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Simo LM, Messi LM, Mbing JN, Muller CD, Boyom FF, Begoudé ADB, Pegnyemb DE, Haddad M, Noté OP. A New Triterpenoid Saponin from Albizia zygia Induced Apoptosis by Reduction of Mitochondrial Potential Status in Malignant Melanoma Cells. PLANTA MEDICA 2023; 89:86-98. [PMID: 35868332 DOI: 10.1055/a-1806-2692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In our ongoing research program on the proapoptotic function of saponins, two previously undescribed saponins, named zygiaosides E (1: ) and F (2: ), were isolated from the leaves of Albizia zygia. Their structures were established based on extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, HR-ESI-MS analysis, and by chemical degradation. The proapoptotic effect of zygiaoside E (1: ) was evaluated on human malignant melanoma (A375), human epidermoid cancer (A431), and normal Homo sapiens skin tissue (TE 353.SK.) cell lines by cytometric analysis. Zygiaoside E (1: ) induced apoptosis of the two human cancer cell lines (A375 and A431) in a dose-dependent manner at 1 µM but did not induce apoptosis in noncancerous skin cells (TE 353.Sk), even when treated with concentrations up to 15 µM. The underlying mechanism of the apoptosis induction activity of zygiaoside E (1: ) on the mitochondrial membrane potential status in A375 cells was further assessed by monitoring the uptake rate of DiOC6, a mitochondrial specific and voltage-dependent fluorescent dye. The number of malignant melanoma cells emitting high fluorescence levels was decreased when cells were treated with 3 or 5 µM of zygiaoside E (1: ) during either 12 or 24 h, thereby revealing a drop of mitochondrial membrane potential in A375 cells upon treatment, which indicated mitochondrial perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Made Simo
- Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Lin Marcellin Messi
- Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- Laboratoire Régional de Lutte Biologique et de Microbiologie Appliquée, Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Joséphine Ngo Mbing
- Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Christian D Muller
- UMR 7213 CNRS, Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabrice Fekam Boyom
- Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit, Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Aime-Didier Boyogueno Begoudé
- Laboratoire Régional de Lutte Biologique et de Microbiologie Appliquée, Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Dieudonné Emmanuel Pegnyemb
- Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Mohamed Haddad
- UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Placide Noté
- Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
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Ayeni EA, Gong Y, Yuan H, Hu Y, Bai X, Liao X. Medicinal Plants for Anti-neurodegenerative diseases in West Africa. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 285:114468. [PMID: 34390796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Neurodegenerative diseases are neuronal diseases that affect the brain components by degenerating the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system progressively. It is a leading cause of death and affects huge amount of people worldwide. Plant-based medicines have been utilised in the therapies for many illnesses that have defied western treatments, including neurodegenerative diseases. AIM OF THIS REVIEW This review presents an overview of the major neurodegenerative diseases and reported prominent medicinal plants used in managing those diseases in West Africa. METHODS Scientific articles regarding medicinal plants and their usefulness in managing neurodegenerative diseases in West Africa were pooled from different scientific databases. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to filter articles based on their relevance. Pharmacological activity, plant parts used, experimental models, and some isolated chemical compounds of those plants were summarised. RESULTS In the West Africa region, Fabaceae (19%) and Solanaceae (13%) have the highest representation of plant families used to treat neurological diseases, while Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae have also been utilised. Flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, coumarins present in those plants and their derivatives are reported to possess neuro-protective effects. Biochemical enzymes correlating to antioxidants, anti-inflammatory effects are the potential targets against neurodegenerative diseases. CONCLUSION Medicinal plants for anti-neurodegenerative diseases in West Africa have been documented with their neuropharmacological activities. Plant families such as Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Euphorbiaceae could be a major natural source for discovery of anti-neurodegenerative drugs, thus the metabolites from them should be given priority for neurological research. This review will provide clues for further investigations on the screening and development of anti-neurodegenerative natural products from West African medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Ayodeji Ayeni
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuzhou Gong
- Shanghai Natural History Museum, Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Shanghai, 200041, China; School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yikao Hu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaolin Bai
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xun Liao
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Le Doux Kamto E, Noté OP, Kinyok MJ, Wilhelm A, Mbing JN, Antheaume C, de Théodore Atchadé A, Pegnyemb DE, Ndinteh DT, Haddad M, Bonnet SL. Glycosides of polygalacic acid from the stem barks of Piper guineense Schum and Thonn. Carbohydr Res 2021; 507:108374. [PMID: 34153825 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2021.108374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In a continuation of our study on constituents of P. guineense now focusing on the search for saponins, phytochemical investigation of the n-BuOH fraction of P. guineense stem bark led to the isolation of three previously undescribed triterpenoid saponins, named guineenosides A─C (1─3). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR (1H, 13C NMR, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC) and HRESIMS experiments, and by chemical evidence as 3-O-{α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-fucopyranosyl} polygalacic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl ester (1), 3-O-{α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-fucopyranosyl} polygalacic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl ester (2), and 3-O-{α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-fucopyranosyl} polygalacic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl ester (3). This is the first report of triterpenoid saponins from P. guineense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eutrophe Le Doux Kamto
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa; Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.
| | - Olivier Placide Noté
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon; UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, France.
| | - Mc Jesus Kinyok
- Department of Chemistry, Higher Teachers Training College, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Anke Wilhelm
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Joséphine Ngo Mbing
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Cyril Antheaume
- Institut de Science et D'Ingénierie Supramoléculaire, Laboratoire de Chimie Supra Moléculaire (Prof. Lehn), 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, F-67083, Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Alex de Théodore Atchadé
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Dieudonné Emmanuel Pegnyemb
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Derek Tantoh Ndinteh
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - Mohamed Haddad
- UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, France
| | - Susan L Bonnet
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
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Toukea DD, Kamto ELD, Simo LM, Mbing JN, Antheaume C, Haddad M, Noté OP, Pegnyemb DE. New triterpenoid saponin from the stems of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.Wight. Nat Prod Res 2020; 36:780-788. [DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1805604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Djou Toukea
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, France
| | - Eutrophe Le Doux Kamto
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Line Made Simo
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Joséphine Ngo Mbing
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Cyril Antheaume
- Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaire, Laboratoire de Chimie Supra Moléculaire (Prof. Lehn), Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Mohamed Haddad
- UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, France
| | - Olivier Placide Noté
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- UMR 152 Pharma Dev, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, France
| | - Dieudonné Emmanuel Pegnyemb
- Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté de Sciences, Laboratoire de Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun
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Cham BT, Linh NTT, Thao DT, Anh NTH, Tam NT, Anh BK, Muscari I, Adorisio S, Sung TV, Thuy TT, Delfino DV. Cell Growth Inhibition of Saponin XII from Dipsacus japonicus Miq. on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153325. [PMID: 32707961 PMCID: PMC7435407 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In previous studies, we isolated the known compound saponin XII from the roots of Dipsacus japonicus Miq. Here, we show that this compound reduced the number of acute myeloid leukemia OCI-AML3 cells as evaluated by a hemocytometer. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that the reported activity was associated with a significant increase of apoptosis and of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a decrease of cells in the S and G2/M phases. Thus, the inhibition of cell growth in OCI-AML3 cells was due to antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Interestingly, the bioactivity of saponin XII exerted its effect at a concentration as low as 1 µg/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ba Thi Cham
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Do Thi Thao
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Nguyen Thanh Tam
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Bui Kim Anh
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Isabella Muscari
- Section of onco-hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Adorisio
- Foligno Nursing School, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Tran Van Sung
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
| | - Trinh Thi Thuy
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.T.C.); (N.T.T.L.); (D.T.T.); (N.T.H.A.); (N.T.T.)
- Department of Natural Products Research, Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (B.K.A.); (T.V.S.)
- Correspondence: (T.T.T.); (D.V.D.); Tel.: +39-075-585-8328 (D.V.D.)
| | - Domenico V. Delfino
- Foligno Nursing School, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy;
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Severi, S. Andrea delle Fratte, 06132 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence: (T.T.T.); (D.V.D.); Tel.: +39-075-585-8328 (D.V.D.)
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Domínguez-Martín EM, Tavares J, Ríjo P, Díaz-Lanza AM. Zoopharmacology: A Way to Discover New Cancer Treatments. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060817. [PMID: 32466543 PMCID: PMC7356688 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoopharmacognosy is the multidisciplinary approach of the self-medication behavior of many kinds of animals. Recent studies showed the presence of antitumoral secondary metabolites in some of the plants employed by animals and their use for the same therapeutic purposes in humans. Other related and sometimes confused term is Zootherapy, which consists on the employment of animal parts and/or their by-products such as toxins, venoms, etc., to treat different human ailments. Therefore, the aim of this work is to provide a brief insight for the use of Zoopharmacology (comprising Zoopharmacognosy and Zootherapy) as new paths to discover drugs studying animal behavior and/or using compounds derived from animals. This work is focused on the approaches related to cancer, in order to propose a new promising line of research to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). This novel subject will encourage the use of new alternative prospective ways to find new medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva María Domínguez-Martín
- CBIOS-Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologías, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.M.D.-M.); (J.T.); (P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Carretera Madrid-Barcelona, Km 33.100, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Tavares
- CBIOS-Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologías, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.M.D.-M.); (J.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Patrícia Ríjo
- CBIOS-Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologías, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.M.D.-M.); (J.T.); (P.R.)
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana María Díaz-Lanza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Carretera Madrid-Barcelona, Km 33.100, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-918-854-642
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van Vuuren S, Frank L. Review: Southern African medicinal plants used as blood purifiers. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 249:112434. [PMID: 31812645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMALOGICAL RELEVANCE Blood purification practices, also referred to as blood cleansing or detoxification, is an ancient concept which is widespread amongst African traditional medicine, but for which no modern scientific basis exists. There prevails considerable ambiguity in defining what a blood purifier is. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this review is to firstly define what a blood purifier is in the context of African traditional medicine and compare to other cultural and westernized interpretations. Thereafter, this study identifies traditionally used medicinal plants used as blood purifiers in southern Africa and correlates these species to scientific studies, which may support evidence for these "blood purifying plant species". MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethnobotanical books and review articles were used to identify medicinal plants used for blood purification. Databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar were used to source scientific articles. An evaluation was made to try correlate traditional use to scientific value of the plant species. RESULTS One hundred and fifty nine plant species have been documented as traditional remedies for blood purification. Most of the plant species have some pharmacological activity, however, very little link to the traditional use for blood purification. There has been some justification of the link between blood purification and the use as an antimicrobial and this has been explored in many of the plant species identified as blood purifiers. Other pharmacological studies specifically pertaining to the blood require further attention. CONCLUSION Irrespective of the ambiguity of interpretation, medicinal plants used to "cleanse the blood", play an important holistic role in traditional medicine and this review with recommendations for further study provides some value of exploring this theme in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- S van Vuuren
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa.
| | - L Frank
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
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