In Vitro Antileishmanial and Antitrypanosomal Activities of Plicataloside Isolated from the Leaf Latex of Aloe rugosifolia Gilbert & Sebsebe (Asphodelaceae).

Trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis are among the major neglected diseases that affect poor people, mainly in developing countries. In Ethiopia, the latex of Aloe rugosifolia Gilbert & Sebsebe is traditionally used for the treatment of protozoal diseases, among others. In this study, the in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of the leaf latex of A. rugosifolia was evaluated against Trypanosoma congolense field isolate using in vitro motility and in vivo infectivity tests. The latex was also tested against the promastigotes of Leishmania aethiopica and L. donovani clinical isolates using alamar blue assay. Preparative thin-layer chromatography of the latex afforded a naphthalene derivative identified as plicataloside (2,8-O,O-di-(ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl-naphthalene) by means of spectroscopic techniques (HRESI-MS, 1H, 13C-NMR). Results of the study demonstrated that at 4.0 mg/mL concentration plicataloside arrested mobility of trypanosomes within 30 min of incubation period. Furthermore, plicataloside completely eliminated subsequent infectivity in mice for 30 days at concentrations of 4.0 and 2.0 mg/mL. Plicataloside also displayed antileishmanial activity against the promastigotes of L. aethopica and L. donovani with IC50 values 14.22 ± 0.41 µg/mL (27.66 ± 0.80 µM) and 18.86 ± 0.03 µg/mL (36.69 ± 0.06 µM), respectively. Thus, plicataloside may be used as a scaffold for the development of novel drugs effective against trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for wound treatment: a systematic review

Background: There are rich knowledge and practice in Ethiopian traditional medicine of using plants for the treatment of various ailments, including wounds. Though scholars have been working on documenting the ethnobotanical use of plants, the studies are still ongoing. Objectives: This study systematically reviewed medicinal plants traditionally employed for the treatment of wounds in Ethiopia. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar; a search of grey literature was also carried out as part of the review. Search terms and phrases included 'traditional medicine', 'ethnomedicine', 'ethnobotany' and 'Ethiopia'. Data regarding the scientific name, family, local name, growth form of the plant, mode of administration, and availability of voucher specimen were extracted. Results: Based on the eligibility criteria, 29 studies were retrieved from PubMed, and 25 from Google Scholar and the grey literature. Around 200 medicinal plants which are used to treat wounds in Ethiopian traditional medicine were recorded. Leaves and roots were the most commonly used plant parts to treat wounds, while shrubs and herbs were reported to be the growth forms of most plants. The mode of administration was topical in almost all cases. Conclusions: Medicinal plants have been used extensively to treat wounds in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, the scientific exploration of plants' efficacy and safety is inadequate, and relevant activity studies ought to be conducted to provide scientific evidence to the traditional claims of these plants