Browsing by Author "Mjiqiza, Sizwe Joel"

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    Evaluation of the pulmonary effects of the traditionally prepared Artemisia afra steam inhalation and nebulized aqueous extract and the possible involvement of flavonoid luteolin
    (University of the Western Cape, 2006) Mjiqiza, Sizwe Joel; Syce, J. A.
    Artemisia afra is a popular medicinal plant traditionally used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis etc., most frequently as a steam inhalation. The effectiveness of this steam inhalation, its active constituent(s), and the disposition of the latter has not yet been evaluated. The plant, however, contains appreciable amounts of flavonoids, such as luteolin, that are potential markers for use in the evaluation of the pulmonary effects of the plant, in a model such as the isolated perfused rat lung (IPL). The objectives of this study were, firstly to compare the luteolin content in dried crude A. afra leaves and an aqueous extract of A. afra; secondly, to compare the pulmonary effects of the traditionally-prepared A. afra steam inhalation and nebulized A. afra aqueous extract and luteolin solutions; and thirdly, to determine the pulmonary disposition and effect of intravenously administered luteolin. To realize these objectives, aqueous extract of A. afra was prepared according to the traditional healers method. Luteolin contents of the plant solutions and perfusion medium were determined using HPLC. The IPL model was adapted to allow administration via steam inhalation and nebulization, as well as the monitoring of pulmonary function tidal volume (TV), respiratory resistance (RL) and compliance (CL). To determine the pulmonary disposition, luteolin was administered in the perfusion medium, perfusate samples taken over an hour and half, and assessed for luteolin content. The traditionally prepared A. ofra extract contained significantly (p<0.001) higher luteolin levels (49. 554 + 0.4021p,g125m9, n:5) than the A. afra crude dried leaves (15. 939 + 1.1829 p,gl25mg, n:5) indicating that the aqueous extraction process concentrated the plant's active constituents. Lung preparations remained stable during the equilibration period, for example, CL increased at a steady rate of 0.00118+ 0.00149 and 0.00155+0.00128 ml/cmHzO per min (n:4) for the steamed and nebulized saline group of lungs respectively indicating that the IPL was successfully adapted for this study, and the isolated lungs remained suitably stable and sensitive for the measurement of lung function. Inhaled steam of A. afra (10 mg/ml) changed lung function drastically, for example, a dose of l0 mg/ml increased TV significantly (p<0.001) by 3.56 Yo, CL significantly (p<0.05) by 3.42 Yo, and decreased RL significantly (p<0.05) by 9.72 % immediately after inhalation while inhaled saline did not affect lung function. Higher doses of the plant extract (50 mg/ml) produced even higher changes in lung function (TV and CL increased by 7 .59% and 1 t.76yo, while RL decreased by 10.98%) indicating that the steam inhalation of A. afra produced significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent improvement in lung function.
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    Pulmonary effects and disposition of luteolin and Artemisia afra extracts in isolated perfused lungs
    (Elsevier, 2013) Mjiqiza, Sizwe Joel; Syce, James; Obikeze, Kenechukwu
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia afra (Asteraceae) is a traditional medicinal plant frequently used in steam inhalation form to treat respiratory conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY: Quantify luteolin content in Artemisia afra dried crude and aqueous extract. Evaluate the pulmonary effects of Artemisia afra steam inhalation, nebulized Artemisia afra extract and luteolin in isolated perfused lungs (IPL). Evaluate the pulmonary disposition of intravenously administered luteolin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPLC was used to quantify luteolin in Artemisia afra extracts. A modified version of the IPL was used to determine the effects of Artemisia afra steam inhalation, nebulized luteolin, and nebulized aqueous leaf extract on lung function, as well as the pulmonary disposition of IV luteolin. RESULTS: Artemisia afra extract contained significantly higher luteolin levels than the crude dried leaves. Inhaled Artemisia afra steam, and nebulized luteolin, and Artemisia afra extract and IV luteolin produced significant dose-dependent improvements in lung function, with nebulized Artemisia afra producing the greatest improvements. Nebulisation with Artemisia afra extract yielded higher quantities of luteolin than luteolin nebulisation. CONCLUSION: Results verify the traditional use of inhalation of Artemisia afra steam, although nebulized luteolin and aqueous extract are better alternatives. Luteolin significantly contributes to the broncho-dilatory effects of Artemisia afra.