The Potential of African Plants as a Source of Drugs

Hostettmann, Kurt; Marston, Andrew; Ndjoko, Karine; Wolfender, Jean‐Luc

doi:10.2174/1385272003375923

Cited by 252 publications

(200 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Plant diversity is central to human wellbeing, especially in food production but also as a source of fiber for clothing, wood for implements, fuel, natural medicines and products, and also cultural and spiritual [1]. The sub-Saharan region still boasts a wide variety of indigenous plant species and it is still possible to discover new and very interesting natural products with potential therapeutic value [2]. According to the World Health Organization in some African countries, 80% of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

Romeiras¹,

Cristina²,

Indjai³

et al. 2012

AJPS

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The sub-Saharan region holds a wide variety of indigenous plant species, still offering the possibility to discover very interesting new natural products with potential therapeutic value. Most of the African population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care, however, neurological disorders are often not considered as common diseases and many people with mental illnesses, like epilepsy, are severely affected by health-related stigma and discrimination. Epilepsy is the most common serious chronic brain disorder, estimated to affect at least 10 million people in Africa. Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa, and its population is mainly rural with very few health services available. Since the earliest times, Guinea-Bissau flora has constituted the main source of materials used in folk medicine and the local population, who is well versed in the uses of these plants and their properties. The aim of this study was to document the existing knowledge and practices related to the treatment of neurological disorders, namely epilepsy and seizures, in Guinea-Bissau and in other West African countries. The results presented from this study provide information not only on the specific plants used to treat neurological disorders, but also on social knowledge brought in by various ethnic groups, each one having its own culture, beliefs and ways of nature appropriation. Taking into account the existing knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants for treatment of neurologic disorders, it is believed that research in the areas of ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology in Guinea-Bissau can bring promising results capable of adding value to the very rich natural resources of this country of West Africa.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

Romeiras¹,

Cristina²,

Indjai³

et al. 2012

AJPS

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“…GLOBOCAN statistics on cancers in Cameroon showed that the rate of death from all cancers is 73.11/100000/person/ year [8,9] and statistics from WHO on prostate cancer in Cameroon published in May 2014 showed that Cameroon falls at the 43rd position of 172 countries seriously affected by prostate cancer with death rate of 23.66/100000 which is considered high death rate. Cameroon being in Africa is not exempted from this rising mortality; as Cameroon is now experiencing a double burden of infectious and chronic noncommunicable disease, with much emphasis on the burden of infectious diseases including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria [10,11] thereby neglecting the non-communicable diseases including cancer of the prostate which is a serious health problem now a day.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Discrete Choice Clinical Survey and a Proposed Health Promotion Framework for Prostate Cancer in Cameroon

Anchang¹,

Tetuh²,

Nji³

et al. 2017

Can Res

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Background: Due to the dearth of information about the burden of prostate cancer disease in Cameroon, and in respond to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG#3) to prevent non-communicable diseases, a discrete choice clinical study of prostate cancer with the aim to determine the incidence, the associated risk factors and comparative diagnostic tools among males in the NorthWest region of Cameroon was undertaken.

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“…[1] For thousands of years, traditional plant derived medicines have been used in most parts of the world and their use in fighting microbial disease is becoming the focus of intense study. [2,3] Much of the research into traditional medicinal plant use has focused on Asian, [4] African [5] and South American [6] plants. Relatively few studies have focused on the antibacterial activity of Australian native plants, although recently there has been increased study in this field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial activity of Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) methanolic extracts

Cock

2013

Phcog Commn

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Introduction: Backhousia citriodora is a native Australian plant with uses as a bush food component as well as in toiletries and cosmetics. Essential oils produced from leaves of this plant have reputed antiseptic properties. Despite this, solvent extractions of Backhousia citriodora leaves have not been rigorously examined for antiseptic properties. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of methanolic leaf extracts of Backhousia citriodora was investigated by disc diffusion and growth time course assays against a panel of bacteria and fungi. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: B. citriodora leaf methanolic extract proved to be a versatile antibacterial agent inhibiting the growth of 12 of the 14 bacteria tested (86%). Only C. fruendii and S. aureus growth were unaffected by B. citriodora extract. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were both affected by B. citriodora extract although Gram-negative bacteria appeared more susceptible. The extract also displayed antifungal activity against a nystatin resistant strain of Aspergillus niger but did not affect Candida albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth. The antibacterial activity of B. citriodora extract was further investigated by growth time course assays which showed significant growth inhibition in cultures of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophilia and Pseudomonas fluorescens within 1 h. The extract displayed low toxicity in the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Conclusions: The low toxicity of the methanolic extract and its inhibitory bioactivity against a panel of bacteria validate Australian Aboriginal usage of B. citriodora as an antiseptic agent and confirms its medicinal potential.

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The Potential of African Plants as a Source of Drugs

Cited by 252 publications

References 3 publications

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

A Discrete Choice Clinical Survey and a Proposed Health Promotion Framework for Prostate Cancer in Cameroon

Antimicrobial activity of Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) methanolic extracts

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