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Background: Pleurostylia capensis is a large tree that can reach the maximum height of 20 m long, and it have been traditionally used as cosmetic, for steam bath, ritual body wash, and as a purgative to treat symptoms of witchcraft. Using ethanol, chloroform, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and water extracts, leaves, bark and roots of Pleurostylia capensis were investigated scientifically for their effectiveness in antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using standard methods Materials and Methods: The extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Mycobacterium smegmatis), Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium), and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity was investigated using 2, 2-diphenlyl-1-picrylhadrazyl (DPPH), free radical scavenging assay. The anti-inflammatory activity of P. capensis extracts was evaluated against both cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX 1 and 2). Results:The ethyl acetate extracts of P. capensis showed a strong antimicrobial activity against B. cereus, K. pneumonia, S. pyogenes, and M. smegmatis with MIC value of 0.39 and 0.78 mg/ml. While the ethanol bark extract was most active against M. smegmatis with MIC value of 0.78 mg/ml; the least potent activity was observed with dichloromethane, chloroform and water extracts, with an MIC value ranging from 1.56 mg/ml to 50.0 mg/ml. The plant extracts proved to be good antioxidant agent, whereas extracts of ethanol were the most active, with IC50 ranging from 1.00 to 1.74 μg/ml, which is lower, and in close range to Vitamin C (1.40 μg/ml). Conclusions: Its moderation to potent inhibitory activity was observed in all extracts. Ethanol and dichloromethane extracts were among the most potent when compared to water and petroleum ether extracts. The water extracts showed to be nontoxic on the Hek cell line with an IC50 value of 204.0, and 207.3 μg/ml (roots and bark) respectively. The dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and ethanol extracts showed to be toxic on the Hek cell, with IC50 range from 5.94 to 42.91μg/ml. The results obtained indicate the effectiveness of these plants.

Background: Pterocarpus angolensis (P. angolensis) is a large deciduous tree native to Sub-Saharan Africa. This tree has traditionally been used to treat malaria, gonorrhoea, inflammation and wounds. The use of P. angolensis for tissue engineering has not been explored. This study investigated the potential of the bark and root water extracts of P. angolensis to induce the expression of collagen type II protein in the articular chondrocytes. Materials and Methods: Surface and middle zone chondrocytes, as well as explants, were stimulated with crude root and bark plant extracts at different concentrations. After 96 hours of stimulation, microscopic observation, XCELLigence assay and collagen type II ELISA, histology and immunohistochemistry assays were done. Results and Conclusion: Results showed no significant difference in the cell index between the controls and chondrocytes that had been treated with the plant extracts at concentrations of 15 and 30 µg/ml. A significant increase in the expression of collagen type II protein by the chondrocytes was observed and found to be optimal at a concentration of 30 µg/ml. There was an increase in the production of proteoglycans. However, the plant extracts at a concentration of 50 µg/ml induced apoptosis in the middle zone chondrocytes. These results show the potential of P. angolensis extracts in chondrocyte tissue regeneration. This potential could be exploited in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Keywords: P. angolensis, medical plants, chondrocytes, collagen type II, arthritis IntroductionPterocarpus angolensis (P. angolensis), also known as moroto (Sotho) or umbilo (Zulu), is a large deciduous tree native to the Sub-Saharan African region (Cameron et al., 2009;Geldenhuys, 2013;van Wyk & van Wyk, 2013).This tree usually grows to about 16 meters tall, has a dark brown bark and a high, wide, crowned canopy of shiny compound leaves. Wood from P. angolensis has been used to make furniture because of its resistance to termites and borer (Geldenhuys, 2013). Besides furniture, this tree has traditionally been used to treat diseases and medical conditions such as malaria, gonorrhea, ringworm, skin inflammation, wounds, stomach ache and poor breast milk supply (Geldenhuys, 2013;van Wyk & van Wyk, 2013).The use of P. angolensis to heal wounds suggests that this tree contains compounds that stimulate the regeneration of torn tissue. The regeneration of torn tissue in humans has been linked to an increase in the expression of compounds such as hyaluronan, chondroitin sulphate, aggrecan and collagen (Fraser et al., 2003;Greco et al., 1998;Ko et al., 2009;Wood, 1960).Collagen is the main structural protein of various connective tissues in animals. This protein is produced by cell types derived from mesenchyme such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, chondroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Chondrocytes are responsible for the production of collagen found within the cartilage matrix. Collagen type II in particular is the principal component of articular cartilage and has various bene...

Any trauma to a joint such as sports injury can lead to osteoarthritis especially injuries that include torn cartilage, dislocated joints and ligaments. In sports injury specifically, most of the ointments in the market are only applied after physical activity. Repair of the bone and cartilage continues to be a challenge. Autologous and allografts are the gold standard for the treatment of the bone and cartilage. They have an invasive, open surgical procedure that requires the tissue to be harvested from an alternative site within the patient. South Africa is rich in native flora that is currently tapped as medicine by traditional healers. However, little is known about the natural products of our native flora and their potential to serve as a remedy for sports injuries, fracture healing and osteoarthritis. The grand purpose of the project is to explore medicinal plants of South Africa as a potential source for bone and tissue engineering of articular cartilage.

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