Phytolacca Dodecandra (L' Herit) (Phytolaccaceae) Methanol Root Extract Protects Liver from Acetaminophen-Induced Injury in Rats.

Phytolacca dodecandra (L' Herit), or 'Endod', is one of the widely known medicinal plants in Ethiopia. Berries of the endod have been used as a detergent for centuries. The present study was aimed to test the hepatoprotective effects of the plant against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in rats. Mice of either sex were used for oral acute toxicity tests and APAP-induced lethality tests. Hepatoprotective experiments were done on male rats using 2 g/kg of APAP to induce liver damage. Liver enzymes, total bilirubin (TB), and lipid profile were determined. Liver tissues were also examined histopathologically to see a morphologic change in the control and experiment groups. The protective effect of the plant extract was also tested through sodium pentobarbital (SPB)-induced sleeping time. A significant increase in serum levels of liver enzymes, TB, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs) was seen from oral administration of 2 g/kg APAP. Total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were decreased. Serum levels of all parameters were reversed to normal after administration of silymarin 100 mg/kg and, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses of the extract. A significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect of Phytolacca dodecandra Methanol Root Extract (PDME) was seen in terms of LDL. Histopathological investigations and SPB-induced sleeping time confirmed the findings of biochemical analysis. The findings of the present study indicate that PDME protected the liver from APAP injury.

Investigating the phytoavailability of metals in roots of Croton macrostachyus and Phytolacca dodecandra: induced rhizosphere processes.

Medicinal plants are key component of complementary and alternative medicine, and constitute the first therapeutic strategy for majority of the global population, particularly in developing nations. Croton macrostachyus and Phytolacca dodecandra are among such plants, widely used to treat various diseases. The present study aimed at investigating the elemental composition of both plant root samples collected from four districts in the Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. An optimized wet-digestion procedure was applied with 0.5 g of root sample using HNO3: HCl: H2O2 (v/v) in the ratio of 8:2:1 at 240 °C for 3:00 h (for P. dodecandra), and 5:2:2 at 300 °C for 3:00 h (for C. macrostachyus). Then, concentrations of metals in the digested samples were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer; and the validity of the optimized procedure was evaluated by spiking experiments. Results showed good accuracy and repeatability of the methods with percent of recoveries ranging from 85 to 103%. The mean concentrations of metals in C. macrostachyus root samples were higher than their P. dodecandra counterparts, and the distribution of metals showed the following decreasing order: Mg > Ca ≈ Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the mean concentrations of the same metals in both plant root samples, except for Mg and Cr. Correlation matrix, principal component and cluster analyses suggested that accumulation of metals in the root samples originated from both natural and anthropogenic sources. In conclusion, the roots of both medicinal plants contained substantial amounts of metals, thereby serving as valuable sources of essential elements.

The synergistic effect of waste cooking oil and endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) on the production of high-grade laundry soap.

A green viewpoint based on the production of soap using waste products such waste cooking oils (WCOs) and Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) is presented. The process of saponification, which involves reacting triglycerides with fats and oils in an alkaline solution, produces soap. With the help of WCO and Endod as manufacturing inputs, this study intends to create high-quality, commercially viable eco-friendly soaps. The optimal blend of WCO and Endod with sodium hydroxide solution was used in the current investigation to create laundry soaps. Evaluations were done on the cleansing effects and physico-chemical makeup of prepared soap. As a reference control, the raw oil soaps made without and with frying were employed. The free caustic alkali content, chloride content, moisture content, ethanol-insoluble-matter, total fatty matter, pH, and foam height values of the prepared soap were found to be in the range of 0%, 0%, 16.56-22.52%, 0.1-3.05%, 63.41-75.46%, 9.22-9.82%, and 3.3-8.1 cm respectively. The results obtained by blending fried WCOs and Endod were comparable to the Physico-chemical properties of the Endod-free uncooked/fresh oil soap. The soap made by blending WCO and Endod has higher cleansing power and better lather formation than the prepared soap with WCO without Endod. Moreover, the observed data are comparable with similar data reported in other literature, recommended acceptable standards (EAS, CES), and from many countries including the British, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Cooking oils fried at different temperatures do not have much effect on the quality of soap making. This suggested that the blending of WCOs and Endod can be used as raw materials to prepare high-quality and economically feasible soaps by replacing imported oils and fats.

Efficacy of a simply resting box baited with crude fruit and leaf ethanol extracts of Phytolaccadodecandra (L' Herit) in capturing and killing of indoor mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) at Korando, Western Kenya.

Effective capture and elimination of indoor resting mosquito population is important in the fight against mosquito borne diseases. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a simply resting box baited with crude fruit and leaf ethanol extracts of Phytolacca dodecandra in attracting and killing indoor mosquitoes at Korando, Western Kenya. The study was conducted in three phases: pre-intervention, intervention and post intervention. Simple resting boxes made from galvanized wire frame measuring 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm, covered in blue and black tunic in and out and lined with carton boards were used. The boxes were baited with socks with strong human odour and 80 ml/100mls (e/w) solution of either crude ethanol fruit or leaf extracts of P. dodecandra, ethanol leaf extracts of Azadiracta indica or Deltamethrin. Deltamethrin and Azadiracta indica were used as positive and water as negative control. The treatments were applied at the intervention phase only. The boxes were left overnight in the houses and mosquitoes collected by 6.30 h. It was observed that more Culicines than Anopheline were captured irrespective of phase or treatment used. Mosquito densities reduced with phase of activity. P. dodecandra leaf extracts killed more mosquitoes than fruit or A. indica leaf extracts though the number were less than that of Deltamethrin or WHO threshold of >80% mortality. In conclusion, the simple resting boxes were effective in collecting and killing indoor mosquitoes though lethality did not matched the WHO threshold. With improved structural set up and use of pure extracts of P. dodecandra, the resting boxes can serve as effective tools for capture, elimination and management of mosquito borne diseases.

Phytolacca dodecandra (Phytolaccaceae) Root Extract Exhibits Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities in Mice with CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Damage.

BACKGROUND: The liver is a hub of metabolism and detoxification of substances. Since many redox reactions take place in the liver, it is prone to oxidative damage. Unlike conventional agents, botanicals act through several mechanisms in preventing oxidative damage. Among these Phytolacca dodecandra is the most commonly used agent in Ethiopian folk medicine. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the 80% methanol extract of P. dodecandra root. METHODS: Male mice were divided into six groups and treated accordingly. Negative control was given 2% Tween 80, toxicant control administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), positive control treated with silymarin 100 mg/kg, and test groups were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract. Then, serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, albumin, total protein, and bilirubin were determined. Determination of the change in body weight and liver weight, histopathologic examination of the liver, and in vitro and in vivo antioxidant assays were also carried out. RESULTS: The levels of ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, and bilirubin were significantly reduced, while albumin and total protein were significantly increased after treatment with P. dodecandra root extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg in CCl4 intoxicated mice. Cholesterol metabolism and lipoprotein synthesis capabilities of the liver of mice were also returned to normal in the two doses. Besides, the 200 and 400 mg/kg doses were able to return the normal architecture and morphology of hepatocytes. Furthermore, the plant extract was found to scavenge free radicals in vitro and inhibit lipid peroxidation in vivo. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the 80% methanol extract of P. dodecandra root can be used for the management of liver disease.

Triterpenoid and Saponin Rich Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit (Endod): A Review on Its Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties.

Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit (Endod) is the most extensively studied plant among 35 known species in the genus Phytolacca (Family: Phytolaccaceae). The plant has been used as a viable treatment for various ailments, such as malaria, rabies, ascariasis, and skin disorders, in many parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, the dried and powdered Endod berries have been used for a long period of time as a detergent to clean clothes. Since the discovery of the molluscicidal activities of its berries more than five decades ago, P. dodecandra has been a research focus worldwide and several phytochemicals mainly of triterpenoids and saponins were reported. Additionally, various biological activities, including larvicidal, insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities of its isolated compounds and crude extracts were investigated. Furthermore, some of the findings from pharmacological and phytochemical investigations were patented to be used in various medicinal formulations. The plant is still the subject of many investigations and hence, a thorough up-to-date review is required to provide comprehensive information needed for future exploitation of the plant. In this review, the phytochemical compositions and pharmacological activities are comprehensively addressed and discussed in details.

Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Toxicity Profiles of Phytolacca dodecandra L'Hér: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Phytolacca dodecandra L'Hér. is a native plant of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar which is traditionally used for various ailments. Concerned with the scope of the available evidence, we designed a scoping review to critically analyze scientific evidence on P dodecandra's pharmacology, toxicity, and phytochemistry to validate its ethnomedical use. METHODS: We searched without language restriction in MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science through December 2019. Both published and unpublished articles were assessed for relevance and reviewed. RESULTS: Of 600 articles retrieved through database search, a total of 48 articles were finally included. The butanol extract of berries was more potent molluscicidal than aqueous extract. The berries had also miracidial, anthelmintic, antifungal activity, and antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella spp. The methanol extracts of roots had an antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Phytolacca dodecandra was toxic to aquatic invertebrate and fish. The fishes were up to 4 times more sensitive than snails. Saponins were the main phytoconstituent isolated from berries. Terpenoid and phenolic were abundant in leaves and bark extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Studies validated the traditional use of P dodecandra against snails, worms, and various bacterial and fungal infections. Limited phytochemical data call for future research to focus on isolation of compounds; test their toxicity and activity; and establish mechanism of action.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from Phytolacca dodecandra Collected in Ethiopia.

The essential oil from Phytolacca dodecandra, a traditional herb of Ethiopia, has been studied, including the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The difference between four P. dodecandra samples (P-1⁻P-4), which differed in gender or location, has also been analyzed. The essential oils were obtained by steam distillation, while the aromas were extracted by head space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and both were analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The oils' antimicrobial activities were evaluated by the microdilution method against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. Ninety one components, representing 88.37 to 94.01% of the aromas, were identified. The compositions of the aromas of four samples are mainly dominated by aldehydes and ketones: 2-nonanone (1.80⁻30.80%), benzaldehyde (4.99⁻25.99%), and sulcatone (2.34⁻5.87%). Sixty components representing 64.61 to 69.64% of the oils were identified, and phytone (3.04⁻21.23%), phytol (4.11⁻26.29%) and palmitic acid (1.49⁻23.87%) are the major compounds. No obvious antimicrobial activity was observed for all the four essential oils.

Larvicidal effect of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) seed products against Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the larvicidal effect of 'Endod' (Phytolacca dodecandra) seed products on Anopheles arabiensis, in Ethiopia. RESULTS: Experimental study was conducted using a total of 2400 third instars larvae of A. arabiensis. The seed products P. dodecandra showed larvicidal activity against 3rd-stage larvae of both the laboratory and field population of A. arabiensis. The LC99 values for P. dodecandra's seed powder and its extract form against the laboratory reared larvae were 121.07, and 616.46 mg/l, respectively. The LC50 and LC95 values were also determined.

Evaluation of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra: Phytolaccaceae) as a Larvicide Against Anopheles arabiensis, the Principal Vector of Malaria in Ethiopia.

Malaria control methods rely mostly on adult mosquito control using insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying with insecticides. Plants such as endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) can potentially be used for the control of mosquito larvae as a supplement to adult control methods. Following the discovery of endod, a molluscicide plant, more than 5 decades ago in Ethiopia, subsequent studies have shown that its potency can further be increased by simple procedures such as aging endod berry powder in water. This study was conducted to evaluate the killing effect of fresh and aged endod solution against 4th-stage larvae of Anopheles arabiensis. Laboratory-reared An. arabiensis larvae exposed to different concentrations of endod preparation using distilled or spring water had 50% lethal concentration (LC(50))  =  49.6 ppm and 90% lethal concentration (LC(90))  =  234 ppm for fresh and LC(50)  =  36.4 ppm and LC(90)  =  115.7 ppm for the aged endod solution in distilled water against the laboratory population. Against field-collected larvae of the same species, aged preparations in habitat water resulted in higher LC(50) (472.7 ppm) and LC(90) (691 ppm) values, with only a slight improvement over fresh preparations in habitat water (LC(50)  =  456.2 ppm; LC(90)  =  896.1 ppm). In general, although aged preparations of endod required lower concentrations than fresh to kill at least 90% of the larvae, these concentrations were much higher (12-70×) than that required for schistosome-transmitting snails.

Evaluation of berries of Phytolacca dodecandra for growth inhibition of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum and treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the berries of Phytolacca dodecandra (P. dodecandra) for its effect on Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum (HCF) and for the treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis (EL). METHODS: Samples were collected from un-ruptured nodules of cases of EL at Debre Zeit and Akaki (central Ethiopia). Mycological culture and isolation of HCF were performed at the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology. Phytochemical screening was done for n-butanol extract of P. dodecandra to detect alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of aqueous and n-butanol extracts of P. dodecandra against HCF were determined by agar dilution assay. For the in vivo trial, 5% simple ointment was prepared from n-butanol extract and applied topically to 24 (twelve early and twelve moderate) cases of EL. RESULTS: Phytochemical screening showed that n-butanol extract of P. dodecandra was positive for alkaloids, saponins and phenolic compounds but negative for flavonoids. The MICs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P. dodecandra were (0.039%-0.078%) and (0.625%-1.250%), respectively. The MFCs of n-butanol and aqueous extracts of P. dodecandra were (0.078%-0.156%) and (1.250%-2.500%), respectively. The MIC and MFC of ketoconazole (positive control) was (1.200×10(-5)%-2.500×10(-5)%) and (5.000×10(-5)%-1.000×10(-4)%), respectively while growth was observed on free medium (negative control). From the total of 24 treated cases of EL, 14 (58.3%) responded to treatment; however, 10 (41.7%) did not respond to treatment. There was no significant difference in the degree of response to treatment between early and moderate cases (χ(2)=0.686; P=0.408). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that n-butanol extract of P. dodecandra demonstrates antifungal effects while the aqueous extract shows no antifungal activity.