Antibacterial and modifying-antibiotic activities of the essential oils of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Plectranthus amboinicus L

Exploring the Potential of Essential Oil from Plectranthus amboinicus Leaves against Breast Cancer: In vitro and In silico Analysis

Plectranthus amboinicus leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation to obtain essential oil (EO). Phytochemical analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a diverse range of compounds in the EO, with p-cymen-4-ol (18.57%) emerging as the most predominant, followed by isocaryophyllene (12.18%). The in vitro antiproliferative activity of EO against breast cancer was assessed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The MTT assay results revealed that EO showed IC50 values of 42.25 μg/mL and 13.44 μg/mL in MCF-7 cells and 63.67 μg/mL and 26.58 μg/mL in MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 and 48 h, respectively. The in silico physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profiles of the EO constituents were within acceptable limits. Molecular docking was conducted to investigate the interactions between the constituents of the EO and protein Aromatase (PDB ID:3S79). Among the EO constituents, 4-tert-butyl-2-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)phenol (4BHP) exhibited the highest dock score of -6.580 kcal/mol when compared to the reference drug, Letrozole (-5.694 kcal/mol), but was slightly lesser than Anastrozole (-7.08 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulation studies (100 ns) of the 4BHP complex were performed to study its stability patterns. The RMSD and RMSF values of the 4BHP protein complex were found to be 2.03 Å and 4.46 Å, respectively. The binding free energy calculations revealed that 4BHP displayed the highest negative binding energy of -43 kcal/mol with aromatase protein, compared to Anastrozole (-40.59 kcal/mol) and Letrozole (-44.54 kcal/mol). However, further research is required to determine the safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action of the volatile oil. Taking into consideration the key findings of the present work, the development of a formulation of essential oil remains a challenging task and novel drug delivery systems may lead to site-specific and targeted delivery for the effective treatment of breast cancer.

Plectranthus amboinicus and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils effects on performance, antioxidant activity, intestinal health, immune response, and plasma biochemistry in broiler chickens

This work aimed to assess the effects of Plectranthus amboinicus essential oil (PAE) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil (ROE) as feed additives on performance, antioxidant activity, intestinal microbiota, intestinal morphology, immune response, and plasma biochemistry using 320 unsexed 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens. The chickens were assigned randomly into four treatments containing eight replicates with 10 chickens each. Treatment diets included a basal diet as a control group, 100 mg/kg PAE, 200 mg/kg PAE, and 100 mg/kg ROE. ROE affected the growth performance in the starter phase by improving (p = .01) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with the control diet. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the plasma were elevated (p < .0001) by both feed additives. Supplementation of additives could increase (p < .006) total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA) values in the breast (p < .0001) and thigh (p < .001) for all supplemented diets were less than the control group. The essential oils (EOs) reduced (p < .005) coliform counts in the ileum and increased (p = .029) lactic acid bacteria counts. In addition, villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) increased, whereas the density of goblet cells decreased in the small intestine when feed additives were included. Also, the antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were increased (p < .0001) by EOs. Plasma total protein (p = .04) and globulin (p = .02) were increased, and cholesterol was reduced (p = .002) by supplemented diets. Our study revealed that PAE could effectively improve the antioxidant activity, intestinal microbiota population, intestinal morphology, immune response, and plasma biochemistry parameters in broiler chickens.

Comparative Effects of Two Forms of Chitosan on Selected Phytochemical Properties of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.)

In response to stress factors, plants produce a wide range of biologically active substances, from a group of secondary metabolites, which are applied in medicine and health prophylaxis. Chitosan is a well-known elicitor affecting secondary metabolism in plants, but its effect on the phytochemical profile of Plectranthus amboinicus has not been assessed yet. In the present experiment, the effectiveness of the foliar application of two forms of chitosan (chitosan suspension or chitosan lactate) was compared in order to evaluate their potential to induce the accumulation of selected polyphenolic compounds in the aboveground parts of P. amboinicus. It was shown that chitosan lactate had substantially higher elicitation efficiency, as the use of this form exerted a beneficial effect on the analysed quality parameters of the raw material, especially the content of selected polyphenolic compounds (total content of polyphenols, flavonols, anthocyanins, and caffeic acid derivatives) and the free radical-scavenging activity of extracts from elicited plants. Concurrently, it had no phytotoxic effects. Hence, chitosan lactate-based elicitation can be an effective method for optimisation of the production of high-quality P. amboinicus raw material characterised by an increased concentration of health-promoting and antioxidant compounds.

A review on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

In traditional medicine, Ocimum gratissimum (clove basil) is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, inflammation, anaemia, diarrhoea, pains, and fungal and bacterial infections. The present study reviewed the phytochemicals, essential oils, and pharmacological activities of O. gratissimum. The bioactive compounds extracted from O. gratissimum include phytochemicals (oleanolic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, sinapic acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, apigenin, nepetoidin, xanthomicrol, nevadensin, salvigenin, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, rutin, and kaempfero) and essential oils (camphene, β-caryophyllene, α- and β-pinene, α-humulene, sabinene, β-myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, trans-β-ocimene, linalool, α- and δ-terpineol, eugenol, α-copaene, β-elemene, p-cymene, thymol, and carvacrol). Various in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that O. gratissimum and its bioactive constituents possess pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antidiarrhoeal, and antimicrobial properties. This review demonstrated that O. gratissimum has a strong preventive and therapeutic effect against several diseases. The effectiveness of O. gratissimum to ameliorate various diseases may be attributed to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties as well as its capacity to improve the antioxidant systems. However, despite the widespread pharmacological activities of O. gratissimum, further experiments in human clinical trial studies are needed to establish effective and safe doses for the treatment of various diseases.

Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. at the Forefront of Pharma to Confront Zika Virus and Microbial Infections-An In Vitro and In Silico Perspective

The recent emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil and the increasing resistance developed by pathogenic bacteria to nearly all existing antibiotics should be taken as a wakeup call for the international authority as this represents a risk for global public health. The lack of antiviral drugs and effective antibiotics on the market triggers the need to search for safe therapeutics from medicinal plants to fight viral and microbial infections. In the present study, we investigated whether a mangrove plant, Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. (B. gymnorhiza) collected in Mauritius, possesses antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating abilities and exerts anti-ZIKV activity at non-cytotoxic doses. Microorganisms Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 70603, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA), Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Candida albicans ATCC 26555 were used to evaluate the antimicrobial properties. Ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin antibiotics were used for assessing antibiotic potentiating activity. ZIKVMC-MR766NIID (ZIKVGFP) was used for assessing anti-ZIKV activity. In silico docking (Autodock 4) and ADME (SwissADME) analyses were performed on collected data. Antimicrobial results revealed that Bruguiera twig ethyl acetate (BTE) was the most potent extract inhibiting the growth of all nine microbes tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.19-0.39 mg/mL. BTE showed partial synergy effects against MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when applied in combination with streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. By using a recombinant ZIKV-expressing reporter GFP protein, we identified both Bruguiera root aqueous and Bruguiera fruit aqueous extracts as potent inhibitors of ZIKV infection in human epithelial A549 cells. The mechanisms by which such extracts prevented ZIKV infection are linked to the inability of the virus to bind to the host cell surface. In silico docking showed that ZIKV E protein, which is involved in cell receptor binding, could be a target for cryptochlorogenic acid, a chemical compound identified in B. gymnorhiza. From ADME results, cryptochlorogenic acid is predicted to be not orally bioavailable because it is too polar. Scientific data collected in this present work can open a new avenue for the development of potential inhibitors from B. gymnorhiza to fight ZIKV and microbial infections in the future.

Nanoencapsulation of Essential Oils as Natural Food Antimicrobial Agents: An Overview

The global demand for safe and healthy food with minimal synthetic preservatives is continuously increasing. Natural food antimicrobials and especially essential oils (EOs) possess strong antimicrobial activities that could play a remarkable role as a novel source of food preservatives. Despite the excellent efficacy of EOs, they have not been widely used in the food industry due to some major intrinsic barriers, such as low water solubility, bioavailability, volatility, and stability in food systems. Recent advances in nanotechnology have the potential to address these existing barriers in order to use EOs as preservatives in food systems at low doses. Thus, in this review, we explored the latest advances of using natural actives as antimicrobial agents and the different strategies for nanoencapsulation used for this purpose. The state of the art concerning the antibacterial properties of EOs will be summarized, and the main latest applications of nanoencapsulated antimicrobial agents in food systems will be presented. This review should help researchers to better choose the most suitable encapsulation techniques and materials.

The Botanical, Chemical and Ethnobotanical Diversity of Southern African Lamiaceae

The Lamiaceae is undoubtedly an important plant family, having a rich history of use that spans the globe with many species being used in folk medicine and modern industries alike. Their ability to produce aromatic volatile oils has made them valuable sources of materials in the cosmetic, culinary, and pharmaceutical industries. A thorough account of the taxonomic diversity, chemistry and ethnobotany is lacking for southern African Lamiaceae, which feature some of the region’s most notable medicinal and edible plant species. We provide a comprehensive insight into the Lamiaceae flora of southern Africa, comprising 297 species in 42 genera, 105 of which are endemic to the subcontinent. We further explore the medicinal and traditional uses, where all genera with documented uses are covered for the region. A broad review of the chemistry of southern African Lamiaceae is presented, noting that only 101 species (34%) have been investigated chemically (either their volatile oils or phytochemical characterization of secondary metabolites), thus presenting many and varied opportunities for further studies. The main aim of our study was therefore to present an up-to-date account of the botany, chemistry and traditional uses of the family in southern Africa, and to identify obvious knowledge gaps.

Antibiotic Potentiation of Natural Products: A Promising Target to Fight Pathogenic Bacteria

Pathogenic microorganisms should be considered as the number one foe of human, as witnessed by recent outbreaks of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and with bacteria no longer sensitive to existing antibiotics. The resistance of pathogenic bacteria and deaths attributable to bacterial infections is increasing exponentially. Bacteria used different mechanisms to counterattack to existing antibiotics, namely (i) enzymatic inhibition, (ii) penicillin-binding protein modification, (iii) porin mutations, (iv) efflux pumps and (v) molecular modifications of antibiotic targets. Developing new antibiotics would be time-consuming to address such a situation, thus one of the promising approaches is by potentiating existing antibiotics. Plants used synergism to naturally defend and protect themselves from microbes. Using the same strategy, several studies have shown that the combinations of natural products and antibiotics could effectively prolong the lifespan of existing antibiotics and minimize the impact and emergence of antibiotic resistance. Combining essential oils constituents, namely uvaol, ferruginol, farnesol and carvacrol, with antibiotics, have proved to be efficient efflux pump inhibitors. Plant-derived compounds such as gallic acid and tannic acid are effective potentiators of various antibiotics, including novobiocin, chlorobiocin, coumermycin, fusidic acid, and rifampicin, resulting in a 4-fold increase in the potencies of these antibiotics. Several lines of research, as discussed in this review, have demonstrated the effectiveness of natural products in potentiating existing antibiotics. For this reason, the search for more efficient combinations should be an ongoing process with the aim to extend the life of the ones that we have and may preserve the life for the ones that are yet to come.

Combination Therapy Involving Lavandula angustifolia and Its Derivatives in Exhibiting Antimicrobial Properties and Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Challenges and Future Prospects

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as one of the biggest health threats in the world. Current therapeutic options for common infections are markedly limited due to the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens in the community and the hospitals. The role of different essential oils (EOs) and their derivatives in exhibiting antimicrobial properties has been widely elucidated with their respective mechanisms of action. Recently, there has been a heightened emphasis on lavender essential oil (LEO)’s antimicrobial properties and wound healing effects. However, to date, there has been no review published examining the antimicrobial benefits of lavender essential oil, specifically. Previous literature has shown that LEO and its constituents act synergistically with different antimicrobial agents to potentiate the antimicrobial activity. For the past decade, encapsulation of EOs with nanoparticles has been widely practiced due to increased antimicrobial effects and greater bioavailability as compared to non-encapsulated oils. Therefore, this review intends to provide an insight into the different aspects of antimicrobial activity exhibited by LEO and its constituents, discuss the synergistic effects displayed by combinatory therapy involving LEO, as well as to explore the significance of nano-encapsulation in boosting the antimicrobial effects of LEO; it is aimed that from the integration of these knowledge areas, combating AMR will be more than just a possibility.

Pharmacological Assessment of the Carvacrol Chemotype Essential Oil FromPlectranthus amboinicusGrowing in Cuba

Plant-derived products are employed in various public health practices and have been considered as a major source of medicines. The genus Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) has been widely respected for its nutritional properties, its essential oil, and its therapeutic values. In the present work, the chemical characterization, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic properties of the essential oil from Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng and its main compound carvacrol were studied. Twenty-one components were identified in the oil by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometric detector. In this oil, carvacrol constitutes the major compound (71%), which represented the more abundant chemotype. The essential oil did not inhibit growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Trypanosoma cruzi, or Leishmania infantum, but displayed activity against Plasmodium falciparum (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 5.9 µg/mL), Trypanosoma brucei (IC50= 34.9 µg/mL), and Leishmania amazonensis (IC50= 58.2 µg/mL), and the human tumor-derived cell lines MCF-7 (IC50= 29.1 µg/mL), MDA-MB-231 (IC50= 41.5 µg/mL), and 22Rv1 (IC50= 29.6 µg/mL), but no cytotoxicity was observed against nonmalignant macrophages. The antiproliferative activity of the oil could be attributed to carvacrol. However, this compound showed certain level of cytotoxicity, which suggests unspecific activity. This study provides evidence about antimicrobial and anticancer potential of the essential oil from P. amboinicus against protozoa and neoplastic diseases, particularly as an antimalarial natural product.

Odoriferous Therapy: A Review Identifying Essential Oils against Pathogens of the Respiratory Tract

This review explores the body of scientific information available on the antimicrobial properties of essential oils against pathogens responsible for respiratory infections and critically compares this to what is recommended in the Layman's aroma-therapeutic literature. Essential oils are predominantly indicated for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by bacteria or viruses (total 79.0 %), the efficacy of which has not been confirmed through clinical trials. When used in combination, they are often blended for presumed holistic synergistic effects. Of the essential oils recommended, all show some degree of antioxidant activity, 50.0 % demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects and 83.3 % of the essential oils showed antihistaminic activity. Of the essential oils reviewed, 43.8 % are considered non-toxic while the remaining essential oils are considered slightly to moderately toxic (43.7 %) or the toxicity is unknown (12.5 %). Recommendations are made for further research into essential oil combinations.

Individual differences in personality predict the use and perceived effectiveness of essential oils

Essential oil (EO) use is growing in popularity and ostensibly used for treating or preventing various ailments or conditions. Despite the increase in use, there is a paucity of research on psychosocial predictors of EO use and their perceived effectiveness. However, several psychosocial characteristics are associated with health-promoting behavior and a tendency to believe in homeopathic cures. In the current study, we examined a variety of individual differences in the use and perceived effectiveness of essential oils in a sample of 1,202 participants (Mage = 31.33, SD = 13.77; 61.7% women, 75.6% Caucasian). We found that receptivity to pseudo-profound fabricated statements and religiosity were the most consistent predictors of greater use of, perceived effectiveness of, and a willingness to spend more money on EOs.

Chemical characterization, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and antimicrobial potentials of the Citrus sinensis seed oil for sustainable cosmeceutical production

There are growing concerns about the chronic and acute effects of synthetic additives such as antibacterial, fragrances, colourants and stabilizing agents used in the production of various household products. Many household products and materials including cosmetic products are reportedly suspected to be carcinogenic with some acting as endocrine disruptors among other effects. Thus, environmental-friendly alternatives such as products that are rich in bioactive phytochemicals are becoming consumers' preferred choice especially in the beauty and cosmetic sector. 'Green' preparation of medicinal soaps devoid of any synthetic additives was made from underutilized tropical seed of Citrus sinensis seed oil and some natural additives comprising of natural honey, Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract, Moringa oleifera seed oil and coconut oil. Precisely, the seed oil of the underexplored C. sinensis was obtained via soxhlet extraction and saponified with natural lye solution at different ratios to produce soaps of varying characteristics. The incorporation of honey and Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract provided additional antimicrobial, antioxidant and fragrance properties. Physico-chemical parameters of the oil and soaps were determined following standard procedures while the fatty acid profile of the trans-esterified oil was determined using GC-MS. The antimicrobial potential of the oil and soaps were assessed using agar diffusion method at concentrations 200 mg/mL and below. Linoleic acid (36%) and oleic acid (27%) were the most prominent in C. sinensis seed oil. The soap had antimicrobial potential comparable to commercial product. The soap samples recorded highest anti-bacteria activities (22.0 ± 1.0-23.0 ± 1.0) against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and notable anti-fungi activities (18.0 ± 1.0) against Penicillium notatum and Candida albicans. Additionally, the oil showed moderate anti-parasite (anit-toxoplasma gondii) activity (EC50 ≤ 500 μg/mL) but with improved selectivity that precludes oxidative stress while the prepared medicinal soaps exhibited remarkable antioxidant property. The utilization of these locally sourced resources will prevent the daily introduction of synthetic antimicrobial and antioxidant chemicals into the environment. The initiative avail a sustainable production of environmentally-benign cosmetic products besides conversion of waste to wealth agrees which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Phytochemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from herbal plants

The essential oils (EOs) of Plectranthus amboinicus showed the highest larvicidal activity among four herbal plants studied and β-caryophyllene might be the major component responsible for its differential toxicity to the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes Aegypti. Mosquitoes act as vectors for many life-threatening diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus infection. Management of mosquitoes mainly relies on synthetic insecticides, which usually result in the rapid development of resistance; therefore, alternative mosquito control strategies are urgently needed. This study characterized the major component of essential oils (EOs) derived from the vegetative parts of four herbal plants and their larvicidal activity toward important mosquito vectors. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and a larvicidal activity assay toward Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. In total, 14, 11, 11 and 9 compounds were identified from the EOs of Plectranthus amboinicus, Mentha requienii, Vitex rotundifolia and Crossostephium chinense, respectively. The EOs derived from four herbal plants exhibited remarkable larvicidal activity against the three mosquito species. In particular, the EOs of P. amboinicus showed the highest larvicidal activity, and the larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus were more sensitive to the P. amboinicus EOs than that of Ae. Aegypti. Although carvacrol (61.53%) was the predominant constituent of the P. amboinicus EOs, its precursors, γ-terpinene (8.51%) and p-cymene (9.42%), exhibited the most larvicidal activity toward Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. However, β-caryophyllene (12.79%) might be the major component responsible for the differential toxicity of the P. amboinicus EOs, as indicated by the significant differences in its LC₅₀ values toward both mosquitoes. Information from these studies will benefit the incorporation of EOs into integrated vector management.

Chemoinformatic Investigation of Antibiotic Antagonism: The Interference of Thymus glabrescens Essential Oil Components with the Action of Streptomycin

Given the importance of Thymus glabrescens as a useful antibacterial remedy, we have evaluated the antibacterial and streptomycin-modifying activity of Thymus glabrescens essential oil, geraniol, geranyl acetate and thymol. It was shown that all substance-streptomycin combinations produced predominantly antagonistic interactions. Furthermore, combinations between geraniol and thymol showed dominant additive effect. Chemoinformatics results, combined with experimental data, suggest that antagonistic interactions with streptomycin were not a consequence of the antimicrobial action at the same target, but an outcome of the membrane impairment, followed by the membrane potential/proton motive force dissipation, which decreased the streptomycin uptake. Furthermore, the membrane toxicity of geraniol and thymol was confirmed by their additive antibacterial interactions and parameters of their penetration and accumulation throughout a cell membrane. This study should greatly help in an intelligent and a controlled pharmacomodulation of antibiotics.

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Three Plant Species from the Sabana of Bogota (Colombia): Myrcianthes leucoxyla, Vallea stipularis and Phyllanthus salviifolius

In recent decades, essential oils (EOs) have become an important alternative source of antimicrobial agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of EOs obtained from the leaves of Myrcianthes leucoxyla Mc. Vaughn., Vallea stipularis L.f and Phyllanthus salviifolius Kunth for prevalent microbial strains and also to contribute to the knowledge of their chemical composition. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main compounds for V. stipularis EO were α-tujene (6.6%) and cedrene epoxide (12.0%), for M. leucoxila EO 1,8 cineole (6.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (21.7%), and for P. salviifolius aristolene (17.3%) and geranyl tiglate (15.9%). Antimicrobial tests showed that M. leucoxyla EO was the most active, showing zones of inhibition against all strains used, specifically against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium with percentages of inhibition higher than 50%. Compared with positive controls, this activity may be related to the presence of 1,8 cineole.

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng: Botanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Nutritional Significance

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a perennial herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae which occurs naturally throughout the tropics and warm regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. This herb has therapeutic and nutritional properties attributed to its natural phytochemical compounds which are highly valued in the pharmaceutical industry. Besides, it has horticultural properties due to its aromatic nature and essential oil producing capability. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat conditions like cold, asthma, constipation, headache, cough, fever and skin diseases. The leaves of the plant are often eaten raw or used as flavoring agents, or incorporated as ingredients in the preparation of traditional food. The literature survey revealed the occurrence 76 volatiles and 30 non-volatile compounds belonging to different classes of phytochemicals such as monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, esters, alcohols and aldehydes. Studies have cited numerous pharmacological properties including antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antitumor, wound healing, anti-epileptic, larvicidal, antioxidant and analgesic activities. Also, it has been found to be effective against respiratory, cardiovascular, oral, skin, digestive and urinary diseases. Yet, scientific validation of many other traditional uses would be appreciated, mainly to discover and authenticate novel bioactive compounds from this herb. This review article provides comprehensive information on the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and nutritional importance of P. amboinicus essential oil and its various solvent extracts. This article allows researchers to further explore the further potential of this multi-utility herb for various biomedical applications.

Ethnopharmacological analysis of medicinal plants used against non-communicable diseases in Rodrigues Island, Indian Ocean

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rodrigues is an autonomous outer island that form part of the Republic of Mauritius and one of three islands that constitute the Mascarene archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Though herbal medicine is in common use in Rodrigues, there has been no ethnopharmacological study to document quantitatively such traditional practise particularly against non-communicable diseases (NCD) which is currently a growing major health issue on the island. The aim of the present study was to collect, analyse and document traditionally used medicinal plants (MP) from key informants and traditional medicine practitioners (TMP) in the tropical island of Rodrigues to treat and/or manage common NCD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected via face-to-face interviews with MP users (n=113) and TMP (n=9). Seven quantitative ethnopharmacological indices, namely family use value (FUV), use value (UV), informant agreement ratio (IAR), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), relative importance (RI) and ethnobotanicity index (EI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Hundred and three plants belonging to 55 families were recorded for the treatment and/or management of 27 different NCD. Three of the MP (Terminalia bentzoë (L.) L.F, Sarcostemma cf. adontolepis Balf.f. and Clerodendrum laciniatum Balf.f.) recorded are endemic to Rodrigues and 2 (Carissa xylopicron Thouars., Phyllanthus casticum Willemet f.) endemic to the Mascarene Islands. The most solicited MP family was Asteraceae with a total of 8 species. Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle scored the highest RFC (RFC=1.02) value. Ten plants were found to score 100% FL and the highest IAR (0.98) was observed for the disease category of certain conditions originating in the perinatal period. Arecaceae scored the highest FUV value and Ayapana triplinervis (Vahl) R.M. King et H.Rob highest UV (UV= 2.72).

CONCLUSION

Given the dearth of updated information on traditional medicine of Rodrigues, this study can provide an opportunity to establish valuable primary information on the different MP used by the local people and hence can open new perspectives for further pharmacological research.