Domestication Potential of Marula ( Sclerocarya birrea subsp caffra ) in South Africa and Namibia: 1. Phenotypic Variation in Fruit Traits

2017 ◽  
pp. 235-244
Author(s):  
Roger R.B. Leakey
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Fruit Traits ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea

scholarly journals South Africa’s Best BARK Medicines Prescribed at the Johannesburg Muthi Markets for Skin, Gut, and Lung Infections: MIC’s and Brine Shrimp Lethality

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 681
Author(s):  
Gugulethu P. Khumalo ◽  
Nicholas J. Sadgrove ◽  
Sandy F. Van Vuuren ◽  
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Brine Shrimp ◽  
Bark Extract ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Brine Shrimp Lethality ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea ◽  
Lung Infections ◽  
Tract Infections

Indigenous trade of medicinal plants in South Africa is a multi-million-rand industry and is still highly relevant in terms of primary health care. The purpose of this study was to identify today’s most traded medicinal barks, traditionally and contemporaneously used for dermatological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tract infections; then, to investigate the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of the respective extracts and interpret outcomes in light of pharmacokinetics. Thirty-one popularly traded medicinal barks were purchased from the Faraday and Kwa Mai-Mai markets in Johannesburg, South Africa. Information on the medicinal uses of bark-based medicines in modern commerce was recorded from randomly selected traders. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was used for antimicrobial screening, and brine shrimp lethality was used to determine toxicity. New medicinal uses were recorded for 14 bark species. Plants demonstrating some broad-spectrum activities against tested bacteria include Elaeodendron transvaalense, Erythrina lysistemon, Garcinia livingstonei, Pterocelastrus rostratus, Rapanea melanophloeos, Schotia brachypetala, Sclerocarya birrea, and Ziziphus mucronata. The lowest MIC value of 0.004 mg/mL was observed against Staphylococcus epidermidis for a dichloromethane bark extract of E. lysistemon. The tested medicinal barks were shown to be non-toxic against the Artemia nauplii (brine shrimp) bioassay, except for a methanol extract from Trichilia emetica (69.52% mortality). Bacterial inhibition of bark extracts with minimal associated toxicity is consistent with the safety and valuable use of medicinal barks for local muthi market customers. Antimicrobial outcomes against skin and gastrointestinal pathogens are feasible because mere contact-inhibition is required in vivo; however, MIC values against respiratory pathogens require further explaining from a pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics perspective, particularly for ingested rather than smoked therapies.

scholarly journals Plants Used by Bapedi Traditional Healers to Treat Asthma and Related Symptoms in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebua Silas Semenya ◽  
Alfred Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Study Finding ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea ◽  
Time In Literature ◽  
Herbal Therapies

To the best of our knowledge there are presently no ethnobotanical surveys focusing on the utilisation of herbal remedies for asthma in South Africa. The present study is therefore an attempt to fill this gap in knowledge. A total of 140 Bapedi traditional healers (THs) practicing in the Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo Province (South Africa) were queried using semistructured questionnaires, supplemented by field observations during face-to-face interview. A total of 104 medicinal plant species (92 indigenous and 12 exotics) belonging to 92 genera, distributed across 54 botanical families, mostly the Asteraceae and Fabaceae (18.5%, for each) as well as Malvaceae (12.9%), were used as antiasthmatics and related symptoms by these THs. Most of the plants were trees and herbs (37.5%, for each), with root (57%), leaf (15.8%), and bark (7.5%), respectively, being the saliently used parts for preparation of remedies.Clerodendrum ternatum,Cryptocarya transvaalensis,Lasiosiphon caffer,Enicostema axillare,Mimusops obovata,Sclerocarya birrea, andStylochaeton natalensiswere widely used and valued by all THs across the surveyed districts. Furthermore, these taxa also scored both the highest use value and fidelity level indexes as asthma therapies. Overall, the larger number of species documented in the present study is recorded for the first time in literature as asthma and/or related symptoms remedies. Our study finding generally contributes towards an establishment of South African database of herbal therapies used traditionally against these conditions.

scholarly journals Phenotypic Variation in Fruit Morphology among Provenances ofSclerocarya birrea(A. Rich.) Hochst.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idah Mkwezalamba ◽  
Chimuleke R. Y. Munthali ◽  
Edward Missanjo
Keyword(s):  
Seed Weight ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fruit Traits ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
Selection Of

Sclerocarya birrea(A. Rich.) Hochst. is a multipurpose fruit tree which is very useful in providing food security and meeting nutritional and economic needs. This study was conducted to assess eighteen provenances ofSclerocarya birreaplanted in Mangochi, Malawi. The trial was assessed for fruit traits at fifteen years of age. There were significant (P<0.001) variations among the provenances in number of fruits, fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, fruit length, and diameter. Magunde provenance from Mozambique had the highest mean number of fruits, 2196 ± 200. Mangochi and Moamba provenances from Malawi and Mozambique were the most outstanding in the other parameters measured attaining the mean fruit weight of 20.89 ± 0.25 g and 25.67 ± 0.67 g, pulp weight of 25.70 ± 0.08 g and 21.55 ± 0.83 g, seed weight of 4.81 ± 0.35 g and 4.12 ± 0.18 g, fruit length of 2.61 ± 0.14 cm and 2.33 ± 0.07 cm, and fruit diameter of 2.33 ± 0.15 cm and 1.97 ± 0.08 cm, respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) correlation between number of fruits and the other fruit traits. However, there were significant (P<0.05) and strong positive relationships between fruit weight and pulp weight (r=0.987) and fruit length and diameter (r=0.775). This suggests that fruit weight can be used indirectly for selection of pulp. Further studies should investigate fruit taste quality of products from the fruits.

scholarly journals Communities and Conservation: Marula Trees (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) Under Communal Management at Matiyane Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291982896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule ◽  
Leonard Colbert Mbhoni Mzamani
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Sclerocarya Birrea ◽  
Communal Areas ◽  
The Village

Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (Marula) is widely used throughout its natural distribution range by rural populations to meet livelihoods requirements. Every part of the tree, including the fruits, branches, stem and roots, provides goods and services of high cultural, social, and economic importance. Its usefulness and unique properties have encouraged local people to retain S. birrea in communal areas. However, there is a paucity of data quantifying the role of local communities in conserving S. birrea. This study quantifies the role of local communities in protecting S. birrea in 300 randomly selected households in Matiyane Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study found that the majority of the respondents (92%; N = 276) are positive about the conservation of S. birrea. Most importantly, the respondents play a significant role in the protection of S. birrea in the village. Management strategies and factors responsible for the protection of S. birrea in communal land are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document