@article {2484, title = {Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Medicinal Plants Commonly Used in the Treatment of Tuberculosis in the Eastern Free State, South Africa}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {April 2025}, pages = {155-163}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {155}, abstract = {

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne infectious disease that mainly infects the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. South Africa is one of the countries with the highest TB and multi-drugresistant TB burden. Objective: This study aimed at screening eight medicinal plants that are frequently used by herbalists and traditional healers of the eastern Free State for the treatment of TB. Methods: Thirty-two plant extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals, antibacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial activities using standard methods. Results: Extracts prepared from Hermannia depressa and Senecio harveianus displayed the best antibacterial activity against all test microorganisms ranging between 0.098 and 0.781 mg/ml while Drimia depressa and Lotononis lanceolata extracts displayed the best antifungal activity between 0.049 and 0.781 mg/ml. The good antimycobacterial activity was observed with organic extracts prepared from Dicoma anomala, H. depressa, L. lanceolata and S. harveianus between 0.195 and 0.781 mg/ml. Discussion: All plants displayed the presence of tannins and saponins and the absence of alkaloids, anthraquinones and steroids. Plants under this study demonstrated significant antibacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial activities, with extracts prepared from H. depressa and S. harveianus displaying the best activity against all the test microorganisms with MIC values ranging between 0.098 and 0.781 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The selected medicinal plants that are used in the treatment of TB and related respiratory ailments in the eastern Free State revealed the presence of phytochemicals and significant antimicrobial activities, which explain and justify their frequent use by traditional healers.

}, keywords = {Dicoma anomala, Drimia depressa, Eucomis autumnalis, Hermannia depressa, Lotononis lanceolata, Senecio harveianus, Thesium angulosum, Xysmalobium undulatum}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.19}, author = {Mandla Hlongwane and Siphamandla Lamula and Lisa Buwa-Komoreng} } @article {1029, title = {Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Selected South African Medicinal Plants}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {November 2019}, pages = {1532-1539}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {1532}, abstract = {

Introduction: Indigenous plants are known to play a pivotal role in the well-being of Africa{\textquoteright}s native societies. These plants are believed to be endowed with healing effects against various ailments rooting from oxidative stress. However, most of these plants including Ziziphus mucronata, Warburgia salutaris and Eucomis autumnalis lack scientific reports validating their medicinal properties. Thus, the current study, aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of selected South African medicinal plants. Methods: Scavenging activity of the extracts were evaluated on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O2 -) nitric oxide (NO-), hydroxyl anion (-OH) radicals and lipid peroxide (LP) values at varying concentration (20 - 100 μg/mL). Cytotoxic evaluation using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was conducted on HEK293 cells. Reducing power and metal chelating ability of the extracts were assessed. In the same vein, protective index of DNA plasmid (pET151/D TOPO plasmid) induced free radical by incubating with Fenton{\textquoteright}s reagents were tested, in vitro. Reducing and metal chelating ability of the extracts were evaluated in this study. Results: The crude extracts displayed radical scavenging activity and limit peroxidation process. The extracts showed potent ferric reducing power and chelating effects. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts analyzed using the MTT assay displayed low toxicity levels. Furthermore, the extracts were able to protect pET151/D-TOPO plasmid DNA nicking induced by hydroxyl radicals in a Fenton{\textquoteright}s reaction mixture. Conclusion: It is evident in this study that the plant extracts are potential antioxidant therapeutics and justify inclusion of indigenous herbs as a complementary agents in the treatment regimen.

}, keywords = {Antioxidants, DNA, Eucomis autumnalis, Warburgia salutaris}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.234}, author = {G Ayeni and OJ Pooe and M Singh and N Nundkumar and MBC Simelane} }