BackgroundConstipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint all over the world and it is a risk factor of colorectal cancer. In this study, the efficacy of aqueous leaf extract of Aloe ferox Mill. was studied against loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar rats.MethodsConstipation was induced by oral administration of loperamide (3 mg/kg body weight) while the control rats received normal saline. The constipated rats were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight/day of the extract for 7 days during which the feeding characteristics, body weight, fecal properties and gastrointestinal transit ratio were monitored.ResultsThe extract improved intestinal motility, increased fecal volume and normalized body weight in the constipated rats, which are indications of laxative property of the herb with the 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract showing the best efficacy.ConclusionThe effect of the extract compares favourably well with senokot, a standard laxative drug. These findings have therefore, lent scientific credence to the folkloric use of the herb as a laxative agent by the people of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, particularly those caused by caterpillars. Antioxidants play an important role protecting against damage by reactive oxygen species. Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.

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Background: Acokanthera oppositifolia Lam (family: Apocynaceae) is a shrub or small tree with white latex, and the leaves of this plant are used in the form of a snuff to treat headaches and in infusions for abdominal pains and convulsions and septicaemia. Adenia gummifera Harv of the family Passifloraceae is a distinctive woody climber whose infusions are used as emetics and are said to help with some forms of depression. Lipid peroxidation has gained more importance today because of its involvement in pathogenesis of many diseases. Free radicals are the main agents in lipid peroxidation. Antioxidants thus play an important role of protecting the human body against damage by the free radicals. Plants containing phenolic compounds have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.

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Acetone, methanol and water extracts obtained from the shoots of Arctotis arctotoides through shaking and homogenization, were investigated for their antimicrobial activities. Growth inhibition using agar dilution assays was determined against ten selected bacterial and six fungal species. Although not fungicidal, extracts from the herb showed significant growth inhibition against all the fungi tested. The homogenized water extract was particularly inhibitory to the growth of the fungi with inhibitory activity ranging from 50.7 to 95.2% on Aspergillus tamari and Penicillum digitatum, respectively. Acetone and methanol extracts were very active against the Gram positive bacteria. The Gram negative bacteria were, however, more resistant to the extracts than the Gram positive ones. None of the extracts inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonous aeruginosa, both Gram negative bacteria.

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