A review of medicinal plant research at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 1948-2001

Abstract

This review summarizes research carried out on Jamaican medicinal plants at the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica, between 1948 and. The plants identified as being medicinal are listed along with their folk use and a summary of the scientific research done at UWI leading to the identification of natural products (NPs) and determination of their bioactivity. Natural product research on Jamaican medicinal plants began with the inception of UWI in 1948, leading to many postgraduate degrees being awarded (22 MPhil and 31 PhD). At least 334 plant species growing in Jamaica have been identified as having medicinal qualities, 193 of these have been tested for their bioactivity. Crude extracts from 80 of these plants have reasonable bioactivity and natural products (NP) have been identified from 44 plants. At least 29 of these NPs were found to be bioactive. Only 31 of the plants tested at UWI are endemic to Jamaica. Of these 23% were bioactive, as compared to 11% of the non-endemics. Based on these results, patents have been obtained and drugs have been developed. This review represents the first attempt to gather this information together in one place. Un resumen de la Investigación Sobre Plantas Medicinales en la Universidad de West Indies, Jamaica, 1948-2001 SA Mitchell 1 , MH Ahmad 1 RESUMEN El presente trabajo resume la investigación sobre plantas medicinales jamaicanas, llevada a cabo en la Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Aplicadas de la Universidad de West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica, entre 1948 y 2001. Las plantas identificadas como medicinales se enumeran junto con su uso popular y un resumen de la investigación científica realizada en UWI, la cual condujo a la identificación de los productos naturales y la determinación de su bioactividad. La investigación de productos naturales que tuvo por objeto las plantas medicinales jamaicanas, comenzó con la fundación de UWI en 1948, y en el transcurso de su desarrollo, condujo a la obtención de numerosos grados científicos. (Para el año 2001, en la Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Aplicadas se habían defendido 22 maestrías y 31 doctorados asociados con dicha investigación.) Por lo menos 334 especies de plantas que crecen en Jamaica han sido identificadas como poseedoras de propiedades medicinales, 193 de las cuales han sido sometidas a prueba para determinar su bioactividad. Los extractos crudos de 80 de estas plantas poseen una bioactividad razonable, y se han identificado productos naturales (PN) en 44 plantas. Se halló que por lo menos 29 de estos PN son bioactivos. Sólo 31 de las plantas sometidas a prueba en UWI eran endémicas de Jamaica. De éstas, el 23% resultó ser bioactivo, en comparación con el 11% en el caso de las plantas no endémicas. Sobre la base de estos resultados, se han obtenido patentes, y se han desarrollado medicamentos. Este resumen representa un primer intento por compilar esta información en un solo trabajo.

Repellent Effect and Insecticidal Activities ofBridelia ferruginea,Blighia sapida, andKhaya senegalensisLeaves Powders and Extracts againstDinoderus porcellusin Infested Dried Yam Chips

“…Earlier studies confirmed the insecticidal effects of these plants species: B. ferruginea [45]; B. sapida [15,36,[50][51][52][53]; and K. senegalensis [54][55][56][57][58][59]. Acetone extract of K. senegalensis showed the lowest LC 50 and the biggest toxicity ratio, consequently the most toxic on D. porcellus.…”

“…In fact, the antifungal [12], antibacterial [13], and insect antifeedant [14] properties of leaf extract of K. senegalensis have been demonstrated. The fruit of ackee (B. sapida) has insecticide properties [15], whereas the antimicrobial properties of leaves and bark extract of B. ferruginea have been proved by Sahu et al [16]. In order to develop an integrated approach to control and lay the groundwork for the development of a botanical insecticide, experiments should be carried out to assess the insecticidal and repellent effects of these three plants species on D. porcellus.…”

Muntingia calabura: A review of its traditional uses, chemical properties, and pharmacological observations

“…Several drugs that are currently available in the international market were the result of exhaustive scientific and systematic explorations of the traditional claims of the plants and ethnopharmacology. Regardless of the global rise in scientific investigation on medicinal plants, only small numbers of plant-derived bioactive compounds have reached the market, locally or internationally, due to their evidencebased therapeutic potential (Mitchell & Ahmad, 2006). The reasons for a low number of plant-based drugs reaching the market could be associated to the lack of endeavors taken to determine or validate the evidence related to the safety of the respective plant, which, in turn, is mistakenly assumed to be safe due to their plant-based and naturally occurring facts (Yob et al, 2011).…”

Cadmium in Jamaican Bush Teas

“…"Bush teas" were an early research focus of the then University College of the West Indies (3)(4)(5), resulting in the identification of a new disease known as venoocclusive disease and produced warnings on the potential toxic effects of bush teas (6). But despite warnings to the public and the availability of modern medicines (7), bush teas remain quite widely used and some teas may be introduced as early as in the first six months of life (8). The early work did not address trace elements which have become of interest because of naturally elevated levels of heavy metals in some Jamaican soils (9) and foods (10).…”