The hepatoprotective principle of Hypoestes triflora leaves.

Hypoestes triflora is frequently used in Rwandese native medicine to treat hepatic diseases. Premedication with a water extract of the leaves prevented the prolongation of the barbiturate sleeping time associated with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. The compound responsible for this protective activity was benzoic acid.

Isolation of flavonoids and a chalcone from Helichrysum odoratissimum and synthesis of helichrysetin.

3,5-Dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone, 3-O-methylquercetin, and helichrysetin were isolated from the flowers of the Rwandese medicinal plant, Helichrysum odoratissimum. Because of inconsistencies of the mp of the latter chalcone, a synthesis of helichrysetin was developed. 3-O-Methylquercetin was shown to be an active principle as it displayed antimicrobial activity.

Isolation of aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1) from potato extracts by preparative page.

A method is proposed for the isolation (and purification) of enzymes, with retention of their activity, from solutions or gels of preparative PAGE runs. It is based on the inclusion of Sephadex G-25 as a supporting medium for a collector buffer in otherwise normal disc-PAGE gels. The collector buffer has a lower pH and higher concentration than the stacking gel buffer.

Wheat rootlet growth inhibition test of Rwandese medicinal plants: active principles of Tetradenia riparia and Diplolophium africanum.

A series of 50 medicinal plants of Rwanda (121 plant samples) has been screened for wheat rootlets inhibition activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active principle of Tetradenia riparia, i.e.