Evaluation of the efficacy of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) bolus leaf as a traditional treatment for the management of HIV/AIDS
- Authors: Omoruyi, Beauty Etinosa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/744 , vital:26493 , AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Description: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most common and dreaded diseases of the 21th century. Today, the disease is still spreading with increasing incidence. “Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 75 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 36 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 35.3 million [32.2–38.8 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2012” (http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/). Several studies have been conducted on herbs under a multitude of ethnobotanical grounds. The use of medicinal plants for the management of HIV has become a common practice especially, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Wilfred Otang Mbeng, 2013 PhD thesis, UFH). At the beginning of this programme, an ethnomedicinal survey of plants used for the management of HIV infection was carried out in targeted areas of the Province and information on the names of plants, the parts and the methods of preparation were collected. The survey revealed that 18 species representing 12 families were found to be commonly used for the management of HIV, as well as other opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, sores, high blood pressure, etc. Carpobrotus edulis was selected for this research because it was the most frequently used in the Province. The foliar micro morphological contents of the plant, its phytochemical and antioxidant activity, in vitro antimicrobial activity, inhibitory effect against HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase, mechanisms of action and cytotoxicity were investigated. In terms of the foliar micro morphological contents in plants, an electron microscopy scanning (SEM) was completed. Investigation revealed that both glandular tricomes and calcium oxalate crystals (CaOX) were observed. Consequently, it is hypothesized that the bioactive therapeutic compounds secreted by C. edulis may be produced in the glandular trichomes. An investigation of phytochemical content of the plant extracts (C. edulis) was completed using four solvent extracts (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water). Results of the phytochemical analysis showed that proanthocyanidins (86.9 ± 0.005%) where highest in the aqueous extract with phenolics at 55.7 ± 0.404% in acetone extract, tannin at 48.9 ± 0.28% in ethanol extract, while the hexane extract had the highest levels of flavonoids (0.12 ± 0.05%) and flavonols (0.12 ± 0.05%). Antioxidant studies of the various extracts revealed that aqueous and ethanol extracts were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity in C. edulis leaves. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from C. edulis leaves revealed that the essential oil contained at least 28 compounds. These included, in order of abundance: Oxygenated monoterpenes (36.61%); fatty acids esters (19.25%); oxygenated diterpenes (19.24%); monoterpenes (10.6%); sesquiterpenes (3.58%); and diterpenes (1.43%). Similarly, a GC-MS analysis of the crude hexane, acetone and ethanol extracts from C. edulis leaves identified a total of 59 compounds. Of the 59 compounds, 12 major phyto-metabolites that are active against infectious diseases were identified. To comfirm the potential use of C. edulis to treat infectious disease, antifungal activity of the crude essential oil extract and the four solvent extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida rugosa and Cryptococcus neoformans strains. The essential oil extract was found to be the most active against all the fungal strains tested and performed better than the four extracts used various solvents used to extract (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water) the C. edulis leaves were tested for antibacterial and anti HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. The results indicated that both gram-positive and gram-negative isolates were inhibited by the extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) but antimicrobial activity was observed for the water extract. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values were obtained for the ethanol extract, followed by acetone and hexane extracts. No inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was observed for any of the leaf extracts, even up to concentrations of 16 mg/ml. The potential inhibitory activities of the various solvent extracts against HIV-1 protease were evaluated at four different concentrations (16, 1.6, 0.16 and 0.016 mg/ml). Results indicated that the water extract showed almost 100% inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity, with an IC50 of 0.86 mg/ml leaf extract. Other solvent extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) however, did not show any inhibition activity above that observed for the DMSO control. The metabolic components in the water extract were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis, which identified at least 91 compounds present in the water extract. Further studies involving the molecular modelling need to be carried out to confirm the inhibitory potential of these compounds. The cytotoxicity of the water extract of C. edulis leaves was also screened using human Chang liver cells at concentrations ranging bewteen 0.005 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml. Results indicated that the water extracts were not toxic. In conclusion the results from this study support the use of water extracts of C. edulis leaves by traditional healers to treat HIV infections and have identified possible mechanisms of action of the water extracts of C. edulis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Omoruyi, Beauty Etinosa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/744 , vital:26493 , AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Description: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most common and dreaded diseases of the 21th century. Today, the disease is still spreading with increasing incidence. “Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 75 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 36 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 35.3 million [32.2–38.8 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2012” (http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/). Several studies have been conducted on herbs under a multitude of ethnobotanical grounds. The use of medicinal plants for the management of HIV has become a common practice especially, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Wilfred Otang Mbeng, 2013 PhD thesis, UFH). At the beginning of this programme, an ethnomedicinal survey of plants used for the management of HIV infection was carried out in targeted areas of the Province and information on the names of plants, the parts and the methods of preparation were collected. The survey revealed that 18 species representing 12 families were found to be commonly used for the management of HIV, as well as other opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, sores, high blood pressure, etc. Carpobrotus edulis was selected for this research because it was the most frequently used in the Province. The foliar micro morphological contents of the plant, its phytochemical and antioxidant activity, in vitro antimicrobial activity, inhibitory effect against HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase, mechanisms of action and cytotoxicity were investigated. In terms of the foliar micro morphological contents in plants, an electron microscopy scanning (SEM) was completed. Investigation revealed that both glandular tricomes and calcium oxalate crystals (CaOX) were observed. Consequently, it is hypothesized that the bioactive therapeutic compounds secreted by C. edulis may be produced in the glandular trichomes. An investigation of phytochemical content of the plant extracts (C. edulis) was completed using four solvent extracts (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water). Results of the phytochemical analysis showed that proanthocyanidins (86.9 ± 0.005%) where highest in the aqueous extract with phenolics at 55.7 ± 0.404% in acetone extract, tannin at 48.9 ± 0.28% in ethanol extract, while the hexane extract had the highest levels of flavonoids (0.12 ± 0.05%) and flavonols (0.12 ± 0.05%). Antioxidant studies of the various extracts revealed that aqueous and ethanol extracts were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity in C. edulis leaves. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from C. edulis leaves revealed that the essential oil contained at least 28 compounds. These included, in order of abundance: Oxygenated monoterpenes (36.61%); fatty acids esters (19.25%); oxygenated diterpenes (19.24%); monoterpenes (10.6%); sesquiterpenes (3.58%); and diterpenes (1.43%). Similarly, a GC-MS analysis of the crude hexane, acetone and ethanol extracts from C. edulis leaves identified a total of 59 compounds. Of the 59 compounds, 12 major phyto-metabolites that are active against infectious diseases were identified. To comfirm the potential use of C. edulis to treat infectious disease, antifungal activity of the crude essential oil extract and the four solvent extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida rugosa and Cryptococcus neoformans strains. The essential oil extract was found to be the most active against all the fungal strains tested and performed better than the four extracts used various solvents used to extract (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water) the C. edulis leaves were tested for antibacterial and anti HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. The results indicated that both gram-positive and gram-negative isolates were inhibited by the extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) but antimicrobial activity was observed for the water extract. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values were obtained for the ethanol extract, followed by acetone and hexane extracts. No inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was observed for any of the leaf extracts, even up to concentrations of 16 mg/ml. The potential inhibitory activities of the various solvent extracts against HIV-1 protease were evaluated at four different concentrations (16, 1.6, 0.16 and 0.016 mg/ml). Results indicated that the water extract showed almost 100% inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity, with an IC50 of 0.86 mg/ml leaf extract. Other solvent extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) however, did not show any inhibition activity above that observed for the DMSO control. The metabolic components in the water extract were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis, which identified at least 91 compounds present in the water extract. Further studies involving the molecular modelling need to be carried out to confirm the inhibitory potential of these compounds. The cytotoxicity of the water extract of C. edulis leaves was also screened using human Chang liver cells at concentrations ranging bewteen 0.005 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml. Results indicated that the water extracts were not toxic. In conclusion the results from this study support the use of water extracts of C. edulis leaves by traditional healers to treat HIV infections and have identified possible mechanisms of action of the water extracts of C. edulis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Heavy metal content absorption and medicinal potential of Egeria densa (Planch.) Casp
- Authors: Mgobozi, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Physiological effect -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Egeria densa -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Botany)
- Identifier: vital:11309 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013121 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Physiological effect -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Egeria densa -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The contamination of heavy metals in the environment is a looming concern worldwide. Egeria densa (Planch) (Submerged aquatic plant) from two ponds: Site A with co-ordinates (32º 48’22.04”S; 26°48’58.79” E) and Site B with co-ordinates (32°48’33.25”S; 26°48’33.25”S) in Alice (Eastern Cape) was evaluated for its ability to absorb heavy metals, phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity and ultra-structure using standard analytic procedures. Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were measured in water, sediments and plant. The concentrations of these metal elements were determined with use of Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In sediments, the heavy metals (mg/kg) decreased in the order of their average concentration as follows: Fe (40.320) > Zn (1.259) > Pb (0.564) > Mn (0.186) > Cu (0.037) in Pond 1 whereas in Pond 2 Fe (61.527) > Cd (0.999) > Mn (0.648) > Pb (0.586) > Zn (0.156) > Cu (0.045). The highest concentration of Fe was detected in both sites and Cu being the least. The concentrations of the metals in the plants sample (from Pond 1) were found in order of Mn > Pb > Cu > Fe whereas cadmium and zinc were not detected, while the concentration in Pond 2 decreases in order of Zn > Mn > Pb > Cd > Fe > Cu. In the water samples, concentrations of heavy metals (mg/L) decreased in the order of their average concentrations as follows: Pb (35.36) > Fe (3.07) > Mn (0.238) > Cu (0.104), both cadmium and zinc were below the limit of detection in Pond 1, whereas in Pond 2 the concentrations decreased as follows: Pb (13.033) >Fe (1.69) > Cu (0.270) > Mn (0.248) > Cd (0.004) and Zinc was not detected. Phytochemical analyses of the plant extracts revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidin, flavonols, saponins, alkaloid and tannins in all the extracts (water, acetone and n-hexane). Both acetone and water extracts, showed high concentration of proanthocyanidin, while tannin was the lowest in acetone extract. Antimicrobial evaluation using, Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram negative (Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Serratia marcescens) bacteria showed negative results for all the strain, except Streptococcus pyogenes which was inhibited at MIC of 0.1 mg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of ultra-structure of Egeria densa, showed that certain bacteria attached to the leaf, However more work has to be done on E. densa to verify the mechanism by which it accumulates heavy metals. The study shows that E. densa has a potential of accumulating heavy metals especial Manganese in plant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mgobozi, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Physiological effect -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Egeria densa -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Botany)
- Identifier: vital:11309 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013121 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Physiological effect -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Egeria densa -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Heavy metals -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The contamination of heavy metals in the environment is a looming concern worldwide. Egeria densa (Planch) (Submerged aquatic plant) from two ponds: Site A with co-ordinates (32º 48’22.04”S; 26°48’58.79” E) and Site B with co-ordinates (32°48’33.25”S; 26°48’33.25”S) in Alice (Eastern Cape) was evaluated for its ability to absorb heavy metals, phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity and ultra-structure using standard analytic procedures. Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were measured in water, sediments and plant. The concentrations of these metal elements were determined with use of Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In sediments, the heavy metals (mg/kg) decreased in the order of their average concentration as follows: Fe (40.320) > Zn (1.259) > Pb (0.564) > Mn (0.186) > Cu (0.037) in Pond 1 whereas in Pond 2 Fe (61.527) > Cd (0.999) > Mn (0.648) > Pb (0.586) > Zn (0.156) > Cu (0.045). The highest concentration of Fe was detected in both sites and Cu being the least. The concentrations of the metals in the plants sample (from Pond 1) were found in order of Mn > Pb > Cu > Fe whereas cadmium and zinc were not detected, while the concentration in Pond 2 decreases in order of Zn > Mn > Pb > Cd > Fe > Cu. In the water samples, concentrations of heavy metals (mg/L) decreased in the order of their average concentrations as follows: Pb (35.36) > Fe (3.07) > Mn (0.238) > Cu (0.104), both cadmium and zinc were below the limit of detection in Pond 1, whereas in Pond 2 the concentrations decreased as follows: Pb (13.033) >Fe (1.69) > Cu (0.270) > Mn (0.248) > Cd (0.004) and Zinc was not detected. Phytochemical analyses of the plant extracts revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidin, flavonols, saponins, alkaloid and tannins in all the extracts (water, acetone and n-hexane). Both acetone and water extracts, showed high concentration of proanthocyanidin, while tannin was the lowest in acetone extract. Antimicrobial evaluation using, Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram negative (Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Serratia marcescens) bacteria showed negative results for all the strain, except Streptococcus pyogenes which was inhibited at MIC of 0.1 mg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of ultra-structure of Egeria densa, showed that certain bacteria attached to the leaf, However more work has to be done on E. densa to verify the mechanism by which it accumulates heavy metals. The study shows that E. densa has a potential of accumulating heavy metals especial Manganese in plant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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