Genotoxic effects of Dukhan: A smoke bath from the wood of Acacia seyal used traditionally by Sudanese women.

Ethnobotanical Relevance: Smoke from the wood of Acacia seyal Delile has been used by Sudanese women for making a smoke bath locally called Dukhan. The ritual is performed to relieve rheumatic pain, smooth skin, heal wounds and achieve general body relaxation.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of the smoke condensate using cyclooxygenase -1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2) as well as its potential genotoxic effects using the bacterial-based Ames test and the mammalian cells-based micronucleus/cytome and comet assays.

Antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic activity of selected South African medicinal plants species.

Antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic activity of 25 acetone leaf extracts of South African medicinal plants with potent antioxidant activity were investigated against three phytopathogenic fungal strains. The extracts exhibited varying degrees of anti-mycotoxigenic effect against , and . (Baker) Sprague exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 0.

Isolation and characterization of the compounds responsible for the antimutagenic activity of Combretum microphyllum (Combretaceae) leaf extracts.

Background: Mutations play a major role in the pathogenesis and development of several chronic degenerative diseases including cancer. It follows, therefore that antimutagenic compound may inhibit the pathological process resulting from exposure to mutagens. Investigation of the antimutagenic potential of traditional medicinal plants and compounds isolated from plant extracts provides one of the tools that can be used to identify compounds with potential cancer chemopreventive properties.

The correlation between antimutagenic activity and total phenolic content of extracts of 31 plant species with high antioxidant activity.

Background: Antimutagenic activity of plant extracts is important in the discovery of new, effective cancer preventing agents. There is increasing evidence that cancer and other mutation-related diseases can be prevented by intake of DNA protective agents. The identification of antimutagenic agents present in plants presents an effective strategy to inhibit pathogenic processes resulting from exposure to mutagenic and/or carcinogenic substances present in the environment.

Antimicrobial activity, toxicity and selectivity index of two biflavonoids and a flavone isolated from Podocarpus henkelii (Podocarpaceae) leaves.

Background: Different parts of Podocarpus henkelii have been used in many cultures around the world to treat ailments such as cholera, stomach diseases, rheumatism, cancer, canine distemper in dogs and gall sickness in cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological activity and toxicity of isolated compounds from Podocarpus henkelii after an earlier study indicated a promising activity in crude extracts against viral pathogens of veterinary importance.

Methods: The antibacterial and antifungal activity of two biflavonoids 7, 4', 7", 4"'-tetramethoxy amentoflavone (TMA), isoginkgetin (IGG) and podocarpus flavone-A (PFA) isolated from the leaves of Podocarpus henkelii were determined using a serial microplate dilution method with tetrazolium violet as growth indicator.

Polarity of extracts and fractions of four Combretum (Combretaceae) species used to treat infections and gastrointestinal disorders in southern African traditional medicine has a major effect on different relevant in vitro activities.

Ethnopharmacological Importance: Gastrointestinal disorders and infections are the major pathoaetiologies of diarrhoea causing many problems in human health and animal production. Many Combretum species are used in traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases including diarrhoea and many other ailments by rural people in Africa and Asia. Much of the work done to date on this genus was on the non-polar or intermediate polarity components.

Cytotoxicity of diplodiatoxin, dipmatol and diplonine, metabolites synthesized by Stenocarpella maydis.

The cytotoxicity of three Stenocarpella maydis metabolites (diplodiatoxin, dipmatol and diplonine) was investigated on Neuro-2a, CHO-K1 and MDBK cell lines. Diplodiatoxin was the most cytotoxic followed by dipmatol. Conversely, diplonine was not cytotoxic.

In-vitro evaluation of selected Egyptian traditional herbal medicines for treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Background: Egyptians recognized the healing power of herbs and used them in their medicinal formulations. Nowadays, "Attarin" drug shops and the public use mainly the Unani medicinal system for treatment of their health problems including improvement of memory and old age related diseases. Numerous medicinal plants have been described in old literature of Arabic traditional medicine for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (or to strengthen memory).

Ochnaflavone and ochnaflavone 7-O-methyl ether two antibacterial biflavonoids from Ochna pretoriensis (Ochnaceae).

The acetone extract of Ochna pretoriensis was evaluated for antibacterial activity using bioautography and serial microplate dilution methods against four nosocomial bacterial pathogens namely: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract led to the isolation of two antibacterial biflavonoids, ochnaflavone and ochnaflavone 7-O-methyl ether. Gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive to the isolated compounds than the Gram-positive bacteria (MIC values: 31.

The antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of different fractions of four South African Bauhinia species used traditionally to treat diarrhoea.

Ethnopharmacological Importance: Many Bauhinia species, including those indigenous to South Africa, are used in traditional medicine across the world for treating ailments such as gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders, diabetes, infectious diseases and inflammation.

Aims: Several relevant aspects of different fractions of leaf extracts of Bauhinia bowkeri (BAB), Bauhinia galpinii (BAG), Bauhinia petersiana (BAP), and Bauhinia variegata (BAV) used in South African traditional medicine to alleviate diarrhoea related symptoms were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: The antioxidative activities of the extracts were determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS(+)) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods.

Effect of cadmium accumulation on anti-inflammatory activity in two Eucomis species.

Eucomis species (Hyacinthaceae) are widely used in South Africa as traditional medicine. The bulbs are used to alleviate a variety of symptoms including pain and inflammation. High levels of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitory activity have been associated with certain Eucomis species.

Kaempferol, a mutagenic flavonol from Helichrysum simillimum.

Helichrysum simillimum is native to South Africa. It is used for the treatment of coughs, colds, fever, infections, headache, and menstrual pain. Extracts of this species showed mutagenic effects in the Salmonella/microsome assay.

Inhibition of [3H]citalopram binding to the rat brain serotonin transporter by Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.

Twenty-one Amaryllidaceae alkaloids isolated from different Amaryllidaceae species were investigated for their affinity to the serotonin reuptake transport protein and for GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor binding. Cherylline (21), crinamine (7), crinine (1), epibuphanisine (2), epivittatine (6), maritidine (11), O-methylmaritidine (12), powelline (3), 1-O-acetyllycorine (18) and tazettine ( 13) showed affinity to the serotonin reuptake transport protein. Cherylline (21) and epivittatine (6) yielded the highest activity among the group.

Anolignan B: a bioactive compound from the roots of Terminalia sericea.

Antibacterial bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethyl acetate root extract of Terminalia sericea led to the isolation of anolignan B. The isolated compound was further tested for anti-inflammatory activity using the cyclooxygenase enzyme assays (COX-1 and COX-2) and for potential mutagenic effects using the Ames test. In the antibacterial test, anolignan B showed activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase and mutagenic effects of extracts obtained from some trees used in South African traditional medicine.

Extracts obtained from 10 trees used in South African traditional medicine were screened for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory (COX-1 and COX-2) and anti-cholinesterase activities and investigated for potential mutagenic effects using the Ames test. Antibacterial activity was detected using the disc-diffusion and micro-dilution assays. The extracts were tested against Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.

Crude water and ethanolic extracts of five herbal remedies reported in the literature for traditional treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and/or prostatitis were investigated for their effect on hydroxyl scavenging activity, antibacterial activity and their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis. Both the water and ethanol extracts of Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Epilobium parviflorum inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. All 10 extracts scavenged the hydroxyl radical but with various potencies (32-93%).

Anti-inflammatory activity and QSAR studies of compounds isolated from Hyacinthaceae species and Tachiadenus longiflorus Griseb. (Gentianaceae).

Twenty-two homoisoflavanones and structurally related compounds isolated from plants were screened for anti-inflammatory activity. Seventeen compounds were isolated from southern African Hyacinthaceae species, one from the Madagascan gentian Tachiadenus longiflorus Griseb. and four were of synthetic origin.

Assessing African medicinal plants for efficacy and safety: pharmacological screening and toxicology.

This paper reviews progress in establishing the scientific rationale for and safety of traditional medicine use in Africa. Selected plants were screened for antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, anti-amoebic, antischistosomal, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, as well as psychotropic and neurotropic activity using appropriate in vitro tests. Isolation of active compounds, in almost all cases, provided scientific validation for the use of the plants in traditional medicine.

Acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory effects of amaryllidaceae alkaloids.

Twenty-three Amaryllidaceae alkaloids having several different ring types were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) inhibitory activity. The alkaloid 1- O-acetyllycorine (IC50 : 0.96 +/- 0.

Genotoxicity of melanoidin fractions derived from a standard glucose/glycine model.

Genotoxic compounds can act at various levels in the cell (causing gene, chromosome, or genome mutations), necessitating the use of a range of genotoxicity assays designed to detect these different types of mutations. The production of melanoidins during the processing and cooking of foods is associated with changes in their nutritional character, and the discovery of mutagenic substances in pyrolyzed protein and amino acids has raised concern about the safety of these foods. The aim of this work was to test melanoidin fractions in three different in vitro assays (Ames test, Vitotox test, and micronucleus test).

Pharmacological screening of six Amaryllidaceae species.

Dichloromethane and 90% methanol extracts of different parts of 6 Amaryllidaceae species were investigated for anti-inflammatory (COX-1 and COX-2), antibacterial and mutagenic (Salmonella/microsome test strain TA98) activities. Antibacterial activity was carried out using disc diffusion assay against three Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Microccus luteus) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. With the exception of the leaf of Cyrtanthus mackenii, all CH(2)Cl(2) extracts of different parts of Cyrtanthus species inhibited the growth of at least one bacterium, with the CH(2)Cl(2) bulb/root extracts of Cyrtanthus suaveolens showing broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.

Alkaloid production in Crinum moorei cultures.

The alkaloids cherylline (1), crinamidine (2), crinine (3), epibuphanisine (4), lycorine (5), powelline (6), undulatine (7), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (8), and 3-O-acetylhamayne (9) were identified in the in vitro propagated bulblets of Crinum moorei. In addition, crinine, powelline, and undulatine were detected in the solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The identity of the alkaloids was confirmed by comparing retention times and mass spectra with known samples.

Investigation of the antimutagenic effects of selected South African medicinal plant extracts.

Dichloromethane extracts from different parts of Rhamnus prinoides, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, Gardenia volkensii, Spirostachys africana, Diospyros whyteana, Syzigium cordatum and Prunus africana were investigated for mutagenic and antimutagenic effects in Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus tests. None of the extracts tested in the Ames test were found to induce mutations or to modify the effect of the mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-oxide (4NQO). In the micronucleus test, extracts from twigs/bark of R.

Investigating the safety of plants used in South African traditional medicine: testing for genotoxicity in the micronucleus and alkaline comet assays.

Previous studies indicate that traditional botanical remedies can be valuable for treating human disease. The potential risk from long-term use of such remedies has not, however, been fully investigated, especially in terms of their potential carcinogenic activity. In the present study, 51 South African plant species were selected on the basis of their use in traditional medicine and crude extracts were sequentially prepared from different dried plant parts using dichloromethane followed by 90% methanol.

Screening of medicinal plants used in South African traditional medicine for genotoxic effects.

Dichloromethane and 90% methanol extracts from 51 South African medicinal plants were evaluated for potential genotoxic effects using the bacterial Ames and VITOTOX tests with and without metabolic activation. Dichloromethane extracts from bulbs of Crinum macowanii showed mutagenicity in strain TA98 with and without metabolic activation, whereas extracts from leaves of Chaetacme aristata and foliage of Plumbago auriculata showed mutagenicity and/or toxicity. Extracts from the leaves of Catharanthus roseus and twigs of Combretum mkhzense were mutagenic with metabolic activation only.