Evaluation of Herbal Concoctions Sold at Ga Maja (Limpopo Province) in South Africa and In Vitro Pharmacological Evaluation of Plants Used to Manufacture the Concoctions

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the biological activities and safety of commercial herbal concoctions manufactured in Ga Maja (Limpopo province). Microbial contamination was evaluated by spread-plating the concoctions on agar plates. The VITEK 2 instrument was used for identification of the pure cultures. Nutritional content of the concoctions was determined. Thin layer chromatography was used to analyze the chemical constituents of the extracts. The microdilution assay and bioautography were used to evaluate antimicrobial activity against selected microorganisms. Sodium, potassium, and zinc were elements most abundant in the concoctions. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents. Acetone extracts of Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Kirkia wilmsii extracts had antioxidant activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations values against test bacteria ranged between 0.02 and 0.63 mg/mL. Further studies are required to isolate bioactive compounds and evaluate their cytotoxicity. Caution in the consumption of the herbal mixtures should be adhered to.

Antiuropathogenic and antioxidant activities of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Lam. extracts, and compounds from its taxonomically related species

“…Although the extraction solvent polarity decreases, the inhibition of the organisms by the polar extract of South African H. hemerocallidea increases. As example, the acetone < ethanol demonstrate MIC 2.5 mg/ mL > 0.31 mg/mL [23] and MeOH < H 2 O with 3.13 mg/mL > 0.20 mg/mL (present study). Matotoka and Masoko [23] also documented H. hemerocallidea acetone extract with 2.5 mg/mL, 0.63 mg/mL, and 0.03 mg/mL MIC values against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. faecalis, respectively.…”

African Traditional Medicine: South African Perspective

“…Thus, there is a need for introduction of guidelines for the quality control in preparation and storage of ATMs and community awareness about the potential health risks [114,115]. Herbal concoctions bought directly from private traders and streetside sellers were evaluated and found to have been contaminated by Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Leclercia adecarboxylata and Citrobacter braakii, which are motile bacteria and hence are more damaging to cells [113]; and K. pneumoniae and P. fluorescens, which may negatively affect the health of those using them [117]. The concoctions were also contaminated by commonly occurring yeasts-Stephanoascus ciferrii and Cryptococcus laurentii.…”

Review of Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of Drimia Elata

“…Koorbanally et al [69] identified aromatic acids, 4-hydroxy-3methoxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and trans-3-(4'hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid from the ethyl acetate bulb extract of D. elata. Matotoka and Masoko [70] identified flavonoids, phlobatannins, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids from the D. elata bulb (Table 3). Similarly, Matotoka and Masoko [41] identified alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids from a herbal mixture of D. elata bulb mixed with leaves of Monsonia angustifolia, Sarcostemma viminale and Vahlia capensis, Kirkia wilmsii (leaves, roots, and twigs), and Hypoxis hemerocallidea (corm).…”

“…Pharmacological studies on D. elata bulb and leaf extracts exhibited potent in vitro pharmacological activities including acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory [2], antibacterial [2,43,50,[70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80], antifungal [2,76], antimycobacterial [50], anticancer [81], anti-inflammatory [2,72,82,83], antioxidant [43,70], hemagglutinating [84], and cytotoxicity [43] activities.…”

“…assay. The extracts exhibited activities against E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa with MIC values ranging from 0.6 mg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL and total activities ranging from 3.3 mL/g to 13.3 mL/g[70]. Baskaran et al[79] evaluated antibacterial activities of the aqueous bulb and root extracts of ex vitro grown D. elata derived from somatic embryogenesis against Bacillus subtilis, E. faecalis, M. luteus, S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia, and P. aeruginosa using microtiter bioassay with neomycin (µg/ml) as a positive control.…”