Possible roles of <i>Eucomis autumnalis</i> in bone and cartilage regeneration: A review

Abstract

In response to the recent alarming prevalence of cancer, osteoarthritis and other inflammatory disorders, the study of anti-inflammatory and anticancer crude medicinal plant extracts has gained considerable attention. Eucomis autumnalis is a native flora of South Africa with medicinal value. It has been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor/cancer, anti-oxidative and antihistaminic characteristics and produces bulb that have therapeutic value in South African traditional medicine. Despite the widely acclaimed therapeutic values of Eucomis autumnalis, its proper identification and proper knowledge, morphogenetic factors are yet to be efficiently evaluated. Similar to other plants with the same characteristics, E. autumnalis extract may stimulate bone formation and cartilage regeneration by virtue of its anti-inflammatory properties. This review provides data presented in the literature and tries to evaluate the three subspecies of E. autumnalis, highlighting their geographical location in South African provinces, their toxicity effects, as well as their phytochemistry and anti-inflammatory properties. Biologically active components, pharmacological importance and some environmental factors that can affect E. autumnalis are presented. The review also discussed the novel potential roles of E. autumnalis in regenerative medicine. Proper knowledge of the E. autumnalis plant and its possible role in bone and cartilage regeneration will help in addressing and clarifying its use in the production of drugs and for other therapeutic purposes, especially in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

The Potential Effect of Medicinal Plants for Cartilage Regeneration

“…Our data in this section offers pharmacological evidence on the potential use of the mentioned plant extracts in bone fracture, cartilage regeneration and wound treatment. In fact, medicinal plants found to have anti-inflammatory properties may partake in host modulatory therapy for various inflammatory diseases as proposed in [3,39].…”

“…Generally, with the extensive screening of plants used in traditional medicine, evidence of their rational use in treating infections, diseases, inflammation and other disorders has been provided [1][2][3]. Herbal extracts have extensively health benefits, and indigenous medicinal plants have been used traditionally as a major source of drugs for the treatment of various illnesses, including osteoarthritis (OA), asthma, cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, swollen ankles and hypertension [4][5][6].…”

“…Herbal extracts have extensively health benefits, and indigenous medicinal plants have been used traditionally as a major source of drugs for the treatment of various illnesses, including osteoarthritis (OA), asthma, cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, swollen ankles and hypertension [4][5][6]. Extracted compounds of medicinal plants are usually used as inputs in toxicology, phytochemicals, pharmaceuticals and other chemical industries [3][4][5][7][8][9]. Stem cell therapies involving cartilage regeneration and several current 3D bioprinting processes involve the use of synthetic and natural biological molecules such as growth factors to improve their proliferation and differentiation [9][10][11].…”

“…Stem cell therapies involving cartilage regeneration and several current 3D bioprinting processes involve the use of synthetic and natural biological molecules such as growth factors to improve their proliferation and differentiation [9][10][11]. There is an ongoing search in the science community for alternatives of these growth factors and the existing synthetic materials, due to reports on their numerous negative effects and complete failure in cartilage regeneration [3,[12][13][14]. Several medicinal plant extracts have been suggested to stimulate adult stem cell proliferation and thus regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues.…”

Medicinal Plants in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in the African Continent

“…1 Indigenous medicinal plants have traditionally been used as an important source of drugs for the treatment of various illnesses, including osteoarthritis (OA), asthma, cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, swollen ankles, bone fracture, malaria, convulsion, piles, hypertension, typhoid fever, diabetes, and anemia. [5][6][7] In addition, extracted compounds of medicinal plants are usually employed as inputs in toxicology, phytochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical industries. 5,7,8 The pharmaceutical industry has come to consider traditional medicine as a source for identification of bioactive agents that can be used in the preparation of synthetic medicine.…”