Toxicology of medicinal plants and combinations used in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) for the treatment of hypertension

Autor: Sandy van Vuuren, Helene de Wet, Mmbulaheni Ramulondi
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Herbal Medicine. 16:100251
ISSN: 2210-8033
DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2018.12.001
Popis: Ethnobotanical surveys showed that medicinal plants play a major role in the health-care of people residing in the rural areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Because of the long-term usage, these medicinal plants are often assumed to be safe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of 26 medicinal plants and 19 plant combinations which are routinely used for the treatment of hypertension in this rural area. Five of the medicinal plants (Citrullus lanatus, Cladostemon kirkii, Hyphaene coriacea, Pyrenacantha kaurabassana and Strychnos madagascariensis) investigated in the current study have not been previously evaluated for any toxicity. Two extracts [organic (dichloromethane:methanol) and aqueous] were assessed using the brine shrimp assay (BSLA) and the Ames test. The results showed that for the organic extracts, 17 plant extracts tested were toxic in the BSLA while six plant extracts were toxic in the Ames test. Extracts tested in various concentrations demonstrated that toxicity was dosage dependent i.e. as the concentration increased, mortality percentage increased. Results of both assays (BSLA and Ames test) demonstrated that in general lower toxicity was observed for the aqueous extracts as only Catharanthus roseus (roots), Citrus limon (peel) and Ozoroa engleri (roots) showed toxicity. Synergistic interactions were observed between plant combinations; however, some of the plant combinations resulted in increased toxicity (antagonistic interactions). This study provides some insight into the possible toxicity implications of medicinal plants routinely used in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Databáze: OpenAIRE