Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2022) | Viewed by 50723

Special Issue Editors

Department of Chemistry, Cape peninsula university of technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Interests: phytochemistry; natural products chemistry; green nanotechnology; traditional medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Science and Technology Division, Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC), University of Namibia, Windhoek 9000, Namibia
Interests: food science and technology; food microbiology; ethnobotany and food biotechnology; indigenous knowledge system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The African continent is one of the most diverse continents of fauna and flora with more than 50,000 known plant species. African human diversity represents another dimension of the continent, with huge numbers of ethnic groups and indigenous languages. The Integration of such a complicated combination between genetic variation/ethnicity and languages with the biodiverse ecosystem creates a unique African profile. A branch of such amazing integration is that of ethnobotany, which has been formed since time immemorial and has accumulated, through several generations, a well-defined knowledge of the interaction of human beings with Mother Nature’s botanical resources, as well as of diverse uses for food, medicine, and other aspects of human life.

Scientific research is highly appreciated in this regard, as well as links between the documented traditional uses of medicinal plants and drug discovery. In this Special Issue, we would like to invite scientists to submit research manuscripts, reviews, mini-reviews, opinions, notes, field manuals, and short communications that focus on traditional medicinal records, access benefits sharing and regulatory procedures, chemistry, toxicity, ethnopharmacology, and biological activity of African medicinal plants and traditional medicine.

Prof. Dr. Ahmed A. Hussein
Prof. Ahmad Cheikhyouseef
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • African continents
  • antimicrobial activity
  • traditional medicine documentation
  • toxicity of traditional medicine
  • in vivo biological activities
  • in vitro biological activities
  • indigenous knowledge system
  • medicinal plants, phytochemical investigation
  • structure elucidation
  • discovery of new bioactive compounds

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1646 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Four New Compounds from Protea cynaroides Leaves and Their Tyrosinase Inhibitory Potential
by Masande Yalo, Masixole Makhaba, Ahmed A. Hussein, Rajan Sharma, Mkhuseli Koki, Ndikho Nako and Wilfred T. Mabusela
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1751; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11131751 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1893
Abstract
Protea cynaroides (king protea) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. This multi-stemmed shrub is the national flower of South Africa and has important economic and medicinal values. Traditionally, the main therapeutic benefits of this plant species include the treatment [...] Read more.
Protea cynaroides (king protea) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. This multi-stemmed shrub is the national flower of South Africa and has important economic and medicinal values. Traditionally, the main therapeutic benefits of this plant species include the treatment of cancer, bladder, and kidney ailments. There are very limited reports on the isolation of phytochemicals and their biological evaluation from P. cynaroides. In this study, the leaves of P. cynaroides were air-dried at room temperature, powdered, and extracted with 80% methanol followed by solvent fractionation (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol). The ethyl acetate and butanol extracts were chromatographed and afforded four new (14) and four known (58) compounds, whose structures were characterized accordingly as 3,4-bis(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1), 4-hydroxybenzoyl-1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (2), 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxo-4H-pyran-3-yl-6-O-benzoate-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-β-ionone 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (5), 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (6), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (7), and 3-hydroxykojic acid (8). The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was determined based on 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, and HRMS spectroscopy, as well as compared with the available literature data. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the extracts and isolated compounds were also determined. According to the results, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited potent competitive tyrosinase inhibitory activity against L-tyrosine substrates with IC50 values of 0.8776 ± 0.012 and 0.7215 ± 0.090 µg/mL compared to the control (kojic acid, IC50 = 0.8347 ± 0.093), respectively. This study is the first chemical investigation of compounds 14 from a natural source and the first report of the biological evaluation of compounds 15 against the tyrosinase enzyme. The potent anti-tyrosinase activity exhibited by P. cynaroides constituents will support future exploration of the plant in the cosmetic field upon further biological and clinical investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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19 pages, 6541 KiB  
Article
Ethnobotanical Survey of Local Flora Used for Medicinal Purposes among Indigenous People in Five Areas in Lagos State, Nigeria
by Ibraheem Oduola Lawal, Basirat Olabisi Rafiu, Joy Enitan Ale, Onuyi Emmanuel Majebi and Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu
Plants 2022, 11(5), 633; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11050633 - 25 Feb 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2798
Abstract
Traditional medicine is typically the most accessible primary healthcare for a large proportion of the people in Nigeria. However, its potential remains under-explored, especially with regards to their documentation. This research investigated and documented the use of medicinal plants in the management of [...] Read more.
Traditional medicine is typically the most accessible primary healthcare for a large proportion of the people in Nigeria. However, its potential remains under-explored, especially with regards to their documentation. This research investigated and documented the use of medicinal plants in the management of various health conditions/diseases among local populations in Lagos State. This study was conducted in five (5) locations of Lagos State i.e., Alimosho, Badagry, Eti-Osa, and Epe (including Ijebu and Imota). Ethnobotanical information from 100 participants was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. Frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factor (ICF) were used to assess the importance of plants utilised for various health conditions/diseases. We identified 183 plants from 61 plant families with the highest number (24) of plants belonging to Fabaceae. Based on the high FC, the top-five popular plants used for managing health conditions/diseases in the study areas were Mangifera indica (95%), Waltheria indica (93%), Zingiber officinale (87%), Alchornea cordifolia (83%) and Ipomoea involucrata (81%). Furthermore, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Urena lobata and Waltheria indica were recognised as the most adaptable plants, as they were used to treat five different health conditions/diseases. The most commonly used life-forms were herbs (34%) and woody species (shrubs; 30%, and trees; 22%). The most regularly used plant parts were leaves. The calculated RFC values for all medicinal plant species ranged from 0.01 to 0.95, while FL values ranged from 7.14 to 100%. We found 14 health conditions/diseases, with ICF values ranging from 0.88 to 0.95. Insomnia, insanity, convulsion, nervousness, and muscle relaxants had the lowest (ICF = 0.88) agreement, while malaria/fevers, stomach, and respiratory-related diseases had the most (ICF = 0.95) agreement. The documented therapeutic uses of the plants provide basic data for further research aimed at pharmacological and conservation studies of the most important flora existing in the study areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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15 pages, 3544 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Screening of Rosmarinus officinalis L. as a Potential Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant–Medicinal Plant for Cognitive Decline Disorders
by Majid Rasool Kamli, Abeer Abdullah M. Sharaf, Jamal S. M. Sabir and Irfan A. Rather
Plants 2022, 11(4), 514; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11040514 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by cholinergic agents has been promoted as a potent strategy for treating and managing cognitive decline disorders. A wide range of natural products has long been used as potential sources or formulations of cholinergic inhibitors. Therefore, this study [...] Read more.
The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by cholinergic agents has been promoted as a potent strategy for treating and managing cognitive decline disorders. A wide range of natural products has long been used as potential sources or formulations of cholinergic inhibitors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate different Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R. officinalis) extracts for their AChE inhibitory activity using galanthamine as a standard AChE inhibitor. In this study, the ethyl-acetate extract (at a concentration of 250 µg/mL) exhibited the greatest inhibitory effect against AChE with significant inhibition of 75%, comparable to the inhibitor galanthamine with an inhibition of 88%. Kinetic analysis revealed that the extracts could induce a mixed type of inhibition, as observed in the case of galanthamine, with the highest increased Km and decreased Vmax values in the ethyl acetate extract. The antioxidant potential of the three extracts tested was found to be in the order of ethyl-acetate > ethanol > aqueous, with IC50 values of 272 µg/mL, 387 µg/mL, and 534 µg/mL, respectively. Ethyl-acetate was found to have the highest total phenolic content in all extracts. Further, in silico study showed structural binding characterization of rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid with human AChE enzyme. Rosmarinic acid showed strong binding and formed two hydrogen-bonding interactions with Ser-293 and Arg-296. In light of this, the ethyl-acetate extract of the plant may provide some novel potential pharmacological leads for treating and managing cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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21 pages, 2670 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Analysis, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Thymus zygis L. and Thymus willdenowii Boiss. Essential Oils
by Fatima zahrae Radi, Mohamed Bouhrim, Hamza Mechchate, Mohammed Al-zahrani, Ashraf Ahmed Qurtam, Abdulmalik M. Aleissa, Aziz Drioiche, Nadia Handaq and Touriya Zair
Plants 2022, 11(1), 15; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11010015 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3692
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) are chemical products produced by odoriferous glands from a variety of plants. These essential oils have many health benefits: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. So due to these medicinal properties, the present study was designed to analyze essential oils of [...] Read more.
Essential oils (EOs) are chemical products produced by odoriferous glands from a variety of plants. These essential oils have many health benefits: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. So due to these medicinal properties, the present study was designed to analyze essential oils of Thymus zygis L. and Thymus willdenowii Boiss. for their chemical composition and biological activities. These two thyme species were collected from the region of Ifrane, Middle Atlas of Morocco. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the yields were 5.25% for T. zygis and 3.00% for T. willdenowii. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the results showed that T. zygis EO is dominated by carvacrol (52.5%), o-cymene (23.14%), and thymol (9.68%), while the EO of T. willdenowii contains germacrene D (16.51%), carvacrol (16.19%), and geranyl acetate (8.35%) as major compounds. The antioxidant activity assessed by Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays revealed that both EOs have excellent antioxidant activities; by DPPH it resulted in IC50 = 6.13 ± 0.11 for T. zygis and 6.78 ± 0.3 µg/mL for T. willdenowii, while the one by FRAP yielded EC50 = 2.46 ± 0.01 (T. zygis) and 5.17 ± 0.2 (T. willdenowii) µg/mL. The antimicrobial activity of the two essential oils was evaluated against six bacterial strains and five fungal strains by the disk diffusion method to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC). The EOs revealed variable antimicrobial activities against the different tested microbial strains and showed strong antimicrobial activities, even against strains known as multi-resistant to antibiotics (Acinetobacter baumannii) at low concentrations (2 µL/mL). T. zygis EO showed the most powerful activity against all the studied bacteria, while that of T. willdenowii recorded moderate activity when tested against Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella Typhi. With inhibition diameters that vary between 75 mm and 84 mm for concentrations of 2 µL/mL up to 12 µL/mL, S. aureus was shown to be the most sensitive to T. zygis EO. For the antifungal activity test, T. zygis EO showed the best inhibition diameters compared to T. willdenowii EO. These results showed that T. zygis EO has more powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than T. willdenowii EO, therefore, we deduce that thyme EOs are excellent antioxidants, they have strong antimicrobial properties, and may in the future represent new sources of natural antiseptics that can be used in pharmaceutical and food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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16 pages, 1032 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oil from Cistus ladanifer L.
by Jamila El Karkouri, Mohamed Bouhrim, Omkulthom Mohamed Al Kamaly, Hamza Mechchate, Amal Kchibale, Imad Adadi, Sanae Amine, Souâd Alaoui Ismaili and Touriya Zair
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2068; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10102068 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3042
Abstract
Cistus ladanifer L. is a plant widely used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the plant flourishing time harvest on the chemical composition and the antimicrobial effect of its essential oil. Chemical analysis of [...] Read more.
Cistus ladanifer L. is a plant widely used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the plant flourishing time harvest on the chemical composition and the antimicrobial effect of its essential oil. Chemical analysis of the essential oil was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial and antifungal proprieties were tested against four selected bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii) and nine fungi (Yeasts (Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida dubliniensis, Candida sp., Rhodotorula rubra, Cryptococcus neoformans) and molds (Penicillium sp. (P), Fusarium sp. (F), Aspergillus niger (A. niger)), respectively. The essential oil of C. ladanifer demonstrated a powerful antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone of 55 ± 0.22 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, 42 ± 0.11 mm for Escherichia coli, 35 ± 0.27 mm for Acinetobacter baumannii (Full resistant to antibiotics) and 30 ± 0.25 mm for Salmonella Typhi. It also inhibited all tested bacteria at 10 µL/mL. For the antifungal activity test, C. tropicalis and C. neoformans appeared to be the most sensitive strains to the essential oil with an inhibition zone of 13 mm, followed by R. rubra and Penicillium sp. (12 mm), then C. dubliniensis and C. glabrata (11 mm). The chemical analysis of the essential oil by GC-MS revealed that the major components of the essential oil were viridiflorol (17.64%), pinocarveol (11.02%), bornylacetate (9.38%), and ledol (8.85%). C. ladanifer exhibited a remarkable antimicrobial activity that could be more exploited to develop targeted natural remedies against specific diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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36 pages, 5626 KiB  
Article
Inventory of Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally to Manage Kidney Diseases in North-Eastern Morocco: Ethnobotanical Fieldwork and Pharmacological Evidence
by Noureddine Bencheikh, Amine Elbouzidi, Loubna Kharchoufa, Hayat Ouassou, Ilyass Alami Merrouni, Hamza Mechchate, Imane Es-safi, Christophe Hano, Mohamed Addi, Mohamed Bouhrim, Bruno Eto and Mostafa Elachouri
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1966; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091966 - 20 Sep 2021
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 6499
Abstract
Kidney disease is one of the most common health problems and kidney failure can be fatal. It is one of the health disorders associated with extreme pain and discomfort in patients. In developing countries, such as Morocco where socioeconomic and sanitary conditions are [...] Read more.
Kidney disease is one of the most common health problems and kidney failure can be fatal. It is one of the health disorders associated with extreme pain and discomfort in patients. In developing countries, such as Morocco where socioeconomic and sanitary conditions are precarious, medicinal plants are considered the primary source of medication. In the present work an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in a remote area of North-Eastern Morocco and we focused on (1) establishing a record of medicinal plants used traditionally by local people to treat kidney diseases and (2) correlate the obtained ethnomedical use with well-studied pharmacological evidence. From February 2018 to January2020, information was gathered from 488 informants using semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using three quantitative indices: The use value (UV), family use value (FUV), and informant consensus factor (ICF). A total of 121 plant species belonging to 57 botanical families were identified to treat kidney diseases. The families most represented were Asteraceae (14 species), followed by Lamiaceae (12 species) and Apiaceae (10 species). The most commonly used plant parts were leaves, followed by the whole plant and they were most commonly prepared by decoction and infusion. The highest value of the (UV) index was attributed to Herniaria hirsuta L. (UV = 0.16), and the highest family use value (FUV) was assigned to Caryophyllaceae with (FUV = 0.163). Regarding the informant consensus factor (ICF), this index’s highest values were recorded for kidney stones (ICF = 0.72). The use of 45% of the selected plants were validated based on literature review. This study helped document and preserve crucial traditional plant knowledge of 121 plant species used to treat kidney problems that can be used in the search for new biologically active compounds through more upcoming pharmacological studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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20 pages, 5911 KiB  
Article
Protective Effects of Linearthin and Other Chalcone Derivatives from Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) against UVB Induced Oxidative Stress and Toxicity in Human Skin Cells
by Akeem O. Akinfenwa, Naeem S. Abdul, Jeanine L. Marnewick and Ahmed A. Hussein
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1936; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091936 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2660
Abstract
Skin cells suffer continuous damage from chronic exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) that may result in UV-induced oxidative stress and skin thinning. This has necessitated the formulation of cosmeceutical products rich in natural antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is an [...] Read more.
Skin cells suffer continuous damage from chronic exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) that may result in UV-induced oxidative stress and skin thinning. This has necessitated the formulation of cosmeceutical products rich in natural antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is an endemic South African fynbos plant growing naturally in the Western Cape region. The plant is rich in phenolics and other bioactives with a wide spectrum of health benefits. The chemical study of an acetonic extract of green A. linearis afforded a novel compound named linearthin (1) and two known dihydrochalcones, aspalathin (2) and nothofagin (3). The chemical structure of the novel compound was elucidated based on spectroscopic data analysis. The bio-evaluation of the isolated chalcones in vitro for protection against UVB-induced oxidative stress were systematically assessed by examining cell viability, metabolic activity, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity using HaCaT and SK-MEL-1 skin cells models. It was observed that pre-treatment with tested samples for 4- and 24 h at low concentrations were sufficient to protect skin cells from UVB-induced damage in vitro as evidenced by higher cell viability and improved metabolic activity in both keratinocytes (HaCaT) and melanocytes (SK-MEL-1). The results further show that the pre-treatment regimen employed by this study involved some degree of cellular adaptation as evidenced by higher levels of reduced glutathione with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation and lowered caspase 3 activity. Furthermore, compound 1 was most cytoprotective against UVB irradiation of HaCaT cell line (over 24 h) with an IC50 of 282 µg/mL and SK-MEL-1 cell line with IC50 values of 248.3 and 142.6 µg/mL over 4 and 24 h, respectively. On the other hand, HaCaT cells exposed to 2 over 4 h before UVB irradiation showed the highest degree of cytoprotection with an IC50 of 398.9 µg/mL among the four studied samples. These results show that linearthin (1) and the two glycoside dihydrochalcone of A. linearis have the potential to be further developed as antioxidant cosmeceutical ingredients that may protect skin against UVB-induced damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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16 pages, 4331 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Antidepressant-like, Anxiolytic Effects and Impact on Memory of Pimpinella anisum L. Total Extract on Swiss Albino Mice
by Imane Es-safi, Hamza Mechchate, Amal Amaghnouje, Amine Elbouzidi, Mohamed Bouhrim, Noureddine Bencheikh, Christophe Hano and Dalila Bousta
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1573; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10081573 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4423
Abstract
Mental disorders are psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of an individual’s life. Depression and anxiety are chronic illnesses described as the most prevalent stress-related mood disorders that cause injury and early death. In Morocco, Anise “Pimpinella anisum L.” is one of [...] Read more.
Mental disorders are psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of an individual’s life. Depression and anxiety are chronic illnesses described as the most prevalent stress-related mood disorders that cause injury and early death. In Morocco, Anise “Pimpinella anisum L.” is one of the most traditionally used condiment plants, which has long been used to cure various illnesses and in phytotherapy. The present study was designed to investigate the antidepressant, anxiolytic, and memory impact of the total extract of Pimpinella anisum (PATE) at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, using the Forced Swimming Test (FST), Tail Suspension Test (TST), Open Field Test (OFT), and Light–Dark Box Test (LDBT) as an experimental paradigm of anxiety and depression, and Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) and the Morris Water Maze Test (MWMT) as memory tests on Swiss albino mice. The tests were carried out on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and the 21st days of the study, and the extract groups were compared with normal controls and positive controls (receiving bromazepam and paroxetine at the doses of 1 mg/kg and 11.5 mg/kg for anxiety and depression, respectively). The daily oral gavage of the mice by the PATE induced a significant anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effect by shortening immobility time and decreasing downtime in the different tests. PATE at both doses was shown to have no impact on memory following the NORT and MWM tests. Different compounds, such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, oleuropein, p-coumaric acid, trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, myricetin, and quercetin, were identified during the phytochemical analysis carried out using HPLC analysis. This research supports and promotes the extract’s traditional use, suggesting its use as a phytomedicine against depression and anxiety, and calls for further research to clarify its mode of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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Review

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133 pages, 6885 KiB  
Review
Ethnopharmacological Study of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Associated Risk Factors in sub-Saharan Africa
by Johnson Oluwaseun Odukoya, Julianah Olayemi Odukoya, Edwin Mpho Mmutlane and Derek Tantoh Ndinteh
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1387; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11101387 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 8053
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality, including deaths arising from non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, this study aimed to provide details of medicinal plants (MPs) employed in SSA for the treatment of CVDs and their related risk [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality, including deaths arising from non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, this study aimed to provide details of medicinal plants (MPs) employed in SSA for the treatment of CVDs and their related risk factors to open new avenues for the discovery of novel drugs. The extensive ethnopharmacological literature survey of these MPs in 41 SSA countries was based on studies from 1982 to 2021. It revealed 1,085 MPs belonging to 218 botanical families, with Fabaceae (9.61%), Asteraceae (6.77%), Apocynaceae (3.93%), Lamiaceae (3.75%), and Rubiaceae (3.66%) being the most represented. Meanwhile, Allium sativum L., Persea americana Mill., Moringa oleifera Lam., Mangifera indica L., and Allium cepa L. are the five most utilised plant species. The preferred plant parts include the leaves (36%), roots (21%), barks (14%), fruits (7%), and seeds (5%), which are mostly prepared by decoction. Benin, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, and Togo had the highest reported use while most of the investigations were on diabetes and hypertension. Despite the nutraceutical advantages of some of these MPs, their general toxicity potential calls for caution in their human long-term use. Overall, the study established the need for governments of SSA countries to validate the efficacy/safety of these MPs as well as provide affordable, accessible, and improved modern healthcare services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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22 pages, 2552 KiB  
Review
Helichrysum Genus and Compound Activities in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus
by Akeem O. Akinfenwa, Idowu J. Sagbo, Masixole Makhaba, Wilfred T. Mabusela and Ahmed A. Hussein
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1386; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11101386 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2752
Abstract
The global management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves the administration of recommended anti-diabetic drugs in addition to a non-sedentary lifestyle upon diagnosis. Despite the success recorded from these synthetic drugs, the traditional method of treatment using medicinal plants is increasingly accepted by the [...] Read more.
The global management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves the administration of recommended anti-diabetic drugs in addition to a non-sedentary lifestyle upon diagnosis. Despite the success recorded from these synthetic drugs, the traditional method of treatment using medicinal plants is increasingly accepted by the locals due to its low cost and the perceived no side effects. Helichrysum species are used in folk medicine and are documented for the treatment of DM in different regions of the world. This study reviews Helichrysum species and its compounds’ activities in the management of DM. An extensive literature search was carried out, utilizing several scientific databases, ethnobotanical books, theses, and dissertations. About twenty-two Helichrysum species were reported for the treatment of diabetes in different regions of the world. Among these Helichrysum species, only fifteen have been scientifically investigated for their antidiabetic activities, and twelve compounds were identified as bioactive constituents for diabetes. This present review study will be a useful tool for scientists and health professionals working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to develop potent antidiabetic drugs that are devoid of side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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36 pages, 3915 KiB  
Review
Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Barleria (Acanthaceae)
by Serisha Gangaram, Yougasphree Naidoo, Yaser Hassan Dewir and Salah El-Hendawy
Plants 2022, 11(1), 82; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11010082 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5821
Abstract
Plant species belonging to the family Acanthaceae are globally known to possess various medicinal properties and have cultural and economic importance in both traditional medicine and horticulture. They are important to both animals and humans and are used as food or for ornamental [...] Read more.
Plant species belonging to the family Acanthaceae are globally known to possess various medicinal properties and have cultural and economic importance in both traditional medicine and horticulture. They are important to both animals and humans and are used as food or for ornamental purposes worldwide. Barleria is the third largest genus in the family Acanthaceae. A few of the highly important and reported species of Barleria include B. prionitis, B. cristata, B. grandiflora, and B. lupulina. The flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and seed extracts of plants belonging to this genus are rich in bioactive compounds and have exhibited significant medicinal potential for the treatment of various ailments and infections. Evidence derived from several studies has demonstrated the antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, analgesic, antiamoebic, antihelminthic, antiarthritic, antihypertensive, antiviral properties and toxicity of extracts, in addition inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and biosynthesis of nanoparticles, of the plant and seed extracts of species belonging to Barleria. Studies have reported that bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, quinones, iridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, the immunostimulant protein “Sankaranin”, and antibiotics isolated from Barleria species are resposnsible for the above biological activities. Traditionally, the genus Barleria has significant medicinal potential; however, there is a scarcity of information on various species that are yet to be evaluated. This review provides a comprehensive report on existing literature, concerning the phytochemistry and biological activities of the genus Barleria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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19 pages, 972 KiB  
Review
Traditional Uses, Nutritional and Pharmacological Potentials of Clerodendrum volubile
by Kunle Okaiyeto, Ayodeji Osmund Falade and Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1893; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091893 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3893
Abstract
Clerodendrum volubile is an underutilized leafy vegetable consumed in some parts of Nigeria. The interest in C. volubile has continued to increase due to its multipurpose values, including traditional uses, nutritional properties, and some therapeutic potentials; however, the pharmacological prospects of the plant [...] Read more.
Clerodendrum volubile is an underutilized leafy vegetable consumed in some parts of Nigeria. The interest in C. volubile has continued to increase due to its multipurpose values, including traditional uses, nutritional properties, and some therapeutic potentials; however, the pharmacological prospects of the plant are yet to be fully explored. Therefore, in the present review, different databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, etc. were explored to retrieve publications used to write this review. The pharmacological potentials of C. volubile, such as anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-hypertensive properties, were highlighted. The toxicological potential of the plant is also discussed. Proposed mechanisms that underline its biological activities include modulation of redox homeostasis, leading to decreased oxidative stress; down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression; inhibition of key enzymes implicated in diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neurological diseases; and inhibition of oxidative burst and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the prospect of endophytes from C. volubile as a bioresource to produce novel therapeutic agents, as well as the development of nanotherapeutics from the plant extracts and its phytoconstituents, are discussed. In conclusion, C. volubile possesses an enormous number of possible pharmacological properties and therapeutic potentials waiting to be explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on African Traditional Medicinal Plants Research)
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