‘African potato’ (Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm): a plant‐medicine for modern and 21st century diseases of mankind? – a review

Abstract

The traditional uses, therapeutic attributes, phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of 'African potato' (Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm) extracts have been reviewed. Available biomedical evidence suggests that 'African potato' is a potential plant-medicine for some modern and 21st century diseases of mankind. Thus far, biomedical evidence has revealed that 'African potato' extracts possess antiinflammatory, antineoplastic, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antiinfective properties in vivo and in vitro. However, more laboratory and clinical studies are required to clarify these observations, and to isolate, purify and characterize the active chemical constituents responsible for the herb's pharmaco-therapeutic effects.

Plants used for treating respiratory infections in rural Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Asthma (Shale et al, 1999); cold and influenza (Owira and Ojewole, 2009); cough (Roberts, 1990); cough and fever (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962); headache (Hutchings et al, 1996) (b) Chop the corms and mix one handful of this with a handful of Lippia javanica leaves and bring to the boil with one cup of water. Sieve and take one cupful a day as an enema to treat flu symptoms.…”

Bronchorelaxant property of African potato' (Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm) aqueous extract in vitro

“…The possibility also exists that the bronchorelaxant effects of APE may be attributed, at least partially, to its ability to antagonize the post-junctional, receptor-mediated, spasmogenic actions of carbachol and histamine. Since APE is known to inhibit several enzyme systems, such as cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and lipooxygenase enzymes, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and many other enzyme systems (Owira and Ojewole, 2009), the bronchospasmolytic action of APE could also be partly mediated via inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE), like aminophylline. However, further studies are required to clarify these speculations and determine the precise mechanism by which APE produces relaxation of tracheal smooth muscles.…”

“…The tuberous rootstock (i.e., the 'corm') of the herb, popularly known locally as 'African potato' in southern Africa, is widely used in South African traditional medicine as a remedy for an array of human ailments. The traditional healers of South Africa have employed the corm of the plant as a "muthi" (isiZulu word for "medicine") for centuries, and now, 'African potato' has been claimed to be a miracle plant medicine in the fight against various modern and 21st century diseases of mankind (Owira and Ojewole, 2009). This South African wonder plant medicine has been claimed to be an effective remedy against HIV/ AIDS-related diseases, arthritis, yuppie flu, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, psoriasis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, asthma, and some central nervous system (CNS) disorders, especially epilepsy and childhood convulsions (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962;Hutchings, 1989;Pujol, 1990;Hutchings et al, 1996;Albrecht, 1995;1996;Van Wyk et al, 2002).…”

A Fluorescence‐Based Assay for p38α Recruitment Site Binders: Identification of Rooperol as a Novel p38α Kinase Inhibitor

“…Incubation of p38a (5 mm) with 3 (100 mm) was carried out in the presence of individual members of a small library of plant polyphenol natural products and synthetic analogs, each at 200 mm, for 16 h. The reaction mixtures were subjected to click reaction conditions and in-gel fluorescence analysis, and the inhibition of adduct formation by 3 was determined by quantification of the fluorescence bands (Figure 7). Within this limited number of compounds, the African potato (Hypoxis rooperi)-derived rooperol [36] shows the strongest inhibition, followed closely by the honey bee propolis-derived caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE [37] ) and its double-bond reduced analog DHC. Other synthetic analogues of CAPE (e.g., the corresponding amide, CAPA) and other H. rooperi-derived natural products (e.g., nyasol) are much less effective inhibitors (Figure 7).…”

“…[14] African potato is used in traditional medicine to treat a wide variety of aliments, and pharmacological investigations have demonstrated antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in rodents. [36] Rooperol, the aglycone of the major phenolic constituent of H. rooperi corms, has been shown to inhibit cytokine mRNA levels in LPS-stimulated U937 cells. [37] DRS binding and inhibition of p38a by rooperol demonstrated here may play a role in the anti-inflammatory effects of this natural product.…”