South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI)
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Item An assessment of Hypoxis hemerocallidea extracts, and actives as natural antibiotic, and immune modulation phytotherapies(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Muwanga, Catherine; Johnson, Quinton; South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI); Faculty of ScienceIn South Africa, the crude aqueous extract from Hypoxis hemerocallidea is used by AIDS patients to treat opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis. The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and extreme drug resistant tuberculosis, in recent years, is a major threat to human health. The treatment of TB, nosocomial bacterial infections, and fungal infections is now a clinical challenge, especially in the immuno-compromised individual. There is a dire need for novel antibiotic alternatives with phytotherapies and plant-derived compounds as potentially promising alternatives. The main objective of this study was to investigate the antimycobacterial activity of Hypoxis hemerocallidea, a South African medicinal plant, using Mycobacterium smegmatis.Item An assessment of medicinal hemp plant extracts as natural antibiotic and immune modulation phytotherapies(University of the Western Cape, 2005) Case, Olivia Hildegard; Dept. of Medical BioSciences; Faculty of ScienceThis study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of medicinal hemp plant extracts to determine the antibacterial effects of indigenous Sansevieria species and exotic Cannabis sativa phytotherapy varieties. This study also assessed whether aqueous oItem The immune-modulating activity of Artemisia afra(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Kriel, Yusra; Pool, Edmund J.; Faculty of ScienceThis study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra’s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states.Item The immune-modulating activity of Sutherlandia frutescens(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Kisten, Najwa; Pool, Edmund J.; NULL; Faculty of ScienceThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sutherlandia frutescens on the inflammatory response and T cell differentiation in vitro using cytokines as biomarkers. Whole blood cells containing various concentrations of Sutherlandia frutescens were stimulated in vitro with either Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Results show that Sutherlandia frutescens is not toxic at any of the concentrations tested. The addition of Sutherlandia frutescens at high concentrations to the stimulated whole blood cell cultures reflects a significant down regulation of Interleukin(IL) 6 and IL-10 compared to the control (P<0.05) hence suppressed the inflammatory and humoral immune response. Results obtained for Inteferon-gamma (IFN ) shows that Sutherlandia frutescens is donor specific as it reflects both up and down regulation in the release of IFN at the concentrations tested. The in vitro data generated by this study supports the use of Sutherlandia frutescens in the management of inflammatory conditions and allergies such as asthma. However the effects of Sutherlandia frutescens on cell mediated immunity was found to be donor specific. Further investigation of Sutherlandia frutescens on cellular immunity is advised.Item Synergistic effects of mixtures of the kresoxim-methyl fungicide and medicinal plants extracts in vitro and in vivo against Botrytis Cinerea(University of the Western Cape, 2005) Knowles, Cindy-Lee; Klaasen, J.A; Johnson, Q; Dept. of Medical BioSciences; Faculty of ScienceThe fungus Botrytis cinerea is an opportunistic pathogen on a wide variety of crops, causing disease known as grey mould through infections via wounds or dead plant parts. Synthetic fungicides for controlling this disease are fast becoming ineffective due to the development of resistance. This, coupled with consumers world wide becomng increasingly conscious of potential environment and health problems associated with the build up of toxic chemicals, (particularly in food products), have resulted in pressure to reduce the use of chemical pesticide volumes as well as its residues. An emerging alternative to random synthesis is the study and exploitation of naturally occurring products with fungicidal properties. There have been reports on the uses of synthetic fungicides for the control of plant pathogenic fungi. When utilized in two-way mixtures, such fungicides may maintain or enhance the level of control of a pathogen at reduced rates for both components utilized in combinations, or alone at normal rates. For this study it was hypothesize that the addition of plant extracts may enhance the antifungal efficacy of the synthetic strobilurin fungicide, kresoxim-methyl against Botrytis cinerea.Item Use of antioxidant activity and flavonoid levels to assess the quality of commercially available solid dose Sutherlandia frutescens products(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Hess, Meggan Sade; Syce, James; South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI); Faculty of ScienceThe overall aims of this project were to assess the pharmaceutical quality and consistency of commercially available solid dose Sutherlandia frutescens containing products (viz. tablets & capsules) by exploring the use of monitoring the pharmaceutical presentation, flavonoid profile and antioxidant activity levels and to develop/or adapt methods and specifications that may be used for the quality control of such products.Stability tests were conducted on all of the selected SCP. The products were stored under elevated temperatures and environmental humidity conditions and total phenol, antioxidant and chromatographic analysis was conducted on these samples. Samples of each of the SCP were hydrolyzed using HCL and then analyzed using HPLC to test the stability of the flavonoids present in each product. The SCP investigated in this study physically appeared to be of quite good “pharmaceutical” quality, but generally lacked information on the date of manufacture and lacked package inserts, or when these were present they contained insufficient information. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended that, the manufacturers of SCP pay more attention to the information provided on the package inserts and the storage conditions for their products. Further the levels of antioxidant activity, total phenols and flavonoid (sutherlandins A to D) be used as specifications to control the quality of commercially available solid dose Sutherlandia frutescens containing preparations on an individual basis.