Phytochemical screening and antiviral activity of some medicinal plants from the island Soqotra

Abstract

Methanol and hot-aqueous extracts of 25 different plant species, used in Yemeni traditional medicine and growing, partly as endemic plants, on the island Soqotra have been investigated for their antiviral activity. In addition, the phytochemical identification of the main chemical constituents was performed. The extracts were assayed in two in vitro viral systems, which used influenza virus type A/MDCK cells and herpes simplex virus type 1/Vero cells, at non-cytotoxic concentrations. The herpes simplex virus type 1 showed more sensitivity than the influenza virus type A against the extracts investigated. The methanol extracts of Boswellia ameero, Boswellia elongata, Buxus hildebrandtii, Cissus hamaderohensis, Cleome socotrana, Dracaena cinnabari, Exacum affine, Jatropha unicostata and Kalanchoe farinacea showed anti-influenza virus type A activity with 50% inhibition (IC50) concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 12.5 microg/mL. In addition, 17 plants of the 25 investigated exhibited anti-HSV-1 activity. The antiviral activity of some active extracts was also observed on a molecular level.

Assessment of selected Yemeni medicinal plants for theirin vitroantimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities

“…Despite some investigations during the last decade (Al-Fatimi et al, 2007;Awadh et al, 2001;Mothana & Lindequist, 2005;Mothana et al, 2006Mothana et al, , 2007Mothana et al, , 2009), a minority of traditionally used medicinal plants have been evaluated for their pharmacological and chemical properties. Considering the importance of these untapped research areas, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial, antitumor, and antioxidant activities of 33 important medicinal plants, which are used in the Yemeni traditional medicine for various disorders including infectious diseases as well as different types of inflammations.…”

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f.) of Socotra Island (Yemen)

“…In conclusion, previous phytochemical studies of D. cinnabari confirmed that there was an isolation of a number of flavonoids, bioflavonoid, triflavonoid, sterols and triterpenoids [18,19] . Few reports in other related literature appeared good interaction with the antioxidant activities of the ingredients of D. cinnabari against cytochrome P450 enzymes [20] , with the antiviral activity of the methanolic extract against influenza and herpes simplex viruses [21] , and with the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the crude extract against different microorganisms [17] . Despite its wide uses, little research has been done to know about its true source, quality control, bioactive compounds and clinical applications.…”

“…(Fabaceae) have a long history of being used as a traditional medicine the world over. Medicinal use of dragon's blood dates back to the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Arabs [2] .…”

Plantas medicinales utilizadas en Perú para el tratamiento de enfermedades respiratorias

“…Braga et al (2007) worked on Schinus molle. Other examples include Apium graveolens (Atta & Alkofahni 1998), Acmella (Hoeltz et al 2002), Clibadium (Perez-Garcia et al 2001), Eupatorium (Jaric et al 2007), Flaveria (Bardón et al 2007), Perezia (Enríquez et al 1980), Senecio (Uzun et al 2004), Tagetes (Caceres et al 1991), Alnus and Sambucus (Turner & Hebda 1990), Jacaranda (Gachet & Schühly 2000), Raphanus (Ishtiaq et al 2007), Cordia (Molina-Salinas 2007), Scabiosa (Abad et al 1996), Bursera (Kumarasamy et al 2002), Erythroxulum (Weiil 1978), Myroxylon (Linares & Bye 1987), Prosopis (Hebbar et al 2004), Lanandula (Hajahashemi et al 2003;Uzun et al 2004), Cinchona (Rojas et al 2006), Juglans (Cruz-Vega et al 2008), Uncaria (Deharo et al 2004;Heitzmann et al 2005), Cymbopogon and Cinnamomum (Giron et al 1991;Wannissorn et al 2005), Plantago and Eucalyptus (Andrade-Cetto 2008; Rakover et al 2008), Malva and Alcea (Carmona et al 2005), Dracaena (Mothana et al 2006), Allium (Petkov 1986;Bielroy 2004;AlMomani et al 2007), Rubus (Rvra & Obón 1995;Ritch-Krc et al 1996), Stachys (Duarte et al 2005), Satureja (Caceres et al 1991;Rediç 2007), Salvia …”