Selected Edible Insects and Their Products in Traditional Medicine, Food and Pharmaceutical Industries in Africa: Utilisation and Prospects

Abstract Background More people—in both developing and developed countries—now use, and are favourably disposed to, traditional medicine. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is used extensively in traditional medicine across continents. In this review, we investigated the scientific justification of this extensive usage. Main body Generally, several studies validate usage in infectious diseases, but limited antiviral and in vivo reports exist. The mechanistic elicitation of antimicrobial activity has similarly not been ascertained. Contrarily, data abound from rigorous studies on physiological conditions. Activity across categories is tied to the potent phytosterols duo of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; and the triterpenes viz. cycloeucalenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, and 31-norcyclolaudenone; present in plantain. Toxicity studies, while finite, suggest general safety and tolerance. Conclusions Findings in the studies reviewed projects plantain as a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will be of benefit to scientific research and pharmaceutical industries.

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Phytochemical Screening of the Hydro Ethanolic Extract of Brassica oleracea Var. Italica Plant Extract

International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research ◽

10.25258/phyto.v9i07.11162 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (07) ◽

Author(s):

Shah M. A. ◽

Himanshu . ◽

Sarker M M R ◽

Banu Afreen

Keyword(s):

Traditional Medicine ◽

Brassica Oleracea ◽

Plant Extract ◽

Cardiac Glycosides ◽

Ethanolic Extract ◽

Acid Group ◽

Phytochemical Analysis ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries ◽

Potent Drug

Objective: This study was designed elucidate the Phytochemicals of the widely-used plant Brassica oleracea var. Italica. Method: Hydroethanolic extracts of Brassica oleracea var. Italica plant extract was investigated. A small portion of the hydroethanolic extracts of Brassica oleracea var. Italica was subjected to the phytochemical test using Trease and Evans and Harbourne methods to test for the presence of alkaloids, tannins, reducing sugars, saponins, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids and Anthraquionones. Result: The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, quinines, cardiac glycosides, Xanthoproteins, glycosides, steroids, phenols, resins, carboxylic acid group in varying concentrations. The present study provides evidence that Hydro ethanolic extracts of Brassica oleracea var. Italica contains medicinally important bioactive compounds and this justifies the use of plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases. Conclusion: Thus, from the present study the plant leaf extracts of Brassica oleracea var. Italica showed an abundant production of Phytochemicals as secondary metabolites and they can be used in the pharmaceutical industries for producing a potent drug. The studies result of the above two plants gives a basis of its use in traditional medicine to manage ailments and disorders.

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Phyto-pharmacological aspects of Nepeta nuda L.: A systematic review

Lekovite sirovine ◽

10.5937/leksir2040075a ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 75-83

Author(s):

Milica Aćimović ◽

Jovana Stanković-Jeremić ◽

Mirjana Cvetković

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Geographical Range ◽

Widespread Species ◽

Perennial Plant ◽

Botanical Description ◽

Natural Pesticides ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries ◽

Morphological Differences ◽

Herbaceous Perennial

Nepeta nuda L. (syn. N. pannonica L.) is a herbaceous perennial plant that is the most widespread species of the genus Nepeta, the largest genera in Lamiaceae family. N. nuda is divided into four subspecies according to morphological differences which occur within large geographical range of distribution: subsp. nuda, subsp. albiflora, subsp. lydiae, and subsp. glandulifera. In this review, previous reports on N. nuda concerning its botanical description and systematics, phytochemistry, use in traditional medicine, pharmacology, and posibilities for other applications were summarized. All of these data indicate N. nuda as a highly promising species for application in food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in agriculture for the development of natural pesticides.

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Arthropods in Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals and Medicine: A Review

10.5772/intechopen.96159 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cordelia Ebenebe ◽

Simon Okweche ◽

Oghale Okore ◽

Valentine Okpoko ◽

Maduabuchi Amobi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Traditional Medicine ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Pharmaceutical Products ◽

Insect Species ◽

Orthodox Medicine ◽

Bioactive Substances ◽

Form Part ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries

Apart from food, other important needs in the care of human bodies are cosmetics and drugs. For long the latter two are obtained from chemical formulations and phytochemicals (commonly used in Ethnomedicine), use of bioactive compounds from insects (i.e. “ento medicine” and “ento cosmetics”) is a recent development in research, even though the bioactive compounds were discovered long ago. This chapter is a review on a number of substances extracted from various insect species that are useful in cosmetics, pharmaceutical industries as well as those that form part of prescription for healing in orthodox and traditional medicine. The review is based on information from scientific reports, Google, e-library, textbooks. A number of substances were found to have been incorporated into cosmetic and pharmaceutical products and as part of prescriptions for healing in orthodox medicine, many others at elementary stages of investigation, purification and development. The findings showed that insects have a lot of bioactive substances that need to be harnessed for the good man.

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Economic value, endogenous knowledge and distribution of Picralima nitida (Stapf) T. Durand and H. Durand in Africa

AAS Open Research ◽

10.12688/aasopenres.13087.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Ghislain Comlan Akabassi ◽

Elie Antoine Padonou ◽

Achille Ephrem Assogbajo ◽

Noël Zirihi Guede

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Medicinal Plant ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Economic Value ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Low Density ◽

Scientific Papers ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries

Background: Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) is an important African medicinal plant species. It is frequently used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries for manufacture of drugs against infectious diseases, malaria, diabetes and cancer. Despite its important, the species can be rare, especially in the Dahomey Gap (in contrast to the Guineo-Congolese region). There is also a controversy on its distribution. To ensure the sustainable use of the species, this study evaluated the economic value, endogenous knowledge and effect of climate gradient on the distribution of the species in Africa. Methods: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in the Dahomey Gap with 120 informants randomly interviewed. A literature review of scientific papers and books was used to provide information on the uses, distribution and threats of the species in the Guineo-Congolese region. Results: The results revealed that P. nitida products were more expensive in the Dahomey Gap than the Guineo-Congolese region. All parts of the species were collected and used for 34 treatments. The species had low density and distribution in Dahomey Gap compared to the Guineo-Congolese region. Conclusions: P. nitida is used across its distribution areas with important economic values. Adapted management strategies are needed for the sustainable use and conservation of the species.

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