Phytochemistry, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Grewia lasiocarpa E. Mey. ex Harv. Fungal Endophytes: A Computational and Experimental Validation Study.

The genus Grewia are known for their medicinal properties. We isolated and characterized five endophytic fungi from Grewialasiocarpa for in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Five [Aspergillus fumigatus (MK243397.

Antidepressant effects of coumarins and their derivatives: A critical analysis of research advances.

Coumarins and their derivatives are non-flavonoids polyphenols with diverse pharmacological activities including anti-depressant effects. This study systematically examines the antidepressant effects of coumarins and their derivatives in relation to time series of research progress in the pharmacological pathways, association with other diseases, toxicity and bibliometric analysis. The review was approached using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) coupled with R package involving Biblioshiny, a web interface for Bibliometrix analysis and VOSviewer software analytic tools.

Development and Biomechanics of E. Mey. Ex Harv. Trichomes Exudate.

E. Mey. Ex Harv.

Antidepressant Effects of South African Plants: An Appraisal of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Ethnopharmacological and Phytochemical Studies.

Globally, the search for safe and potent natural-based treatment for depression is receiving renewed interest given the numerous side-effects associated with many existing drugs. In South Africa, the use of plants to manage depression and related symptoms is fairly documented among different ethnic groups. In the current study, we reviewed existing ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological and phytochemical studies on South African medicinal plants used to manage depression.

An acute dose-ranging evaluation of the antidepressant properties of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin®) versus escitalopram in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.

The development and use of a drug-induced immunosuppressed rat-model to screen Phela for mechanism of immune stimulation.

Ethnopharmacology Relevancy: Phela, is code name for a medicinal product made from four South African traditional medicinal plants (Clerodendrum glabrum E. Mey, Polianthes tuberosa (Linn.), Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.

Evaluation of traditional medicines II: the use of metabolite peak-kinetics to monitor PHELA in rat plasma.

PHELA is a herbal mixture of four African traditional medicinal plants that is under development by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for use as an immune stimulant in immune compromised individuals. Before major in vivo investigations could be conducted, there was a need to establish a plasma marker for concentration monitoring of PHELA. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 RP column (250 mm × 4.

Evaluation of traditional medicines III: the mechanism of immune modulation by PHELA.

PHELA is a herbal traditional medicine that is under development for use as an immune booster in immune compromised individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine PHELA's mechanism of action by observing for changes in cytokine profiles. Four groups of Sprague Dawley rats (n = 8) were treated daily and separately with normal-saline, cyclosporine-A, PHELA-only and PHELA+ cyclosporine-A.

Evaluation of traditional medicines I: identification of PHELA using different chromatographic techniques.

PHELA is a herbal mixture of four African traditional medicinal plants that has been used for decades in wasting conditions and is now being developed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) as an immune booster for patients with compromised immune system. A chromatographic fingerprint of PHELA was needed for quality control purposes. Here, a comprehensive method for fingerprinting of PHELA using different chromatographic techniques is described.