Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

Number 3, 2020

43-52
Physico-chemical characterization and chemical profile of Curcuma mangga (Valeton & Zijp) essential oils acclimated in Congo-Brazzaville

Authors: Kévin Bikindou, Ernest Bitemou, Ghislaine Boungou-Tsona, Houzel-Mampouty Bounkosso, Aubin Nestor Loumouamou, Pierre Chalard and Gilles Figueredo

Abstract

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This research aims to determine the chemical profile of the essential oil of Curcuma mangga (C. mangga). Samples of the essential oils, obtained by steam distillation of the harvested plant material (leaves and rhizomes) at four sites and during three years, were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The physicochemical characteristics of the volatile extracts, such as the relative density, the acid index, the ester index and the rotary power, were determined according to AFNOR standards. Analysis of the chemical composition shows that the essential oil of the leaves contains mainly ar-curcumene (14.42 to 32.08%), ᾳ-zingiberene (3.5 to 16, 79%), β-sesquiphellandrene (5.48 to 14.07%), 1,8-cineole (traces-23.46%) and, to a lesser extent, β-bisabolene (3.25 to 9.11%). The rhizomes are rich in ᾳ-zingiberene (11.56 to 33.28%), in β-sesquiphellandrene (14.24 to 20.85%), in curzerenone (traces-12.65%) and in camphor (0.61 to 16.44%). It appears that the chemical profiles with predominant of ar-curcumene for the leaves and predominant of ᾳ-zingiberene and β-sesquiphellandrene for the rhizomes, are different from those identified in other countries.

53-59
Epidermal wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Tetracapidium conophorum leaf on the limb of West African Dwarf goat

Authors: Olaifa A. K., Alaka O. O., Olaifa O. S. and Akpan M. O.

Abstract

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A wound is a disruption to the anatomic structure and the functional continuity of living tissues and wound healing is a survival mechanism and represents an attempt to maintain the normal structure and function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the healing properties of methanol extract of Tetracapidium conophorum leaf on epidermal wound in West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Eight adult West African Dwarf (12 to 15 kg) goats grouped into control and experimental of four animals each were used. Epidermal wounds were created on the trunk of all the goats using a square stencil of dimension 1 cm by 1 cm after shaving. Each wound was measured (in centimetre2) daily using the length of the mid-horizontal and mid-vertical sides of the wound with the aid of a Vernier caliper. Epidermal skin biopsies were taken also on days 0, 5, 10 and 20 for histology. The study demonstrated that wound contraction was much faster in treated groups compared with the control group indicating the wound healing properties of T. conophorum leaf extract. The quantification of macrophages and neutrophils in the control animals (88 ± 0.4, 172 ± 4.8) were significantly higher than in the treated animals (40 ± 0.7*, 48 ± 2.8*). Lymphocytes and fibroblast were significantly higher in the control animals (68 ± 0.5, 24 ± 0.41) than the treated animals (36 ± 0.7*, 12 ± 1.12*). The histopathological examination showed observable granulation tissue on day 20 in the treated group while no granulation tissue in the control group. The quantification results revealed an increased fibroblast, neutrophil in the treated group as compared to untreated group which indicated healing. The extract of the leaf showed remarkable wound healing activity and it may be used for treating various types of wounds and injuries in animals and humans.

60-72
Molecular resin composition of two taxodium taxa growing in different climate condition: Chromatographic and spectroscopic study

Authors: Alexandra Špaldoňová, Martina Havelcová, Vladimír Machovič and Ladislav Lapčák

Abstract

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The molecular composition of resins from tree trunk, female cone, and needles (from its extract and a raw material) originating from two taxodiaceous varieties Taxodium ascendens growing in the Okefenokee Swamp located in the southeastern corner of Georgia (USA) and Taxodium distichum growing in the Průhonice Park located in the southeast of Prague (Czech Republic) were analyzed to determine chemical processes involved in the responses of plants to their environment. Despite expectation, any differences in terpenoids production in response to completely different geographic regions and climatic conditions were not found out using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Obtained data confirmed the very high degree of terpenoids composition similarity between T. ascendens and T. distichum. Chromatographic spectra of female cone and needle extracts were dominated by monoterpenoids, while diterpenoids predominated in the resin from the tree trunk. Using derivatization with BF3 and TMAH during pyrolysis, the same diterpenoids with various abietane structures were revealed in both varieties. In this study, spectral data of the original unseparated resin from female cone exudates were described for the first time, and an overview of aliphatic and aromatic structures, and the oxygen functional groups such as hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, esters and highly conjugated carbonyls was given. Studying variation in the amount and composition of terpenoids in needle extracts of T. distichum showed that some variability in terpenoids quality and quantity was related to the season and maturity of the needles.

73-74
Time to prioritize Ayurvedic medicine in fighting the Coronavirus disease pandemic

Authors: Ebenezer Frimpong

Abstract

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The new coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 has been an albatross on the neck of respective governments' around the globe. The health and economic impact of COVID-19 is bringing most of the countries to their knees. As of August 06, 2020, 716,465 has succumbed to this disease (www.worldometer.com). Bloomberg report suggests that the world's gross domestic project will probably shrink by 5.2% in 2020 due to COVID-19 (www.bloomberg.com).