Growth-Promoting Characteristics of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from a Drought-Tolerant Mint Species (E. Mey. ex Benth.) N. E. Br.

Endophytes are primarily endosymbiotic bacteria and fungi that colonize the interior tissues of their host plant. They enhance the host plant's growth and attenuate adverse effects of biological stress. Endophytic species of many indigenous plants are an untapped resource of plant growth-promoting microorganisms that can mitigate abiotic stress effects.

Cytokinin-Facilitated Plant Regeneration of Three Species with Different Conservation Status.

In Africa and Asia, members of the genus are well-known for their diverse uses, especially their medicinal and nutritional values. However, the use of many species as a valuable resource is generally accompanied by the concern of over-exploitation attributed to their slow growth and general small size. The aim of the current study was to establish efficient micropropagation protocols for three species, namely (endangered), (vulnerable) and (least concern), as a means of ensuring their conservation and survival.

Antibacterial, Mutagenic Properties and Chemical Characterisation of Sugar Bush ( Meisn.): A South African Native Shrub Species.

is used as a diarrhoeal remedy in South African herbal medicine, however, its pharmacological properties remain largely unknown. In the present study, extracts from different organs were screened against drug-sensitive and -resistant diarrhoeagenic pathogens using the microdilution assay (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC). Twig extracts (70% methanol, MeOH) of the plant were purified and the resultant fractions screened for antibacterial properties (MIC).

Synthetic strigolactone (rac-GR24) alleviates the adverse effects of heat stress on seed germination and photosystem II function in lupine seedlings.

There is increasing experimental evidence that strigolactones, a class of carotenoid-derived sesquiterpenoid hormones, and their downstream signal components play a role in plant resilience to abiotic stress. Strigolactones positively influence plant coping mechanisms in response to abiotic stressors like drought and high salinity. In this study, we examined the effects of rac-GR24 (a synthetic strigolactone analog) and strigolactone inhibitors on the physiological and molecular responses associated with thermotolerance during seed germination and seedling development in Lupinus angustifolius under heat stress.

Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Grasses Used in South African Traditional Medicine.

Grasses are a valuable group of monocotyledonous plants, used as nourishing foods and as remedies against diseases for both humans and livestock. Phytochemical profiles of 13 medicinal grasses were quantified, using spectrophotometric methods and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), while the antioxidant activity was done using DPPH and ferric-reducing-power assays. The phytochemical analysis included the total soluble phenolic content, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, iridoids and phenolic acids.

Metabolite profiling and isolation of biologically active compounds from Scadoxus puniceus, a highly traded South African medicinal plant.

Scadoxus puniceus (Amaryllidaceae), a medicinal plant of high value in South Africa, is used as a component of a traditional herbal tonic prescribed to treat several ailments. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantified the phenolic compounds in different organs of S. puniceus.

Influence of biostimulants-seed-priming on Ceratotheca triloba germination and seedling growth under low temperatures, low osmotic potential and salinity stress.

Extreme temperatures, drought and salinity stress adversely affect seed germination and seedling growth in crop species. Seed priming has been recognized as an indispensable technique in the production of stress-tolerant plants. Seed priming increases seed water content, improves protein synthesis using mRNA and DNA and repair mitochondria in seeds prior to germination.

Antifungal and antioxidant activities of Coleonema album and C. pulchellum against skin diseases.

Context: Coleonema album (Thunb) Bart. & H. L.

Nutritional and pharmacological potential of the genus Ceratotheca--An underutilized leafy vegetable of Africa.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ceratotheca (Pedaliaceae) is an endemic African genus comprising of five species. The genus is commonly used as a leafy vegetable with medicinal properties.

Aim Of The Review: The review aims to highlight the unexplored nutritional and pharmacological potential of African indigenous leafy vegetables Ceratotheca sesamoides and triloba, in order to conserve and domesticate these species.

Effects of Cd and Al stress on secondary metabolites, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A. Mey.

This study investigated the effects of cadmium (Cd) and aluminium (Al) on the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids and the bioactive compound hypoxoside in Hypoxis hemerocallidea. In addition, antioxidant scavenging and antibacterial activity were assessed to evaluate if Cd and Al stress affect the accumulation of bioactive compounds in H. hemerocallidea.

Dissecting the role of two cytokinin analogues (INCYDE and PI-55) on in vitro organogenesis, phytohormone accumulation, phytochemical content and antioxidant activity.

There is a continuous search for new chemical entities to expand the collection of suitable compounds to increase the efficiency of micropropagation protocols. Two cytokinin (CK) analogues, 2-chloro-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)aminopurine (INCYDE) and CK antagonist 6-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzylamino)purine (PI-55) were used as a tool to elucidate the auxin-CK crosstalk under in vitro conditions in the medicinally important plant, Eucomis autumnalis subspecies autumnalis. These compounds were tested at 0.

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) in sub-Saharan Africa: A synthesis and review of its medicinal potential.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.

Screening for adulticidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis in ten plants used as mosquito repellent in South Africa.

Background: Due to the development of resistance to synthetic insecticides, adverse effects to human health, non-target organisms and the environment, there is an urgent need to develop new insecticides, which are effective, safe, biodegrable and target-specific. This study was undertaken to evaluate the adulticidal activity of 10 plants used traditionally as mosquito repellents in South Africa.

Methods: The dried plant materials were extracted with dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (EtOH).

Carbon-nitrogen ratio and in vitro assimilate partitioning patterns in Cyrtanthus guthrieae L.

In response to variations in nutritional composition of the growth medium, plants often adjust their metabolism and progressively alter their growth patterns. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) constitute the major plant nutritional components influencing plant growth and development patterns. This study examined the growth dynamics and patterns of assimilate partitioning to primary and secondary metabolites in response to varying levels and combinations of C and N in the culture media of Cyrtanthus guthrieae.

Endogenous cytokinin profiles of tissue-cultured and acclimatized 'Williams' bananas subjected to different aromatic cytokinin treatments.

Endogenous cytokinin (CK) levels of in vitro-cultured and greenhouse-acclimatized 'Williams' bananas treated with six aromatic CKs were quantified using UPLC-MS/MS. The underground parts had higher endogenous CK levels than the aerial parts. Control plantlets had more isoprenoid CKs while the aromatic-type CKs were predominant in all other regenerants.

Antioxidant and phenolic acid profiles of tissue cultured and acclimatized Merwilla plumbea plantlets in relation to the applied cytokinins.

Merwilla plumbea (Lindl.) Speta is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine. We evaluated the effect of five cytokinins [benzyladenine (BA), 2-isopentenyladenine (2iP), meta-topolin (mT), meta-topolin riboside (mTR), and meta-methoxy-9-tetrahydropyran-2-yl-topolin (MemTTHP)] on the level of phenolic acids and antioxidant activity of M.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from plants used traditionally in South Africa to treat tuberculosis and related symptoms.

Respiratory ailments are major human killers, especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease causing a threat to human healthcare. Many South African plants are used in the traditional treatment of TB and related symptoms, but there has not been a sufficient focus on evaluating their antimicrobial properties.

Dissecting the stress metabolic alterations in in vitro Cyrtanthus regenerants.

Metabolic plasticity in plants allows for continuous adjustments of defence strategies in suboptimal environments. Proline and other metabolites figure prominently in most stress-mediated responses. This study examined the expression of salinity and osmotic adjustments in the enzymatic activity and accumulation of solutes and metabolites in response to imposed water and salt stress in Cyrtanthus contractus N.

Physiological responses and endogenous cytokinin profiles of tissue-cultured 'Williams' bananas in relation to roscovitine and an inhibitor of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (INCYDE) treatments.

The effect of supplementing either meta-topolin (mT) or N(6)-benzyladenine (BA) requiring cultures with roscovitine (6-benzylamino-2-[1(R)-(hydroxymethyl)propyl]amino-9-isopropylpurine), a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and N-glucosylation inhibitor, and INCYDE (2-chloro-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)aminopurine), an inhibitor of cytokinin (CK) degradation, on the endogenous CK profiles and physiology of banana in vitro was investigated. Growth parameters including multiplication rate and biomass were recorded after 42 days. Endogenous CK levels were quantified using UPLC-MS/MS while the photosynthetic pigment and phenolic contents were evaluated spectrophotometrically.

The role of meta-topolins on the photosynthetic pigment profiles and foliar structures of micropropagated 'Williams' bananas.

The effect of five topolins (meta-Topolin=mT; meta-Topolin riboside=mTR; meta-Methoxy topolin=MemT; meta-Methoxy topolin riboside=MemTR and 6-(meta-methoxy)-9-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-topolin=MemTTHP) on the photosynthetic pigments and leaf structures of micropropagated 'Williams' bananas was compared with the commonly used benzyladenine (BA). Surface-decontaminated explants were cultured for 70 d on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium and supplemented with 10, 20 or 30μM cytokinins (CKs). At 10 d intervals, the photosynthetic pigments were quantified via spectrophotometric methods for 7 cycles.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of Huernia hystrix.

Huernia species are typical famine-food plants consumed in southern Ethiopia. H. hystrix is a heavily exploited ethnomedicinal succulent plant traded in traditional medicine systems especially on South Africa's eastern seaboard.

Mutagenicity, antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity evaluation of South African Podocarpus species.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Four species of Podocarpus are used in traditional medicine both in human and animal healthcare in South Africa. In vitro pharmacological screening of leaf and stem extracts of these species exhibited potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase, anthelmintic, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the mutagenicity, antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity effects of leaf and stem extract of South African Podocarpus species.

Antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, iridoid content and mutagenic evaluation of Leucosidea sericea.

Leucosidea sericea is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine in southern Africa. Leaf and stem petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM) and 50% aqueous methanol (MeOH) extracts were investigated for antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The safety of the extracts was evaluated using the Ames test.