Ethnobotanical Survey of Dracaena cinnabari and Investigation of the Pharmacognostical Properties, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Its Resin

Abstract

Dracaena cinnabari Balf. f. (Dracaenaceae) is an important plant endemic to Soqotra Island, Yemen. Dragon’s blood (Dam Alakhwin) is the resin that exudes from the plant stem. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out by semi-structured questionnaires and open interviews to document the ethnobotanical data of the plant. According to the collected ethnobotanical data, the resin of D. cinnabari is widely used in the traditional folk medicine in Soqotra for treatment of dermal, dental, eye and gastrointestinal diseases in humans. The resin samples found on the local Yemeni markets were partly or totally substituted by different adulterants. Organoleptic properties, solubility and extractive value were demonstrated as preliminary methods to identify the authentic pure Soqotri resin as well as the adulterants. In addition, the resin extracts and its solution in methanol were investigated for their in vitro antifungal activities against six human pathogenic fungal strains by the agar diffusion method, for antioxidant activities using the DPPH assay and for cytotoxic activity using the neutral red uptake assay. The crude authentic resin dissolves completely in methanol. In comparison with different resin extracts, the methanolic solution of the whole resin showed the strongest biological activities. It showed strong antifungal activity, especially against Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes besides antioxidant activities and toxicity against FL-cells. These findings confirm and explain the traditional uses of the resin for the treatment of skin diseases and mouth fungal infections.

What We Know and What We Do Not Know about Dragon Trees?

“…Dragon trees are famous worldwide for their resin, which has been used from ancient times in ethno-medicine, cosmetics, as a decorative paint or marker, as a glue and a dye for leather [27,179] (see Sections 6.1-6.4). On Soqotra, the harvested resin of D. cinnabari is sorted into different grades tha are used for different purposes, both the high-value fresh droplets and the processed resin-bearing bark [27].…”

Antifungal Activity of Euclea divinorum Root and Study of its Ethnobotany and Phytopharmacology

“…Due to its popularity as a traditional medicinal herb in Soqotra Island and inland Yemen, the roots of E. divinorum are available in the markets in the inland. It may be used as substitutional adulterant for the red resin of Dracaena cinnabari that is used also in the traditional herbal medicine in Yemen for treat oral diseases including tooth ailments [1].…”

“…The cytotoxicity of the extracts was estimated by the neutral red uptake assay, using FL-cells, a human amniotic epithel cell line [28]. Quantitative determination was carried out as described in our previous study [1].…”

“…Furthermore, the root bark is used as cosmetic red colouring agent for the lips and mouth cited by (90%) of informants ( Table 2). The plant is the second famous and most important medicinal plant from Soqotra Island after Dracaena cinnabari that used in Soqotra Island; whereas both are transported as medicines into inland Yemen [1].…”

“…Medicinal plants are a potential and natural source for treatment of fungal infections. For treatment of these tropical fungal diseases, many traditional plant species have been reported in different traditional medicine systems in the world, such as Dracaena cinnabari [1], Piper guineense [2]. Toothbrush and/or chewing pieces (miswak) are the most frequently traditional modes prepared from the plant parts and used for teeth and mouth problems.…”