Biological and phytochemical characterization of Phragmanthera regularis (Loranthaceae) from Ethiopia.

Phragmanthera regularis is a hemi-parasitic shrub. It is known for treating various health ailments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity, toxicity, and chemical characterization of the leaf extracts of P regularis collected from the Schinus molle host plant in Ethiopia. The antimicrobial properties of crude extracts obtained with chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water solvents were assayed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The methanol extract significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa were resistant to any of these solvent extracts. The methanol extract was tested at 175, 550, and 2000 mg/kg body weight doses in white mice and did not reveal any toxicity. The LC-MS qTOF analysis detected flavonoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids in the crude methanol extract. Further study is needed to investigate the effectiveness of these compounds against S. aureus.

Biological activities of Viscum tuberculatum aqueous leaf extract.

CONTENT: Plant-based natural products have served as sources of remedies against pathogenic microorganisms. Although the biological activities of Viscum (Santalaceae) species are widely recognized, there is no scientific evidence for Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimicrobial, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory properties and phytochemical constituents of an aqueous extract of V. tuberculatum from Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of V. tuberculatum was tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of this extract were determined using the broth macrodilution method. The acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract were investigated using standard procedures on female and male white albino mice, aged 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. The phytochemical constituents of V. tuberculatum were determined using LC-MS QTOF. RESULTS: The MIC and MBC values against S. aureus were found to be 6.25 and 100 mg/mL. The LD50 value was more than 2000 mg/kg body weight of the mouse. The 400 mg/kg dose exerts 87% inhibition after 5 h of carrageenan injection. Twenty-five different metabolites, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids and alkaloids, were identified. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous extract of V. tuberculatum.

Anti-Inflammatory and Phytochemical Analysis of the Crude Leaves Extracts of Boscia Coriacea Graells and Uvaria Leptocladon Oliv.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities and phytochemical composition of the leaves extracts of Boscia coriacea Graells and Uvaria leptocladon Oliv. Methods: The powdered leaves of Boscia coriacea Graells and Uvaria leptocladon Oliv were extracted by maceration and soxhlet extraction methods. Anti-inflammatory activity of the leaves extracts of Boscia coriacea Graells and Uvaria leptocladon Oliv were evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Standard methods were used for analysis of phytochemical composition of the leaves extracts of Boscia coriacea Graells and Uvaria leptocladon Oliv. Data analysis was done using one way analysis of variance. Results: U. leptocladon Oliv (200 mg/kg) and B. coriacea Graells (200 mg/kg) showed percent inhibition on mice paw edema of 86% and 75% after six hours of carrageenan injection, respectively. The ethanol fraction (100 mg/kg) of U. leptocladon Oliv showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect after six hours of carrageenan injection. The phytochemical analysis of the leaves extracts of B. coriacea and U. leptocladon revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, phenols, quinones, and saponins. Conclusion: The crude leaves extracts of B. coriacea Graells and U. leptocladon Oliv contain phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory activities.

Toxicity Study and Antibacterial Effects of the Leaves Extracts of Boscia coriacea and Uvaria leptocladon.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo toxicity and antibacterial activity of the leaves extracts of Boscia coriacea and Uvaria leptocladon. Methods: Extraction was performed using 80% methanol by maceration and Soxhlet extraction method. Evaluation of the acute toxicity of the extracts was based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of the extracts was done by agar well diffusion assay. Determinations of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were performed by broth macro-dilution method. The checkerboard method was used for the determination of combined effect of antibiotics and the extracts. Paired T-test and one way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. Results: B. coriacea and U. leptocladon have no toxic effect in Swiss albino mice up to dose of 5000 mg/kg. B. coriacea and U. leptocladon showed antibacterial activity at concentration of 500 mg/ml. The chloroform-methanol fraction of B. coriacea and U. leptocladon showed the highest antibacterial activity at concentration of 25 mg/ml. The MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of B. coriacea were 125 mg/ml and 250 mg/ml, respectively. The MIC of U. leptocladon ranged from 31.25 mg/ml to 62.5 mg/ml, while its MBC ranged from 62.5 to 125 mg/ml. The combination assay of B. coriacea and the antibiotics showed additive effect, while U. leptocladon and the antibiotics showed indifferent effect. Conclusion: The findings showed that U. leptocladon and B. coriacea leaves extracts have antibacterial activity and no toxicity in animal model.

Antiplasmodial activity of Vernonia adoensis aqueous, methanol and chloroform leaf extracts against chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei in vivo in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the antiplasmodial effects of the crude aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of the leaves of Vernonia adoensis in Plasmodium berghei infected Swiss albino mice using Peters' 4-day suppressive test. RESULTS: The number of mice used for the toxicity test was 20 (5/group) and for each extract and control groups 5 mice per group was used. The aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of V. adoensis leaves indicated statistically significant (P < 0.05) suppression of parasitaemia in the treated mice. The highest inhibition was that of the methanol extract treated mice (83.36%) followed by aqueous (72.26%) and chloroform (54.34%) at an oral dose of 600 mg/kg b.wt. Each extract prevented body weight loss and packed cell volume (PCV) reduction as compared to the negative control groups. The survival time of the mice treated with chloroform based on Kaplan-Meir analysis was 12.53 ± 0.37 at 600 mg/kg b.wt, while the negative control was 7.93 ± 0.37 days. The LD50 of the extracts was greater than 3000 mg/kg body weight. In conclusion, the crude leaves extract of V. adoensis have demonstrated antiplasmodial effect in vivo. P. berghei infection is suppressed in a dose-dependent manner showing relevance of the traditional use of the plant.

Perceptions of health and illness among the Konso people of southwestern Ethiopia: persistence and change.

BACKGROUND: Cross-cultural studies indicate that every culture has its own particular explanations for health and illness and its own healing strategies. The Konso people have always practiced indigenous medicine and have multifaceted accounts or multiple dimensions of illness perceptions and health-care beliefs and practices. This paper describes how perceptions of health and illness are instrumental in health and treatment outcomes among the Konso people in southwestern Ethiopia. Results may provide an understanding of the perceptions of health and illness in relation to the local cosmology, religion, and environment. METHODS: The ethnographic method was employed to generate evidence, complemented by focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and direct observation. Thematic analysis was employed to categorize and interpret the data. RESULTS: Findings indicate that the Konso people's worldview, particularly as it relates to health, illness, and healing systems, is closely linked to their day-to-day lives. Older people believe illnesses are caused by a range of supernatural forces, including the wrath of God or local gods, oritta (spirit possession), and karayitta (ancestral spirits), and they use culturally prescribed treatment. Young and formally educated members of the community attribute causes of diseases to germitta (germs) and factorta (bacteria) and tend to seek treatment mostly in modern health facilities. CONCLUSION: Perceptions of health and illness as well as of healing are part of Konso people's worldview. Local communities comprehend health problems and solutions within their cultural frame of reference, which has changed over the years. The Konso people associate their health situations with socio-cultural and religious factors. The individual's behavior and interactions with the social, natural, and supernatural powers affect the well-being of the whole group. The individual, the family, the clan leaders, and the deceased are intimately linked to one's culturally based health beliefs and are associated by the Konso with health problems and illnesses.

Antiplasmodial Compounds from Leaves of Dodonaea angustifolia.

BACKGROUND: Dodonaea angustifolia is used in Ethiopian traditional medicine to treat malaria. The objective of this work was to conduct bioassay guided fractionation of the leaves of D. angustifolia using Plasmodium berghei infected mice. METHOD: The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts and pure compounds was evaluated using the standard Peter's four-day suppressive method. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using chemi-cal and spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: In this study, the ethyl acetate soluble portion of the 80% aqueous MeOH extract of the leaves significantly suppressed parasitaemia in Plasmodium berghei infected mice (80.28% at 150 mg/kg). Three active compounds which exhibited significant percent suppression of parasitaemia by 81% at 40 mg/kg, 80% at 50 mg/kg and 70% at 40 mg/kg, respectively were identified. These are the flavanone pinocembrin (1), the flavanol santin (2) and the clerodane diterpene 2-hydroxy-15,16-epoxyceloda-3,13(16),14-trien-18-oic acid (3). Under similar conditions, chloroquine suppressed parasitaemia by 100% at 25 mg/kg. Chemical study of the ethanol extract of the leaves yielded 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone (4), ent-16-hydroxy-labdan-3α,8ß-dihydroxy,13(14)-en-15,16-olide (5) and 5,6,7-trihydroxy-3,4'-dimethoxyflavone (6). Compound 6 has not been reported before as a natural product. CONCLUSION: From the leaves of D. angustifolia, three compounds with significant antiplasmodial activi-ties were isolated and characterized, with pinocembrin as the most active compound.

Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of extracts of the leaves of Ajuga remota Benth on alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Ajuga remota Benth is traditionally used in Ethiopia for the management of diabetes mellitus. Since this claim has not been investigated scientifically, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect and phytochemical screening of the aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic mice. METHODS: After acute toxicity test, the Swiss albino mice were induced with alloxan to get experimental diabetes animals. The fasting mean blood glucose level before and after treatment for two weeks in normal, diabetic untreated and diabetic mice treated with aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts were performed. Data were statistically evaluated by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The medium lethal doses (LD50) of both extracts were higher than 5000 mg/kg, indicating the extracts are not toxic under the observable condition. Aqueous extracts of A.remota (300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight) reduced elevated blood glucose levels by 27.83 ± 2.96% and 38.98 ± 0.67% (P < 0.0001), respectively while the 70% ethanol extract caused a reduction of 27.94 ± 1.92% (300 mg/kg) & 28.26 ± 1.82% (500 mg/kg). Treatment with the antidiabetic drug, Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight) lowered blood glucose level by 51.06% (p < 0.05). Phytochemical screening of both extracts indicated the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids, which might contribute to the antidiabetic activity. The extracts, however, did not contain alkaloids and anthraquinones. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) showed the highest percentage reduction in blood glucose levels and the ability of A. remota extracts in reducing blood glucose levels presumably due to the presence of antioxidant constituents such as flavonoids. The effect of the extract supported the traditional claim of the plant.

Laboratory assessment of molluscicidal and cercariacidal effects of Glinus lotoides fruits.

BACKGROUND: The negative impact of synthetic molluscicides on the environment and their high cost necessitated search for an alternative approach of using plant extracts for the control of schistosomiasis. The objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate aqueous and ethyl acetate crude extracts of Glinus lotoides fruits for their cercariacidal activity and molluscicidal effect against schistosome snail intermediate hosts. METHODS: Assessment of the molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria pfeifferi was made by immersion method in accordance with WHO guideline. The results of mortality were statistically analyzed using probit analysis. The attenuating effect of the plant on Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was determined using establishment of adult worms as a parasitological parameter post exposure. RESULTS: The 24 and 48 hour-LC50 values for the aqueous extract of G. lotoides fruits were 47.1 and 44.1 mg/L, respectively, whereas that of ethyl acetate were 66.1 and 59.6 mg/L, respectively. The 24 and 48 hour LC90 values for the aqueous extract of G. lotoides fruits were 56.96 and 51.0 mg/L, respectively, while that of ethyl acetate were 77.2 and 70.0 mg/L, respectively. The in vitro cercariacidal activity was determined after 2 hrs of exposure to the aqueous plant extract. It was found out that the LC50 and LC90 values were 18.7 and 41.7 mg/L, respectively. Besides, infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae to mice was determined by exposing mice to cercariae pre-treated with the sub-lethal concentrations (3.7, 11.6 and 18.7 mg/L) of the aqueous extract. A significant reduction in worm burden in mice was obtained at 11.6 mg/L (p < 0.05). Moreover, the reduction in number of worms recovered was highly significant at 18.7 mg/L (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that G. lotoides has molluscicidal activity against B. pfeifferi snails and cercariacidal activity against S. mansoni. Yet, further comprehensive evaluation is recommended for the possible use of G. lotoides against B. pfeifferi and the schistosome parasite.

Knowledge and use of medicinal plants by people around Debre Libanos monastery in Ethiopia.

The study was conducted around Debre Libanos monastery from October 2005 to June 2006. A total of 250 villagers, 13 monks and 3 nuns were interviewed using semistructured questionnaire on the knowledge and use of medicinal plants. The informant consensus factor (ICF) and the fidelity level (FL) of the species were determined. Eighty medicinal plant species were reported. The average medicinal plant reported by a female is 1.67+/-0.33 and a male is 5.77+/-0.71 with significant difference between them (alpha=0.05, p=0.023). The ICF values demonstrated that local people tend to agree more with each other in terms of the plants used to treat 'Mich' and headache (0.69) and intestinal illness and parasites (0.68) but a much more diverse group of plants are cited to treat problems related to rabies (0.14) and unidentified swelling and cancer (0.11). The FL values are also similar to ICF values. The knowledge of the villagers close to the monastery is found to be higher than those distant from the monastery and the correlation between Abichu and Telaye (r=0.970, alpha=0.05, p=0.001), and Zegamel and Doreni (r=0.745, alpha=0.05, p=0.027) is significant indicating the relationships between the number of plants reported by the informants and the distance from the monasteries to the villages. This study was not able to determine the knowledge difference between the villagers and the monastery dwellers because the monks and nuns were not willing to give information on the knowledge and use of medicinal plants. This may result in the long run in loss of local knowledge in the surrounding area and the country at large for preparation of pharmacologically effective remedies.

Spasmolytic effects of artemisia afra and artemisia rehan in tissue preparations.

BACKGROUND: The genus Artemisia of Family Compositae (Asteracea) is widely used in many parts of the world as herbal remedies for a variety of illnesses. METHODOLOGY: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of powdered dried leaf and root of Artemisia afra and leaf of Artemisia rehan were tested on isolated mouse duodenum (MD) and guinea pig ileum (GPI). Different concentrations of each extract of the plants (ranging from 20-200 microg/ml) were tested in the presence of agonist control, acetylcholine (in MD) and histamine (in GPI) as contraction stimulators. RESULTS: Artemisia afra leaf ethanol (ALE) and Artemisia rehan leaf ethanol (RLE) significantly reduced both spontaneous rhythmic and agonist-induced contractions of MD and GPI. ALE and RLE caused mean contractile response of 44.3 +/- 0.9% (at a dose of 160 microg/ml) and 35 +/- 1.8% (at a dose of 120 microg/ml) respectively in isolated MD, and a mean contractile response of 60.9 +/- 2.7% and 43.5 +/- 2.7% respectively at maximal doses of 200 microg/ml in isolated GPI. CONCLUSION: The results in the present study indicate that the plants possess spasmolytic property and also support the traditional folk use of the aerial and root parts of the plants for stomach pains and intestinal cramps.

Medicinal plants of the Shinasha, Agew-awi and Amhara peoples in northwest Ethiopia.

Study was conducted in two sub-districts in northwestern Ethiopia to compile and analyse knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for treatment or prevention of human ailments by three socio-cultural groups, namely the Amharas, Shinashas and Agew-Awis. Data were mainly collected through individual interviews conducted with selected knowledgeable farmers and professional healers of the three socio-cultural groups. A total of 76 medicinal plants belonging to 48 families were documented, of which 50 species were reported by the Amharas, 25 by the Shinashas and 20 by the Agew-Awis. Large proportions of medicinal plants were found to have been used for the treatments of gastro-intestinal complaints (26%), skin diseases (24%) and malaria (22%). Relatively, higher numbers of informants agreed on the use of Croton macrostachyus against malaria (21%), Cynoglossum coeruleum against 'mich', illness mainly characterized by fever, headache and sweating (18%) and Zehneria scabra against malaria (13%). The species Croton Macrostachyus, Calpurnia aurea, Clematis hirsuta and Plumbago zeylanica were found to have the highest diversity of medicinal applications. We recommend that priority for further investigation should be given to medicinal plants with higher informant consensuses, as this could indicate their better efficacy. Measures are needed to conserve plants that are reported as scarce in the study area but still are only harvested from the wild.

Antifertility effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats.

BACKGROUND: Asparagus africanus is claimed to have use in reproductive related health problems in some areas of Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To study the potential antifertility effect of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of Asparagus africanus in rats. METHODS: Water and ethanol extracts were given by gavages to rats in the in vivo test at a dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight, and rat uterine tissue were used for the in vitro test at different concentrations. RESULTS: The aqueous extracts of the leaves and the roots showed an anti-implantation activity of 70% and 77%, respectively, while the ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots showed 48% and 61%, respectively. The antifertility activities of the aqueous and ethanol extracts were 40% (for leaves), 60% (for roots) and 20% (for leaves), 40% (for roots), respectively. All the extracts have resulted in significant (P< 0.05) reduction in the number of implants as compared with their respective controls. Each extract potentiated acetylcholine induced uterine contractions in a concentration dependent manner significantly (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study suggest that the leaves and roots of this plant may possess hormonal properties that can modulate the reproductive function of the experimental rats.

Glucosinolates in Moringa stenopetala.

Bio-guided fractionation of seed extracts from Moringa stenopetala resulted in a myrosinase hydrolysis product, 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2-thione. It is formed from the glucosinolate glucoconringiin, which was identified together with O-(rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate from M. stenopetala for the first time. The glucosinolates in seeds, leaves and roots of M. stenopetala were quantified as des-sulphoglucosinolate by HPLC. The seeds without testa contained the highest concentration of glucoconringiin and of O-(rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate within the plant, 3 % and 19 % of dry mass, respectively. Abbreviations. GLS:glucosinolate GC:glucoconringiin RB-GLS: O-(rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate