">s</span>. 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 &lt; 0.0001) and MeWo (p &lt; 0.0001) was more pronounced with <em>O. orithogaloides</em> and <em>E. transvaalense</em>. However, cytotoxicity of the same extracts was not observed in both resting and activated macrophages (RAW cells). With the exception of <em>J. zeyheri</em>, all the extracts tested, induced reverse transcriptase inhibition with some of the extracts showing significant inhibitory activity (p &lt; 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.