Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Evaluation of Parinari curatellifolia Methanol Leaf Extract on Albino Rats

Aim: This research was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Parinari curatellifolia methanol leaf extract in albino rats. Methodology: Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was done using egg albumin and formalin induced hind paw edema model. Analgesic effect was evaluated using hot plate induced pain and acetic acid induced writhing test. For each model twenty (20) rats were used, divided into five (5) groups of four (4) rats each. Results: Parinari curatellifolia revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenols while steroids, anthraquinone, terpenoids and glycoside were not detected. For the egg albumin induced inflammation, the group treated with the standard drug (indomethacin) and the group that received the highest dose of the extract were significantly lower (P<0.05) than all the other groups with percentage inhibitions at 25.56% and 24.44% respectively there was no significant difference (P>0.05). For the formalin induced anti-inflammatory activity, at the 1st hour, the normal control group had its paw volume significantly different (P<0.05) from the treated groups. This trend was observed at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hour. The hot plate method results revealed significant increased (P<0.05) in the analgesic activity of PCMLE at 400mg/kg body weight and the drug treated group when the control was compared with the treated groups with percentage inhibition of 34.32% and 52.94% respectively. The acetic acid induced writhing test revealed that the extract at the three doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, showed a significant (P<0.05) percentage inhibition of 32.31%, 36.92% and 47.69%, respectively compared to negative control. Conclusion: This justifies the use of Parinari curatellifolia locally in the management of pain and inflammation.

In vitro antiplasmodial evaluation of ethanolic and n-hexane extracts of Parinari curatellifolia stem bark

Parinari curatellifolia and other Parinari species are used traditionally in many parts of Africa as a remedy for malaria among other diseases. To ascertain this folkloric claim, the antiplasmodial potential of ethanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia stem bark (EEPCSB) and n-hexane extract of Parinari curatellifolia stem bark (HEPCSB) on Plasmodium falciparum was studied. Parasites were grown in a 96-well plate containing Roswell Park Memorial Institute-1640. The wells were grouped into: control (untreated), artemether-treated, EEPCSB-treated and HEPCSBtreated groups. Treatments were administered to the tune of 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/ml. Parasitemia was observed by microscopy after 24, 48 and 72h of incubation. EEPCSB and HEPCSB elicited dose and duration-dependent reduction (p<0.05) in parasitemia when compared with the untreated group. The recorded percentage parasite inhibition by the extracts was lower (p<0.05) when compared with artemether. There was no difference (p>0.05) in plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase activity of EEPCSB-treated and artemether-treated groups. Findings from this study show that extracts of P. curatellifolia stem bark, especially EEPCSB, demonstrated excellent inhibitory activities against P. falciparum and can be a good source of compounds for the development of novel antimalarial drugs. Keywords: Parinari curatellifolia; Extracts; Plasmodium falciparum; Parasitemia; Antiplasmodial

The Chemical Composition of Oils and Cakes of Ochna serrulata (Ochnaceae) and Other Underutilized Traditional Oil Trees from Western Zambia

Currently, the negative effects of unified and intensive agriculture are of growing concern. To mitigate them, the possibilities of using local but nowadays underused crop for food production should be more thoroughly investigated and promoted. The soybean is the major crop cultivated for vegetable oil production in Zambia, while the oil production from local oil-bearing plants is neglected. The chemical composition of oils and cakes of a three traditional oil plant used by descendants of the Lozi people for cooking were investigated. Parinari curatellifolia and Schinziophyton rautanenii oils were chiefly composed of α-eleostearic (28.58–55.96%), linoleic (9.78–40.18%), and oleic acid (15.26–24.07%), whereas Ochna serrulata contained mainly palmitic (35.62–37.31%), oleic (37.31–46.80%), and linoleic acid (10.61–18.66%); the oil yield was high (39–71%). S. rautanenii and O. serrulata oils were rich in γ-tocopherol (3236.18 μg/g, 361.11 μg/g, respectively). The O. serrulata oil also had a very distinctive aroma predominantly composed of p-cymene (52.26%), m-xylene (9.63%), γ-terpinene (9.07%), o-xylene (7.97), and limonene (7.23%). The cakes remaining after oil extraction are a good source of essential minerals, being rich in N, P, S, K, Ca, and Mg. These plants have the potential to be introduced for use in the food, technical, or pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of Parinari curatellifolia Peel Flour on the Nutritional, Physical and Antioxidant Properties of Biscuits

This study investigated the impact of Parinari curatellifolia peel flour on the nutritional, physical and antioxidant properties of formulated biscuits. Biscuits enriched with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of Parinari (P). curatellifolia peel flour were formulated and characterised. Thermal, physicochemical, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of flour and biscuits were determined. The incorporation of P. curatellifolia peel flour significantly increased (p < 0.05) thermal properties (onset, peak and conclusion temperatures) of flour. However, enthalpy of gelatinisation, viscosity and pH of flour samples decreased. Nutritional analysis revealed an increase in ash (0.74% to 2.23%) and crude fibre contents (0.39% to 2.95%) along with an increase of P. curatellifolia peel flour levels. Protein content and carbohydrates decreased while moisture content was insignificantly affected by the addition of P. curatellifolia peel flour. The L*, b* values and whiteness index of formulated biscuits decreased while parameter a* value (10.76 to 21.89) and yellowness index (69.84 to 102.71) decreased. Physical properties such as diameter (3.57 mm to 3.97 mm), spread ratio (2.67 to 3.45) and hardness (1188.13 g to 2432.60 g) increased with the inclusion levels of peel flour while weight and thickness decreased. The inclusion of P. curatellifolia improved the polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of biscuits with values of total flavonoids content ranging from 0.028 to 0.104 mg CE/g, total phenolic content increasing from 20.01 mg to 48.51 mg GAE/g, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increasing from 108.33 mg to 162.67 mg GAE/g and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) from 48.70% to 94.72%. These results lead to the recommendation of the utilisation of P. curatellifolia peel flour to enhance the nutritional value, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of bakery products such as biscuits.

In vitro study for antifungal compounds from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae) and Terminalia sericea (Combretaceae)

Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae) and Terminalia sericea (Combretaceae) have been traditionally used in Southern Highlands of Tanzania for treatment of various infectious disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate antifungal activity of the isolated compounds from Parinari curatellifolia and Terminalia sericea plant species. The ethyl acetate extract of the root barks from Parinari curatellifolia and Terminalia sericea were fractionated using column chromatography. The structures of compounds were established using both 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques while antifungal activities of the fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated using broth microdilution assay against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus niger species. Two known compounds toddalolactone (1) and 10-hydroxy-13-methoxy-9- methyl-15-oxo-20-norkaur-16-en-18-oic acid -lactone (2) from P. curatellifolia and two compounds Sericic acid (3) and sericoside (4) from T. sericea were isolated and their structures identified and confirmed by spectral data obtained and from the literatures. Strong antifungal activity was shown by Sericic acid (3) with MIC value of0.07 mg/ml against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Isolation of toddalolactone (1) from Parinari curatellifolia as well as the antifungal activity of Sericic acid (3) from Terminalia sericea is being reported for the first time. Bioactivity of these compounds support traditional use of the studied plants. Keywords: Sericic acid, toddalolactone, fungi, antifungal, Parinari curatellifolia, Terminalia sericea.

Isolation and Antimicrobial Activities of Phytochemicals from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae)

The widespread use of antimicrobial agents to treat infectious diseases has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens. Plants have played a central role in combating many ailments in humans, and Parinari curatellifolia has been used for medicinal purposes. Seven extracts from P. curatellifolia leaves were prepared using serial exhaustive extraction of nonpolar to polar solvents. The microbroth dilution method was used to evaluate antimicrobial bioactivities of extracts. Five of the extracts were significantly active against at least one test microbe. Mycobacterium smegmatis was the most susceptible to most extracts. The methanol and ethanol extracts were the most active against M. smegmatis with an MIC of 25 µg/mL. The hexane extract was the most active against Candida krusei with an MIC of 25 µg/mL. None of the extracts significantly inhibited growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Active extracts were selected for fractionation and isolation of pure compounds using gradient elution column chromatography. TLC analyses was carried out for pooling fractions of similar profiles. A total of 43 pools were obtained from 428 fractions. Pools 7 and 10 were selected for further isolation of single compounds. Four compounds, Pc4963r, Pc4962w, Pc6978p, and Pc6978o, were isolated. Evaluation of antimicrobial activities of Pc4963r, Pc4962w, and Pc6978p showed that the compounds were most active against C. krusei with MFC values ranging from 50 to 100 µg/mL. Only Pc6978p was shown to be pure. Using spectroscopic analyses, the structure of Pc6978p was determined to be β-sitosterol. The antifungal effects of β-sitosterol were evaluated against C. krusei in vitro and on fabrics. Results showed that β-sitosterol reduced the growth of C. krusei attached to Mendy fabric by 83%. Therefore, P. curatellifolia can be a source of lead compounds for prospective development of novel antimicrobial agents. Further work needs to be done to improve the antifungal activity of the isolated compound using quantitative structure-activity relationships.

Potential of some autochthonous wild plants of Burundi for vegetable oil and valuable compounds production

Twelve species of indigenous plants have been studied in order to valorize some natural resources of Burundi (Eastern Africa) to investigate possibilities of vegetable oil production. Physicochemical properties and oil contents were determined from seeds harvested through five ecogeographic zones. From oilcake extracts, total sugars contents, proteins (TPrC), polyphenolic (TPhC), and flavonoids were quantified using spectrophotometry. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of oilcake extracts was assessed by 2, 2-diphenyl-b-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. All oil contents obtained were found to be quite similar to those of common oleaginous seeds. The two highest were found in Parinari curatellifolia (61.44 ± 4.81% Dry Matter) and Myrianthus arboreus (48.26 ± 5.96% DM). More than half of the species have shown TPrC ranging from 10 to 24% dry matter of oilcake (DM). Brachystegia longifolia was revealed exceptionally stronger antioxidant potential: effectiveness antiradical of 163.06 ± 26.29 mL/μg.min (DPPH assay) and reducing power of 2618.21 ± 161.22 GAE/100 g DM (FRAP assay). TPhC were positively correlated (p < 0.05) to the antioxidant activity. This pioneering work on these wild species highlight the potential for producing vegetable oil and valuable biomolecule sources likely for food, cosmetics, pharmacy and industry.

An Exploratory Study on the Diverse Uses and Benefits of Locally-Sourced Fruit Species in Three Villages of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Globally, the potential of indigenous and neglected fruit species is continuously being recognized. In the current study, we explored the uses and benefits of locally available fruit species among the Mapulana people in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. An ethno-botanical survey was conducted using in-depth interviews to record the names of the fruit species, their uses, seasonal availability, and occurrence in three villages, namely, Mokhololine, Motlamogatsane, and Rooiboklaagte B. Forty-one (41) participants aged 23 to 89 years old, identified by community members as knowledgeable on the utilization of fruit species, were interviewed. The frequency of citation (FC), use value (UV), and use report (UR) of the locally sourced fruit species were determined. The study revealed thirty-one (31) indigenous/naturalized plants belonging to 17 families with Anacardiaceae (four species) and Rubiaceae (three species) as the dominant ones. Approximately 48% of the 31 plants had FC of 100%, suggesting their high popularity in the study area. The identified plants had diverse uses that were categorized into six (6) groups and mainly dominated by food (59%) and medicine (34%). Strychnos madagascariensis had the highest (0.56) UV while Berchemia discolor, Parinari capensis, Parinari curatellifolia, and Sclerocarya birrea had the highest (6) URs. Overall, these locally sourced fruit species still play a significant role in the daily lives of the Mapulana people. The identified fruit species have the potential to be considered as alternative sources to meet the dietary requirements and health needs, especially in rural communities.

Determination of the Cytotoxic Effect of Different Leaf Extracts from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae)

Despite plants being a rich source of useful chemical compounds with different pharmacological properties, some of these compounds may be toxic to humans. Parinari curatellifolia, among its other important pharmacological activities, has been shown to have significant antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines. Toxicity studies are required to determine the safety profile of P. curatellifolia in the consideration of its potential pharmaceutical benefits as a source of lead compounds in cancer therapy. The effects of P. curatellifolia on both the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane and on normal cells were determined. The dried leaf powder of P. curatellifolia was used in serial exhaustive extraction procedures using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water as solvents in addition to extraction using DCM: methanol in equal ratio. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins were isolated from the ethanol extract. The leaf extracts were tested for haemolytic activity on sheep erythrocytes at concentrations of 0.625 to 5 mg/ml. The extracts were also tested for toxicity activity on normal mammalian cells such as the BALB/c mice peritoneal cells using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) at the concentrations of 6.3 to 50 μg/ml. In the haemolysis assays, none of the plant extracts had a significant haemolytic activity with the saponin-enriched extract having the maximum haemolytic activity of 12.2% for a concentration of 5 mg/ml. In the MTT cell viability assay, none of the 11 plant extracts had significant cytotoxicity. The water extract, however, had significant ( p < 0.01 ) proliferative activity towards the murine immune cells at all concentrations. P. curatellifolia leaf extracts were, therefore, not toxic to both erythrocytes and immune cells, and the water extract may have immunostimulatory effects. It is concluded that P. curatellifolia leaf extracts are not toxic in vitro and, therefore, our results support the use of the plant for ethnomedicinal use.