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Lehman, Ashley Davis. "Assessing ethnobotanical knowledge and resources to develop a sustainable management plan for the Lokaro Reserve in southeast, Madagascar." Diss., [Missoula, Mont.] : The University of Montana, 2009. http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-12162009-151255.
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Flanagan, Kelin. "Ethnobotany in Florida : Seminole cosmology and medicinal plant use." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2010. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/1405.
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This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.Bachelors
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de, Boer Hugo J. "Snake Gourds, Parasites and Mother Roasting : Medicinal plants, plant repellents, and Trichosanthes (Cucurbitaceae) in Lao PDR." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Systematisk biologi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-168536.
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Background. Traditional plant use was studied in Lao PDR. Research focused on medicinal plant use by the Brou, Saek and Kry ethnic groups, traditional plant repellents against parasitic arthropods and leeches, and the phylogeny and biogeography of the medicinally-important snake gourd genus (Trichosanthes, Cucurbitaceae). Methods. The ethnobiology research used a combination of structured interviews, village surveys, botanical collecting, hydro-distillation, GC-MS analysis, literature studies, and laboratory experiments. The plant systematics research used a combination of morphological studies, molecular biology laboratory work, and phylogenetic, dating and biogeographical analysis. Results. Informants reported the use of close to 100 species to repel arthropods and leeches, many of which have constituents with documented efficacy. Brou, Saek and Kry informants use over 75 plant species for women’s healthcare, mainly during the postpartum period for steam sauna, steam bath, hotbed, mother roasting, medicinal decoctions and infusions, and postpartum diet. A molecular phylogeny of Trichosanthes and Gymnopetalum using a broad sampling of ~60% of their species and 4756 nucleotides of nuclear and plastid DNA shows that Gymnopetalum is nested within Trichosanthes. Fossil-calibrated Bayesian molecular dating of the Trichosanthes phylogeny reveals an early Oligocene origin of the genus, and many of the extant sections originating and diversifying during the Miocene. Biogeographical analysis shows a likely East or South Asian origin of Trichosanthes, with lineages diversifying and spreading throughout Australasia from the early Pliocene to the Pleistocene. Discussion. Traditional plant use in Lao PDR is common and widespread. The presence among the repellent species of economical alternatives to costly synthetic repellents is tenable, and the subject of ongoing studies. Postpartum traditions and medicinal plant use are essential parts of childbirth and postpartum recovery in these ethnic groups, and many other groups in Lao PDR. Efforts to improve maternal healthcare and reduce maternal and infant mortality need to integrate these traditions with modern notions of healthcare to achieve wider adoption. Documenting all possible uses of commonly used medicinal plant species shows that similarity in use between these ethnic groups is relatively low considering that they share, and have shared for many generations, the same environment and resources. A lack of effective cures leads to a process of continuous innovation, where effective cures are shared between cultures, but remedies of only cultural importance, or those under evaluation are culture-specific. The Trichosanthes phylogeny implies the merging of Gymnopetalum into Trichosanthes, and this is done using available names or new combinations. A synopsis of Trichosanthes, the new combinations, and a revision of the species in Australia, are made and presented. Conclusions. Traditional plant use is widespread in Lao PDR, and of significance to many people as a source of primary healthcare and inexpensive repellents. The important medicinal plant genus Trichosanthes includes Gymnopetalum, and has a complex biogeographic history with multiple colonization events of Australasia.
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ALENCAR, Nélson Leal. "Farmacopéias tradicionais : o papel das plantas medicinais na sua constituição, formação e manutenção em comunidades da Caatinga." Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 2012. http://www.tede2.ufrpe.br:8080/tede2/handle/tede2/4907.
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Traditional pharmacopoeias are "social institutions" essential for the maintenance of traditional societies. Its construction and maintenance suffer multifactorial influences ranging from cultural aspects as cultural construction of society, dominant religion and even social structure include environmental factors such as surrounding vegetation, climate and seasonal availability of resources. Throughout history, many medical systems were developed by these societies, and these influenced the formation of these pharmacopoeias directing criteria that would be most valuable in the selection of plants. With intercultural contact, many societies started to incorporate exotic plants for the maintenance of pharmacopoeias. Therefore, there were many interpretations of the massive presence of these. The importance of exotic plants with medicinal purpose has been historically neglected by simplistic interpretations of the causes of their introduction in traditional pharmacopoeias, since there are few papers that bothered to point them in the etnofloristic lists just ignored them in analysis. Often, the presence of exotic plants in traditional pharmacopoeias is seen as a simple phenomenon of acculturation, or even as an erosion of knowledge. However, it is necessary to understand what events that drive the introduction and even deletion of a medicinal plant by a particular culture. We know that exotic plants have an important contribution in pharmacopoeia of traditional societies around the world. Probably, these plants are the most abundant element. Objective of this study is to review the different interpretations on aspects related to construction of pharmacopoeias and the presence of exotic plants.
Farmacopéias tradicionais são ―instituições sociais‖ imprescindíveis para a manutenção das sociedades tradicionais. Sua construção e manutenção sofrem influências multifatoriais que variam desde aspectos culturais como construção cultural da sociedade, religião predominante e até estrutura social, além de fatores ambientais como vegetação circundante, sazonalidade climática e disponibilidade de recursos. Durante a história, muitos sistemas médicos foram desenvolvidos por estas sociedades, e estes influenciaram a formação destas farmacopéias direcionando quais critérios seriam mais valiosos na seleção das plantas. Com o contato intercultural, muitas sociedades passaram a incorporar elementos exóticos, estas plantas exóticas, permitiram reformulações em sua composição de espécies para que houvesse uma manutenção das farmacopéias. Com isso, muitas foram as interpretações para a presença maciça destas. A importância de plantas exóticas com uso medicinal tem sido historicamente negligenciada por meio de interpretações simplistas sobre as causas de sua introdução em farmacopéias tradicionais, visto que, poucos são os trabalhos que se preocuparam em apontá-las nas listas etnoflorísticas, apenas desprezado-as nas análises. Muitas vezes, a presença de plantas exóticas em farmacopéias tradicionais é vista como um simples fenômeno de aculturação ou até mesmo como uma erosão de conhecimento.Entretanto, faz-se necessário compreender quais são os eventos da introdução e até mesmo da deleção de plantas medicinais por uma determinada cultura. Sabemos que as plantas exóticas têm uma importante contribuição em farmacopéias de sociedades tradicionais de todo o mundo, sendo talvez o elemento mais abundante. São interesses deste trabalho revisar as diferentes interpretações sobre os aspectos inerentes a construção e preservação de farmacopéias e a presença de plantas exóticas nelas.
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Monakisi, Charlotte M. "Knowledge and use of traditional medicinal plants by the Setswana-speaking community of Kimberley, Northern Cape of South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/18589.
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Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The majority of South Africans still depend on the use of traditional remedies, as these are sometimes the only types of health care systems available, especially within rural communities. South Africa comprises approximately 400 000 traditional healers and an estimated 60 to 80% of individuals consulting such traditional healers. As a result, the over-harvesting of many traditional medicinal plants has become a threat to the country’s species diversity and has resulted in the scarcity of certain medicinal plant species. The non-sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants stems from their intense harvesting from the wild to supply the high demands from urban and rural markets. As a result of the escalating population growth rate; high rural unemployment; and fundamental value attached to traditional medicinal plants (socio-economic factors), the national and regional trade of traditional medicines is currently higher than it has ever been. Another reason for the increased threat to traditional medicinal plants is the degradation and weakening of customary laws that have previously regulated such resources. This study focuses on the use of traditional medicinal plants by the Setswana-speaking community for self-medication and as a form of primary health care. Research was conducted in Kimberley, Northern Cape of South Africa and focuses on the issue of the sustainability of medicinal plant use in the area, specifically on use and users as well as the acquisition of material sold by a single trader and harvesting techniques. This is to determine whether harvesting of medicinal plants is a potential threat to plant communities in the area. To address the shortcomings of medicinal anthropology the study also investigates the impacts of relocation and resettlement of various communities in the area, on plant use, methods of collection, the sustainability of the natural resource, as well as the transmission of Setswana indigenous knowledge inter-generationally. most abundant under high disturbances. Certain species reacted positively to disturbance and were most abundant in disturbed habitats. These included Elephantorrhiza elephantina and a Helichrysum sp. To minimise destructive harvesting in the Kimberley area and to ensure the sustainable harvesting of plant material, it is important that local harvesters are educated on proper harvesting techniques and that local gatherers are educated on sustainability issues as well as other ecologically fundamental issues.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meeste Suid-Afrikaners is steeds afhanklik van tradisionele geneesmiddels aangesien dit soms, veral in landelike gemeenskappe, die enigste beskikbare gesondheidsorg is. Suid-Afrika het sowat 400 000 tradisionele geneeshere wat deur ’n geraamde 60% tot 80% van individue geraadpleeg word. As gevolg hiervan hou die oorontginning van talle tradisionele medisinale-planthulpbronne ’n bedreiging vir die land se spesiediversiteit in en het dit reeds tot ’n skaarste aan sekere medisinale plante gelei. Tradisionele medisinale plante word tans nievolhoubaar aangewend aangesien dit op groot skaal in die veld geoes word om in die groot vraag van stedelike en landelike markte te voorsien. As gevolg van die stygende bevolkingsgroeikoers, hoë landelike werkloosheidsyfer en die grondliggende waarde wat aan tradisionele medisinale plante geheg word (sosio-ekonomiese faktore), is die nasionale en streekhandel in tradisionele geneesmiddels tans groter as ooit tevore. Nog ’n rede vir die toenemende bedreiging van tradisionele medisinale plante is die verslapping en versagting van gewoonteregwetgewing wat voorheen sodanige hulpbronne gereguleer het. Hierdie studie fokus op die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante deur die Setswanagemeenskap vir selfbehandeling en as ’n vorm van primêre gesondheidsorg. Die navorsing vir die studie is in Kimberley in die Noord-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika gedoen en fokus op die kwessie van volhoubare medisinale-plantgebruik in die gebied, met bepaalde klem op gebruik en gebruikers, die verkryging van middels wat deur ’n enkele handelaar verkoop word, en oestegnieke. Die doel van die navorsing was om te bepaal of die oes van medisinale plante ’n moontlike bedreiging vir plantgemeenskappe in die gebied inhou. Om die tekortkominge van medisinale antropologie aan te pak, ondersoek die studie ook die uitwerking van die verskuiwing en hervestiging van verskeie gemeenskappe in die gebied op plantgebruik, oesmetodes, die volhoubaarheid van die natuurlike hulpbronne, asook die oordrag van inheemse Setswana-kennis oor geslagte heen. Selfbehandeling en die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante speel steeds ’n groot rol in Kimberley, aangesien die meeste van die individue wat aan die navorsing deelgeneem het steeds tradisionele geneesmiddels as deel van hulle kultuur en tradisie gebruik. Daar word in ’n uiteenlopende verskeidenheid plantmateriaal handel gedryf. Hoewel sommige van die middels plaaslik ingesamel word, word die meeste van ander dele van die land, en in party gevalle van buurlande soos Lesotho en Swaziland, ingevoer. Hoewel die meeste van die materiaal dus nie plaaslik ingesamel word en dus nie bepaald op hierdie studie betrekking het nie, is dit steeds aanduidend van oes- en volhoubaarheidskwessies in ander dele van die land. Die kruiekenner dryf in sewentig tradisionele medisinale-plantsoorte handel, waarvan party beskermd en erg bedreig is, waaronder Prunus africana en Warburgia salutaris wat slegs in beskermde gebiede in die land voorkom. Prunus africana is ’n gelyste spesie in CITES, aanhangsel 2. Ander bedreigde spesies sluit Ocotea bullata, Bersama lucens, Curtisia dentata en ’n Eugenia-spesie in. Die meeste van die plante wat (in Kimberley) geoes word, is in die vorm van ondergrondse bergingsorgane (uitlopers en bolle). Hoewel hierdie plante van stingelskade en die skade aan ondergrondse bergingsorgane kan herstel, vat hulle swak pos indien hulle oorgebruik en oorontgin word, en kan hulle dus mettertyd al hoe minder voorkom. In hierdie studie word die mettertydse afname in plantbevolkings deur die toename in reisafstande na insamelingspunte aangetoon. Hierdie tendens is egter nie in die handelsprys en -materiaalhoeveelhede oor die afgelope eeu weerspieël nie. Die meeste van die studiedeelnemers het bevestig dat die prys en hoeveelheid van die handelsmateriaal deurentyd betreklik stabiel gebly het. Van die teikenspesies wat vir kwesbaarheid of sensitiwiteit vir ontwrigting ondersoek is, het Withania somnifera, Boophane disticha, Dicoma anomala en Bulbine natalensis die laagste oorlewingspotensiaal en die hoogste ontwrigtingsensitiwiteit getoon. Die meeste van hierdie spesies het in baie klein hoeveelhede op die gekose terreine voorgekom. In die geval van Withania somnifera kon die negatiewe resultate egter met die laereënvalseisoen gedurende daardie betrokke jaar in verband gebring word. Hierdie spesie word oor die algemeen as ’n onkruid in ontwrigte gebiede geklassifiseer en kom meestal onder erg ontwrigte toestande voor. Sekere spesies, soos Elephantorrhiza elephantina en ’n Helichrysum-spesie, het positief op ontwrigting gereageer en het volop in ontwrigte habitatte voorgekom. Om vernietigende oestery in die Kimberley-omgewing te minimaliseer en die volhoubare ontginning van planthulpbronne te verseker, is dit belangrik dat plaaslike plukkers in gepaste oestegnieke, en plaaslike insamelaars oor volhoubaarheidskwessies en ander ekologies belangrike sake opgelei word.
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Richey-Abbey, Laurel Rhea. "Bush Medicine in the Family Islands: The Medical Ethnobotany of Cat Island and Long Island, Bahamas." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1335445242.
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Ford, Claudia Jeanne. "Weed Women, All Night Vigils, and the Secret Life of Plants: Negotiated Epistemologies of Ethnogynecological Plant Knowledge in American History." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1442086935.
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Ferrier, Jonathan. "Ethnobotany, Pharmacology, and Metabolomics of Antidiabetic Plants used by the Eeyou Istchee Cree, Lukomir Highlanders, and Q’eqchi’ Maya." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/30441.
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A study was undertaken of plants used for treatment of diabetic symptoms by traditional healers of the Eeyou Istchee Cree (Canada), Lukomir Highlanders (Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Q’eqchi’ Maya (Belize). All antidiabetic plants were ranked by syndromic importance value (SIV) based on 15 symptoms, all of which were recognized by the Cree and Maya and 8 by the Highlanders. The Cree used only 18 species, the Highlanders 41, and the Maya 150, numbers which reflect the diversity of flora in their region. Vaccinium (Ericaceae) was one of the few genera in all three regions and the only consensus genus between the Cree and Highlander study sites. The Q’eqchi’ Maya ethnobotany did not present any cross-cultural consensus genera with Cree or Highlander medicinal plants, perhaps due to major biogeographic differences. In ethnopharmacological studies, Vaccinium species and Q’eqchi’ antidiabetic plants were tested in an assay relevant to diabetes, the advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) inhibition assay. Boreal and tropical Vaccinium species were potent inhibitors of AGEs and demonstrated concentration dependent inhibition, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) range of 5.93–100 µg/mL. Phenolic content ranged from 80.3 to 201 µg/mL in boreal samples and from 1470 to 2170 µg/mL in tropical samples. Tropical species have a greater phenolic content and AGE inhibition. Seven Q’eqchi’ antidiabetic plant species were tested and all plant extracts showed AGE-inhibition. The IC50s ranged from 40.8 to 733 µg/mL, and the most active was Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn.. Tynanthus guatemalensis IC50 was about fives times greater (less active) than the mean ± SE IC50 reported for six tropical Vaccinium species of Vaccinium (8.77 ± 0.79 μg/mL).
The highest consensus and most active Maya antidiabetic plant, Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn. Sm. was discovered to be an important plant recorded in archeological artifacts from the Late Classic Maya period (~750 CE). Ancient Maya used a cross shaped sign (k’an glyph) as a decorative element on Late Classic polychrome vessels and murals. The sign was believed to be the xylem template for a plant used as a flavouring in cacao drinks. However, the plant was incorrectly identified in the literature as Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (common name: Allspice) based on a common name and aromatic plant quality – not from a botanical voucher specimen. Pimenta dioica wood does not have a cross shape visible in the xylem but a unique character visible after a cross section of T. guatemalensis, is the xylem's cross shape organization. Wood of T. guatemalensis' also has an "allspice" aroma. Tynanthus guatemalensis is most likely the true botanical template behind the ancient Maya k’an glyph and this finding would show the continuity of use of this medicinal plant from ancient to modern times.
Vaccinium was selected for an in depth phytochemical analysis using modern metabolomic methods. Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) was used to evaluate leaf extract spectra to provide information on (1) the taxonomic identity and (2) quantities of bioactive metabolites across multiple sites. Spectra clearly differentiated leaf samples of V. angustifolium, V. boreale, V. corymbosum, V. macrocarpon, V. myrtilloides, V. myrtillus, V. ovalifolium, and V. uliginosum according to generic, subgeneric, specific, phenotypic circumscriptions. Quantification of chlorogenic acid and hyperoside were replicated with a method that is highly reproducible across multiple sites with different NMR equipment. This methodology provides an important new approach to taxonomy and quality control for plants and natural health products.
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Freitas, Ana Valeria Lacerda. "O espaço doméstico dos quintais e a conservação de plantas medicinais na comunidade São João da Várzea, Mossoró-RN." Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, 2016. http://bdtd.ufersa.edu.br:80/tede/handle/tede/188.
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Previous issue date: 2016-04-26The purpose of the present study was to conduct an ethnobotanical research about the use and handling of vegetable resources, especially medicinal, in São João da Várzea s community, Mossoró-RN, emphasizing informants perception in relation to domestic spaces and conservation of these resources. The research was divided in three chapters. First chapter refers to a general introduction and a literature review about the subject. The second chapter includes the study about the use and handling of vegetable resources present in domestic spaces of 22 productive units, emphasizing medicinal plants. The third chapter, on the other hand, includes a study realized with two key informants, in order to recover the traditional knowledge of these about the use and handling of medicinal plants and their perception about phenological aspects and species conservation. The data of the last two chapters were collected using several techniques, such as: direct and participant observation, informal and semistructured interviews, free list, history of life, participative mapping and guided tour or walk-in-the-woods. The domestic spaces of productive units realized by the 22 informants have own characteristics and functions, modeled in accordance with knowledge and particularity of each family. These spaces are consisting of a large diversity of vegetable species that being used for many purposes, especially the medicinal use. The two key informants show to have a lot of knowledge about medicinal use of species found in domestic spaces and around the productive units, as well as about phenological aspects, handle and conservation of them
O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um estudo etnobotânico sobre o uso e manejo de recursos vegetais, sobretudo medicinais, na comunidade São João da Várzea, Mossoró-RN, enfatizando a percepção dos informantes em relação aos espaços domésticos e à conservação destes recursos. A pesquisa foi dividida em três capítulos. O primeiro capítulo refere-se à introdução geral e uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o assunto. O segundo capítulo abrangeu o estudo sobre o uso e o manejo de recursos vegetais presentes em espaços domésticos de 22 unidades produtivas, enfatizando-se as plantas medicinais. O terceiro capítulo, por sua vez, compreendeu um estudo realizado com duas informantes-chave, visando resgatar os conhecimentos tradicionais destas sobre o uso e manejo de plantas medicinais e a percepção das mesmas sobre aspectos fenológicos e de conservação das espécies. Os dados dos dois últimos capítulos foram coletados utilizando-se várias técnicas, tais como: observação direta e participante, entrevistas informais e semiestruturadas, lista livre, história de vida, mapeamento participativo e turnê guiada ou walk-in-the-woods. Os espaços domésticos das unidades produtivas percebidos pelos 22 informantes possuem características e funções próprias, modeladas de acordo com o conhecimento e particularidades de cada família. Estes espaços são compostos por grande diversidade de espécies vegetais que são utilizadas para várias finalidades, destacando-se o uso medicinal. As duas informantes-chave demonstraram possuir grande conhecimento sobre o uso medicinal das espécies encontradas nos espaços domésticos e no entorno das unidades produtivas, bem como a respeito de aspectos fenológicos, manejo e conservação das mesmas
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Walshe-Roussel, Brendan. "An Ethnobiological Investigation of Q’eqchi’ Maya and Cree of Eeyou Istchee Immunomodulatory Therapies." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/30420.
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This thesis investigated the phytochemistry and pharmacology of immunomodulatory medicinal plant species used traditionally by the Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers Association (QMHA) of Belize, and the Cree of Eeyou Istchee (CEI) of northern Quebec.
Using quantitative ethnobotanical methodology, we identified 107 plant species belonging to 49 families used by Q’eqchi’ healers in the treatment of symptoms from 14 usage categories related to inflammation. Regression analysis revealed that the Piperaceae, Araceae, and Begoniaceae are preferentially selected by the Maya. Healer consensus for plant species was high, with 56 species (52%) being used by all the healers, and consensus for usage categories was also high, as informant consensus factor (FIC) values for each category were greater than 0.4.
Fifty-two Belizean species were evaluated for their TNF-α inhibitory activity in an LPS-stimulated THP-1 monocyte model. Twenty-one species (40%) demonstrated significant TNF-α inhibition when assayed at 100 µg/mL, 8 of which had greater than 50% of the activity of the parthenolide positive control (10 µg/mL). Significant regressions were found between the anti-inflammatory activity and total healer frequency of use (Fuse) and the use reports for 3 usage categories, which indicated that ethnobotanical parameters can in part predict the activity of traditionally used species.
Five sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the leaves of Neurolaena lobata, one of the most active species tested, all of which demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity greater than that of parthenolide (IC50 = 4.79 µM), with IC50s ranging from 0.17-2.32 µM. Lobatin B was the most active isolate tested.
Ethanolic and water extracts of 17 species used by Cree healers were evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity. In general, the average anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts was 1.8 times greater than that of water extracts, and the pro-inflammatory activity of water extracts was 3.7 times greater than ethanolic extracts. Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana were the most anti-inflammatory ethanolic and water extracts, while the water extract of Sarracenia purpurea was the most pro-inflammatory.
Picea marina cones, the most anti-inflammatory Cree medicine, were subjected to bioassay guided isolation. This led to the isolation of the anti-inflammatory lignan (+)-lariciresinol-9’-p-coumarate, which had an IC50 of 28.4 µM.
Together, these results validate the traditional knowledge shared by our Q’eqchi’ and Cree collaborators, and draw attention to the therapeutic potential of subtropical and boreal plants as culturally appropriate complements to modern medicine. - Cette thèse porte sur la phytochimie et la pharmacologie des espèces de plantes médicinales immunomodulatrices utilisées traditionnellement par le Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers Association (QMHA) du Belize, et les Cris d'Eeyou Istchee (CEI) du nord du Québec.
En utilisant une méthodologie ethnobotanique quantitative, nous avons identifié 107 espèces végétales appartenant à 49 familles utilisées par les guérisseurs Q'eqchi’ dans le traitement de symptômes appartenant à 14 catégories d'utilisation liées à l'inflammation. Une analyse de régression a révélé que les familles Piperaceae, Araceae, et Begoniaceae sont préférentiellement choisis par les Mayas. Le consensus entre guérisseurs pour les espèces végétales était élevé, avec 56 espèces (52%) étant utilisés par tous les guérisseurs, et le consensus pour les catégories d'utilisation était également élevé, car les valeurs de facteur de consensus des informants (FIC) pour chaque catégorie étaient supérieurs à 0,4.
Cinquante-deux espèces du Belize ont été évaluées pour leur activité inhibitrice de TNF-α dans un modèle de THP-1 monocytes stimulés par le LPS. Vingt-et-une espèces (40%) ont montré une inhibition significative de TNF-α lorsque dosés à 100 µg/mL, dont 8 d’entre elles ont démontrées plus de 50% de l'activité du contrôle positif parthénolide (10 µg/mL). Des régressions significatives ont été observées entre l'activité anti-inflammatoire et la fréquence d'utilisation de guérisseurs totale (Fuse) et les rapports d'utilisation pour 3 catégories d'utilisation, ce qui indique que les paramètres ethnobotaniques peuvent en partie prédire l'activité des espèces traditionnellement utilisées.
Cinq lactones sesquiterpéniques ont été isolés à partir des feuilles de Neurolaena lobata, l'une des espèces les plus actives testées, qui a démontré une activité anti-inflammatoire supérieure à celle du parthénolide (CI50 = 4,79 µM), avec des CI50 allant de 0,17 à 2,32 µM. Lobatin B était l’isolât le plus actif testé.
Des extraits éthanoliques et aqueux de 17 espèces utilisées par les guérisseurs Cris ont été évalués pour leur activité immunomodulatrice. En général, l'activité anti-inflammatoire moyenne des extraits éthanoliques était 1,8 fois supérieure à celle des extraits d'eau, et l'activité pro-inflammatoire des extraits d'eau était de 3,7 fois supérieure à celle des extraits éthanoliques. Picea mariana et Pinus banksiana étaient les extraits éthanoliques et aqueux avec le plus d’activité anti-inflammatoire, tandis que l'extrait aqueux de Sarracenia purpurea était le plus pro-inflammatoire.
Le cône de Picea marina, le médicament traditionnelle Cris le plus anti-inflammatoire, a été soumis à une isolation guidée par essais biologiques. Cela a mené à l'isolement du lignane anti-inflammatoire (+)-lariciresinol-9'-p-coumarate, qui avait une CI50 de 28,4 µM.
Ensemble, ces résultats valident les connaissances traditionnelles partagées par nos collaborateurs Q'eqchi' et Cris, et mettent en évidence le potentiel thérapeutique des plantes subtropicales et boréales comme des compléments à la médecine moderne qui sont culturellement appropriées.
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Carrió, Cabrer Maria Esperança. "Contribució a l’etnobotànica de Mallorca. La biodiversitat vegetal i la seva gestió en una illa mediterrània." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/123971.
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Aquest treball estableix el catàleg etnoflorístic de Mallorca. És el primer estudi etnobotànic complet sobre l’illa i contribueix a incrementar les dades etnobotàniques disponibles dels territoris del domini lingüístic català. L’estudi es basa en 235 informants d’una mitjana d’edat de 76 anys i abraça 75 nuclis de població de tots els 53 municipis mallorquins. El 97% dels informants són autòctons de l’illa, el 89% són jubilats, i el 57% són homes. S’ha recollit majoritàriament informació de persones nascudes entre el 1931 i el 1940. La mitjana de citacions d’ús per informant és de 42,31 i el factor de consens d’informants (FIC) per a tot Mallorca és 0,94, un valor molt proper al consens total (1). La informació obtinguda de les entrevistes ha estat analitzada des del punt de vista botànic i etnogràfic, i s’ha fet servir el gestor de dades del grup EtnobotCat, ideat en el transcurs d’aquest estudi a partir de versions anteriors d’altres bases de dades etnobotàniques del nostre equip. El total de tàxons recollit de les entrevistes és de 517, i les citacions globals (amb consens u, és a dir, citades per almenys un informant) per a cada categoria d’ús són 1900 per a medicinals, 2872 per a alimentàries i 2235 per a altres usos. S’han recollit un total de 600 dades etnogràfiques no referents directament als vegetals. Dels 517 tàxons que conformen el catàleg etnoflorístic, majoritàriament fanerògames i hemicriptòfits de tipus biològic, un 52% són silvestres i la resta cultivats o obtinguts al comerç. L’índex d’etnobotanicitat és del 28%, o sigui, els informants han qualificat prop d’un terç de la flora de Mallorca com a útil. S’han recopilat 1401 noms populars, dels quals se n’identifiquen 250 de catalans no documentats en les obres incloses al projecte Recull de noms catalans de plantes. S’han recopilat 255 tàxons útils en medicina humana (137 de silvestres), amb un total de 1811 citacions d’ús amb un consens de tres informants. S’han recopilat 159 mescles de plantes (110 tàxons i 662 citacions d’ús), també amb activitat medicinal, majoritàriament anticatarral. Per a les dades referides a la medicina animal, els informants citen 92 remeis veterinaris referits a 53 tàxons. D’aquests remeis, 52 són exclusius per a animals i 40 són compartits amb la medicina humana. Del total de tàxons citats com a alimentaris en humans (199), el 67% són cultivats o comprats, i la resta, silvestres. S’han recollit 103 citacions d’ús de vegetals en alimentació animal per a 62 tàxons. Per als usos que no són ni alimentaris ni medicinals els informants han citat 351 tàxons i 1142 reports d’ús únics. El grau de novetat de l’etnomedicina mallorquina, després de fer un buidatge de més de 200 obres amb informació d’interès etnobotànic d’àmbit majoritàriament mediterrani, és força alt per a ser un estudi etnobotànic tan actual, car consisteix en 38 tàxons poc citats i 306 reports d’ús que no apareixen o són recollits en menys de tres obres de referència. Els estudis etnobotànics com aquest poden ser una eina molt útil per a les administracions en salut pública per tal de facilitar i millorar la detecció i prevenció d’interaccions i altres problemes resultants de combinar plantes medicinals i medicaments de síntesi, i també per a encoratjar la seguretat en la prescripció i el consell farmacèutic per part dels professionals de la salut. L’interès principal de portar a terme un estudi etnobotànic de Mallorca ha estat el de contribuir a conèixer l’ús tradicional que es fa de les plantes de l’illa i valorar els beneficis que es poden extraure d’aquests sabers, aplicats al present i futur de la societat estudiada.This work is a contribution to the ethnobotany of Mallorca. This is the first approach in this field entirely based on interviews with local people. We spoke with a total of 235 informants with a mean age of 76, covering 75 villages in all the 53 municipalities of Mallorca. The data collected has been analyzed from the botanical and ethnographical point of view, and managed using an online database designed in the course of this study starting from earlier versions developed in our research group, EtnobotCat. The organisation of the data into groups of three, for example, the categories of use, the results of the discussion and consensus facilitates both the design and the systematization of data analysis. The basic unit of the analysis is the use report, and the information has been organized into two catalogues (taxa and mixtures), and additional ethnographic data referred to plants has also been considered. The total number of collected taxa from the interviews is 517, and the overall citations (with consensus of one, i.e. cited by at least one informant) for each category of use are 1900 for medicinals, 2872 for food and 2235 for other uses. Moreover, we have collected a total of 600 ethnographic data not directly related to the plants. The main interest of carrying out an ethnobotanical study of Mallorca has been to contribute to the knowledge of the traditional use of plants of the island and appreciate the benefits of this knowledge, applied to the present and future of our society.
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Laurant-Berthoud, Claire. "Les herbes de la vie : entre Tlazotéotl et Hippocrate, plantes médicinales et pratiques thérapeutiques des sages-femmes traditionnelles de l’Altiplano central du Mexique." Thesis, Paris 3, 2009. http://www.theses.fr/2009PA030022.
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Au Mexique et plus spécifiquement dans l’Etat du Morelos, les sages-femmes traditionnelles constituent un groupe hétérogène quant à l’origine culturelle et ethnique, aux pratiques thérapeutiques, à la personnalité, à la formation reçue, aux honoraires perçus…. Personnages à la croisée des savoirs, les sages-femmes puisent leurs connaissances dans les traditions médicales náhuatl ; elles ont également reçu une formation académique de la part de la médecine occidentale.Elles pratiquent un panachage de techniques appartenant à des traditions médicales savantes ou populaires aux systèmes de référence a priori opposés. Elles démontrent des capacités d’intégration de connaissances issues de ces différentes traditions. Leur intérêt pour les thérapies dans la mouvance actuelle des médecines dites alternatives dénote aussi leur curiosité d’esprit et la souplesse de leurs pratiques. Au plan thérapeutique, les sages-femmes occupent un espace bien spécifique avec ses caractéristiques propres dans l’accompagnement de la femme au cours du processus de la maternité,de la conception à la période puerpérale. Les bains, les massages, l’alimentation et le remède végétal constituent une de leurs principales ressources thérapeutiques; l’importance de leur pharmacopée varie d’une dizaine à une centaine de plantes. Le système thérapeutique des sages-femmes est fondé sur un invariant : le concept du chaud et du froidIn Mexico, more specifically in the state of Morelos, traditional midwives compose a heterogeneous group with regards to their cultural and ethnic origins, their therapeutic praxis, their individual personalities, their training, their fees, etc. At crossroads of knowledge sources, midwives draw their competence from Náhuatl medical traditions and benefited from an academic training from occidental medicine as well. They resort to a number of diverse techniques belonging to wise and popular medical traditions which often refer to a priori conflicting systems. Midwives from Morelos demonstrate their capacity to integrate the lore from those different traditions. Their interest towards the therapies relating to the sphere of the present so-called alternative medicines also indicates their openness and the flexibility of their praxis. From a therapeutic point of view, the midwives assume aspecific role with clear characteristics in accompanying women all along the maternity process, from conception to puerperal period. Baths, massage, nutrition and herbal remedies constitute their main therapeutical resources; the range of their pharmacopoeia varies from a dozen to about a hundredplants. The therapeutic system of the midwives is based on the invariant dichotomy of hot and cold
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Nair, Amatheni. "An investigation into the potential mutagenicity of South African traditional medicinal plants." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3440.
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The potential mutagenicity and clastogenicity (ability to cause chromosomal damage) of five South African traditional medicinal plants: Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.); Pelargonium sp. cf. inquinans ( L.) L Herit; Pteridium aquilinum subsp aquilinum; Rumex lanceolatus Thunb. and Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Sg, were investigated using two in vitro tests in both a bacterial and a mammalian cell system. The Salmonella reverse mutation assay and chromosomal aberration test, two frequently used and accepted pharmacological bioassays, were selected for the investigation. The rat liver extract (S9), containing CYP P450 and other liver enzymes, was added to the in vitro cell system to detect pro-mutagens that require metabolic activation in order to exert mutagenicity or clastogenicity - directly acting mutagens do not require metabolic activation. A significant mutagenic potential (p 0.01) was evident with the Salmonella reverse mutation assay for three of the aqueous plant extracts: (i) R. lanceolatus (in strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102) with and without metabolic activation (S9), (ii) P. aquilinum in TA100 with S9 and in TA102 without S9 and (iii) Pelargonium (in TA102) without S9. Furthermore, R. lanceolatus and P. aquilinum were clastogenic in the chromosomal aberration test but this effect was reduced with S9. Z. aethiopica demonstrated clastogenicity, which was reduced with S9, but the extract was not mutagenic. Since the chromosomal aberration test is dependent on cells entering the cell cycle (Go-G1, S and G2-M) and chromosome visibility with light microscopy only occurs at metaphase, the clastogenicity of A. oppositifolia and Pelargonium could not be detected because these extracts inhibited mitosis (M). A DNA analysis of cultures treated with A. oppositifolia and Pelargonium by Flow Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) indicated a blockage in the Go/G1 phase of the cell cycle. The in vitro mutagenicity and clastogenicity tests served as a preliminary investigation into the safety of five traditional plants. In addition to mutagenicity testing, it is suggested that further scientific evaluation, validation, standardisation and regulation of South African traditional medicine is essential in order to prevent the adverse acute and chronic effects of plant ingestion. iii
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Glover, Denise M. "Up from the roots : contextualizing medicinal plant classifications of Tibetan doctors in Rgyalthang, PRC /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/6487.
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Ntutela, Siyabulela Calvin Sibusiso. "In vitro efficacy tests against Mycobacterium species of South African traditional medicinal plants." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3445.
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Includes bibliographical references.Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death due to a single organism; with a mortality of more than 3million people each year, worldwide. The emergence of multi-drug resistance and HIV/AIDS are the major causes of this problem. New therapeutic agents with a different mode of action, and thereby of resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent, are needed urgently. Amongst the methods used, the area of ethnopharmacology is explored in this study. Visits were performed to collect the plants used by traditional healers in 7 provinces of South Africa for the treatment of tuberculosis.
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Tsui, Wing-yan Pamela. "Phytochemical investigation of plants used in traditional medicine in Hong Kong /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17594303.
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Yengkopiong, P. J. "The assessment of the therapeutic and toxicological properties of carpobrotus acinaciformis and schkuhria pinnata used in traditional medicine in South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/846.
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Beltran, Oscar. "Investigation of the anti-mycobacterial and cytotoxic effect of three medicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of tuberculosis in northern Mexico and the southwest U.S." To access this resource online via ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ UTEP, 2008. http://0-proquest.umi.com.lib.utep.edu/login?COPT=REJTPTU0YmImSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&clientId=2515.
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Bullard-Roberts, Angelle L. "Medicinal Plants of Trinidad and Tobago: Selection of Antidiabetic Remedies." FIU Digital Commons, 2016. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2546.
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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of non-infectious diseases that cause hyperglycemia. DM symptoms were first clinically described by ancient Greek physicians whose prescriptions included plant-based remedies. Today, DM affects >400 million people globally and prevalence rates are rapidly increasing in developing countries where basic healthcare relies on local knowledge of botanical remedies. Many developing countries are home to diverse peoples and plants—providing fodder for varied plant-selection strategies and unique botanical pharmacopoeias.
I addressed the plant-selection strategies used in a multi-ethnic, developing country, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), to ascertain their role in shaping the local antidiabetic pharmacopoeia and to assess their benefits and risks in identifying safe and useful remedies. Using literature reviews, field surveys, and laboratory bioassays, I completed three categories of analysis.
Ethnobotanical analyses showed that T&T’s antidiabetic pharmacopoeia is primarily of recent origin as >50% of the 48 historical DM remedies were Neotropical natives, including congenerics of well-known medicinal Paleotropical genera. Nevertheless, conservative knowledge transmission was also evident as several Paleotropical species of T&T’s pharmacopoeia, including Momordica charantia and Catharanthus roseus were also used in Africa, India and across the Caribbean. Paleotropical natives with a long history of use are likely to be safer remedies.
Ethno-medicinal analyses of the pre- and post-2000 DM remedies of T&T, totaling 99 species, suggest that the centuries-old hot/cold folk disease-model was the model predominantly used in plant-selection. Parallels found between T&T folk concepts and biomedical mechanisms of DM provide probable bases for efficacy but the chronic use of purgatives and bitter-tasting plants is likely to be risky.
Phytochemical analyses revealed that 69% of the tested plant extracts contained phenolic compounds, with more than half producing >80% alpha-glucosidase inhibition. Phenolic content and alpha-glucosidase inhibition were strongly correlated among food plants used as medicines, suggesting higher probability of selection as a result of non-target effects. The medicinal use of food plants may provide the best margins of safety and efficacy in identifying antidiabetic remedies.
Together, these analyses showed how culture-specific plant-selection strategies can identify safe, useful remedies for developing countries to address their increasing DM prevalence in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
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Masoko, Peter. "Characterization of antifungal compounds isolated from Combretum and Terminalia species (Combretaceae)." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07102007-115218.
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Tshikalange, Thilivhali Emmanuel. "n vitro anti-HIV-1 properties of ethnobotanically selected South African plants used in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07032008-121613/.
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Sagbo, Idowu Jonas. "Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial properties of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Brachylaena elliptica (Thurb.) dc. and Brachylaena ilicifolia (Lam.) Phill & Schweick." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021289.
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Resistance of human pathogenic bacterial strains results in selective pressure against known antibiotic. However, plant derived compounds that possess antibacterial potential are currently being investigated for treatment of wound infections in diabetic patients as they are inexpensive and non-toxic. Hence, this dissertation was designed to evaluate two medicinal plants (Brachylaena elliptica and Brachylaena ilicifolia) traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, and its secondary complications in diabetic patients. The in vitro antioxidant activity of both plants were evaluated using DPPH (1, 1-diphenylhydrazl), ferric reducing power, ABTS (2, 2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), NO (nitric oxide) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) techniques. The antibacterial test and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method against 5 bacteria strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogene, Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis) infecting wounds in diabetic patients using amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin as positive control. The phytochemical analyses were assessed using standard published methods. Identification of bioactive components in essential oils of both plants were assessed using GCMS. The aqueous and ethanol extracts of both plants were also evaluated to identify bioactive components using LC-MS. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavanoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, saponins and alkaloids in both plants. Both plants indicated strong antioxidant activities which might be due to the presence of bioactive compounds. The aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of both plants demonstrated appreciable broad spectrum activities against these wound pathogens with MIC ranging between 5 and 0.3 mg/ml. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oils of both plants revealed the presence of monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, phenolics and esters. The LC-MS analysis of the aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of both plants showed that both plants are rich in alkaloids, terpenes, terpenoids, monoterpernoids, and flavanoids. Conclusively, this study has partially justified the ethnomedicinal use of B. elliptica and B.licifolia leaves for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes and wound infections caused by bacteria in diabetic patients. These may be attributed to the presence of antioxidant compound such as phenols, flavanoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and other phytochemical compounds.
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Kgatle, Dimakatso Thomas. "Isolation and characterization of antioxidant compounds from Cambretum apiculatum (Sond.) subsp apiculatum leaf extracts." Electronic thesis, 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08122008-114732/.
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Penduka, Dambudzo. "Assessment of the anti-Listerial properties of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015527.
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A follow-up of traditional medicinal plants uses is an important tool in highlighting their therapeutic potentials, as they have been found to be a source of a wide range of bioactive compounds that can be used as base compounds for new pharmaceutical drugs. This study therefore focuses on assessing the anti-Listerial properties of the seeds of Garcinia kola (Heckel) plant, which is a traditional medicinal plant of west and central African origin, and was and is still used to traditionally treat several ailments. Four different solvents crude extracts of the seeds were assessed for their anti-Listerial activities in-vitro, against a panel of 42 Listeria bacteria, which included Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria ivanovii and Listeria grayi species. At 10 mg/ml concentration the aqueous extract had activity against 29% of the test isolates while the other three crude extracts namely dichloromethane, n-hexane and the methanol extracts had activity against 45% of the test bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges of the extracts were 0.079-0.313 mg/ml for the dichloromethane extract; 0.079-0.625 mg/ml for the n-hexane extract; 0.157-0.625 mg/ml for the methanol extract; and 10->10 mg/ml for the aqueous extract. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranges of the extracts were 0.625–10 mg/ml for both the n-hexane and the dichloromethane extract; 5-10 mg/ml for the methanol extract; and those for the aqueous extract were above 10 mg/ml against all the susceptible Listeria isolates. The rate of kill analysis was then determined for the three most active crude extracts that is excluding the aqueous extract and it was assessed against four representative Listeria species namely L. monocytogenes (LAL 8), L. grayi (LAL 15), L. ivanovii (LEL 30) and L. ivanovii (LEL 18). All the three extracts showed a general trend of being concentration and time dependent in their rate of kill profiles such that most bacteria cells were killed at the highest test concentration of 4× MIC value after the maximum exposure time of 2 h. The n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were bactericidal against 4, 3 and 1 isolates out of the four test Listeria isolates respectively.
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Rojas, Maria J. "Study of Plants Used Against Infections by California Native American Tribes." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2020. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2248.
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The objectives of this research were to evaluate the antibacterial activity and to determine the chemical composition of a list of medicinal plants used by Native Americans in California. Artemisia californica, Mimulus aurantiacus, Equisetum telmateia, Equisetum hyemale, and Marah fabacea were selected from a list of plants reported as having been used for ailments related to infections by tribes located in California. The extracts obtained through steam distillation from E. telmateia, E. hyemale and M. fabacea were assayed for in vitro antibacterial activity against 16 Gram-negative and 6 Gram-positive bacteria using disk diffusion assays and measuring the diameters of inhibition zones. E. telmateia showed the most promising antibacterial activity. The extracts from A. californica, M. aurantiacus and E. telmateia were analyzed for chemical composition, finding eucalyptol, thujone, eugenol, caryophyllene, germacrene D, and propanal as some of the secondary metabolites identified using GC-MS. Our results suggest that E. telmateia can be a potential source for novel antimicrobials against pathogenic bacteria.
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Adegborioye, Abiodun. "In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of olea europaea subsp. africana and euryops brevipapposus used by Cala community folkloric medicine for the management of infections associated with chronic non-communicable diseases." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4869.
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Chronic non-communicable diseses are a global public health challenge that continuously threatens the development and health of humans. Risk factors such as unbalanced diet-the high consumption of processed food or food from animal origin are responsible for NCDs. NCDs result in weakened immune system, making the host susceptible to opportunistic infections. Thus, the NCDs burden is most times chronic and multiple with the illness and suffering of the affected person numerous. The lack of cure for NCDs, the high cost of drugs, their high side-effects, and the emergence of multiple drug resistance has given rise to the investigation of other sources for therapeutic cure such as medicinal plants. The ethanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Olea europaea were analysed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The essential oil was also analysed for their chemical constituents. The n-hexane extracts of O. europaea exhibited no inhibition against all of the microorganisms tested, while the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts exhibited inhibition, with minimum inhibitory concentration values between 0.625 mg/ml to 1.25 mg/ml. The ethanol leaf and ethyl acetate stem extracts exhibited significant activity in the inhibition of 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazolin - 6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt (ABTS) free radical, the n-hexane leaf extract had the overall significant lipid peroxidation inhibition activity, while in the inhibition of 2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), the ethanol and ethyl acetate leaf extracts had strong activity. Nonanal, phytol, α-Pinene, α-Phellandrene, spatulenol and farnesol were some of chemical components identified after the GC-MS analysis of O. europaea oil. In the final part of the dissertation, Euryops brevipapposus essential oil was assessed for the antioxidant activities using free radical scavenging assays. In addition to this, the antimicrobial activities were assessed and the chemical composition was analysed using GC-MS. The essential oil demonstrated significant antioxidant activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH), 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and lipid peroxides with IC50 value of 0.0000000671 mg/ml, 1.05 mg/ml, and 1.170 mg/ml respectively. The essential oil also showed significant activity against all microorganisms tested with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 0.055 mg/ml to 0.5 mg/ml. α-pinene, α- Phellandrene, germacrene D, β-pinene, trans- β.-Ocimene, bicyclogermacrene and β -Phellandrene were some of the chemical compounds identified in E. brevipapposus oil. The study has shown that E. brevipapposus and O. europaea are abundant in phytochemical compounds which were thought to be the root cause for the activities demonstrated. Therefore, these therapeutic properties observed validate and elucidate the traditional usage of the both plants in the treatment /management of diseases.
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Williams, Saralene Iona. "Chang liver cell line as a model for Type II Diabetes in the liver and possible reversal of this condition by an indigenous medicinal plant." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016179.
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The incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellittus (T2DM) is increasing world wide. In Africa the limited access to health care and the insidious course of the disease lead to more severe illness and diabetic complications. There is a need to find alternative approaches to treatment and prevention that address the problems and needs of Africa. Sutherlandia frutescens (S.frutescens) is a traditional herbal plant with known anti-diabetic properties, the precise mechanism of action of S.frutescens is not known. In order to develop new approaches for treatment and prevention of T2DM the pathophysiology of T2DM must be understood. T2DM is the final outcome of a multi-organ disease characterized by early defects in muscle, adipocytes, hepatocytes and pancreatic β-cells. In this study the role of the liver was investigated because of its central role in glucose and lipid metabolism. It is hard to differentiate between all the influences in an in vivo model, so the aim of this study was to develop an in vitro model of T2DM in Chang liver cells and to determine if S.frutescens can reverse the state of insulin resistance in this model. Different culture media conditions were screened to identify a method that can be used as the T2DM model in Chang liver cells. Serum free medium (MCBD-201) supplemented with human diabetic serum, (2.5%-10%), high insulin concentrations (0.1μM-1μM), high fructose concentrations (1-10mM). and a combination of high insulin and high fructose was used for this screening. Chang liver cells cultured in MCBD-201 medium supplemented with 1mM fructose and 0.1μM insulin showed reduced glucose uptake and increased lipid accumulation. The effect of two S.frutescens extracts, two anti-diabetic drugs, metformin and ciglitazone, and a hypolipidemic drug ciprofibrate were determined and shown to increase glucose uptake and reduce lipid accumulation. It was postulated that exposing the cells to excess nutrients in the form of high fructose would stimulate the cells to become adipogenic and accumulate lipids, which would interfere with the glucose uptake and induce insulin resistance. Gene expression of PPARγ, PPARα, and SREBP-1 transcription factors regulating lipid metabolism was determined in Chang liver cells cultured in insulin resistance inducing medium over a 48 hour time course. The expression of PPARγ, known to stimulate adipogenesis was increased after 6, 24 and 48 hours of exposure (P(H1)<0.0001). The expression of PPARα, known to stimulate β-oxidation expression, was significantly decreased after 24 hours of exposure (P(H1)<0.0001). The presence of the plant extracts in the insulin resistance inducing media protect against this increase in adipogenesis and decrease in β-oxidation after 48 hours of exposure by increasing PPARα expression and decreasing PPARγ expression. A PCR Array was performed which identified 32 more potential molecular targets of S.frutescens. Five of the 32 targets identified with the PCR Array were validated using qRT-PCR. These genes play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism and protection against oxidative stress and inflammation. In summary a cellular model of insulin resistace in hepatocytes has been established and the capacity of S.frutescens to reverse this process has been demonstrated by acting as a dual PPARγ/α agonist. New genes have been identified in the development of insulin resistance and as targets of S.frutescens.
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Baatjies, Lucinda. "In vitro cytotoxic effects of selected Nigerian medicinal plant extracts on cancer cell lines." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008191.
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Cancer is a disease that imposes a heavy burden on public health and poses a challenge to science. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of people in developing countries of the world rely on traditional medicine for their primary health needs, and about 85 percent of traditional medicine involves the use of plant extracts. This is particularly true in Africa where a large percentage of the population depends upon medicinal plants for health care. Therefore, detailed screening and evaluation of bioactive substances for chemotherapeutic purposes of African plants are urgently warranted. Furthermore, this will serve to validate the efficacy and safety of African traditional medicine. The current study investigated the in vitro cytotoxic effects of 17 ethanolic extracts of the following 16 plants used in traditional anticancer medicine in Nigeria: Sapium ellipticum leaves, Sapium ellipticum stembark, Combretum paniculatum, Celosia trigyna, Pupalia lappacea, Justica extensa, Hedranthera barteri leaves, Alternanthera sessilis, Ethulia conyzoides leaves, Lannea nigritana stembark, Combretum zenkeri root, Combretum molle leaves, Adenanthera parvoniana, Lannea acida, Cyathula achyranthoides, Drymaria cordata, Cyathula prostrata, against HeLa cancer cells. Five of the most promising extracts (Sapium ellipticum leaves, Combretum paniculatum, Celosia trigyna, Drymaria cordata, Cyathula prostrata) were selected for further screening against HT29 and MCF-7 cancer cells. Of the five, the first two were investigated further based on their activities in the screening phase. The S. ellipticum leaf extract yielded IC50 values of 88.60 ± 0.03 and 93.03 ± 0.03 μg/ml against HeLa and MCF-7, respectively. The toxicity was also evaluated on normal cells and an IC50 of 77.66 μg/ml was obtained for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The IC50 values for proliferating and confluent Chang liver cells were both >125 μg/ml. These results suggest that the extract may be selective for specific cell types. Bio-assay guided fractionation of the S. ellipticum ethanolic extract yielded two active fractions; chloroform and ethyl acetate. Two compounds isolated from the chloroform extract were screened against the three cancer cell lines and found to be inactive. Three compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction and revealed IC50 values < 62.5 and < 31 μg/ml against MCF-7. Unfortunately these two compounds soon lost activity before any further work could be done on them and work was continued with the crude extract.
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Samdumu, Faga B. "Characterization of antimicrobial compounds from Combretum paniculatum, a plant with proven anti-HIV replication activity." Electronic thesis, 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08032007-173831/.
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Adefuye, Ogheneochuko Janet. "Anti-diabetic and phytochemical analysis of sutherlandia frutescens extracts." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3549.
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In Africa, the importance of medicinal plants in folklore medicine and their contribution to primary healthcare is well recognized. Across the continent, local herbal mixtures still provide the only therapeutic option for about 80% of the population. The vast floral diversity and the intrinsic ethnobotanical knowledge has been the backbone of localized traditional herbal medical practices. In Africa, an estimated 5400 of the 60000 described plant taxa possess over 16300 therapeutic uses. Similarly, with a therapeutic flora comprising of approximately 650 species, herbal medical practitioners in South Africa, make use of a plethora of plants to treat different human diseases and infections. Over the years, studies have identified numerous plant species with potential against chronic metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Globally, the incidence and prevalence of T2DM have reached epidemic proportions affecting people of all ages, nationalities and ethnicity. Considered the fourth leading cause of deaths by disease, T2DM is a global health crisis with an estimated diagnosis and mortality frequency of 1 every 5 seconds and 1 every 7 seconds respectively. Though the exact pathophysiology of T2DM is not entirely understood, initial peripheral insulin resistance in adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle with subsequent pancreatic β-cell dysfunction resulting from an attempt to compensate for insulin resistance is a common feature of the disease. The current approach to treating T2DM is the use of oral antidiabetic agents (OAAs), insulin, and incretin-based drugs in an attempt to achieve glycaemic control and maintain glucose homeostasis. However, conventional anti-T2DM drugs have been shown to have limited efficacies and serious adverse effects. Hence, the need for newer, more efficacious and safer anti-T2DM agents. Sutherlandia frutescens subsp. microphylla is a flowering shrub of the pea family (Fabaceae/Leguminaceae) found mainly in the Western Cape and Karoo regions of Southern Africa. Concoctions of various parts of the plant are used in the management of different ailments including T2DM. However, despite extensive biological and pharmacological studies, few analyses exist of the chemical constituents of S. frutescens and no Triple Time of Flight Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (Triple TOF LC/MS/MS) analysis has been performed. The initial aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile of hot aqueous, cold aqueous, 80% ethanolic, 100% ethanolic, 80% methanolic and 100% methanolic extracts of a single source S. frutescens plant material using colorimetric and spectrophotometric analysis. The hot aqueous extractant was found to be the best extractant for S. frutescens, yielding 1.99 g of crude extract from 16 g fresh powdered plant material. This data suggests that application of heat and water as the extractant (hot aqueous) could play a vital role in extraction of bioactive compounds from S. frutescens and also justifies the traditional use of a tea infusion of S. frutescens. Colorimetric analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, flavonols, tannins, and phenols in all extracts with varying intensity. The organic extracts 100% methanol, 80% and 100% ethanol exhibited high color intensity (+++) for flavonoids and flavonols respectively, while all the extracts exhibited a moderate color intensity (++) for tannins and phenols. Spectrophotometric analysis of S. frutescens extracts revealed that all the organic extracts contained a significantly higher concentration (in mg/g of extract) of flavonols and tannins when compared to the aqueous extracts. All extracts contained approximately equal levels of phenols. These data confirm the presence of all four groups of bioactive phytocompounds in the S. frutescens extracts used in this study, and also confirm that different solvent extractants possess the capability to differentially extract specific groups of phytocompounds. in individual extracts. Further comparison of these compounds with online databases of anti-diabetic phytocompounds led to the preliminary identification of 10 possible anti-diabetic compounds; α-Pinene, Limonene, Sabinene, Carvone, Myricetin, Rutin, Stigmasterol, Emodin, Sarpagine and Hypoglycin B in crude and solid phase extraction (SPE) fractions of S. frutesecens. Furthermore, using two hepatic cell lines (Chang and HepG2) as an in-vtro model system, the anti-T2DM properties of crude aqueous and organic extracts of S. frutescents was investigated and compared. Both aqueous and organic extracts of S. frutescens were found to decrease gluconeogenesis, increase glucose uptake and decrease lipid accumulation (Triacylglycerol, Diacylglycerol, and Monoacylglycerol) in Chang and HepG2 hepatic cell cultures made insulin resistant (IR) following exposure to high concentration of insulin and fructose. Using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), the aqueous and organic extracts of S. frutescens were confirmed to regulate the expression of Vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 (VAMP3), Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), and Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) in insulin resistant hepatic cells. IR-mediated downregulation of VAMP3, MAPK8, and IRS1 mRNA in IR HepG2 hepatic cell cultures was reversed in the presence of aqueous and organic extracts of S. frutescens. The hot aqueous extract displayed the highest activity in all the assays, while all the organic extracts displayed similar potency. In conclusion, this study reports that aqueous and organic extracts of S. frutescens possess numerous anti-diabetic compounds that can be further investigated for the development of new, more efficacious and less toxic anti-diabetic agents. The presence of multiple compounds in a single extract does suggest a synergistic or combinatorial therapeutic effect. These findings support the burgeoning body of in-vivo and in-vitro literature evidence on the anti-diabetic properties of S. frutescens and its use in folklore medicine.
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Müller, Adrienne Carmel. "African traditional medicine-antiretroviral interactions : effects of Sutherlandia frutescens on the pharmacokinetics of Atazanavir." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013373.
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In response to the urgent call for investigations into antiretroviral (ARV)-African traditional medicine (ATM) interactions, this research was undertaken to ascertain whether chronic administration of the ATM, Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) may alter the bioavailability of the protease inhibitor (PI), atazanavir (ATV), which may impact on the safety or efficacy of the ARV. Prior to investigating a potential interaction between ATV and SF in vitro and in vivo, a high performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was developed and validated for the bioanalysis of ATV in human plasma and liver microsomes. An improved and efficient analytical method with minimal use of solvents and short run time was achieved in comparison to methods published in the literature. In addition, the method was selective, linear, accurate and precise for quantitative analysis of ATV in these studies. Molecular docking studies were conducted to compare the binding modes and affinities of ATV and two major SF constituents, Sutherlandioside B and Sutherlandin C, with the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the CYP450 isoenzyme, CYP3A4 to determine the potential for these phytochemicals to competitively inhibit the binding of ATV to these two proteins, which are mediators of absorption and metabolism. These studies revealed that modulation of P-gp transport of ATV by Sutherlandioside B and Sutherlandin C was not likely to occur via competitive inhibition. The results further indicated that weak competitive inhibition of CYP3A4 may possibly occur in the presence of either of these two SF constituents. The Caco-2 cell line was used as an in vitro model of human intestinal absorption. Accumulation studies in these cells were conducted to ascertain whether extracts and constituents of SF have the ability to alter the absorption of ATV. The results showed that the aqueous extract of SF significantly reduced ATV accumulation, suggesting decreased ATV absorption, whilst a triterpenoid glycoside fraction isolated from SF exhibited an opposing effect. Analogous responses were elicited by the aqueous extract and a triterpenoid glycoside fraction in similar accumulation studies in P-gp overexpressing Madin–Darby Canine Kidney Strain II cells (MDCKII-MDR1), which signified that the effects of this extract and component on ATV transport in the Caco-2 cells were P-gp-mediated. The quantitative analysis of ATV in human liver microsomes after co-incubation with extracts and components of SF was conducted to determine the effects of SF on the metabolism of ATV. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of SF inhibited ATV metabolism, whilst the triterpenoid glycoside fraction had a converse effect. Analogous effects by the extracts were demonstrated in experiments conducted in CYP3A4-transfected microsomes, suggesting that the inhibition of ATV metabolism in the liver microsomes by these SF extracts was CYP3A4-mediated. A combination of Sutherlandiosides C and D also inhibited CYP3A4-mediated ATV metabolism, which was in contrast to the response elicited by the triterpenoid fraction in the liver microsomes, where other unidentified compounds, shown to be present therein, may have contributed to the activation of ATV metabolism. The in vitro studies revealed the potential for SF to alter the bioavailability of ATV, therefore a clinical study in which the effect of a multiple dose regimen of SF on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a single dose of ATV was conducted in healthy male volunteers. The statistical analysis showed that the 90 % confidence intervals around the geometric mean ratios (ATV + SF/ATV alone) for both Cmax and AUC0-24 hours, fell well below the lower limit of the "no-effect" boundary of 0.8 – 1.25, implying that the bioavailability of ATV was significantly reduced in this cohort of subjects. It may thus be concluded that if the reduction in bioavailability observed in this clinical study is found to be clinically relevant, co-administration of SF commercial dosage forms and ATV in HIV/AIDS patients may potentially result in subtherapeutic ATV levels, which may in turn contribute to ATV resistance and/or treatment failure. This research has therefore highlighted the potential risk for toxicity or lack of efficacy of ARV regimens which may result when ATMs and PIs are used concurrently and that patients and health care practitioners alike should be aware of these perils.
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Liu, Qian. "An ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants of the Kamilaroi and Muruwari aboriginal communities in northern New South Wales." Electronic version, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/416.
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Okeleye, Benjamin Ifeoluwa. "In vitro activity of bioactive compounds of selected South African medicinal plants on clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/310.
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The stem bark of Peltophorum africanum and Bridelia micrantha are used in South Africa traditional medicine for treatment of intestinal parasites, relieve problems and human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by Helicobacter pylori the major etiological agent in gastritis, gastric cancer, peptic and gastric ulcer demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources. This study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of five solvent (ethylacetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol and water) extracts of the stem bark of P. africanum and B. micrantha on clinical strains of H. pylori in a bid to identify potential sources of cheap starting materials for the synthesis of new drugs. H. pylori strains were isolated from patients presenting with gastric related morbidities at the Livingstone Hospital, Port Elizabeth for endoscopy and confirmed following standard microbiology procedures. The plant extracts including clarithromycin were tested against 31 clinical strains of H. pylori by the agar well diffusion method. The most potent extract was evaluated by the microdilution method to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50&90), followed by the rate of kill. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out. The one way ANOVA test was used to statistically analyse the results. All the extracts demonstrated anti-H. pylori activity with zone diameters of inhibition that ranged from 0 to 23 mm for the extracts and 0 to 35 mm for clarithromycin. Marked susceptibility (100%) was recorded for the ethyl acetate extract of P. africanum (P. afr. EA) and the acetone extract of B. micrantha (B. mic. A), which were statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared to all other extracts and clarithromycin. For B. micrantha ethyl acetate extract, 93.5 percent susceptibility was observed while for the control iv antibiotic, clarithromycin it was 58.1 percent. The MIC50 ranged from 0.0048 to 0.313 mg/mL for P. afr. EA, and from 0.0048 to 0.156 mg/mL for B. mic. EA; MIC90 ranged from 0.156 mg/mL to 0.625 mg/mL and 0.0048 to 2.5 mg/mL for P. afr. EA and B. mic. EA respectively. There was a significant statistical difference observed in potency of both P. afr. EA and B. mic. A compared to the two antibiotics (P < 0.05). One hundred percent killing by P. afr EA was observed at 0.05 mg/mL (½ x MIC) and 0.2 mg/mL (2 x MIC) in 66 h for strain PE466C and PE252C respectively. For B. mic. EA, 100 percent killing effect of both strains (PE430C and PE369C) was observed at 0.1 mg/mL (2 x MIC) in 66 h. Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and saponins in the ethyl acetate extracts of both plants, which could be a potential template of lead molecule for the design of new anti- Helicobacter pylori therapies.
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Heisler, Elisa Vanessa. "SABERES E PRATICAS POPULARES NO CULTIVO DE HORTO MEDICINAL." Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 2015. http://repositorio.ufsm.br/handle/1/7435.
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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorHealth care practices are as old as the emergence of the human species, because since the beginning of civilization are part of the family and community care activities. Among the various practices used and disseminated by popular culture, medicinal plants occupy a prominent place. Although they have been devalued by scientific knowledge, remained to the public health system margin, and are now being valued by national and international public policies that value and encourage the rescue of this millennial know. Considering the importance of the recovery of conventional wisdom for health care, this study aims to answer the research question: what are the knowledge and popular practices associated with the cultivation of medicinal plant garden in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region? To answer this question has as main objective: to know the knowledge and popular practices on the cultivation of the garden of medicinal plants in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. And the following objectives: describe the origin of knowledge and popular practices in the medicinal garden growing in a city of Rio Grande do Sul Northwest region (RS); describe the medicinal plants grown in nurseries medicinal in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. This is an exploratory study, structured through a qualitative research. The study subjects were 22 users of the Unified Health System (SUS) participating in the cultivation of three medicinal plant nurseries in the area of coverage of the Family Health Strategy (FHS), located in a city of Rio Grande do Sul the Northwest region. Data collection took place between April and May 2014, using a semi-structured interview, photos and observations recorded in a diary. The analysis and interpretation of data occurred through the operative protocol. The study followed the ethical precepts of the Resolution 466/12 of the National Health Council and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee with the Presentation Certificate Assessment Ethics 26605014.4.0000.5346 number. The results are presented in the scientific article format: Article 1: Cultivation of medicinal garden: knowledge and popular practices; Article 2: Plants grown in medicinal plant nurseries in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. It was possible to identify the medicinal plant nurseries originated from initiative and incentive from the EMATER. The knowledge and practices for cultivation and management of the plants come from the knowledge and popular culture, highlighting the figure of the woman as the main knowledgeable and transmitting this knowledge. The nurseries are composed of 12 plants, which were indicated by EMATER and come from the yards of the cultivators. Finally there is the importance of nurses' approach to the cultivation of medicinal plant nurseries, in that these constitute itself as an important strategy for the development of promotion and health education focused on the theme medicinal plants.
As práticas de cuidado a saúde são tão antigas quanto o surgimento da espécie humana, pois desde o início da civilização fazem parte das atividades de cuidado familiar e comunitário. Dentre as diversas práticas utilizadas e difundidas pela cultura popular, as plantas medicinais ocupam lugar de destaque. Apesar de terem sido desvalorizadas pelo saber científico, permaneceram à margem do sistema oficial de saúde, e hoje estão sendo valorizadas por políticas públicas nacionais e internacionais que valorizam e incentivam o resgate deste saber milenar. Por considerar a importância do resgate da sabedoria popular para o cuidado em saúde, este estudo buscou responder à questão de pesquisa: quais os saberes e práticas populares associados ao cultivo de horto de plantas medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul? Para responder a esta questão teve-se como objetivo geral: conhecer os saberes e práticas populares sobre o cultivo de horto de plantas medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. E como objetivos específicos: Descrever a origem dos saberes e práticas populares no cultivo de horto medicinal em um município da região Noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS); descrever as plantas medicinais cultivadas em hortos medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, estruturado por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram 22 usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que participavam do cultivo de três hortos medicinais na área de abrangência de uma Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF), localizada em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. A coleta de dados aconteceu no período entre abril e maio de 2014, por meio de um roteiro de entrevista semi-estruturada, fotografias e observações registradas em um diário de campo. A análise e interpretação dos dados ocorreram por meio da proposta operativa. A pesquisa seguiu os preceitos éticos da resolução 466/12 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde e obteve aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa com o Certificado de Apresentação para Apreciação Ética número 26605014.4.0000.5346. Os resultados são apresentados no formato de artigo científico: Artigo 1: Cultivo de horto medicinal: saberes e práticas populares; Artigo 2: Plantas cultivadas em hortos medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Foi possível identificar que os hortos medicinais tiveram origem a partir de iniciativa e incentivo por parte da EMATER. Os saberes e as práticas para o cultivo e manejo das plantas são provenientes do saber e da cultura popular, destacando-se a figura da mulher como principal conhecedora e transmissora desse saber. Os hortos são compostos por 12 plantas, as quais foram indicadas pela EMATER e são provenientes dos quintais das cultivadoras. Por fim destaca-se a importância da aproximação do enfermeiro com o cultivo dos hortos medicinais, na medida em que estes configuram-se como uma importante estratégia para o desenvolvimento de ações de promoção e educação em saúde voltadas para o tema plantas medicinais.
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Liu, Ching-chiu. "Identification of Radix Rehmanniae (di huang) as a traditional Chinese medicine with transcription inhibitory activity of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2008. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B41508506.
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Sithavhakhomu, Thilivhali Simon. "Challenges facing local communities in utilising and sustaining indigenous medicinal plants in the Thengwe village of Limpopo Province." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/827.
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Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2012The main aim or purpose of this study was to look at the ways and the strategies of minimizing\ mitigating the over-harvesting of indigenous medicinal plants in order to use them sustainably. The task of identifying and assessing challenges facing local communities in utilizing and sustaining indigenous medicinal plants in Thengwe village and their implications on environmental conservation and management of natural resources was done during the pilot survey. The environmental field survey was conducted after gaining permission to enter into the identified study areas including the Mutavhatsindi Nature Reserve. The result revealed that most of the indigenous medicinal plants are used for healing, religious, economical and for protection purposes. Most of the indigenous medicinal plants in the study area are depleted and many of them are facing extinction. The study was qualitative in design. Semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire were used. The questionnaire had both open-ended and closed questions. The study area was Thengwe Village in the Mutale Municipality. The existence of medicinal plants is threatened by people `s perceptions and attitudes towards them. For some indigenous medicinal plants, depletion is at a high rate due to over-harvesting and because the plants when traded by herbalists they have a premium price attached to them. Interestingly, perhaps surprisingly, the majority of young people hold negative attitudes towards the indigenous medicinal plants due to poor knowledge of the value of indigenous medicinal plants, in contrast to the elders who appreciate their role and consider them as part of their culture, economy and religion. One of the findings is that medicinal plants were found to be important to the community members as the source of income and creation of jobs for the medicinal collectors who sell the species to traditional healers. For the reason of preserving indigenous medicinal plants and others as the environmental resources, this study recommends that there should be strong intergovernmental relationships between the National, Provincial and Local governments in order to prevent over-harvesting of the medicinal plants. The indigenous medicinal plants are equally important to biodiversity students and researchers who want to study and research indigenous medicinal plants which play an important role in the improvement of the livelihoods of community members. Furthermore, education campaigns within the communities and school learners are recommended to encourage the prevention, sustainability and utilization of the indigenous medicinal plants. Additionally, the legal authorities should be empowered to prosecute all people who may be found illegally in possession of indigenous medicinal plants, as well as endangered and protected species. Heavy fines and charges should be imposed on such culprits. Of importance is the fact that the results and recommendations of this study may facilitate the teaching of environmental education and management of natural resources as well as boost the local economy of the Vhembe district Municipality by showing that medicinal plants in the area can be seen as a viable tourist attraction.
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Wei, Jin Chao. "Research on novel sample preparation and analytical methods for trace determination of the pesticides in traditional Chinese medicine." Thesis, University of Macau, 2018. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b3953269.
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Matanzima, Yonela. "Quantitative and qualitative optimization of antimicrobial bioactive constituents of Helichrysum cymosum using hydroponics technology." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/849.
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Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
Master of Technology: Horticulture
in the Faculty of Applied Sciences
at the Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyThe high demand for medicinal plants has favoured over-exploitation of wild plants. The search for alternative and sustainable methods of medicinal plant cultivation is imperative and desirable. Biotechnological approaches particularly hydroponic technology has the potential for large scale plant cultivation and production of secondary metabolites. The current study aims at optimizing the production of antimicrobial secondary metabolites by an indigenous South African medicinal plant species (Helichrysum cymosum) through hydroponics N and K fertilization. In Chapter 1, the conceptual framework and justifications of the study are presented. In Chapter 2 the research objective was to discern the optimal potassium (K) supplement level for H. cymosum by evaluating the effects of different hydroponic K levels on growth, K-leaf content, and anti-Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.glycines (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and total activities. Six weeks old seedlings of H. cymosum were treated with varied concentrations of K in the form of potassium chloride, potassium nitrate and monopotassium phosphate (58.75, 117.5, 235 and 470 ppm). These concentrations were based on a modification of Hoagland’s hydroponic nutrient formula. Plants were maintained under greenhouse conditions and growth parameters (plant height and number of leaves) were recorded weekly. At 8 weeks post treatment, plants were harvested and fresh weights were recorded and tissue nutrient content analysed. Sub-samples of the aerial parts of plants grown in the different treatments were air dried, extracted with acetone and tested against F. oxysporum. Plants exposed to 235 ppm K showed a marked increase in leaf number, plant height and fresh weight. Overall there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) among the treatments with respect to tissue nutrient content; K ranged from 3.56 ± 0.198 to 4.67 ± 0.29 %. The acetone extraction yield increased with increasing K fertilization: 58.75 ppm (16.67 ± 2.35 mg), 117.5 ppm (22.5 ± 4.79 mg), 235 ppm (210 ± 38.5 mg) but dropped to 40 ± 4.08 mg at 470 ppm K. Results from the anti-F. oxysporum bioassay showed that 58.75 and 235 ppm K treatments produced the most bioactive acetone extracts; MIC values of 0.49 and 0.645 mg/l, respectively. Acetone extracts obtained from plants exposed to 235 ppm K yielded the highest total activity, comparatively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimum nutrient K level for growing H. cymosum hydroponically was 235 ppm. Chapter 3 focused on another important macro nutrient N and the objective was to determine the optimum nutrient requirements for growing the medicinal plant, Helichrysum cymosum (L.) (Asteraceae), hydroponically. Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of varied nitrogen (N) concentrations supplied as nitrate and ammonium on growth, tissue nutrient content, antimicrobial and total activities of acetone extracts of aerial parts. Treatments were based on a modified Hoagland’s nutrient formula. Six week old rooted cuttings were treated with 52.5 ppm, 105 ppm, 210 ppm and 420 ppm of N. Leaf number and stem height (cm) were recorded at weekly intervals and leaf analysis conducted. The effects of N treatments on plant growth parameters varied significantly among treatments; 52.5 ppm of N yielded the tallest plants (height) [19.4 ± 0.7 cm], while 105 ppm N yielded the maximum leaf number (68.1 ± 6.2) as well as maximum fresh weight of aerial parts was obtained with 105 ppm (15.12 ± 1.68 g). Nitrogen content of plant tissue ranged between 0.53 ± 0.03 and 4.74 ± 0.29% (d, f, 3, 12; f=14; P ≤ 0.002) depending on treatments. Powdered aerial parts (5 g) of H. cymosum obtained from the different N treatments were extracted with 100 ml of acetone. N treatment significantly affected the yield of crude extracts, which ranged from 87.5 ± 15.5 (52.5 ppm) to 230 ± 23.5 mg (105 ppm). Acetone extracts of plants that were exposed to varied N treatments were screened for anti-Fusarium oxysporum activity using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. The MIC value (0.073 ± 0.014 mg/ml) obtained with acetone extracts of plants exposed to 52.5 ppm N was significantly lower compared to the MICs of the other N treatments (105 [0.47 ± 0 and 0.705 ± 0.135 mg/ml], 210 [0.234 and 0.47 mg/ml] and 420 ppm [0.29 ± 0.101 mg/ml]) at 24 and 48 hours respectively. However, the total activities of extracts obtained among the four N treatments, which ranged from 0.062 ± 0.02 to 0.26 ± 0.06 ml/g was not statistically different at 24 or 48 hours (P > 0.05). LC-MS analysis of acetone extracts of H. cymosum plants obtained from the four treatments hinted that known anti-microbial agents such as apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, helihumulone and quinic acids were present in the extracts and the quantity of helihumulone increased with increased nutrient N level. These results suggest that H. cymosum may be cultivated hydroponically and that the antimicrobial activity and/or the phytochemical profile of the crude acetone extracts is affected by nutrient nitrogen levels. Hydroponic cultivation of plants may be able to alleviate to an extent the pressure on wild medicinal plants.
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Shauli, Mathulo Mathabiso. "Histopathology induced by a medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa that has shown in vitro anti-microbial activity against drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3990.
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Tuberculosis (TB) still remains a health problem globally with over a million new infections and a mortality rate of 1.5 million individuals annually (Hawn et al., 2014). The emerging multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains that accompany human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection in high-incidence populations contribute significantly to the health burden of TB (Areeshi et al., 2014). The standard treatment that is advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for active tuberculosis includes long-term therapy that incorporates the use of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinimide and ethambutol as front line drugs (WHO, 2013). Drug resistance against established treatment options for TB makes research into new forms of therapy an imperative in health care (Ntulela et al., 2009). South Africa is currently witnessing a high number of cases of drug-resistant TB. In some parts of the country, one in ten cases of TB is resistant to treatment. It is therefore essential to have new anti-tuberculosis agents, which can be readily and simply produced from some local source (Warner et al., 2014). A logical starting point for this research of new agents would be the herbal medicines which have been used for centuries in rural areas by local healers. Western developed countries have harvested ethno botanical knowledge and have produced drug therapies for conventional medicines for other ailments. The activity of extracts of the active plants and their properties still require study in animal models in order to assess their future as new anti-tuberculosis agents (Lall and Meyer, 1999). This study focuses on qualitative and quantitative experimental findings after the administration of a medicinal plant extract to animals. This will include daily observation of animals, recording of feed consumption, recording of animal weights, macroscopic examination of animals at necropsy, tissue harvesting, histological procedures and microscopy.
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Njume, Collise. "Phytochemical analysis and bioactivity of selected South African medicinal plants on clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/449.
Full textAbstract:
Medicinal plants have been used as traditional medicine in the treatment of numerous human diseases for thousands of years in many parts of the world. In the developing world, especially in rural areas, herbal remedies continue to be a primary source of medicine. Scientifically, medicinal plants have proven to be an abundant source of biologically active compounds, many of which have already been formulated into useful therapeutic substances or have provided a basis for the development of new lead molecules for pharmaceuticals. Antibiotic resistance, undesireable side effects and expences associated with the use of combination therapy in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections have generated a considerable interest in the study of medicinal plants as potential sources of new drugs against this organism. The high complexicity of bioactive compounds accumulated in plants coupled with their broad antimicrobial activity may make it difficult for pathogenic organisms, including H. pylori to acquire resistance during treatment. This study therefore evaluates the antimicrobial potential of selected South African medicinal plants employed in the treatment of H. pylori-related infections, and the subsequent isolation of the plant active principles. An ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of H. pylori-related infections was conducted in the study area. Crude extracts of Combretum molle, Sclerocarya birrea, Garcinia kola, Alepidea amatymbica and 2 Strychnos species were screened against 30 clinical strains of H. pylori and 2 standard control strains (NCTC 11638 and ATCC 43526). In the preliminary stages of this study, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol and water extracts of the plants were tested against H. pylori by agar well diffusion and micro broth dilution methods. The plant crude extracts that exhibited anti-H. pylori activity with a iv percentage susceptibility of 50 percent and above were considered for the rate of kill assays and the most active crude extracts selected for bio-assay guided isolation of the active ingredient. Preliminary fractionation of the crude extract was achieved by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using different solvent combinations; hexane/diethylether (HDE), ethyl acetate/methanol/water (EMW) and chloroform/ethyl acetate/formic acid (CEF) in order to determine the most suitable combination for column chromatography (CC) and subsequent testing by indirect bioautography. The extract was then fractionated in a silica gel column using previously determined solvent combinations as eluent. Active fractions obtained from column chromatography separations were further fractionated and the compounds identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. All the plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against H. pylori with zone of inhibition diameters ranging from 0 - 38 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.06 - 5.0 mg/mL. The most active plant extracts were the acetone extract of C. molle with a percentage susceptibility of 87.1 percent, acetone and aqueous extracts of S. birrea (71 percent each) and the ethanolic extracts of G. kola (53.3 percent). Except for the aqueous extract, these extracts also exhibited a strong bactericidal activity against H. pylori at different concentrations. TLC analysis revealed the presence of 9 components in the acetone extract of S. birrea with the EMW solvent system as opposed to 5 and 8 with HDE and CEF respectively. Bioassay-guided isolation led to the identification of 52 compounds from the acetone extract of S. birrea with n-octacosane being the most abundant (41.68 percent). This was followed by pyrrolidine (38.91 percent), terpinen-4-ol (38.3 percent), n-eicosane (24.98 percent), cyclopentane (16.76 percent), n-triacontane (16.28 percent), aromadendrene (13.63 percent) and α-gujunene (8.77 percent). Terpinen-4-ol and pyrrolidine demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against H. pylori at all concentrations tested. These results may serve as preliminary scientific validation of the ethnomedicinal uses of the above mentioned plants in the treatment of H. pylori-related infections in South Africa. Terpinen-4-ol and pyrrolidine could be considered for further evaluation as therapeutic or prophylactic agents in the treatment of H. pylori-related infections. However, further investigations would be necessary to determine their toxicological properties, in-vivo potencies and mechanism of action against H.pylori
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Dilika, Fikile. "The medicinal value of Amaryllidaceae and Asteraceae species used in male circumcision." Thesis, Connect to this title online, 2002. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04112007-153554/.
Full text
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Ntini, V. P. "Inhibitory capabilities of ten medicinal plants used by traditional healers on mammalian carbohydrate digesting enzymes (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase)." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1237.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013Diabetes mellitus is one of the fast growing chronic metabolic disorders throughout the world. It has become a life threatening disease and health burden. So far it can only be managed with commercial therapeutic agents, proper diet and exercise. People particularly from developing countries use medicinal plants to treat this condition. According to WHO, about 80% of the population in developing countries are dependable on medicinal plants. This prompted many researchers to explore the effectiveness and safety of these plants. In the current study ten medicinal plants were randomly chosen, screened for antidiabetic activity by testing their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The plants were tested using in vitro assays. The finely powdered leaves of each plant were extracted with hexane, chloroform, acetone and ethyl acetate. Phytoconstituents of each plant extracts were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. All plant extracts tested positive for phenols, flavonoids and all negative for starch. Their compounds were better separated in the TEA mobile system on the TLC plates. All plant extracts had more of total phenolics ranging between 0.1-400 GAE/mg than total flavonoids and condensed tannins. Antioxidant activity of the plant extracts was tested quantitatively at various concentrations using DPPH. Most plant extracts were able to scavenge the radicals produced by DPPH at highest concentration of 2.5 mg/mℓ. Not all plant extracts with the highest number of total phenolics had the highest antioxidant activity. For antidiabetic in vitro assays, plant extracts inhibited various percentages of both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity at concentrations ranging between 0.019- 2.5 mg/mℓ. The best overall activity against both enzymes was observed in acetone and ethyl acetate plant extracts. Cassia abbreviata and Helinus integrifolius were even more active than acarbose which was used as positive control. These plant extracts inhibited both the enzymes in a dose dependent and non-competitive manner. Seeing that both extracts of C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius were consistent when inhibiting both enzymes, they were further evaluated for their effect on glucose uptake by the C2C12 muscle and H-II-4-E liver cells. All the plant extracts tested were able to increase glucose uptake in the muscle cells. However optimal increase was seen in the liver cells when treated with 250 µg/mℓ of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of C. abbreviata. The cytotoxicity effects of both acetone and ethyl acetate of C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius was tested using the xCelligence system on RAW 264.7 cells. Different cell indexes were obtained after treating the cells with different concentrations (0.05,0.1 and 0.25 mg/mℓ) of each plant extracts respectively. The system was run for three days but the toxic effects of plant extracts were analyzed for the first ten hours. The results obtained shows that cell index decreased as the concentration of the plant extracts was increased. All the plant extracts were less toxic as compared to positive control, Actinomycin D. The leaves of H. integrifolius were further exhaustively extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol respectively. Since the DCM extracts yielded the highest mass in quantity, it was further used for isolation of active compounds. Column chromatography and bioassay guided fraction led to isolation of a mixture of triterpenes identified as α and β-amyrin. The structure was elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The inhibitory capability of the isolated compound against α-amylase enzyme was less than the crude extract which inhibited more than 50% of the activity at a concentration of 1 mg/mℓ.Based on the enzymes assays and cell culture work it can be concluded that C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius species are the best inhibitors of carbohydrate digesting enzymes, and therefore be used to manage postprandial hyperglycemia in the people with type 2 diabetes. However more work still need to be conducted for further isolation of more active compounds.
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Chiguvare, Herbert. "Phytochemical analyses and Brine shrimp (Artemia Salina) lethality studies on Syzygium cordatum." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004352.
Full textAbstract:
Syzygium cordatum Hoscht ex. C Krauss, also known as water berry, is normally used by the people of South Africa for respiratory ailments including tuberculosis, stomach complaints, treatment of wounds and as emetics. An extract of the leaves can be used as a purgative for diarrhoea treatment. The leaves of Syzygium cordatum Myrtaceae were obtained from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, air dried and sequential solvent extraction was done to obtain various non volatile crude extracts. The volatile extract, that is the essential oil was extracted from the leaves using hydrodistillation and analysis of compounds was done by GC/MS for composition. 32 compounds were obtained from the fresh leaves and 18 compounds were obtained from the dry leaves. The fresh oil contains caryophyllene (11.8 percent) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1 percent) as the main sesquiterpene component. α-Pinene(5.0 percent) was the only monoterpene compound identified in the fresh oil in substantial amount. The dry leaves oil had copanene (17.0 percent), β-Caryophellene (26.0 percent), cubenol (6.5 percent) and caryophellene oxide (14.2 percent) as the dominant constituent of the oil. Summary of the classes of compounds in the oil revealed that the chemical profile of both oils were dominated by sesquiterpenoid compounds. This is the first time that terpenoids compounds are being identified in both the fresh and dry leaf oil of S. cordatum. Hexane leaf extract was selected due to the interest in the terpenoid compounds. Column chromatography of the hexane crude gave five (5) of which two are fully reported. The isolates were fully elucidated using spectroscopic methods to be β-Sitosterol (HC3) and Friedela-3-one (HC1A/HC1D). Cytotoxicity analysis was carried out on the crude using the Brine shrimps assay. Isolates 1C and1D showed significant lethality using the brine shrimps assay with lethality values (LC50) of 4.105mg/ml for HC1C and 4.11mg/ml for 1D/1A respectively.
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"The ethnobotany and chemistry of South African traditional tonic plants." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8094.
Full textAbstract:
Ph.D. (Botany)The most well-known tonic plants in South Africa have been used traditionally for the treatment of a great variety of ailments but aspects of their ethnobotany and chemistry remain poorly studied. Possible relationships between their ethnobotany and pharmacology are mostly speculative. In this study, literature reviews of the ethnobotany of these plants were combined with phytochemical screening studies and bitterness taste testing results in order to establish constituent patterns which may contribute to a scientific rationale for the claimed tonic (stimulating) properties of these plants. The tonic concept and definitions of terms associated with it are often used incorrectly and ambiguously. An analysis of literature on the traditional healing systems across the globe was used to establish the historical and cultural aspects relevant to tonics. This analysis revealed that sickness/illness is usually considered to be a result of imbalance in many cultures, whether this imbalance is between the patient and the environment or due to a lack of homeostasis in the body. In several healing cultures substances or mixtures of substances are used to rectify these imbalances through proposed effects on several bodily systems concurrently. According to some cultures, as in Eastern and Indian traditional medicine, tonic plants are considered superior to other medicinal plants in that they impart health, strength and a general sense of well-being, as well as being prophylactic. This definition of a tonic plant is consequently broad, but excludes plants merely used as multipurpose medicines. Where these tonics exhibit a specific mode of action, further classification is required, i.e. as bitter, adaptogenic, alterative, adjuvant or stimulant tonics. The South African traditional tonic plants studied were Agathosma species (Rutaceae), Aloe species (Asphodelaceae), Arctopus species (Apiaceae), Artemisia afra (Asteraceae), Balanites maughamii (Balanitacae), Dicoma species (Asteraceae), Harpagophytum procumbens (Pedaliaceae), Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Hypoxidaceae), Muraltia heisteria (Polygalaceae), Sutherlandia species (Fabaceae), Vernonia oligocephala (Asteraceae), Warburgia salutaris (Canellaceae), Withania somnifera (Solanaceae) and Ziziphus mucronata (Rhamnaceae). A detailed compendium of medicinal applications was compiled following a thorough, in-depth scrutiny of the historical and medicinal ethnobotany of each of these species. Such ethnobotanical data is important in understanding the cultural aspects of healing in southern Africa, and provides valuable direction and focus with regards to the phytochemical and pharmacological research of these plants.
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Nortje, Janneke Margaretha. "Medicinal ethnobotany of the Kamiesberg, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6278.
Full textAbstract:
M.Sc.Scientific relevance: Qualitative and quantitative data is presented that give a new perspective on the traditional medicinal plants of the Khoisan (Khoe-San), one of the most ancient of human cultures. The data is not only of considerable historical and cultural value, but allows for fascinating comparative studies relating to new species records, novel use records and the spatial distribution of traditional medicinal plant use knowledge within the Cape Floristic Region. Aim of the study: A detailed documentation and quantitative analysis of medicinal plants of the Kamiesberg area (an important Khoisan and Nama cultural centre) and their medicinal traditional uses, which have hitherto remained unrecorded. Materials and methods: During four study visits to the Kamiesberg, semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted with 23 local inhabitants of the Kamiesberg, mostly of Khoisan decent. In addition to standard methodology, a newly developed Matrix Method was used to quantity medicinal plant knowledge. Results: The Kamiesberg is an important center of extant Nama ethnomedicinal information but the knowledge is rapidly disappearing. Of a total of 101 medicinal plants and 1375 anecdotes, 21 species were recorded for the first time as having traditional medicinal uses and at least 284 medicinal use records were new. The relative importance, popularity and uses of the plants were quantified. The 97 newly documented vernacular names include 23 Nama (Khoekhoegowab) names and an additional 55 new variations of known names. The calculated Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index (EKI) and other indices accurately quantify the level of knowledge and will allow for future comparisons, not only within the Kamiesberg area but also with other southern African communities of Khoisan decent. Conclusion: The results showed that the Kamiesberg is an important focal point of Khoisan (Nama) traditional knowledge but that the medicinal plants have not yet been systematically recorded in the scientific literature. There are numerous new use records and new species records that are in need of scientific study. Comparative data is now available for broader comparisons of the pattern of Khoisan plants use in southern Africa and the study represents another step towards a complete synthesis of Cape Herbal Medicine.
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Taylor, Joslyn Leanda Susan. "An investigation into the biology and medicinal properties of Eucomis species." Thesis, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/10274.
Full textAbstract:
Eucomis (Family Hyacinthaceae) are deciduous geophytes with long, narrow leaves
and erect, densely packed flower spikes. The bulbs are greatly valued in traditional
medicine for the treatment a variety of ailments, and are thus heavily harvested for
trade in South Africa's "muthi" markets. Eucomis species propagate relatively slowly
from offsets and seed, and this, together with their over-utilization
ethnopharmacologically, has led to their threatened status. This investigation
focussed mainly on the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts
prepared from the leaves, bulbs and roots, and the development of suitable tissue
culture protocols for the bulk propagation of the species under study.
Common underlying symptoms in the majority of ailments treated with traditional
remedies prepared from Eucomis species are pain and inflammation. Prostaglandins
are the primary mediators of the body's response to pain and inflammation, and are
formed from essential fatty acids found in cell membranes. This reaction is catalysed
by cyclooxygenase, a membrane-associated enzyme occurring in two isoforms,
COX-1 and COX-2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act by inhibiting
the activity of COX. The use of commercially available COX-1 inhibitors is associated
with side-effects, including gastric and renal damage. Selective COX-2 inhibitors do
not have these undesired effects, and are thus potentially very valuable to the pharmaceutical industry.
The relative inhibitory effects of different extracts of Eucomis species on the activities
of purified cyclooxygenase enzyme preparations (COX-1 in sheep seminal vesicles,
COX-2 in sheep placenta) were assessed. The COX-1 assay was used to screen extracts from 10 species of Eucomis and one hybrid species at a concentration of
250 μg mℓ ¯¹ in the assay. High levels of anti-inflammatory activity were exhibited by
the ethanolic extracts prepared from the dried leaves, bulbs and roots. Aqueous
extracts (screened at 500 μgmℓ ¯¹) showed much lower levels of activity. In general,
the highest levels of anti-inflammatory activity were observed for the ethanol bulb and
root extracts. Comparison of the activity of the bulb extracts from bulbs harvested in
summer and winter revealed very little difference in COX-1 inhibitory activity. Eucomis extracts were separated using thin layer chromatography. The plates were
developed in a solvent system of benzene : 1,4-dioxan : acetic acid, 90:25:4 and
stained with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid. The TLC fingerprints prepared from these
extracts showed different chemical profiles for the leaf, bulb and root extracts, but
many similarities between the different species. The position of the active R[f] fractions was determined and correlated with the TLC-fingerprints.
The most widely utilized species medicinally, E. autumnalis subspecies autumnalis,
was chosen for further investigation. The fluctuation of anti-inflammatory activity with
season and physiological age was determined. Young plants were found to have high
levels of COX-1 inhibitory activity, particularly in the leaves. As the plant matured,
higher levels of activity were associated with the bulb and root extracts. The antiinflammatory
activity of the leaf, bulb and root extracts varied slightly throughout the
year, with the highest levels detected towards the end of the growing season, shortly before the onset of dormancy.
This study of E. autumnalis autumnalis was extended to investigate the effects of
environmental conditions on the levels of COX-1 inhibitory activity. The extent to
which high temperature and light intensity, fertilization of the plants in summer with
Kelpak preparations, and cold storage of the dry bulbs during winter, affected the
levels of active compounds accumulated, was determined. Kelpak application
decreased the anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf, bulb and root extracts, while high
temperature / high light intensity had no significant effect on the COX-1 inhibitory
activity of the leaf or bulb extracts. The root extract did show a significant increase in
anti-inflammatory activity. Bulbs that were removed from the soil and stored at 10°C
exhibited significantly higher COX-1 inhibitory activity than the control bulbs
maintained in the soil. Higher COX-1 inhibition was observed in the leaf extracts from
these plants when harvested half-way through the growing season. No significant
difference was observed at this stage between the bulb and root extracts from the different treatments.
Bioassay-guided fractionation (using the COX-1 assay) was used to isolate the active
principle(s) in the bulb extract. The bulb material was subjected to serial extraction
using a Soxhlet apparatus. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest levels of COX-1 inhibition, and this was further fractionated using a Sephadex LH-20 column
and a solvent system of cyclohexane : dichloromethane : methanol (7:4:1). The most
active fraction from this separation was then purified using semi-preparative TLC and HPLC. The primary compound eluting in this fraction had an IC₅₀ value of 14.4 μgmℓ ¯¹ in the COX-1 assay, and 30.5 μgmℓ ¯¹ in the COX-2 assay. This compound was tentatively characterized as a phenol ring attached to a conjugated hydrocarbon chain
(with a molecular weight of 390), and was a potent COX-1 inhibitor. The COX-2 / COX-1 inhibitory ratio was calculated to be 2.1.
A second, highly active compound, with IC₅₀ values of 25.7 μgmℓ ¯¹ and 21.8 μgmℓ ¯¹ in the COX-1 and COX-2 assays respectively, crystalized from one of the Sephadex
LH-20 column fractions. This compound was identified as a spirostane-type
triterpenoid, eucosterol, previously isolated from Eucomis species but not specifically
linked to the pharmacological activity of the extracts. This compound showed COX-2 / COX-1 inhibitory ratio of 0.8, indicating that it was a selective COX-2 inhibitor.
Two further compounds were identified from this extract, after crystallization from
different fractions obtained from Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. These were both
homoisoflavanones, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(4-methoxy benzyl)-chroman-4-one,
and 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxy benzyl)-chroman-4-one [eucomin], the latter having
been isolated previously. The first compound exhibited very low levels of both COX-1
and COX-2 inhibition, and the second compound (eucomin) exhibited high COX-1, but
low COX-2 inhibitory activity.
The in vitro propagation of the genus Eucomis was undertaken primarily to provide a source of material for experimentation, and also to optimize this technique for the bulk
production of plants for commercial and conservation purposes. Multiple shoot
production was initiated from leaf explants, in all species studied. A Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with 100 mg ℓ ¯¹ myo-inositol, 20 g ℓ ¯¹ sucrose, and
solidified with 2 g ℓ ¯¹ Gelrite® was used. The optimal hormone combination for shoot
initiation in the majority of species was determined to be 1 mg ℓ ¯¹ NAA and 1 mg ℓ ¯¹
BA. Optimal root initiation was demonstrated on media supplemented with 1 mg ℓ ¯¹
IAA, IBA or NAA, depending on species. A continuous culture system using this
protocol produced 25-30 plantlets per culture bottle, with 10-25 specimens per bottle available for acclimatization. To maximize plantlet survival, different support media
used during the acclimatization process were necessary. Certain species responded
best on a vermiculite medium, while perlite (which holds less water) was necessary
for the optimal survival rate of other species. Acclimatized plantlets were repotted in a sand : soil mix (1:1).
Further experimental work aimed to determine the factors affecting the accumulation
of anti-inflammatory compounds in in vitro plantlets. Extracts prepared from in vitro
plantlets showed high levels of COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activity, with a
C0X-2/C0X-1 ratio of 1.1. High levels of sucrose (40 g ℓ ¯¹) significantly increased the
number of shoots initiated, but had no effect on the anti-inflammatory activity. Low
levels of sucrose (10 g ℓ ¯¹) led to a significant decrease in COX-1 inhibition. Changing
the levels of nitrogen in the medium (but not the ratio of nitrate to ammonium ions)
had no significant effect on the COX-1 inhibitory activity of the extracts.
Callus was initiated from leaf explants and experiments were conducted to maximize
callus proliferation. Optimal callus growth occurred on an MS medium supplemented
with 100 mg ℓ ¯¹ myo-inositol, 30 g ℓ ¯¹ sucrose, 2 g ℓ ¯¹ Gelrite® , and a hormone
combination of 10 mg ℓ ¯¹ 2,4-D and 2 mg ℓ ¯¹ kinetin. Callus cultures maintained in the
dark grew best. Callus extracts tested in the COX assays (250 μgmℓ ¯¹) showed a
higher level of COX-2 inhibition (69%) than COX-1 inhibition (46%).
Lastly, the conclusive identification of the species under study was attempted, using
DNA fingerprinting. Protocols were developed for the extraction of DNA from the
leaves of Eucomis plants, and the optimization of the AP-PCR technique. Random
sequence (10-base) oligonucleotide primers were screened, each primer used singly.
Primers were selected on the basis that more than five distinct bands were detected.
Differences were detected in the amplification products visualized using nondenaturing
agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. This work
provides the basis for further studies into the phylogenetic relationships between the various species (and hybrids) of Eucomis.Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.
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Grace, Olwen Megan. "Bark in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa : usage, authentication and sustainability." Thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8574.
Full textAbstract:
Healthcare in South Africa is polarised between western and traditional African systems of therapy. The latter is consulted by the majority of the population and therefore plays an integral role in the delivery of healthcare to South Africans. Traditional medicines are primarily plant products with long storage lives, among which the dominance of bark is typical of southern African traditional healthcare systems. Expansion of the traditional healthcare sector during the twentieth century, in response to rising consumer demands, stimulated a lucrative trade in medicinal plants that is centred in KwaZulu-Natal. Since herbal medicines are sourced almost exclusively from indigenous vegetation, harvesting pressures exerted on the indigenous flora to meet demands for traditional medicines have rendered such resources non-sustainable. Although trees comprise a small fraction of South African medicinal plant species, bark from them constitutes a substantial proportion of the plant products used medicinally. Trees are among the most threatened medicinal plants in South African due to their limited abundance, the ecological sensitivity of the vegetation in which they occur, and destructive methods of commercial bark harvesting that frequently take place within protected areas. In KwaZulu-Natal, bark is harvested primarily from forests that occupy an extent of only 0.1 % in the province. Conservation of economically valuable tree species is particularly problematic since data necessary for the establishment of sustainable usage systems are absent or inaccessible. Alternatives to in situ conservation for renewable bark resources include propagation, multi-use timber systems and reintroduction of locally extinct species. To facilitate appropriate management of bark resources, there is a need for specialist publications and consolidated data with which sustainable usage levels may be determined. The importance of bark in South African traditional healthcare is poorly reflected by the ethno botanical literature. In this study, 180 bark species used in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal were inventoried from thorough literature surveys, but this number is anticipated to be a conservative reflection of actual statistics. Where trade data were recorded in the literature, they indicated intensive exploitation of bark resources in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout South Africa, but conservation and management data were lacking for 72 % of the species inventoried. A number of problems were encountered in the literature, of which vague information and the documentation of local vernacular nomenclature were the most troublesome. Despite the importance of traditional medicine, the country's political history led to the prevailing situation, where the traditional healthcare sector is largely unregulated. Coupled with increasingly limited availability of medicinal plants, the quality and appropriate use of traditional medicines is negatively affected by growing numbers of inadequately trained practitioners, herbalist retailers and plant gatherers. Possibilities of misidentification or purposeful adulteration of medicinal bark products therefore lead to concerns for patient safety, since dried bark is difficult or impossible to identify. Whilst bark characters are useful for field identifications, many useful diagnostic characters are lost through desiccation, and anatomy and morphology of bark are variable. Additionally, medicinal bark products used in KwaZulu-Natal, and their identification, are largely undocumented. This study focussed on eight bark species used medicinally in the province, elected by an esteemed traditional medical practitioner as having problematic identity. Monograph-type characterisation profiles were drawn up for reference specimens collected from various localities, and their medicinal bark products traded under vernacular names recorded in the literature. In the absence of standardised traditional medicines, there is a need for reliable and affordable methods for their authentication. Phytochemical bark characters identified by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) have proved useful in chemotaxonomic studies, and the technique is widely used for herbal drug authentication. TLC was tested here for authentication of medicinal bark products from the aforementioned study species. Three reference samples of each species were collected, and TLC-generated fingerprints compared. At the intraspecific level, TLC was useful in confirming the relationship of ethanol and hexane bark extracts, but was less meaningful in distinguishing between fingerprints of different species. Three medicinal bark products of each study species were purchased and fingerprints compared to a reference. The technique proved useful in confirming the identity of several medicinal bark products. Authentication of medicinal bark products may be useful in toxicology cases and in the accurate documentation of their trade. This research identified a complexity of issues surrounding the use of bark in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, and indeed South Africa. A multi-faceted approach is required to secure their sustainability. Critical, however, to factors such as effective conservation and regulation of the traditional healthcare sector, is recognition of the importance, and documentation, of traditional bark medicines. The integrity of traditional healthcare, and the future of the South African flora, hinge upon the sustainable use of medicinal products such as bark.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.
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Masondo, Nqobile Andile. "In vitro techniques for the improvement of growth and secondary metabolite production in Eucomis autumnalis subspecies autumnalis." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11440.
Full textAbstract:
The wide utilization and popularity of medicinal plants in African Traditional Medicine (ATM) has been recognized and attributed to the effectiveness, affordability and accessibility of these medicinal plants. However, the extensive exploitation of medicinal plants has exacerbated the strain on the wild populations. In vitro propagation/micropropagation is an effective method which allows for mass production or multiplication of pathogen-free plants that are morphologically and genetically identical to the parent plant. In addition, the technique is contributing to the understanding of metabolic pathways and regulating the production of plant secondary products.
Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. subspecies autumnalis (Hyacinthaceae) is a valuable medicinal species in ATM and commonly traded in the urban street markets of South Africa. Currently, the conservation status of this species has not been evaluated. However, as with most bulbous plants, the wild population is continuously under threat due to over-harvesting and habitat loss via various anthropogenic factors. Thus, in vitro propagation is a viable means of ensuring conservation of the plant species. However, mass propagation of medicinal plants should be accompanied with increased secondary metabolite production to guarantee their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, the current study was aimed at understanding the different factors that affect the growth and secondary metabolite production in micropropagated E. autumnalis subspecies autumnalis.
The influence of the type of gelling agent (gelrite versus agar) and source of initial/primary explant source (LDL = leaf explant derived from primary leaf regenerants and LDB = leaf explant derived from primary bulb regenerants) were evaluated. Gelrite-solidified medium significantly improved shoot proliferation when compared to the use of agar as a solidifying medium. In contrast, quantified phytochemicals such as flavonoids and phenolics were more enhanced in agar-supplemented media. On the basis of the explant source, shoot proliferation and secondary metabolites in regenerants from LDB were similar to those from LDL in most cases. Overall, the type of gelling agents and primary explant source individually or/and interactively significantly influenced the growth parameters as well as the production of iridoid, condensed tannin, flavonoid and phenolic content.
The influence of different types of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on growth, phytochemical and antioxidant properties were evaluated. The PGRs were BA (benzyladenine); mT (meta-topolin); mTTHP [meta-topolin tetrahydropyran-2-yl or 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)-9-tetrahydropyran-2-ylpurine]; MemT [meta-methoxytopolin or 6-(3-methoxybenzylamino)purine]; MemTTHP [meta-methoxy 9-tetrahydropyran-2-yl topolin or 2-[6-(3-Methoxybenzylamino)-9-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)purine] and NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid). Five cytokinins (CKs) at 2 μM in combination with varying (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 μM) concentrations of NAA were tested. After 10 weeks of in vitro growth, the regenerants were acclimatized in the greenhouse for four months. Growth, phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of in vitro regenerants and ex vitro-acclimatized plants were evaluated. The highest number of shoots (approximately 9 shoots/explant) were observed with 15 μM NAA alone or with BA treatment.
Acclimatized plants derived from the 15 μM NAA treatment had the highest number of roots, largest leaf area and widest bulb diameter. While applied PGRs increased the iridoids and condensed tannins in the in vitro regenerants, total phenolics and flavonoids were higher in the PGR-free treatment. In contrast to the PGR-free regenerants, 5 μM NAA and 2 μM BA treatments produced the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH (55%) and beta-carotene (87%) test systems, respectively. A remarkable carry-over effect of the PGRs was noticeable on the phytochemical levels and antioxidant activity of the 4-month-old plants. In addition to the development of an optimized micropropagation protocol, manipulating the type and concentration of applied PGRs may serve as an alternative approach to regulate phytochemical production in Eucomis autumnalis subspecies autumnalis.
The influence of smoke-water (SW), karrikinolide (KAR1) and CK analogues (PI-55 = 6-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzylamino)purine and INCYDE= inhibitor of cytokinin dehydrogenase or 2-chloro-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)aminopurine) individually or in combination with some selected PGRs [BA (4 μM), NAA (5 μM) and both] for in vitro propagated E. autumnalis subspecies autumnalis was evaluated. While these compounds had no significant stimulatory effect on shoot proliferation, they influenced root length at varying concentrations and when interacted with applied PGRs. The longest roots were observed in SW (1:1500), PI-55 and INCYDE (0.01 μM) treatments. There was an increase in the concentration of quantified phytochemicals (especially condensed tannins, flavonoids and phenolics) with the use of these compounds alone or when combined with PGRs. In the presence of BA, an increase in the concentration of PI-55 significantly enhanced the condensed tannin, flavonoid and phenolic contents
in the regenerants. Both phenolic and flavonoid content in E. autumnalis subspecies autumnalis were significantly enhanced with 0.01 μM INCYDE. Condensed tannins was about 8-fold higher in 10-7 M KAR1 with BA and NAA treatment when compared to the control. To some varying degree, the effect of the tested compounds on the antioxidant activity of the in vitro regenerants was also noticeable. In most cases, there was no direct relationship between the level of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity recorded. The current findings indicate the array of physiological processes influenced by SW and KAR1 during micropropagation. In addition, targeting or manipulation of phytohormone metabolic pathways using CK analogues demonstrated some noteworthy effects. Perhaps, it may offer other potential practical applications in plant biotechnology and agriculture. Thus, more studies such as quantification of endogenous hormones and identification of specific phytochemicals responsible for the bioactivity in this species will provide better insights on the mechanism of action for CK analogues as well as SW and KAR1.M. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.
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Pieroni, Andrea, and C. L. Quave. "Traditional pharmacopoeias and medicines among Albanians and Italians in southern Italy: a comparison." 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/2990.
Full textAbstract:
NoA cross-cultural comparison of traditional household remedies in primary health care and ritual healing practices in two economically and socio-demographically similar communities in Lucania (inland southern Italy) was considered: Ginestra/Zhurë, inhabited by ethnic Albanians, who migrated to the area during the 15th century, and Castelmezzano, inhabited by autochthonous South-Italians. In Ginestra/Zhurë, the number of traditional natural remedies (mainly derived from local medicinal plants) was only half of that in the local folk pharmacopoeia quoted in Castelmezzano. However, ritual magic-healing practices still play a central role among the Albanians in Ginestra/Zhurë, while they do not in Castelmezzano. Reasons for this shift, as well as components that have affected cultural adaptation phenomena and transitions among the Albanians are discussed.
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Mulaudzi, Rofhiwa Bridget. "Pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants used by Venda people against venereal and related diseases." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8663.
Full textAbstract:
Venereal diseases (VDs) are infections that are mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and amongst these are gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea is the most commonly known VD and the widest spread contagious infection in the world. Out of 448 million cases of curable venereal infections, gonorrhoea represents 88 million cases and the rest are syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea has recently been rated as in the emergent multidrug resistance phase.
Venereal diseases are amongst the major diseases ravaging many rural communities. People infected with these diseases are considered a disgrace in the community. Indigenous populations, for example the Vha-Venda people tend to use medicinal plants to treat these infectious diseases rather than using western medicines. Vha-Venda people have depended on medicinal plants for their health and survival for millenia. In order to validate and give scientific credence to the use of medicinal plants by the Vha-Venda people for venereal diseases, several pharmacological assays were carried out.
The study was aimed at evaluating the; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities, HIV-type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition properties and to determine phenolic contents as well as evaluating the mutagenic properties of, 12 medicinal plants used by the Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases. An attempt was also made toward isolating and identification of the most active compounds from some extracts that were active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Twelve medicinal plants and various plant parts, Adansonia digitata (bark), Acacia karroo (bark), Aloe chabaudii (roots), Bolusanthus speciosus (leaves, bark and stem), Ekebergia capensis (leaves and bark), Elephantorrhiza burkei (roots), Grewia occidentalis (roots), Osyris lanceolata (roots), Pappea capensis (leaves), Peltophorum africanum (bark), Pterocarpus angolensis (leaves and bark) and Ximenia caffra (leaves and roots) were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), three Gram-negative (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans. The plant materials were extracted with petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), 80% ethanol (EtOH) and water. Methanol was used for extracting materials for phenolic contents and HIV-1RT assays. The Disc diffusion method was used to determine gonococcal percentage inhibition and a microdilution assay was used to determine minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC).
Bolusanthus speciosus and X. caffra extracts exhibited the best antigonococcal, antifungal and antibacterial activities whilst A. digitata and A. chabaudii showed poor activities. The medicinal plants were also evaluated for cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition activity. The DCM and PE extracts of A. digitata bark, B. speciosus bark, P. angolensis bark and P. capensis leaves showed good anti-inflammatory activity against both COX-1 and COX-2. Methanol and water extracts of B. speciosus stems, P. africanum bark, P. angolensis leaves and P. capensis leaves exhibited good anti-HIV-1 RT activity. A. chabaudii roots, E. capensis bark and O. lanceolata roots showed low HIV-1 RT percentage inhibition.
Phytochemical analysis using spectrophotometric methods revealed the presence of a variety of phenolic compounds in all the plant extracts including total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins. High levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in X. caffra. Low amounts of flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in B. speciosus.
The Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98 with and without S9 metabolic activation revealed that all plant extracts were non-mutagenic toward S. typhimurium strains TA98 without metabolic activation. However, E. burkei roots and E. capensis bark showed mutagenic effects toward TA98 after metabolic activation. Therefore, these two plants need to be used with caution, however more studies are required to confirm this result.
Good antimicrobial activity observed in X. caffra leaves prompted an attempt to isolate active compounds. A pure compound from X. caffra leaves exhibited moderate activity (63%) against N. gonorrhoeae. However, the structure of the compound has as yet to be ratified.
Pharmacological activity of the twelve medicinal plants used by Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases were validated in this study. The results obtained in this study give credence to the use of some of these plants. This study has further confirmed the need for screening these medicinal plants for more pharmacological activities. These plants may offer a new source of chemicals for the effective treatment of venereal and related diseases.Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.