scholarly journals Ethnobotanical Documentation, Phytochemical Screening, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Medicinal Plants Used to Manage Snakebite Envenomation in Mwingi West Subcounty, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Stella Kwamboka Mokua ◽  
James Mucunu Mbaria ◽  
Timothy Elias Maitho ◽  
Gervason Apiri Moriasi

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a life-threatening global public health problem affecting over 2.7 million persons annually, with a bigger burden lying in the developing world. Despite the successful management of SBE by antivenom therapy in conventional medicine, it is of low efficacy due to the diverse venom composition across snake types, which limits its usefulness. As a result, inhabitants of the sub-Sahara region, where SBE incidence is high, utilise medicinal plants as an alternative remedy for SBE. However, most plants have not been ethnobotanically documented and validated empirically and hence this study is needed. An ethnobotanical survey to document medicinal plants used to manage SBE in Migwani ward, Mwingi West Subcounty, Kitui County, was conducted between January and February, 2021. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 45 purposefully sampled respondents from Migwani ward using semistructured questionnaires, field walks, and oral interviews. In this study, 14 medicinal plants which are used to manage SBE were documented. Four plants with the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) (Entada leptostachya Harms-stem bark (0.58), Senna singueana-roots (0.53), Securidaca longipendunculata-roots (0.36), and Strychnos henningsii-stem bark (0.46)) were selected and extracted using water, methanol, and dichloromethane according to the standard procedures. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts and their cytotoxic effects on brine shrimp nauplii (brine shrimp lethality assay) was conducted according to the standard techniques. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of anti-SBE-associated phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids, in the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the studied plant extracts. However, the tested phytochemicals were not detected in dichloromethane extracts of all the studied extracts. The anti-SBE effects of the documented plants could be attributable to these associated bioactive phytocompounds, which are synthesized by the studied plants and transfered to humans when consumed. Furthermore, the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Entada leptostachya and Senna singueana had high LC50 of >1000 µg/ml and were considered noncytotoxic. However, Securidaca longipendunculata had an LC50 of <1000 µg/ml and was considered slightly cytotoxic. Further empirical investigations to characterise the bioactive phytochemicals and their safety should be done.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Kathare ◽  
◽  
James M Mbaria ◽  
Joseph M Nguta ◽  
Gervason A Moriasi ◽  
...  

Microbial infections are feared to cause over 10 million deaths by the year 2050, whereby 50% of the global burden squarely lies in less developed countries of Africa and Asian continents. The current drugs have suffered resistance by previously susceptible strains, are associated with severe side effects, among other therapeutic and economic drawbacks, hence the need for alternatives. Despite the widespread usage of medicinal plants by over 80% of the global population to treat common ailments, including microbial infections, only a few have been empirically validated. Croton megalocarpus is used to treat microbial-associated infections like pneumonia and typhoid among the Agikuyu community of Kenya. However, its healing claims and safety have not been evaluated empirically to date, hence this study. We investigated the antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity, and qualitative phytochemical composition of the aqueous and methanolic stem bark extracts of C. megalocarpus. The disk diffusion and broth microdilution techniques described by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) were adopted for antimicrobial assays. The acute oral toxicity effects of the studied plant extracts were evaluated according to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline document number 425. The brine shrimp lethality assay technique was used to appraise the cytotoxic effects of the studied plant extracts. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed following standard procedures. The results revealed that all the studied plant extracts had varied antimicrobial effects on selected microbial strains and showed MIC values of <1000 µg/ml indicating their antimicrobial potential. Moreover, the studied plant extracts had LC50 values of >100 µg/ml and >2000 mg/Kg bw in the brine shrimp lethality and acute oral toxicity assays, respectively, demonstrating their safety. Antimicrobial- associated phytocompounds were detected in the studied plant extracts suggesting they were responsible for the reported bioactivity. Further studies to establish the specific mode(s) of antimicrobial action, toxicological, and safety should be performed. Furthermore, antimicrobial investigations of the studied plant extracts on other clinically significant microbial strains and the isolation, characterization, and optimization of antimicrobials from the studied plant extracts should be done.


Author(s):  
Susan Kurian ◽  
V. S. Josekumar

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of <em>Alysicarpus vaginalis </em>var<em>. nummularifolius </em>(DC) along with phytochemical analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The crude extract of hexane (AVH), ethyl acetate (AVE) and methanol (AVM) of <em>Alysicarpus vaginalis </em>var<em>. nummularifolius </em>(DC) were prepared and analysed for phytochemical constituents using standard methods. The cytotoxicity activity of the plant extracts was predicted using brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts were examined against 5 bacterial and 2 fungal strains using agar well diffusion method, and two fold serial dilution method, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The phytochemical screening studies showed a higher concentration of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, quinones and terpenoids in AVM than the other two extracts. The LC<sub>50</sub> value of AVH and AVE were found to be 900.05 µg/ml and 754.35 µg/ml respectively using BSLA while that of AVM was&gt;1000 ug/ml. All the extracts of the plant showed antimicrobial activity against most of the test organisms. The MIC values of AVM were lower than AVE for all the microbial strains except for <em>Pseudomonas aeroginosa</em> where AVE (107.87µg/ml) exhibited higher value than AVM (51µg/ml).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study concluded AVM with a high presence of phytochemicals. The AVE and AVM were found to possess promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the standards. The AVM exhibited lesser toxicity when compared with AVH and AVE.<strong></strong></p><p> </p>


Author(s):  
Ibrahim Sani ◽  
Angela Nnenna Ukwuani-Kwaja ◽  
Maimuna Haruna

Background: Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder in which an individual inherits the sickle cell allele from both parents. The modern disease modifying therapies are quite expensive and often come with side effects, hence, there is need to search for natural alternatives from medicinal plants. This research was aimed at evaluating the antisickling effects of some selected medicinal plants. Materials and Methods: Ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the medicinal plants used in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria for the treatment/management of sickle cell disease.  Five (5) most cited plants; Carica papaya leaf, Prosopis africana stem-bark, Guiera senegalensis leaf, Syzygium aromaticum seed and Boswellia dalzielli stem bark were selected and their methanol extracts were subjected to in vitro antisickling activity using sodium metabisulphite. Phytochemical screening on the most active plant extracts was conducted using standard methods. Results: The plant extracts and their combinations exhibited antisickling activities with varying degrees of efficacy. C. papaya leaf extract, P. africana stem bark extract and G. senegalensis leaf extract were the most potent that caused reduction in the percentage sickling to 3.87±2.73, 8.38±1.06 and 28.35±2.07% respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and Tannins in all the three (3) plant extracts. Anthraquinones and glycosides were present only C. papaya and G. senegalensis leaf extracts, while Flavonoids and Saponins were only present in G. senegalensis leaf extract and P. africana stem bark extracts. Phenols were present in C. papaya leaf extract and P. africana stem bark extracts, while phlobatannins was only in C. papaya leaf extract. Conclusion: The medicinal plant extracts were able to reduce the percentage of sickled cells. This may be due to the presence of some of the phytochemicals. Hence, these medicinal plants may be used as alternative to hydroxyurea in ameliorating the sickling in human HbS containing RBCs.


Author(s):  
Singh R. ◽  
Iye S. ◽  
Prasad S. ◽  
Deshmukh N. ◽  
Gupta U. ◽  
...  

The present study was carried out to determine the possible antifouling and anti microbial activity of plant extracts prepared from Muntingia calabura and phytochemical screening was demonstrated. The extracts from the following plant parts like stem, leaves, fruits, flower and stems were prepared in different aqueous solvents like ethanol, methanol, acetone, acetonitrile and water. The highest antimicrobial potentials were observed for the methanolic extracts against K. pneumonia, B. subtilis, B. megaterium and P. aeruginosa. Its efficacy was comparable to the standard drug, ampicillin. Significant amount of tannins, alkaloids, steroids and flavonoids were found. Interestingly, the present study showed anti fouling effect against pathogenic biofilm forming bacteria. These extracts also contain high hemagglutination activity. The present study provides evidence that solvent extract of M. calabura contains medicinally important bioactive compounds and this justifies the use of plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
Anham Shahid Abbasi ◽  
Qazi Najam-Us-Saqib ◽  
Atta-Ur-Rehman ◽  
Nisar-Ur-Rahman

Summary Introduction: Bauhinia variegata is used in traditional medicine in Pakistan. Objective: The present study was designated to analyze phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity assay of crude aqueous and methanol extracts of flowering buds of Bauhinia variegata. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of both extracts were performed by using standard protocols while brine shrimp lethality assay was conducted for cytotoxicity analysis of both extracts. Results: The highest levels of phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids were observed in methanol extract with respective standard drugs. The aminoacid content was highest followed by phenol and flavonoids in crude aqueous extract of the raw materials. In cytotoxic studies (brine shrimp lethality assay) the use of methanol extract was reported as potent with LD50 of 241.778 µg/ml as compared to aqueous extract with LD50 of 489.7061 µg/ml. Conclusion: This study reveals that the presence of bioactive compounds in both extracts are responsible for the treatment of various ailments and being utilized by the traditional folks as a food as well. And showed that methanol extract possess cytotoxic activity and thus needs further scientific intervention for its value addition.


Author(s):  
MD AMIT ◽  
KHAGA RAJ SHARMA

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical analysis and biological activities of methanol extracts of seven medicinal plants such as Anisomeles indica, Achyranthes bidentata, Sphenomeris chinensis, Cleistocalyx operculatus, Malvaviscus arboreus, Cissampelos pareira, and Tectaria coadunate collected from Tanahun district of Nepal. Methods: Phytochemical analysis was performed by color differentiation methods adopting the standard protocol. Antioxidant activity of plant extracts was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Flavonoid content was estimated by aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated by α-amylase inhibition assay where acarbose was used as standard. Toxic effect was studied by brine shrimp bioassay. Results: Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids glycoside, and terpenoid in most of the extracts. T. coadunate and C. pareira exhibited high antioxidant activity with IC50 41.84 and 52.03 μg/ml, respectively. Whereas, the plant extracts of Malvaviscus arboretum, S. chinensis, and A. bidentata exhibited moderate antioxidant activity with IC50 76.07, 81.05, and 89.93 µg/ml, respectively. The result of flavonoid content showed the values ranged A. indica (1.84 mg quercetin equivalent per gram [mg QE/g]) to A. bidentata (5.93 mg QE/g). C. pareira and S. chinensis exhibited the highest α amylase inhibition activity with IC50 471.68 and 517.59 µg/ml, respectively. Whereas, A. indica and M. arboreus showed moderate activity with IC50 626.12 and 952.39 μg/ml, respectively. C. pareira exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) with a zone of inhibition 12 mm/well, and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) 9 mm/well but, T. coadunate showed 14 mm/well against S. aureus. The plant extracts of A. bidentata and C. operculatus showed toxic effect against newly hatched brine shrimp larvae. The chemical compounds isolated from C. pareira indicated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis were 3-isopropoxy-1,1,1,7,7,7-hexamethyl-3,5,5-tris(trimethylsiloxy) tetrasiloxane, alpha-tocopherol, pentadecanoic acid, and 4,22-stigmastadiene-3-one. The major compound was indicated by percent peak area and base m/z value as alpha-tocopherol. Conclusion: Present study revealed that plant extracts are the potential source of antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial agents showing different biological activities. The results of this study provide partial scientific support for the traditional application of medicinal plants to cure diabetes and infectious diseases, although further studies are needed to assess the mechanism of action.


2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad S Rahman ◽  
Bilkis Begum ◽  
Rasheduzzaman Chowdhury ◽  
Khondaker M Rahman ◽  
Mohammad A Rashid

The cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extracts of 35 plant species, including 28 traditionally used plants of Bangladesh was evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay technique. Among these, 19 plant extracts exhibited significant toxicity to brine shrimps with LC50 less than 10 μg/ml.Key words: Cytotoxic activity, Brine shrimp lethality bioassay.DOI = 10.3329/dujps.v7i1.1217Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 7(1): 47-52, 2008 (June)


Author(s):  
BIMALA SUBBA ◽  
MAHESH PRASAD TIMILSINA

Objective: The present study was designed to provide scientific support for the medicinal properties of traditionally used medicinal plants of Nangle Bhare, Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: Plant extracts were prepared by cold percolation method using methanol solvent. Analysis of phytochemical constituents was carried out using standard methods. The brine shrimp toxicity assay for each extract was carried out according to Mayer et al. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate in vitro antioxidants activities. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts was carried by the disc diffusion method. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the availability of secondary metabolites such as reducing compounds, glycosides, and flavonoids in the methanolic extract of eight plants, namely, frond of Cheilanthes farinosa, leaves of Lyonia ovalifolia, leaves and roots of Rumex nepalensis, aerial stem of Equisetum debile, roots of Coix lacrema-jobi, leaves of Justica adhatoda, leaves of Osyris wightiana, and roots of Rubus ellipticus collected from Nangle Bhare village of Kathmandu district. The brine shrimp bioassay revealed that roots and leaves of R. nepalensis only exhibited lethality against brine shrimp. Frond of C. farinosa and roots of R. nepalensis exhibited good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Both DPPH and FRAP assays showed that among the plant under study, R. ellipticus has lower inhibitory concentration IC50 values than other plants such as L. ovalifolia, R. nepalensis, and C. farinose. Conclusions: On the basis of this study, it was found that scientifically only four, namely C. farinosa, L. ovalifolia, R. nepalensis, and R. ellipticus have medicinal potentials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Hèzouwè Madjalani ◽  
Kossi Metowogo ◽  
Tcha Pakoussi ◽  
Aklesso Nabede ◽  
Essodjolon Kanabiya ◽  
...  

Objectives: In sub-Saharan Africa, the therapeutic use of medicinal plants is of arousing interest. Reproductive disorders are a public health problem like everywhere else in the world. The population, especially in rural areas, uses medicinal plants for their beneficial effects. In Africa, the population uses these medicinal plants for their healthcare, including solving problems related to childbirth where there is an increase in the number of women known as “traditional birth attendants.” The effects of its medicinal plants relate to the various reproductive processes in women, from pregnancy to induction of labor, elimination of placental retention, and management of postpartum hemorrhage. To contribute to the enhancement of medicinal plants traditionally used in reproductive healthcare in Togo and to make information on their pharmacological effects available to the population, this work focused on the evaluation utero-relaxing and anti-free radical effects of extracts of Desmodium ramosissimum in the female rats of the Wistar strain. Material and Methods: The effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of leaves, stem barks, and roots of D.ramosissimum were then tested on shreds Myometer of the female rats mounted in an organ vat and the antioxidant activity of these extracts tested was then determined. Results: The results show that hydro-ethanolic extracts from leaves, stem bark, and roots of D.ramosissimum cause a reduction in the frequency of spontaneous contractions of the uterine muscle. This reduction shows that these extracts have relaxing effects on the contraction of this muscle. The leaves extract showed better antioxidant activity compared to other extracts. Conclusion: This antioxidant activity is probably due to the phenolic constituents and its metabolites would be partly responsible for the pharmacological activities of D.ramosissimum. D.ramosissimum could thus be used to reduce uterine contractions in order to avoid Threats of Premature Labor.


Author(s):  
Moses Owolabi

Introduction: Medicinal plants play a significant role in the health maintenance in underdeveloped countries, herbs and spices continue serve as a new sources for herbal medicines. Aim: The objective was to investigate phytochemical screening and biocidal activity on stem bark Chrysophyllum albidum (Linn) and straw Aristolochia ringens using chloroform. Methods: Chloroform extracts of C. albidum and A. ringens were obtained and screened for phytochemical constituents. The colour intensity or the precipitate formation was used as analytical responses to these tests. The Antimicrobial activities crude extracts were evaluated against some microorganisms with broth microdilution test. The extracts were screened for in-vitro cytotoxic activity against breast tumour and liver tumour cells. Results: The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, anthraquinone and glycosides. C. albidum and A. ringens chloroform extracts revealed high quantities of alkaloid and flavonoid respectively. While cardiac glycoside and anthraquinone were found with low quantity in C. albidum and A. ringens extracts respectively. C. albidum showed promising bacterial activity against Escherichia coli and cytotoxic activity to liver tumour cells. While A. ringens, showed excellent bacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and good fungal activity against Candida albicans. A. ringens also showed cytotoxic to liver tumour and breast tumour cells. The observed antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects may be due to the antagonist or synergistic effect of the secondary metabolites identified in the extracts. Conclusion: Medicinal plants studied showed good potential biological activities that support the idea that traditional medicines remain useful healthcare in developing countries


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