Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research

54-63

Authors: E. N. Kunene, T. O. Oseni, P. K. Wahome, M. T. Masarirambi, M. J. McCubbin, P. S. Dlamini, S. A. Sihlongonyane and M. G. Zwane

Wild ginger is a medicinal plant which belongs to Zingeberaceae family. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of coughs, colds, flu, malaria and menstrual disorders. However, the plant is at the verge of extinction due to unsustainable harvesting practices. The objective of this study was to develop in vitro micro-propagation protocol for the wild ginger. The MS media with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg L-1 BAP, 2.0 mg L-1 BAP + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA, and 2.0 mg L-1 BAP + 1.0 mg L-1 NAA, were evaluated on leaf, corm and root explants for in vitro shoot regeneration via direct organogenesis. In vitro rooting was investigated on half strength MS medium augmented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg L-1 NAA. Corm explants were significantly more effective in direct shoot regeneration in vitro than the leaf and root explants which neither regenerated shoots nor formed callus. The 1.0 mg L-1 BAP produced shoots which were significantly higher in number and longer than those from other treatments. However, there was no significant difference between 1.0 and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP. There was also no significant difference between the PGR-free MS medium and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP. No shoots were observed on 2.0 mg L-1 BAP, and on either of the combination of BAP and NAA. The half strength MS medium was effective on in vitro rooting, with no significant differences among the NAA concentrations on rooting percentage, number of roots and root length. From the results of this trial, it can be recommended that corm explants be used for direct shoot regeneration of wild ginger in vitro, with BAP of up to 1.0 mg L-1, and be rooted on half strength MS medium supplemented with NAA of up to 2.0 mg L-1.

70-77

Authors: Y. H. Gu, T. Yamasita, D. J. Choi, H. Yamamoto, T. Matsuo, N. Washino, J. H. Song and K. M. Kang

Excessive nutrition and increasingly westernizing dietary choices may be contributing toward a recent trend in rising incidences of chronic lifestyle-related diseases. In this study, we like to evaluate the anti-cancer properties of plant enzyme derived Validux using a mouse model. The anti-cancer properties of Plant Enzyme Validux (PEV) was evaluated using a mouse model. 5 weeks old male BalB/c mice were randomly distributed into four experimental groups: Control, PEV only, 2Gy (gray) only, and PEV + 2Gy. Experimental units were administrated (oral administration by stomach sonde) with 500 mg/kg daily dosage of PEV for 14 days before being subjected to 2Gy of whole body irradiation. Flow cytometry was used to observe the changes in leukocyte and T-Lymphocyte numbers. The PEV treatment group showed statistically significant increase in cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocyte count versus the control group while increased leukocyte and lymphocyte recovery rate was observed in the PEV + 2Gy group. Ordinary trend was also observed in granulocytes. In order to observe PEV’s effect on tumor growth, Experimental units were inoculated with SSC7 mouse carcinoma cell line following 14 days of daily PEV administration. PEV treatment groups showed decrease in tumor volume and mass vis-à-vis control. Thus, we would like to propose that PEV may be potentially used as a radioprotective supplement in radiotherapy for tumor suppression.