https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal and toxicological properties of Hermannia Incana cav.: a South African medicinal plant https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11304 Wed 12 May 2021 23:12:42 SAST ]]> Determination and validation of plants used by resource-limited farmers in the ethno veterinary control of gastro-intestinal parasites of goats in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11164 Wed 12 May 2021 22:19:24 SAST ]]> Bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of Hydnora Africana on some selected bacterial pathogens https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11247 0.05). Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, tannins and flavonoids in the methanol, acetone,ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The results demonstrate that H. africana may contain compounds with therapeutic potentials which can be lead molecules for semi-synthesis of new drugs.]]> Wed 12 May 2021 19:43:31 SAST ]]> Synergistic potententials and isolation of bioactive compounds from the extracts of two helichrysum species indigenous to the Eastern Cape province https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11268 5 mg/ml for all the extracts. Average log reductions in viable cell counts for all the extracts ranged between 0.1 Log10 and 7.5 Log10 cfu/ml after 12 h interaction at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. Most of the extracts were rapidly bactericidal at 2 × MIC achieving a complete elimination of most of the test organisms within 12 h exposure time. The effect of combinations of the crude extracts of H. pedunculatum leaves and eight antibiotics was investigated by means of checkerboard and time-kill methods. In the checkerboard method, synergies of between 45.83-56.81 percent were observed and this is independent of Gram reaction, with combinations in the aqueous extract yielding largely antagonistic interactions (18.75 percent). The time kill assay also detected synergy that is independent of Gram reaction with a ≥ 3Log10 potentiation of the bactericidal activity of the test antibiotics. We conclude that the crude leaf extracts of H. pedunculatum could be potential source of broad spectrum antibiotics resistance modulating compounds. The interactions between crude extracts of H. longifolium in combination with six first-line antibiotics using both the time-kill and the checkerboard methods were carried out. The time-kill method revealed the highest bactericidal activity exemplified by a 6.7 Log10 reduction in cell density against Salmonella sp. when the extract and Penicillin G are combined at ½ × MIC. Synergistic response constituted about 65 percent, while indifference and antagonism constituted about 28.33 percent and 6.67 percent in the time kill assay, respectively. The checkerboard method also revealed that the extracts improved bactericidal effects of the antibiotics. About 61.67 percent of all the interactions were synergistic, while indifference interactions constituted about 26.67 percent and antagonistic interactions was observed in approximately 11.66 percent. The in vitro antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of the aqueous crude leaf extracts of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum was investigated. The scavenging activity on superoxide anions, DPPH, H2O2, NO and ABTS; and the reducing power were determined, as well as the flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phenolic contents of the extracts. The extracts exhibited scavenging activity in all radicals tested due to the presence of relatively high total phenol and flavonoids contents in the extracts. Our findings suggest that H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum are endowed with antioxidant phytochemicals and could serve as a base for future drugs. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the leaves of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum yielded two known compounds. From the n-hexane fraction of H. longifolium a compound was isolated (Stigmasterol) and from the ethyl acetate fraction of H. pedunculatum another compound (β-sitosterol) was isolated. The compounds were isolated and identified using various techniques. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of these compounds have been reported in literatures. In general, the experiments and tests conducted in this study appear to have justified the folkloric medicinal uses of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum for the treatment of stress related ailments and wound infections and make a substantial contribution to the knowledge base of the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of the microbial infections.]]> Wed 12 May 2021 19:21:16 SAST ]]> Effect of processing on the efficacy and safety of Solanum Aculeastrum Dunal berries https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11302 Wed 12 May 2021 18:20:05 SAST ]]> Validating the use of Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f) Radlk for the treatment of eye infections in the Eastern Cape South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11303 Wed 12 May 2021 18:17:53 SAST ]]> Investigation of antidiabetic properties, mechanisms of action and toxicology of Strychnos Henningsii (GILG) bark https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11254 Wed 12 May 2021 16:44:12 SAST ]]> An investigation into the antibacterial activites of medicinal plants traditionally used in the Eastern Cape to treat lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:10985 Wed 12 May 2021 16:16:48 SAST ]]> Biological activities of medicinal plants traditionally used to treat Septicaemia in the Eastern Cape, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:10119 Thu 13 May 2021 06:09:09 SAST ]]> Assessment of plants used for the treatment of cattle wounds and myiasis in Amatola Basin, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11160 Thu 13 May 2021 05:52:52 SAST ]]> The efficacy and toxicological effects of aloe ferox mill. used in the management of constipation in Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11882 0.05) as compared with other solvent extracts. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was high even at lower concentrations (0.025 mg/ml) except in DPPH and lipid peroxidation. The ferric reducing potential of the extracts was concentration dependent and significantly different from Vitamin C and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) that were used as standard drugs. The present study showed a high level of scavenging activity of the leaf extracts of Aloe ferox in all the solvent extracts. Both ethanol and methanolic extract showed potent antioxidant activities than acetone and aqueous extracts. The study indicated that the leaf extracts of Aloe ferox might be a valuable source of natural antioxidant for both medicine and food industries. A. ferox leaf consists of the gel, latex and mesophyll layer; however, the main active constituents of the latex and the leaf exudate of Aloe ferox are anthraquinones which are believed to be responsible for the laxative property. The laxative compound in Aloe ferox leaf extract was isolated and characterized by extracting the plant material in methanol and extract suspended in distilled water. Partitioning was done with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol respectively and was co-spotted with the over-the-counter (OTC) laxative drugs. This led to the successive column chromatography and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the most active ethyl acetate fraction on silica gel with benzene/ethanol/ammonia hydroxide (BEA: 90:10:1), ethyl acetate/methanol/water (EMW: 40:5.4:5) and chloroform/ethyl acetate/formic acid (CEF: 50:40:10) as the mobile phase. The successive chromatograph and TLC afforded two compounds of Rf 0.420 (blue) and 0.831 (yellow) with the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. These compounds were not totally elucidated due to their small quantity and instability. However, hydroxyl (OH) and carboxyl groups (COOH) was established as common to the extracted compounds, which might be responsible for the biological activity recorded for the plant extract.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 04:36:56 SAST ]]> Pharmacological investigations of Kedrostis africana (L.) Cogn. and Vernonia mespilifolia Less. used in folk medicine in the Eastern Cape, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:34307 0.05) effect on biomarkers of liver and renal damage. Haematological evaluation revealed that oral administration of aqueous extracts of K. africana, V. mespilifolia and the combination of both plants did not induce anaemia or leucocytosis in the animals. Furthermore, histopathological evaluation of the internal organs revealed no detectable inflammation at the the doses administered over a period of 28 days. These results demonstrated that the aqueous extracts of K. africana, V. mespilifolia and the combination of both plants was potentially safe for consumption orally even in chronic administration. Enzyme based in-vitro antiobesity evaluation of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of K. africana, V. mespilifolia and their combination revealed that the ethanol extracts of both plants and their combination exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against α-amylase, α- glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. However, the standards used for the various inhibition assays exhibited much higher inhibitory actions when compared to any of the extracts. This suggests that the mechanism by which these two plants and their combination exert anti-obesity effects are probably not by inhibition of key enzymes of carbohydrate and fat metabolism.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 02:36:17 SAST ]]> Phytochemical analysis and biological activity studies of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos Henningsii https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:30074 Thu 13 May 2021 01:51:19 SAST ]]> The effect of geography, cultivation and harvest technique on the umckalin concentration and growth of pelargonium sidoides (Geraniaceae) https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:4234 Thu 13 May 2021 01:09:35 SAST ]]> Evaluation of the effect of Pelargonium reniforme Curtis extract on alcohol induced liver damage in Nkonkobe Municipality Eastern Cape Province South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11883 Thu 13 May 2021 00:48:32 SAST ]]> Heavy metal content absorption and medicinal potential of Egeria densa (Planch.) Casp https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11309 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.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 00:47:06 SAST ]]> Development of conservation methods for gunnera perpensa l.: an overexploited medicinal plant in the Eastern Cape, South Africa https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11311 Thu 13 May 2021 00:03:33 SAST ]]>