Ethnobotany Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://197.136.59.112:4000/handle/123456789/135

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Traditional medicine

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    Application of Medicinal Plants in Maternal Healthcare and Infertility: A South African Perspective
    (2013-04) Abdillahi, Halima S.; Staden, Johannes Van
    Plants have played significant roles as medicine during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care in many rural areas of the world. In addition to this, plants have been used for centuries to treat infertility and related reproduction problems. The aim of this paper was to review the current status of plant species used in maternal healthcare, including infertility, in South Africa, in terms of scientific evaluation for efficacy and safety. In addition to this, the role of medicinal plants as a tool in achieving the MDG5 of reducing maternal mortality by 2015 was evaluated. A search was done with the aid of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, peer-reviewed papers, and books, using keywords such as child birth, labour pain, maternal health, maternal mortality, menstrual pains, and postpartum. The plants listed in the different research articles were classified according to their use and the target effect of a plant extract or compound on reproductive function. Eighty-four plant species were found to be used to treat infertility and related problems. Twenty plant species are used during pregnancy, while 26 plant species are used to ease childbirth. For postpartum healing and any problems after childbirth, nine plant species were recorded. Unhealthy pregnancy and birth complications are among the factors that contribute to the loss of cognitive potential in the developing worldʼs children, condemning them to impoverished lives. The best way to keep a country poor is to rob its children of their full developmental potential. In this respect, medicinal plants play a significant role in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring the birth of healthy children.
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    Antimicrobial activity of South African Podocarpus species
    (2008-06-28) Abdillahi, H.S.; Stafford, G.I.; Finnie, J.F.; Staden, J. Van
    Ethnopharmacological relevance: Several species of Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae) are utilized in treating ailments across the world. In Africa, four species are used traditionally in both animal and human health Aim of the study: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of Podocarpus species against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. Materials and methods: Six solvents of varying polarity were used for extraction. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the microdilution bioassay and for antifungal activity, the microdilution bioassay and (M27-P) broth dilution were used. Results: All species exhibited antimicrobial activity with MIC values of less than 1 mg/ml. Inhibition against Gram-positive bacteriawas stronger with an MIC value of 98 g/ml while for Gram-negative bacteria, the highest inhibitionwas against Klebsiella pneumoniae with an MIC value of 0.33 mg/ml. All species exhibited strong antifungal activity with the best MIC being 30 g/ml after 48 h. Conclusions: All four species exhibited strong inhibition against all tested microbials, based on Aligiannis et al. [Aligiannis, N., Kalpotzakis, E., Mitaku, S., Chinou, I.B., 2001. Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of two Origanum species. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 40, 4168–4170] classification they can be classified as strong inhibitors.