Abstract:We herein report for the first time the synthesis and analgesic properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using buchu plant extract. The as-synthesised Ag-NPs at different temperatures were characterised by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission transform microscopy (TEM) to confirm the formation of silver nanoparticles. Phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of glycosides, proteins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. The absorption spectra showed that the synthesis is temperature and time dependent. The TEM analysis showed that the as-synthesised Ag-NPs are polydispersed and spherical in shape with average particle diameter of 19.95˘7.76 nm while the FTIR results confirmed the reduction and capping of the as-synthesised Ag-NPs by the phytochemicals present in the ethanolic extract. The analgesic study indicated that the combined effect of the plant extract and Ag-NPs is more effective in pain management than both the aspirin drug and the extract alone.

is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various diseases such as cough, respiratory infections, and bronchitis among other uses in Eastern Cape region of South Africa. This study evaluated the volatile components of the essential oil of the plant, its toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in rodents. Dried leaf and root of the plant were separately processed by hydrodistillation for 4 h and their essential oils (EOs) were collected. Extracted oils were subjected to GC/GC-MS analysis. The essential oil was further evaluated for acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. The toxicity profile of the essential oil was evaluated in mice through the oral route (p.o.), and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on the carrageenan-induced edema model in rats at the doses of 100-200 mg/kg, while its analgesic effect was evaluated on the acetic acid-induced writhings model in mice at doses of 100-200 mg/kg. GC/GC-MS analysis of EOs showed that a number of compounds identified in the leaf and root oils were 25 and 31 respectively. The chemical compositions of the oils varied and the major compounds identified in the oils include germacrene D, naphthalene, caryophyllene oxide, α-phellandrene and α-cadinol. The essential root oil did not cause mortality at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg; hence, its LD was estimated to be ⩾5000 mg/kg, p.o. The anti-inflammatory test results showed that the essential root oil caused significant ( < 0.05-0.01) reduction in edema size compared to the negative control group on the carrageenan-induced edema and the results for the analgesic test showed that the essential root oil caused significant ( < 0.05) reduction in number of writhings at 1000 mg/kg compared to the negative control group. It is concluded that root and leaf of this species contain volatile oils which varied in their yield and chemical compositions. The essential root oil is non-toxic orally and it demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in laboratory animals.

Background: Herbal practitioners in the Eastern Cape of South Africa use valerian root (Valeriana capensis, Valerianaceae) to manage pains, arthritis and inflammation. The herb prepared from this plant was studied to determine the chemical composition of its essential oil, carried out phytochemical screening and biological activities on its infusion extract as used by the herbal practitioner. Materials and Methods: Essential oil of Valerian root was obtained by hydrodistillation and subjected to chemical analyses. Infusion extract of the Valerian root was screened to determine its secondary metabolites and the relative abundance of some major metabolites. The infusion extract was further evaluated for acute toxicity (LD50), anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in rodents. Results: The yield of the essential oil was 0.18% w/w. The GC/MS analysis indicated the presence of 42 compounds with major ones being caryophyllene oxide (18.11%), viridiflorol (9.37%) and bornyl acetate (8.84%). Phytochemicals found in the infusion extract were alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids while quantitative screenings showed saponins and flavonoids accounted for 6.39% and 7.40% respectively. The LD50 of the extract was found to be 3808 mg/kg per oral. The infusion extract of the root (250-500 mg/kg, p.o.) caused significant (p<0.01) activity in the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model comparable to aspirin, indicating anti-inflammatory activity; but lacked analgesic activity on the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Conclusion:The infusion extract possessed significant anti-inflammatory but lacked analgesic activity; the present data justify the use of this herbal agent by the herbal practitioners from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. Key words:Valeriana capensis, essential oil, caryophyllene oxide, infusion extract, anti-inflammatory, analgesic IntroductionMedicinal plants have been in use for centuries in South Africa, especially in the rural communities throughout the Eastern Cape Province where many people consult traditional healers who use medicinal plants as major sources of their medication (Cocks and Moller, 2002). Valerian root (Family: Valerianaceae) is a perennial flowering plant with over 350 species and several more subspecies (Bardakci et al., 2012). Valerian is native to Europe and Asia, although it has been naturalized in Eastern North America and other parts of the world including South Africa (Van Wyk et al., 1997). The part of the plant used medicinally is the root or rhizome which is light grayish brown, about the size of a finger joint, bearing many rootlets. The mature plant is about 50-150 cm tall with pinnate leaves and the stem is upright and without branches (Fleming, 1998). Valerian fresh root has no odour, while the dried root possesses distinctly unpleasant smell similar to old dirty socks (Schulz et al., 1998).Valerian is a popular herbal product often used to treat insomnia, anxiety and related ailments (Murti et al., 2011). Valerian root extracts contain essential oils...

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Background: Herbal practitioners in the Eastern Cape of South Africa use valerian root (Valeriana capensis, Valerianaceae) to manage pains, arthritis and inflammation. The herb prepared from this plant was studied to determine the chemical composition of it’s essential oil, carried out phytochemical screening and biological activities on its infusion extract as used by the herbal practitioner. Materials and Methods: Essential oil of Valerian root was obtained by hydrodistillation and subjected to chemical analyses. Infusion extract of the Valerian root was screened to determine its secondary metabolites and the relative abundance of some major metabolites. The infusion extract was further evaluated for acute toxicity (LD50), anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in rodents. Results: The yield of the essential oil was 0.18% w/w. The GC/MS analysis indicated the presence of 42 compounds with major ones being caryophyllene oxide (18.11%), viridiflorol (9.37%) and bornyl acetate (8.84%). Phytochemicals found in the infusion extract were alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids while quantitative screenings showed saponins and flavonoids accounted for 6.39% and 7.40% respectively. The LD50 of the extract was found to be 3808 mg/kg per oral. The infusion extract of the root (250-500 mg/kg, p.o.) caused significant (p