Biofungicides for Improvement of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) Production.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) cultivation originated from Peru in Latin America. The cultivation has spread fast across the globe due to its ability to cope in the warm tropical and temperate climate. It is spotted by the United Nations as the only tuberous crop that can compete with the cereals in productivity. Fungal disease infestation has been identified as a major challenge confronting the farmers during the cultivation and marketing processes. Farmers' reliance on Chemical fungicides has lost its credibility to the adoption of the use of biofungicides due to its toxic, high cost, and environmental hazard effects. The trend of the adoption of biofungicides by potato farmers is gaining ground at a fast rate. Various national governments are devising means of collaborating with the United Nations stakeholders through encouraging research funding and by organizing conferences that will enhance potato production. This could be achieved by minimizing losses through farmer's complete adoption of biofungicides. This review, therefore, examines the various botanicals with antimicrobial properties as potential biofungicide against fungi diseases of potato.

Multidrug-Resistant Biofilm, Quorum Sensing, Quorum Quenching, and Antibacterial Activities of Indole Derivatives as Potential Eradication Approaches.

Challenges encountered in relapse of illness caused by resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents (drugs) are due to factors of severe stress initiated by random use of antibiotics and insufficient beneficial approaches. These challenges have resulted to multiple drug resistance (MDR) and, subsequently, biofilm formation. A type of intercellular communication signal called quorum sensing (QS) has been studied to cause the spread of resistance, thereby enabling a formation of stable community for microorganisms. The QS could be inhibited using QS inhibitors (QSIs) called quorum-quenching (QQ). The QQ is an antibiofilm agent. Indole derivatives from plant sources can serve as quorum-quenching eradication approach for biofilm, as well as a promising nontoxic antibiofilm agent. In other words, phytochemicals in plants help to control and prevent biofilm formation. It could be recommended that combination strategies of these indoles' derivatives with antibiotics would yield enhanced results.

Suitability of Banana and Plantain Fruits in Modulating Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implicating the In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence from Neuroactive Narratives of Constituent Biomolecules.

Active principles in plant-based foods, especially staple fruits, such as bananas and plantains, possess inter-related anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and neuromodulatory activities. Neurodegenerative diseases affect the functionality of the central and peripheral nervous system, with attendant cognitive deficits being hallmarks of these conditions. The dietary constitution of a wide range of bioactive compounds identified in this review further iterates the significance of the banana and plantain in compromising, halting, or preventing the pathological mechanisms of neurological disorders. The neuroprotective mechanisms of these biomolecules have been identified by using protein expression regulation and specific gene/pathway targeting, such as the nuclear and tumor necrosis factors, extracellular signal-regulated and mitogen-activated protein kinases, activator protein-1, and the glial fibrillary acidic protein. This review establishes the potential double-edged neuro-pharmacological fingerprints of banana and plantain fruits in their traditionally consumed pulp and less utilized peel component for human nutrition.

Anthelmintic potency of Rumex crispus L. extracts against Caenorhabditis elegans and non-targeted identification of the bioactive compounds.

Traditional healers and ethnoveterinary therapists use several medicinal plants, such as Rumex crispus L., to treat endoparasite infections. R. crispus has been established by researchers to be effective agasint a few parasitic worms. In this study, we evaluated the potency of R. crispus extracts on the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans and the bioactive compounds of the extracts were also identified. The solvent extracts of R. crispus were tested against C. elegans for up to 72 h. The effect of the extracts on C. elegans was examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). LM and SEM analysis showed damage on the body wall, reduced body and slight modifications of the nematode organs. The lethality test reveals a significant reduction in the viability of the nematode with the water extract of leaf (LF-WAE), among others, having the strongest potency against the nematode, with 83% lethality. Anlysis done with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra reveals various characteristic vibration bands and fingerprint bands at 3400-600 cm-1, identifying phenols, organic acids, aromatics, amines, among others in the plant. The compounds were identified with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), under the categories of flavonoids, steroidal alkaloids and proanthocyanidin. In conclusion, this study confirmed that R. crispus has anthelmintic potential, using standardised C. elegans models as a tool and suggests that there could be novel compounds yet to be explored in the studied plant that could be of great benefit to livestock and humans.

Chemical composition, antioxidant activities and antibacterial activities of essential oil from Erythrina caffra Thunb. growing in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Essential oils from plants are recognized as one of the most promising secondary metabolites for the development of cheap and safer drugs. While Erythrina caffra has been prominently used in folk medicine for the treatment of microbial infections, there is dearth of information on the pharmacological effectiveness and chemical composition of its essential oil. The study, therefore, aimed at identifying the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil of Erythrina caffra. METHODS: In this study, the essential oil was extracted with all-glass Clevenger. The antioxidant activities of the essential oil and antibacterial susceptibility assay by agar well diffusion techniques were assessed while GC-MS analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents of the essential oil. RESULTS: The study showed that the radical scavenging activity of the essential oil increases as the concentration of the essential oil increases. All bacterial isolates were susceptible to essential oil with the exception of Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing inhibition zones ranging between 22 ± 1.3 and 35 ± 2.1 mm in the susceptible isolates. The GC-MS chromatogram indicated there are 35 bioactive compounds in the essential oil and Caryophyllene oxide (53.54%), [1S-(1α,7α,8aß)]-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octa-1 - hydro-1,8a-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethenyl)-Naphthalene (7.81%), Kauran-18-al (6.49%), 10,10-Dimethyl-2,6-dimethylenebicy clo[7.2.0]undecan-5.beta.-ol (5.83%), 10s,11s-Himachala-3(12),4-diene (4.51%), Caryophyllene (3.65%) and 1- Hexanol (3.31%) were the most prominent compounds. CONCLUSION: Excessive production of free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative stress and disease. Oxidative stress resulting from imbalance between excessive generation of free radicals and inadequate antioxidant defense system has been linked to pathogenesis of many diseases. The essential oil of E. caffra stem bark extract possess antimicrobial and good antioxidant activities and its rich level of phytochemicals can be used as either dietary or complementary agents.

Nutritional composition and antinutrient content of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. leaves: An underutilized wild vegetable.

The nutritional and antinutrient composition of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. leaves was reported in this study. Proximate analysis revealed the presence of 8.5% total ash, 4.92% crude fat, 8.41% moisture, 15.74% crude protein, 21.48% crude fiber, 40.95% carbohydrates, and 271.04 kcal/100 g energy value. Mineral analysis showed that H. arborescens leaves are very rich in K, Ca, and Fe. Considerable amounts of Mg, Mn, Na, P, Cu, and Zn were also present. Vitamin analysis showed that the plant has a high content of vitamins A, C, and E. The antinutrients evaluated were phytate, oxalate, saponin, and alkaloids, all of which were below toxic levels except for saponin which was observed at moderately high level. The results credibly indicate that H. arborescens leaves are nutrient-rich and can contribute effectively to the daily nutrient requirements alongside its therapeutic properties.

Evaluation of nutritional and elemental compositions of green and red cultivars of roselle: Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Roselle-Hibiscus sabdariffa L. leaves at different stages of growth, calyces and seeds were analyzed for nutritional and anti-nutritional factors. All the treatments contained a good but varied proportion of carbohydrate in a range of 26.93-54.13%, crude protein from 5.7 to 27.06%, crude fat 1.16-13.09%, crude fibre 15.75-36.10%, energy 631.36-1065 kJ, ash 6.08-13.74% and moisture content 6.00-9.7%. The vitamins A, C and E were also found to be present in all the treatments in a different but substantial amount. The calcium, magnesium and iron contents in all the treatments were higher than the recommended daily allowance of 1250, 350, and 15 mg for adults, while the phosphorus and sodium values in all the treatments were below 1000 and 1500 mg RDA for adults. However, the Na + /K + for all the treatments were lower than 1. The values of anti-nutrients in the samples were small except post-flowering red which had high phytate content of 21.02%, although this can be easily reduced during processes like boiling and cooking. Thus, both cultivars of roselle contain high nutritional, elemental, and vitamins compositions and small content of anti-nutrients.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils Obtained from Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. and Schltdl Leaves Using Two Extraction Methods.

This study was aimed at comparing the essential oils obtained from Heteromorpha arborescens leaves by Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction (SFME) and Hydrodistillation (HD) methods in terms of their chemical compositions, yield, CO2 emission, and energy consumption. The solvent-free microwave extraction method indicated a higher oil yield of 0.7 mL/200 g (0.35%) as compared to 0.59 mL/200 g (0.295%) obtained through hydrodistillation. GC-MS analysis of the oils revealed a total of 52 chemical components from both methods with the presence of 35 (96.52%) and 30 (71.15%) chemical constituents for HD and SFME, respectively. The major constituents observed in the essential oil extracted by SFME methods include α-pinene (6%), D-limonene (11.27%), ß-ocimene (9.09%), ß-phellandrene (6.33%), ß-mycene (8.49%), caryophyllene (5.96%), and camphene (4.28%). However, in the hydrodistillation method, the oil was majorly composed of a-pinene (4.41%), ß-pinene (10.68%), ß-ocimene (6.30%), germacrene-D (5.09%), humulene (5.55%), and α-elemene (6.18%). The SFME method was better in terms of saving energy (0.25 kWh against 4.2 kWh of energy consumed), reduced CO2 emission (200 g against 3360 g of CO2), a higher yield, and better quality of essential oil due to the presence of higher valuable oxygenated compounds (8.52%) against that of the hydrodistillation method (2.96%). The SFME method is, therefore, a good alternative for extracting the oils of H. arborescens leaves since the essential oil yield is higher with more oxygenated compounds, considerable energy savings, lower cost, and reduced environmental burden at substantially reduced extraction time (30 min as opposed to 180 min).

Nutrients and antinutrient constituents of Amaranthus caudatus L. Cultivated on different soils.

This study investigated variations in the concentration of nutrients, antinutrients and mineral content of Amaranthus caudatus harvested from different soil types at various stages of maturity. Four out the five soils namely; sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, clayey loam and loam were experimentally formulated from primary particles of silt, clay and sand in line with the United State Department of Agriculture's (USDA) soil triangle protocol. The unfractionated soil was used as the control. After harvesting at pre-flowering (61 days after planting), flowering (71 days after planting) and post-flowering (91 days after planting) stages, nutrient and antinutrient analyses were carried out following Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and other referenced methods while the Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometer was used to determine mineral compositions of the plant samples. The results of the study revealed that particle size and physicochemical properties of the soil influenced the number of minerals deposited in plant tissues. It was further observed that the nutritional properties of the plant change as plant ages. For an optimal yield of vitamins A and E, clayey loam proved to be the best soil particularly when A. caudatus is harvested before flowering but for vitamin C, sandy clayey loam yielded the highest output at the same stage. Similarly, clayey loam and loam soils yielded the highest proximate compositions at flowering and pre-flowering; however, mineral elements (micro and macro) were highest in control and loam soils.

Toxicity and Antimicrobial Activities of Amaranthus caudatus L. (Amaranthaceae) Harvested From Formulated Soils at Different Growth Stages.

This study examined the toxicity and antimicrobial effects of ethanol and aqueous extracts from Amaranthus caudatus grown on soils formulated from parent particles of silt, sand and clay in a glasshouse. Four different soils namely; sandy clay loam, loam, clayey loam and silty clay loam from were formulated were used for cultivation with the unfractionated soil which was the control. Crude extracts obtained from the plant shoots harvested at different growth stages were tested on some certain gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and some fungi via agar dilution assay. The toxicity of the water and ethanol extracts was also examined via Artemia salina assay and the level of lethality was measured against Clarkson's lethality scale. All aqueous samples, as well as ethanol extracts of flowering and pre-flowering harvests of control soil tested, were non-toxic (LC50 > 1 mg/mL). At post flowering, the ethanolic extracts were highly toxic mostly in clayey loam, control, sandy-clayey loam soils (LC50 < 0.5 mg/mL). Also, antifungal effects of the plant revealed that extracts inhibited the growth of Candida albicans significantly with mild effect on Candida glabrata, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium aurantiogriseum suggesting that the plant is a promising pharmacological candidate in the treatment of candidiasis. For an optimal yield of non-toxic supplement for household consumption which may also serve as pharmacological precursors, clayey loam soil is recommended for cultivation and harvesting may occur at pre-flowering or flowering stage using ethanol and water as solvents of extraction.

Potentials of Musa Species Fruits against Oxidative Stress-Induced and Diet-Linked Chronic Diseases: In Vitro and In Vivo Implications of Micronutritional Factors and Dietary Secondary Metabolite Compounds.

Nutritional quality and the well-being of the body system are directly linked aspects of human survival. From the unborn foetus to adulthood, the need for sustainable access to micronutrient-rich foods is pertinent and the global consumption of banana and plantain fruits, in effect, contributes to the alleviation of the scourge of malnutrition. This review is particularly aimed at evaluating the pharmacological dimensions through the biological mechanisms of Musa fruits in the body, which represent correlations with their constituent micronutrient factors and dietary polyphenolic constituents such as minerals, vitamin members, anthocyanins, lutein, α-,ß- carotenes, neoxanthins and cryptoxanthins, epi- and gallo catechins, catecholamines, 3-carboxycoumarin, ß-sitosterol, monoterpenoids, with series of analytical approaches for the various identified compounds being highlighted therein. Derivative value-products from the compartments (flesh and peel) of Musa fruits are equally highlighted, bringing forth the biomedicinal and nutritional relevance, including the potentials of Musa species in dietary diversification approaches.

Assessment of the phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham & Schltdl. leaf extracts.

Background:Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. and Schltdl (Apiaceae) is widely used traditionally for the treatment of a wide range of diseases in Southern and Eastern Africa. Although previous studies have reported the biological activities of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of H. arborescens leaves, there is no scientific information on the phytochemical contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of acetone, ethanol, aqueous and blanched extracts. This study is therefore aimed to investigate and compare the phytochemical contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of acetone, ethanol, aqueous and blanched extracts of H. arborescens leaves. Methods: Phytochemical analysis for the total phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin, alkaloid and saponin contents of all the fractions were determined by spectroscopic methods, while the free radical scavenging potential of the extracts were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity assays. Micro dilution method was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of H. arborescens leaf extracts against Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Results: Total phenol content of the extracts ranged between 15.10 mg GAE/g- 42.50 mg GAE/g, proanthocyanidin was 459-8402.1 mg QE/g, and flavonoid content of 109.24-235.79 mg QE/g. In addition, alkaloids (5.59%) and saponins (23.33%) were present in significant amounts. Based on the IC 50 values, the ethanol extract exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (0.013 mg/mL) with highest inhibition against DPPH and ABTS radicals (0.06 and 0.049 mg/mL respectively). Considerable antibacterial activities were observed in the acetone, ethanol and blanched extracts with MIC values ranging from 1.563-12.5 mg/mL; however, the aqueous extract was inactive against all the bacteria strains. Conclusion: The study suggests that H. arborescens leaves could be a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Although the blanching process significantly decreased polyphenolic contents and antioxidant activities of the extracts, it increased the antibacterial compounds.

Phytochemical screening and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Teucrium trifidum crude extracts.

The objective of the investigation was to identify biologically active polyphenols and to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity of Teucrium trifidum extracted with different organic solvents (acetone, ethanol and methanol) and distilled water. The results of the study revealed varying levels of polyphenols in the different solvent extracts. Condensed tannin, flavonoid and total phenolic content ranged from (77.339 ± 1.068) to (99.395 ± 1.490) mg CE/g; (3.398 ± 0.2410) to (53.253 ± 0.638) mg QE/g; (14.1087 ± 0.0915) to (21.7977 ± 0.0279) mg GAE/g, respectively. The extracts demonstrated high antioxidant activity in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays which were comparable to rutin and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and increased with increasing concentrations of polyphenols extract (P < 0.05). The agar dilution assay of acetone, ethanol and methanol extracts revealed an appreciable broad-spectrum activity against tested pathogenic bacteria. The findings of this study provide evidence that T. trifidum can be used as a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial components.

Multifunctional activity of vitamin E in animal and animal products: A review.

Vitamin E is an essential nontoxic fat-soluble micronutrient whose effects on livestock performance and products can be attributed to its antioxidant and nonantioxidant properties. Although it is needed in small quantity in the diet, its roles in livestock production are indispensable as it is required in boosting performance, nutritional qualities, and yield of animal and animal products. The dietary or oral supplementation of vitamin E is essential in reducing lipid oxidation in muscle, egg, and dairy products as well as lowering cholesterol concentrations and improving antioxidant status of livestock. Evidence has shown that bioavailability of vitamin E-enriched animal products could serve as an invaluable nutritional benefit to consumers; especially those in regions of limited resources where vitamin E deficiencies pose a risk that may be detrimental to some cellular activities of the body and on human health. It is therefore important to redirect research on the impact of vitamin E supplementation as antioxidant on livestock performance and animal products.

Comparative and Correlational Evaluation of the Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Musa sinensis L. and Musa paradisiaca L. Fruit Compartments (Musaceae).

Secondary metabolites and their biological activity have pharmacological relevance in the prevention and therapeutic management of disease, including the facilitation of normal physiological processes through biochemical mechanisms. In this study, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity were evaluated quantitatively on the acetone, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of the flesh, and peel, as well as the boiled peel extract compartments of Musa sinensis L. and Musa paradisiaca L. fruits. Total phenol, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents were estimated and measured spectrophotometrically. The free radical scavenging antioxidant capacity of the extracts was tested on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl ethanol), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay models. Correlation between phytoconstituents and antioxidant activity was analysed using Pearson's coefficient. The results showed varying amounts of phytochemicals in the solvent extracts of the flesh and peel, including the boiled peel extract of M. sinensis and M. paradisiaca. All acetone extracts of M. sinensis flesh, M. paradisiaca flesh, and M. paradisiaca peel had the highest phytochemical contents, with the exception of the ethanol extract of M. sinensis peel which had the highest phenol content; just as on the overall scale, the peel compartments had generally higher phytochemical profiles than the soft flesh in both fruits. The boiled peel extracts of M. sinensis and M. paradisiaca had the highest ABTS (0.03 mg/mL) and DPPH (0.03 mg/mL) activity. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) was the highest in the ethanol extracts of M. sinensis flesh and peel, and M. paradisiaca flesh, while it was the highest in the acetone extract of M. paradisiaca at the peak concentration used (0.1 mg/mL). There was a significant negative correlation between the total phenol and flavonoid contents of M. sinensis flesh with its DPPH radical scavenging activity and proanthocyanidin content of M. paradisiaca flesh with its DPPH radical scavenging activity. The correlation outcomes indicate that none of the phytochemical constituents solely affected antioxidant activity; instead, a combination of the polyphenolic constituents contributed to antioxidant activity. This study shows the therapeutic potentials of the flesh and, importantly, the peel of M. sinensis and M. paradisiaca fruits on the basis of the polyphenolic constitution against free radicals and oxidative stress.

Inhibition of HIV-1 Protease by Carpobrotus edulis (L.).

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) is a plant commonly found in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is used for the general treatment of infections relating to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-1 protease plays an important role during HIV replication and maturation to its infectious form, and therefore inhibition of the enzyme is one of the main focus areas in drug development. The inhibitory effect of a water extract of C. edulis leaves against HIV-1 protease activity was determined using the SensoLyte® 520 HIV-1 protease assay fluorimetric kit and employing a HiLyte Fluor™488/QXL™520 fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide. Cytotoxicity of the extract towards HeLa Chang cell lines was determined using an in vitro MTT assay, and the phytochemical profile of the extract was determined with FT-IR and LC-MS. HIV-1 protease activity was inhibited 83.06% (IC50 1.6 mg/ml) (p < 0.0001) by the pepstatin A inhibitor control. Treatment with all C. edulis extract concentrations (16, 1.6, 0.16, and 0.016 mg/ml) inhibited HIV-1 protease activity significantly (p < 0.0001) in a typical dose response manner. With regards to cytotoxicity, the negative controls containing untreated HeLa Chang cells exhibited high formazan formation rates in contrast with the positive controls, containing curcumin, which reduced formazan formation significantly (p < 0.001), exhibiting cytotoxicity towards the cells. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the formazan formation rates between the negative controls and 1, 0.5, 0.125, 0.065, 0.031, and 0.015 mg/ml plant extract, confirming no toxicity of C. edulis extracts towards HeLa Chang cells. Major functional phytochemical compounds identified included alcohols, phenols, alkanes, amines, carboxylic acids, and esters. LC-ESI-TOF/MS analysis revealed the putative identities of main compounds present in the aqueous leaves extract, including some that contribute to its anti-HIV-1 protease action.

Effects of Rhizome Length and Planting Depth on the Emergence and Growth of Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh.

Alepidea amatymbica is used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases. As a result of its high medicinal value, this plant is being overexploited by herbal traders with little attention being paid to its conservation, which could lead to its extinction. Cultivation of Alepidea amatymbica was conducted to determine the appropriate planting depth and rhizome fragment length for the growth of this plant. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with two factors in a 6 × 3 factorial design. There were six levels of fragment length (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cm) and three levels of burial depth (2.5, 5 and 7.5 cm). Emergence rate, number of leaves, leaf area, and plant height, number of florets, rhizome length gain, rhizome weight gain, shoot moisture, and rhizome moisture were measured as growth parameters. The best overall yield in terms of plant height, shoot emergence, rhizome weight gain, number of florets and number of leaves was observed in 7.5 cm planting depth at 6 cm rhizome length. Four- centimetre rhizome length had the highest leaf area of 111.9 ± 3.5 cm2, 101.3 ± 3.5 cm2, 105 ± 3.5 cm2 at 2.5, 5, 7.5 cm planting depth respectively. Shorter fragment lengths showed high potential for vegetative propagation in terms of rhizome length gain at all burial depths. These results suggest that A. amatymbica can regenerate from buried rhizomes and they may contribute to the establishment of a protocol for propagation that could help in conservation of this plant to avoid its extinction.

Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic evaluation of extracts from the flowering stage of Celosia argentea.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at investigating the possible anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of extracts from the flowering stage of C. argentea. This growth stage was chosen because of its high polyphenolic content and high antioxidant capacity. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous, acetone and methanol extracts of C. argentea was evaluated through the inhibition of nitric oxide production (LPS-induced) on stimulated macrophages (RAW 264.7), while MTT assay was used to assess cell viability with Silymarin as standard. Cytotoxicity of the plant extracts was evaluated on murine preadipocyte cell line (3 T3-L1) using the image-based method of two DNA-binding dyes; Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide (PI) with melphalan as standard. RESULTS: Acetone extract exhibited moderate, dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with no significant toxicity to activated macrophages, however the aqueous and methanol extracts were unable to inhibit nitric oxide production at both trials. MTT assay and the toxicity assay revealed that the flowering stage extracts of C. argentea were not toxic to the RAW 264.7 macrophages and 3 T3-L1 cells at all the tested concentrations (0, 2, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: These findings corroborate the traditional use of C. argentea for painful inflammatory conditions and encourage its possible use as lead for the development of novel, non-toxic, anti-inflammatory agents.

Comparative Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Wild and Cultivated Alepidea amatymbica Eckl & Zeyh.

There is a need to scientifically validate the claim that wild species of medicinal plants are more potent than the cultivated plants. Thus, this study evaluated the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of wild and cultivated Alepidea amatymbica. Acetone, methanol, and water extracts of the rhizome of wild and cultivated A. amatymbica were evaluated for total phenol, flavonol, flavonoid, tannin, proanthocyanidin, saponin, and alkaloid contents using spectrophotometric methods. In vitro antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide assays. The wild extracts had higher phytochemical contents in most of the assays than cultivated extracts. Total phenol in the wild extracts ranged from 32.30 to 117.8 mg GAE/g with the acetone extracts having the highest content while the water extracts were the least. The range in the total phenol of the cultivated species was 66.46 to 98.44 mg GAE/g with the methanol extracts having the highest content while water extracts was the least. The flavonoid content ranged from 55.01 to 99.09 mg QE/g and from 48.65 to 67.32 mg QE/g for the wild and cultivated plants, respectively. The alkaloid contents ranged from 14.70 to 17.80% in the wild species while it ranged from 11.98 to 13.21% in the cultivated species. The wild species also showed higher antioxidant activities in most of the assays evaluated. This study has implications for both pharmacological and conservation purposes.

In vitro evaluation of the anti-diabetic potential of Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard & B.L. Burtt using HepG2 (C3A) and L6 cell lines.

Background:Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard & B.L. Burtt has been listed in a survey of plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In this study, the antidiabetic potentials of ethanol, cold aqueous (CAQ) and boiled aqueous (BAQ) extracts of H. petiolare were investigated. Methods: The cytotoxic and glucose utilization effects of the extracts were evaluated using L6 myocytes and HepG2 (C3A) hepatocytes. α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase inhibition assays were also carried out. Results: The ethanol extract showed significant cytotoxic effects in the treated cells. Both BAQ and CAQ extracts significantly increased glucose uptake in L6 and C3A cell lines. The CAQ extract enhanced glucose uptake more in the L6 myocytes than in the C3A cell-lines hepatocytes. The BAQ extract showed higher levels of inhibition on α-amylase and α-glucosidase than CAQ. The activities were not significantly different from acarbose. However, BAQ showed lower lipase inhibition than acarbose (p<0.05). Conclusions: The BAQ and CAQ extracts of H. petiolare may, therefore, contain pharmacologically active and relatively non-toxic hypoglycaemic chemicals, which may be effective substitutes in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.