Botany
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Browsing Botany by Author "de Wet, H."
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- ItemAn ethnobotanical and antidiarrhoeal investigation of plants used traditionally in the Maputaland area homesteads(University of Zululand, 2013) Nkwanyana, Mduduzi Nkosinathi; de Wet, H.; Van Vuuren, S.F.Zulu people living in the rural area of Maputaland (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) rely heavily on medicinal plants, particularly for the treatment of diarrhoea. The main aim of this study was to determine which plants are used in this area to treat diarrhoea and to validate their antidiarrhoeal efficacy against diarrhoeal-related pathogens. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in four different localities in northern Maputaland (Mabibi, Mseleni, Mbazwana/ Olakeni and Tshongwe) on plants that are used to treat diarrhoeal infections. Twenty three plant species were documented and collected in the survey. A muthi market survey was also performed where three more plant species namely Sarcophyte sanguinea, Ximenia caffra and Strychnos henningsii were identified to treat diarrhoea. Acacia burkei, Brachylaena transvaalensis, Cissampelos hirta and Sarcostemma viminale were recorded for the first time globally as antidiarrhoeal remedies. Psidium guajava was the most mentioned (43%) plant to be used traditionally to treat diarrhoea followed by Catharanthus roseus and Melia azedarach. Most of the interviewees mentioned the use of plants individually but some mentioned the use of plants in combinations. The following plants were said to be used in combination; Brachylaena transvaalensis with Psidium guajava; Sclerocarya birrea, Acanthospermum glabratum in combination with Krauseola mosambicina; Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica in combination with Sarcophyte sanguinea. Most plants were used as leaf decoctions. The study also revealed that the choice of plants used was based on the availability of the plant in and around the interviewees’ homestead. One new vernacular name was recorded which demonstrates the importance of recording this information. Antidiarrhoeal studies were performed with the crude extracts against diarrhoeal pathogens. Organic extracts of Terminalia sericea showed noteworthy antibacterial activity (mean MIC value of 0.04 mg/ml against Shigella flexneri). Many other plant species showed noteworthy activities against different pathogens. More than 80% of plant species screened were active against at least one out of seven of the diarrhoeal pathogens. Proteus vulgaris showed overall the least susceptibility, while Shigella flexneri proved to be the most susceptible pathogen. Aqueous extracts generally showed poorer antimicrobial activity with some exceptions i.e. Acacia burkei, Garcinia livingstonei, Sclerocarya birrea and Terminalia sericea. The antibacterial activity of plant species collected from the homesteads demonstrated better activity compared to those collected from the muthi markets. In the combination studies, synergy (ƩFIC < 0.50) was observed against at least four or more pathogens. Combinations of Acanthospermum glabratum with Psidium guajava and Brachylaena transvaalensis with Psidium guajava, proved to be the most favourable combinations. Some aqueous extracts in combination showed synergistic interactions. The combination of Acanthospermum glabratum with Krauseola mosambicina showed (76%) synergistic interactions when investigated in various ratios. The results from this study correlates to a certain extent with the use of particular plant species to treat diarrhoea infections. Furthermore there is some correlation between the best antimicrobial activities and the most frequently used plant species and plant combinations used by the lay people in the Maputaland area.
- ItemAn ethnopharmacological study of plants used for treating respiratory infections in rural Maputaland(University of Zululand, 2012) York, Talita; de Wet, H.; Van Vuuren, S.F.This study aimed, firstly, to perform an ethnobotanical survey, focusing on lay people’s knowledge on plants used for treating respiratory infections in northern Maputaland, KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. Eighty homesteads were visited purposively and ethnobotanical information was gathered using structured questionnaires. The study documented 30 plant species, with Acanthospermum glabratum, Aloe marlothii, Krauseola mosambicina, Ozoroa obovata, Parinari capensis subsp. incohata and Plectranthus neochilus recorded for the first time, globally, as medicinal plants used for treating respiratory ailments and related symptoms. The two most frequently used plant species were the indigenous Lippia javanica, followed by the exotic Eucalyptus grandis. Both these plant species are highly aromatic. For eight of the 30 plant species used, new vernacular names, not recorded before, were given by the interviewees. Although six of the 80 interviewees were healers, the current study focused on lay knowledge, which makes the information recorded during the current survey invaluable.
- ItemMorphology and selection of high yielding cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Strains for Maputaland, South Africa(2001) Vololoniana, Ramiakato; Ferreira, D.P.; de Wet, H.The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Ithala Development Finance Corporation Limited (ITHALA) are in the process of establishing a cashew industry in South Africa at Coastal Cashews, Maputaland. This study concentrated on the morphology and yield characteristics of most of the strains already planted at Coastal Cashew farm. One hundred and thirty different strains, originating from various countries such as Zambia and Brazil, have been studied. Morphological and yield characteristics were considered for suggestions about strains for inclusion in a propagation program. Most morphological characteristics such as apple size and colour, leaf surface area and others, varied between strains, reflecting the diverse origin of plant material. Similarly, most of the yield characteristics such as nut production, nut size and others, varied between strains and within strains between seasons. Based on the morphological (number of panicles per tree, number of perfect flowers per panicle, and others) and the yield characteristics (nut per panicle, nut size, and others), a model has been proposed where the number of panicles per tree and the number of perfect flowers per panicle are used to predict the yield of a tree (strain).
- ItemThe screening of medicinal plants traditionally used to treat diarrhoea, in Ongoye area, KwaZulu Natal.(2008) Mlambo, Nandi Precious; de Wet, H.; Basson, A.K.; Ntuli, N.R.This study focused on the investigation of plants used for the treatment of diarrhoea around Ongoye forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study revealed that 35 plant species in this area are used to treat diarrhoea. Acetone, methanol, cold and hot distilled water extracts from the different plant parts (bark, leaves, stems and the whole plant) were done. These plants are: Acacia karoo, Acacia robusta, Acanthospermum australe, Aloe arborescens, Baccharoides adoensis, Calfilepis laureola, Catharanthus roseus, Chenopodium ambrosioids, Chromolaena odarata, Dichrostachys cinerca, Faurea macnaughton, Hewittia mafambaricaa, Hypoxis hemerocalfidea, Ihlaza, Lippia javanica, Maytenus heterophylla, Melia azedarach, Psidium guajava, Schotia brachypetala, Sclerocarya birrea, Syzygium cordatum, Tetradenia riparia, Thchilia dregeana, Ungazini, Vernonia oligocephala and Vernonia tigna. Above mentioned plants were screened for antibacterial activity against the following ATCC bacteria strains: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia colt, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei. The antibacterial activities were determined by disk-diffusion, agar-well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and bio-autographic methods. The plant extracts were screened for the following phytochemrcals: alkaloids, flavonoids, soponins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and tannins. Most of the plant extracts showed high antibacterial activity against most of the tested micro-organisms with the diameter of inhibition zones ranging between 10 and 30 mm. Of the plants studied, the most active extracts were those obtained from the following plants: Acacia robusta, Aloe arborescens, Baccharoides adoensis, Chromolaena odarata, Ihlaza, Lippia javanica, Psidium guajava, Syzygium cordatum, Schotia brachypetala, Tetradenia hparia, and Vemonia tigna. Staphylococcus aureus was the bacterium that was mostly inhibited by almost a!f the plant extracts, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. the least inhibited bacteria strains were Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri and Salmonella typhii. The MIC values for active extracts ranged between 1 mg/ml and 0.4 mg/ml. The results obtained appeared to confirm the antibacterial potential of the plants investigated, and their potential in the treatment of diarrhoea in the Ongoye area.