Preliminary screening of some traditional zulu medicinal plants for anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities

J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Dec 15;68(1-3):267-74. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(99)00130-0.

Abstract

Aqueous and methanolic extracts from different parts of nine traditional Zulu medicinal plants, of the Vitaceae from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were evaluated for therapeutic potential as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. Of the twenty-nine crude extracts assayed for prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, only five methanolic extracts of Cyphostemma natalitium-root, Rhoicissus digitata-leaf, R. rhomboidea-root, R. tomentosa-leaf/stem and R. tridentata-root showed significant inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1). The extracts of R. digitata-leaf and of R. rhomboidea-root exhibited the highest inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with 53 and 56%, respectively. The results suggest that Rhoicissus digitata leaves and of Rhoicissus rhomboidea roots may have the potential to be used as anti-inflammatory agents. All the screened plant extracts showed some degrees of anti-microbial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. The methanolic extracts of C. natalitium-stem and root, R. rhomboidea-root, and R. tomentosa-leaf/stem, showed different anti-microbial activities against almost all micro-organisms tested. Generally, these plant extracts inhibited the gram-positive micro-organisms more than the gram-negative ones. Several plant extracts inhibited the growth of Candida albicans while only one plant extract showed inhibitory activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All the plant extracts which demonstrated good anti-inflammatory activities also showed better inhibitory activity against Candida albicans.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Prostaglandins / biosynthesis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Solubility
  • South Africa

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts
  • Prostaglandins