Russian Journal of Biological Research

10-16

Authors: Mary Matawal Mankilik, Mhya H. Daniel, Ponjul Wuyep

Malaria still remains a public health problem in developing countries. Malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases as people still rely on traditional medicine as source of treatment for this disease. Malaria causes mortality and morbidity with social economic impact in developing countries where the burden is high. Reports showed that the high global health challenges is partly due to multidrug resistance P. falciparum develop on existing and available antimalarial drugs and that has spur the search of alternate treatment with low or less side effect. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antimalarial potential of methanolic extract of Carica papaya yellow leaf on animal model. In vivo screening for antimalarial drug discovery is of the recommended stream line process for new compound in path from drug discovery to developing. The Rane’s curative method of established infection was employed in vivo for assessing antimalarial activity. Swiss albino mice of both sexes weighing between 23-27 g and aged 6 weeks were infected with 1x10-7 P. berghei (NK-65) RBC/ml intraperitoneally and were treated with various dose (100, 200 and 400mg/lg bt.wt) of C. papaya yellow leaf methanolic extract. Acute oral toxicity test was employed using OECD method. The mice treated with 400 mg/kg b.wt of C. papaya yellow leaf extract showed significant (P < 0.05) antimalarial activity. In acute oral toxicity result showed that the maximum tolerated dose was found to be 5000 mg/kg body weight. C. papaya leaf extract showed antimalarial activity and study has validated its use by locals in the treatment of malaria in most developing countries. Recommendations are made for the isolation and identification of bioactive substance for possible drug development.

30-39

Authors: Talip Şahin, Ömer Kılıç

Ethnobotany is a multidisciplinary science that studies plant-human relationship and tries to understand human interaction with plants. Ethnobotanical studies aim to record the information about plants that people have passed down from generation to generation for centuries. In recent years, developments in technology, migration from village to city, modern life, relative loss of traditions and customs cause the loss of orally transmitted information about plants. In this respect, ethnobotanical studies are valuable studies that will record “humanity's knowledge of plants”. The local population has long utilized from Nepeta taxa for different purposes. Most of Nepeta taxa have important pharmacological and biological activities and Nepeta taxa have many traditional usage. The majority of Nepeta taxa exhibit significant pharmacological characteristics and potential for pharmacy, cosmetic industry, medicine and etc. In this study, it is aimed to review ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of some Nepeta taxa to contribute to studies on the subject.