Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

116-121

Authors: Mohamed I. Garbi, Mahmmoud S. Saleh, Ali M. Badri, Ibrahim T. Ibrahim, Suha F. Mohammed, Muddathir S. Alhassan, Ahmed A. Elshikh and Ahmed S. Kabbashi

The purpose of the paper was to investigate the in-vitro antibacterial activity, preliminary phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity [3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-MTT assay] of methanol extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (calyxes). The methanol extract of H. sabdariffa was tested against 11 clinical isolates bacteria and 3 standard bacteria, that is: 5 Gram positive bacteria (Corynebacterium diphtheria, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus), 9 Gram negative bacteria (Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumonia and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 70063) using the cup-plate agar diffusion method, preliminary phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity (MTT assay) was also performed with different concentrations (500, 250 and 125 µg/ml) and compared to the reference control Triton-x100. The methanol extract of H. sabdariffa (calyxes) exhibited inhibitory effects against most of the tested organisms with the zone of inhibition ranging from 14 to 36 mm in length. The largest inhibition zone was obtained for the Gram-positive against bacteria L. monocytogenes (36 mm), E. faecalis (33 mm), B. cereus (28 mm), C. diphtheriae (26 mm) and S. aureus (24 mm) while in case of Gram negative highest inhibition was observed against P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) (28 mm), K. pneumoniae (ATCC 70063) (25 mm), P. aeruginosa (23 mm), E. coli (20 mm), E. coli (ATCC 25922) and P. vulgaris (19 mm), K. pneumonia (18 mm), S. marcescens (17 mm) and P. mirabilis (14 mm). Preliminary phytochemical screening investigation for the methanolic extracts showed the presences of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, sterols triterpens and phenols, while saponins was absent. In addition cytotoxicity (MTT-assay) verified the safety of the examined extract with an IC50 less than 100 μg/ml. The study concluded that H. sabdariffa (calyxes) proved to have potent activities against antibacterial activity in vitro with verified safety evidence for use.

129-134

Authors: Saleh Alqasoumi

Garlic (Allium sativum L.), renowned for its pleiotropic medicinal value in traditional medicine, is a popular culinary item consumed worldwide. The present study aimed to justify the use of garlic in Arab traditional medicine for the treatment of acute gastric ulcer. The plethora of its beneficial effects has been ascribed to its multiple bioactive constituents including organosulfur compounds. Nutraceutical products containing garlic-derived compounds are known to possess a myriad of pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, anti-microbial, anti-tumor effects. Studies in animal models and humans have shown a beneficial effect of garlic on the gastrointestinal system. Herein, using a rat model of gastric mucosal injury, simulating gastric ulcer disease of humans, we show that garlic suspension (250 and 500 mg/kg) dose-dependently mitigates gastric ulceration (evaluated as ulcer index) triggered by hypothermic restraint, pyloric ligation (Shay rats), indomethacin and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH and 25% NaCl). The results of this study show that the acute administration of garlic suspension significantly thwarted gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats and enhanced mucus secretion following the administration of 80% ethanol. Mechanistically, rats pretreated with garlic suspension showed a slight alteration in non-protein sulfhydryl and malondealdehyde levels of gastric tissue following treatment with 80% ethanol; this data points to a subtle antioxidant activity of the suspension. Taken together, these findings unravel gastroprotective effects of garlic suspension in rats subjected to multiple stress conditions. Dietary consumption of garlic and garlic-based supplements may have a beneficial impact on digestive health by alleviating the development and/or progression of gastric mucosal damage.

83-93

Authors: Raphael M Singh, Emanuel Cummings, Munira Patel, Karishma Jeeboo and Jaipaul Singh

Cancer is a major global disease where abnormal cells rapidly proliferate having the ability to migrate to different parts of the human body via a process called metastasis. Cancer is also one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is a burden financially and on the quality of human lives in both well-developed and less-developed countries, especially as the population is increasing. For centuries, Ayurveda culture has recommended the use medicinal plants to treat a variety of diseases maintaining health prior to the advent of modern medicine. Over time, much information and knowledge have been gathered about the properties of medicinal plants by personal experimentation, local custom, anecdote and folk traditions leading to the formation of several traditional medicine systems and therapies. One such plant is Momordica charantia, which acts as a functional food to prevent and to treat diabetes mellitus and associated complications as well as cancers. Research in the last few decades, utilizing modern techniques, has revealed anti-cancer activities of M. charantia. Several groups of investigators have reported that treatment of number on cancer cell lines with M. charantia-related extracts and compounds have been very successful. These agents exert their anti-cancer effects by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis without adversely affecting normal healthy cell growth. This review focuses on recent advancements in anti-cancer effectiveness and chemo-preventive ability of M. charantia and its active constituents with special emphasis on cucurbitane-type glycosides, ribosome–inactivating inhibitors and conjugated fatty acids Keywords: Momordica charantia, cell proliferation, cucurbitane, conjugated fatty acids, antitumor.

99-105

Authors: Anastasia Stefîrţă, V. Botnari, Lilia Brânză, I. Bulhac and A. L.Chilinciuc

The paper presents results of studying the effect of garlic plant (Allium sativum L.) foliar treatment with gibberellins and potassium selenate on the yield, selenium content and antioxidant protection capacity of the leaves and bulbs. It has been found that biological fortification of the garlic plant by treating the leaves with the solution of potassium selenate increases the selenium content in leaves and bulbs, the capacity of the antioxidant protection of cells, the content of the proline, pigment assimilation and, reduces lipid peroxidation. Potassium selenate amplifies the adaptive potential of plants, reduces the negative impact of moisture deficit, enhances the accumulation of the substances that increase the water retention capacity in the leaves, and optimizes the processes of growth and productivity. Keywords: Allium sativum L., antioxidant properties, selenium content, chlorophyll, carotenoids, productivity.

58-72

Authors: Iza Teixeira Alves Peixoto, Vivian Fernandes Furletti, Paula Cristina Anibal, Glyn Mara Figueira, Adilson Sartoratto, Simone Nataly Busato de Feiria, Marta Cristina Teixeira Duarte and José Francisco Höfling

Mentha spp. essential oils have shown different properties regarding accession despite belonging to the same species and antimicrobial properties indicating possible clinical relevance. A survey of 64 accessions of Mentha spp. essential oils were carried out proving their differences regarding yield and potential antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis and clinical samples. The oils were obtained by water vapor-distillation by clevenger. Anti-CandidaCandida spp. were M. canadensis MC 05; M. suaveolens MC 30; M. arvensis MC 36 and M. suaveolens x spicata MC 52. These oils revealed inhibition against yeast cells and promoted the best MIC (≤ 0.5 mg/ml). MC 05 was enriched with carvone (74.8%); MC 30 with piperitenone oxide (28.0%); MC 36 with linalool (33.2%) and MC 52 with pulegone (52.2%). All the essential oils showed action on the biofilm in formation and mature biofilm, being that the formation of biofilm was inhibited up to 96% and the mature biofilm was deconstructed up to 54%. The results obtained from these essential oils revealed genotypes with different properties and anti-Candida activity, a number of these oils could contribute to the characterization of the antimicrobial properties due to their phenotypical characterization. Keywords: Candida spp., essential oil, medicinal plants, Mentha spp.

11-26

Authors: Getaneh Gebeyehu Mengesha

Traditional uses of medicinal plants developed in different cultural and ethnic people throughout the world. Understanding how to use these medicinal plants and treatment of health problems is crucial for advancement of modern preventive and curative system of ailments. Thus, the present ethnobotanical survey was conducted to investigate the indigenous uses of medicinal plants for the treatment of human and livestock health problems. This is because of lack of scientific investigation on indigenous knowledge associated with medicinal plants in the study area. A total of 108 households from six administrative units (Kebeles) of which 25 key informants were selected systematically and other informants were sampled randomly in transect walk. An ethnobotanical data was collected using open and closed semi structured interview and all medicinal plants were collected in the natural habitats and homegardens. An ethnobotanical data were analyzed using R-software package to determine knowledge variation among social groups using analysis of variance. Informant consensus factor, paired comparison and folk taxonomy were also used as analytical tools to understand perception of local people on medicinal plants. A total of 60 medicinal plants distributed in 29 families were identified and recorded of which Asteraceae (10.0%) accounted first followed by Fabaceae (8.3%). Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae (6.7%) were equally dominated in the area. Out of these, 83.3% of plants have ethnomedicinal uses of treating human ailments while the rest were used to treat both human and livestock. These medicinal plants were used to treat a total of 48 ailments. Major consumption parts for medicinal uses were roots (39%) followed by leaves (21.4%) and frequently prepared in fresh form (72%). Remedy preparations were mainly crushing and squeezing (33.3%), maceration (15.8%) and diluting (13.2%) in single forms administrated orally (80.2%) and externally (19.8%). In conclusion, local communities of the study area have potentially promising medicinal plants for the treatment of health problems. Thus, it is advisable that uses of ethnomedicinal plants should be confirmed conducting experimental and phytochemical studies to maximize the safety and effectiveness of these plants and witness to develop modern drug development. Keywords: Ethnobotany, health problems, human, livestock, medicinal plants, treatments.