Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:49:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Gabriela Delpino.pdf: 1434628 bytes, checksum: 1b7f4fd9203834265b9627d4972734d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-18 / In all ages and cultures man has learned to take advantage of local natural resources, including the use of medicinal plants. Understanding that each culture is composed of a web of meanings that will guide the actions of men in their daily lives, they will assign different meanings to these symbols present in their culture. Therefore, the symbology of the use of medicinal plants is particular in each culture and can have different meanings. This work aimed to investigate the meanings of the use of medicinal plants to the family farmers descendants of Pomeranians living in São Lourenço do Sul / RS and know the symbology of the use of medicinal plants in health care from the perspective of these farmers. The research was qualitative, descriptive and exploratory, held in São Lourenço do Sul. This study is part of the research "Bioactive plants for human use by families of farmers from ecological base in southern Rio Grande do Sul", developed by the School Nursing, Federal University of Pelotas and Temperate Climate Embrapa. The study included five farming families descendants of Pomeranians, selected from the snowball methodology, proposed by Goodman. The data collection occurred from January to June 2011. The instruments used were semi-structured interviews, participant observation, photographic record of plants and georeferencing. It was used the thematic analysis. Within the symbolic universe of the farmers are descendants of Pomeranians there are different meanings attributed to the use of medicinal plants. The main symbols were observed: medicinal plant as an economic symbol, as a symbol of the first care of health, as a religious symbol and medicinal plant associated with symbology of food. The medicinal plant is considered easy acquisition by being present in the environment and because it is a more economical alternative before of allopathic medicinesIt symbolizes a connection between the symbol of care and economic value. These seek to maintain a healthy diet and they try to include the use of medicinal plants in their day to day. With regard to religion in this community is strong and regulates the mode of thinking and acting of the descendants of Pomeranians. It is important that the nurse knows the values and beliefs and how these relate to medicinal plants. Should consider that the care is a construct made with the subjects and for that it is necessary to understand the symbols present, valuing human action, the day to day social group and the various interpretations that they make in everyday life, so that their health action be effective. The nurse must understand that under the gaze of other symbologies the medicinal plant is not seen as a medicine, but takes on different meanings. / Em todas as épocas e culturas o homem aprendeu a tirar proveito dos recursos naturais locais, incluindo-se o uso de plantas medicinais. Entendendo que cada cultura é composta por uma teia de significados que irá guiar os homens em suas ações do cotidiano, estes irão atribuir diferentes significados aos símbolos presentes em sua cultura. Portanto, a simbologia do uso de plantas medicinais é particular em cada cultura e pode possuir diferentes significados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar os significados do uso das plantas medicinais os agricultores familiares descendentes de pomeranos que residem no município de São Lourenço do Sul/RS e conhecer a simbologia do uso das plantas medicinais no cuidado à saúde na perspectiva destes agricultores. A pesquisa foi qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória, realizada no município de São Lourenço do Sul. Este estudo faz parte da pesquisa Plantas bioativas de uso humano por famílias de agricultores de base ecológica na região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul , desenvolvido pela Faculdade de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Pelotas e Embrapa Clima Temperado. Participaram do estudo cinco famílias de agricultores descendentes de pomeranos, selecionados a partir da metodologia bola de neve proposta por Goodman. A coleta dos dados ocorreu de janeiro a junho de 2011. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: entrevista semi-estruturada, observação participante, registro fotográfico das plantas e georreferenciamento. Foi utilizada a análise temática. Dentro do universo simbólico dos agricultores descendentes de pomeranos existem diferentes significados atribuídos ao uso de plantas medicinais. Os principais símbolos observados foram: a planta medicinal como um símbolo econômico, a planta medicinal como um símbolo de primeiro cuidado à saúde, a planta medicinal como um símbolo religioso e a planta medicinal associada à simbologia alimentar. A planta medicinal é considerada de fácil aquisição por estar presente no ambiente e por se tratar de uma alternativa mais econômica frente aos medicamentos alopáticos. Simboliza uma articulação entre o símbolo do cuidado e de valor econômico. Estes procuram manter uma alimentação saudável e para isso buscam incluir o uso de plantas medicinais em seu dia a dia. Com relação à religião esta é forte na comunidade e regula o modo de pensar e agir dos descendentes de pomeranos. É importante que o profissional enfermeiro conheça os valores e crenças e como estes se relacionam com as plantas medicinais. Deve considerar que o cuidado é uma construção realizada com os sujeitos e que para isso necessita compreender os símbolos presentes, valorizando a ação humana, o cotidiano do grupo social e as diversas interpretações que formulam no cotidiano, para que assim sua ação de saúde seja efetiva. O enfermeiro precisa compreender que sob o olhar de outras simbologias a planta medicinal não é vista como um medicamento, mas assume diferentes significados.

M.Sc. / Scientific relevance: Qualitative and quantitative data is presented that give a new perspective on the traditional medicinal plants of the Khoisan (Khoe-San), one of the most ancient of human cultures. The data is not only of considerable historical and cultural value, but allows for fascinating comparative studies relating to new species records, novel use records and the spatial distribution of traditional medicinal plant use knowledge within the Cape Floristic Region. Aim of the study: A detailed documentation and quantitative analysis of medicinal plants of the Kamiesberg area (an important Khoisan and Nama cultural centre) and their medicinal traditional uses, which have hitherto remained unrecorded. Materials and methods: During four study visits to the Kamiesberg, semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted with 23 local inhabitants of the Kamiesberg, mostly of Khoisan decent. In addition to standard methodology, a newly developed Matrix Method was used to quantity medicinal plant knowledge. Results: The Kamiesberg is an important center of extant Nama ethnomedicinal information but the knowledge is rapidly disappearing. Of a total of 101 medicinal plants and 1375 anecdotes, 21 species were recorded for the first time as having traditional medicinal uses and at least 284 medicinal use records were new. The relative importance, popularity and uses of the plants were quantified. The 97 newly documented vernacular names include 23 Nama (Khoekhoegowab) names and an additional 55 new variations of known names. The calculated Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index (EKI) and other indices accurately quantify the level of knowledge and will allow for future comparisons, not only within the Kamiesberg area but also with other southern African communities of Khoisan decent. Conclusion: The results showed that the Kamiesberg is an important focal point of Khoisan (Nama) traditional knowledge but that the medicinal plants have not yet been systematically recorded in the scientific literature. There are numerous new use records and new species records that are in need of scientific study. Comparative data is now available for broader comparisons of the pattern of Khoisan plants use in southern Africa and the study represents another step towards a complete synthesis of Cape Herbal Medicine.

The Forensic Chemistry Laboratory of Johannesburg (FCL JHB) is tasked with the chemical analysis of a variety of samples to assist in determining the cause of death where unnatural cause is suspected. Some of the samples submitted to the laboratory have a herbal or muti connotation, but a large portion of these cases turn out to have no herbal components present as only pharmaceutical or agricultural products are detected in these samples. This study combined, for the first time, forensic investigation, chemistry and botany to create a unique platform needed for the identification of poisonous plants and their components in forensic exhibits and viscera. The research was focussed on the poisonous plants previously detected at the laboratory, as well as the requests received for the analysis of muti/toxic plant components. The selection of plants included Nicotiana glauca, Datura stramonium / Datura ferox, Callilepis laureola, Boophone disticha / Ammocharis coranica, Abrus precatorius, Ricinus communis, Nerium oleander / Thevetia peruviana and Bowiea volubilis. All these species are known to have caused fatalities, hence their choice. Nicotiana glauca has been implicated in the deaths of at least 15 people since 2001. It was previously detected by GC-MS (EI) in plant exhibits, but could not be detected in a viscera matrix. A selective extraction method for alkaloids was used to extract botanical and viscera samples. Anabasine was successfully detected on the HPLC-MS (EI) system but this detection technique was not considered sensitive enough. A very sensitive HPLC-MS method was developed on the ZMD detector by using electrospray technology. This method outperformed both electron impact detectors (GC and HPLC) and could detect 1ng/ml anabasine with relative ease in full scan mode. Datura stramonium and D. ferox have not been previously positively linked to any human poisoning or death due to exposure to botanically derived products at the FCL JHB. Atropine and scopolamine were successfully ionised in ESI positive mode and could be detected at 10 pg/ml and 100 pg/ml level respectively. The identities of the compounds were confirmed by characteristic ISCID fragmentation patterns. The developed method was successfully applied to a suspected heart attack case. The results proved conclusively that the deceased was given D. ferox seeds as part of his meal and an overdose of atropine and scopolamine contributed to his death. Callilepis laureola is reputed to be one of the more commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa, and although its use has been indicated by the specific mention of a possible nephrotoxin and/or hepatotoxin as causative agent, it has not been detected in any of the forensic chemistry laboratories in South Africa. This was mainly due to the absence of a reliable method for the analysis of the main toxic component of C. laureola, atractyloside, by mass spectrometry. A sensitive and very selective HPLC-ESI-MS method was developed that could detect atractyloside, carboxyatractyloside and their monodesulfated analogues in botanical and viscera matrices. The method was successfully applied to a variety of forensic samples and proved that C. laureola may play an important role in herbal poisonings. In a selection of suspected herbal poisonings where the cause of poisoning was unknown, 30% of the samples tested positive for the presence of atractyloside, carboxyatractyloside or their monodesulfated analogues. The bulbs of Boophone disticha are rich in isoquinoline alkaloids and some of the alkaloids were detected by GC-EI-MS and LC-EI-MS, but the detection of these alkaloids in viscera samples was not successful. A routine method used for the screening for drugs of abuse in forensic samples, were successfully used for the analysis of the bulb extracts of B. disticha and the bulb scales of A. coranica. The chromatographic profile of these two plants appeared very similar at a first glance, but a closer evaluation of the mass spectra highlighted significant differences between the two plants. Six alkaloids from B. disticha were isolated and characterised by LC-MS and NMR and these compounds were detected in suspected herbal poisoning cases. It has been shown that B. disticha is one of the commonly used plants to “clean the system” but frequently results in the death of the patient. Abrus precatorius contains one of the most toxic compounds known to mankind, namely abrin that collectively refers to a group of glycoproteins. The seeds of A. precatorius also contain two indole alkaloids, abrine and hypaphorine. The two alkaloids were fractionated and characterised by LC-MS and NMR. Due to the fact that the instrumentation of the FCL JHB is not suited to the detection of proteins, an LC-ESI-MS method was developed for the detection of the two alkaloids in plant and viscera matrix as markers for A. precatorius. The presence of these two alkaloids was indicated on the TMD system (EI spectra) in a suspected herbal poisoning case. The LC-ESI-MS method was applied to the analysis of the samples and the absence of abrine and hypaphorine were proven in the samples. Ricinus communis is similar to A. precatorius in that it also contains a group of extremely poisonous glycoproteins, collectively refered to as ricin. The analysis of R. communis seeds encountered the same problems as the analysis of A. precatorius seeds, and the analysis was again focused on the detection of the minor piperidine alkaloid ricinine. The LC-ESI-MS method developed for abrine was modified to detect ricinine and functioned well in botanical and viscera matrices. This method will enable the forensic analyst to detect ricinine in very low levels when the presence of ricinoleic acid in samples indicates the use of a R. communis-based product. Nerium oleander is a common decorative garden plant that is used medicinally. The plant is rich in cardenolides with oleandrin the main compound. A reversed-phase chromatographic method with ESI mass spectral detection was developed to separate and detect 11 cardiac glycosides. The compounds were adequately separated to allow unambiguous identification, and displayed very stable cationisation with sodium. An extraction method was developed to extract the cardiac glycosides from the leaves of N. oleander and Thevetia peruviana and was also evaluated in a viscera matrix. The extraction method functioned well and extracted a variety of compounds that produced unique chromatographic fingerprints, allowing for the easy differentiation between the two plants. The method is ideally suited for the detection of oleandrin in high concentrations (full scan mode), low concentrations (selected masses) or trace levels (SIM analysis of ion clusters). The method is able to distinguish between extracts derived from N. oleander and T. peruviana and was able to detect and confirm neriifolin, odoroside and neritaloside in N. oleander leaf extracts. Analysis of forensic case exhibits were also successfully done with this method and performed well with liquid and solid matrices. With the new method oleandrin could be detected at trace levels in viscera samples that did not produce positive results in the past. Bowiea volubilis is widely used as a medicinal plant, but is also an extremely toxic plant. It is freely available at traditional healer markets, and is one of the most highly traded plants on the Durban market. Despite the high usage of the plant, it has not been detected by any of the forensic laboratories in South Africa. Bovoside A, a bufadienolide, is reported to be the main cardiac glycoside in the bulb of B. volubilis. The cardiac glycoside method was successfully applied to the analysis of the bulb extract of B. volubilis and bovoside A was identified as the main bufadienolide present in the bulb. Bovoside A was fractionated and characterised by LC-MS. Four extracts of botanical origin could be successfully distinguished from each other by monitoring the main masses of bovoside A, oleandrin and thevetin A and thevetin B. These marker compounds were well separated from each other and made the identification of the botanical extracts quite easy, and the identity of each extract was confirmed by the mass spectrum of each peak. / Prof. F.R van Heerden

In order for a medicinal product to produce a consistent and reliable therapeutic response, it is essential that the final composition of the product is invariable and that the active ingredient/s is/are present in appropriate, non-toxic amounts. However, due to the complexity involved in the standardization of natural products, quality control (QC) criteria and procedures for the registration and market approval of such products are conspicuously absent in most countries around the world. African Potato (AP) is of great medical interest and this particular plant has gained tremendous popularity following the endorsement by the South African Minister of Health as a remedy for HIV/ AIDS patients. Very little information has appeared in the literature to describe methods for the quantitative analysis of hypoxoside, an important component in AP. It has also been claimed that sterols and sterolins present in AP are responsible for its medicinal property but is yet to be proven scientifically. To-date, no QC methods have been reported for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of the combination, β- sitosterol (BSS)/ stigmasterol (STG)/ stigmastanol (STN), purported to be present in preparations containing AP. The effect of concomitant administration of AP and other herbal medicines on the safety and efficacy of conventional medicines has not yet been fully determined. Amongst the objectives of this study was to develop and validate quantitative analytical methods that are suitable for the assay and quality control of plant material, extracts and commercial formulations containing AP. Hypoxoside was isolated from AP and characterized for use as a reference standard for the quality control of AP products and a stability-indicating HPLC/ UV assay method for the quantitative determination of hypoxoside was developed. In addition, a quantitative capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method was developed to determine hypoxoside, specifically for its advantages over HPLC. A HPLC method was also developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of BSS, STG and STN in commercially available oral dosage forms containing AP material or extracts thereof. The antioxidant activity of an aqueous extract of lyophilized corms of AP along with hypoxoside and rooperol were investigated. In comparison with the AP extracts and also with hypoxoside, rooperol showed significant antioxidant activity. The capacity of AP, (extracts, formulations, hypoxoside and rooperol as well as sterols to inhibit in vitro metabolism of drug substrates by human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes such as CYP 3A4, 3A5 and CYP19 were investigated. Samples were also assessed for their effect on drug transport proteins such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Various extracts of AP, AP formulations, stigmasterol and the norlignans, in particular the aglycone rooperol, exhibited inhibitory effects on CYP 3A4, 3A5 and CYP19 mediated metabolism.These results suggest that concurrent therapy with AP and other medicines, in particular antiretroviral drugs, can have important implications for safety and efficacy. Large discrepancies in marker content between AP products were found. Dissolution testing of AP products was investigated as a QC tool and the results also revealed inconsistencies between different AP products.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Here we have evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from Origanum vulgare (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (thymus), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamom), Lippia graveolens (mexican oregano), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Salvia officinalis (sage), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Ocimum basilicum (basil), as well as the majoritary constituents carvacrol, thymol, trans-cinnamaldehyde and cineole against 65 isolates of Staphylococcus sp.isolates. From these 33 isolates were obtained from dairy herds of goats being 27 isolates classified as coagulase negative staphylococci and 06 isolates classified as coagulase positive staphylococci. The isolates from dairy cattle were 32 and classified as coagulase-positive staphylococci. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined to each isolate by using broth microdilution method. Lower antimicrobial activity or equal to the maximum tested (6400 μg ml-1) were observed on the essential oils of oregano, mexican oregano, thymus, cinnamom as well as to majoritary constituents of carvacrol, thymol and TC. It was noticed that the essential oils of oregano, mexican oregano and thymus presented similar activities and were more active than the essential oil of cinnamon front isolates of cattle. The same effect was not repeated on essential oil of mexican oregano in isolates of goats and presenting itself more active than the essential oil of cinnamom, though less active than essential oils of oregano and thyme. The carvacrol maintained strong antimicrobial activity on isolates of cows and goats (CIMs = 584 μg ml-1 e 767 μg ml-1; CBMs = 732 μg ml-1 e 1471 μg ml-1 to cows and goats respectively). / Avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana dos óleos essenciais (OEs) de Origanum vulgare (orégano), Thymus vulgaris (tomilho), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (canela), Lippia graveolens (lipia), Zingiber officinale (gengibre), Salvia officinalis (sálvia), Rosmarinus officinalis (alecrim) e Ocimum basilicum (manjericão), bem como as frações majoritárias carvacrol, timol, cinamaldeído e cineol frente a 65 isolados de Staphylococcus spp. Destes isolados 33 eram oriundos de rebanhos leiteiros de caprinos, sendo 27 isolados classificados como coagulase negativa e 06 isolados classificados como coagulase positiva. Os isolados oriundos de rebanhos leiteiros bovinos somavasse 32 e classificados como coagulase positiva. A concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e a concentração bactericida mínima (CBM) foram determinadas para cada isolado utilizando-se a técnica de microdiluição em caldo. Os OEs de gengibre, salvia, alecrim, manjericão e a fração majoritária cineol não evidenciaram nenhuma atividade inibitória sobre Staphylococcus spp. Observou-se atividades antimicrobianas inferiores ou igual à máxima concentração testada (6400 μg ml-1) para os OEs de orégano, lipia, tomilho, canela, bem como para as frações majoritárias de carvacrol, timol e cinamaldeído. Observou-se que os OEs de orégano, lipia e tomilho apresentaram atividades similares e foram mais ativos que o OE de canela frente os isolados de bovinos. O mesmo efeito, em isolados de caprinos, não foi repetido para o OE de lipia, sendo que este se apresentou menos ativo que os OEs de canela, orégano e tomilho. O carvacrol destacou-se por manter forte atividade antimicrobiana sobre isolados de bovinos e caprinos (CIMs = 584 μg ml-1 e 767 μg ml-1; CBMs = 732 μg ml-1 e 1471 μg ml-1 respectivamente para bovinos e caprinos).

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Research into traditional medicines is often conducted in a multidisciplinary approach as motivated by a desire to understand them in as complete a manner as possible,realizing their chemistry, biology and pharmacology. One biological approach involves monitoring the cytotoxicity of the extracts of subfractions against the nauplii,Artemia salina (brine shrimp). Organic and aqueous extracts of seven South African medicinal plants was investigated for biological activity. Selected plant extracts was also evaluated for AChE inhibitory activity. The objectives of this study was to look for any correlation between known biological activities of the investigated plants and BSLT lethality data and also to look for any correlation between AChEI activity and BSLT lethality data for selected plant extracts. The most active of the plants was the n-hex extract of T.alliacea, followed by the aqueous extract of C.mellei and the MeOH extract of C.quadrifidus; the MeOH and the DCM extracts of A.afra; the DCM extract of P.undulatum and the EtOAc extract of A.annua. The results from this study show a good correlation with antitumor, antimicrobial and anti-trypanocidal activity.The various plants extracts investigated showed good inhibitory activity towards AChE using the TLC bioautography method. The results obtained from this study indicate that this type of activity is not only subject to plants containing alkaloids, but rather a diverse class of compounds may exhibit this kind of activity. The extracts that showed good AChE inhibitory activity also showed good cytotoxicity towards brine shrimp nauplii.

M.Sc. / Cephalanthus natalensis of the Rubiaceae family of plants is used in traditional medical systems. Different parts of this shrubby plant are used to treat different ailments. In this study, the use of C. natalensis for medicinal purposes was investigated. Plant materials (leaves, bark and fruits) were collected from different localities in Swaziland. Extraction of phytochemicals in C. natalensis was done by maceration in four solvents of increasing polarities: hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Amino acids and alkaloids were also extracted in boiling water and mild acid, respectively. Phytochemical screening of compounds was done by means of TLC, HPLC and GC-MS. Previously reported TLC screening of C. natalensis indicated the presence of alkaloids. This study also confirmed the presence of alkaloids, although these were not isolated. No other chemical compounds have been reported from this plant in literature. Phenolic compounds and terpenes were extracted and detected by the chromatographic methods employed. GC-MS analysis was also used to identify and quantify amino acids in the extracts. A phytochemical assessment of compounds was done by investigating the leaves, bark and fruits of C. natalensis. A further phytochemical variation study was conducted by comparing these phytochemicals and their relative concentrations in C. natalensis plants collected from five different localities. While the same compounds were present in all the plants sampled, the concentrations of the different compounds seemed to vary irrespective of the geographic location of the plants sampled. In the different plant parts collected, some common compounds were present in the leaves, bark and fruits and other compounds varied between the different parts studied. The traditional usage of C. natalensis as fever and malaria remedy was investigated in vitro. Antibacterial and antimalarial tests of crude extracts were done. The antibacterial test on the extracts against five bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed an average activity in all the plant parts tested. The average MIC values ranged from 0.917 mg/mL to >100 mg/mL. In the antimalarial test the extracts inhibited 50% of Plasmodium falciparum growth at concentrations ranging from 27 μg/mL to >100 μg/mL. Hexane extracts of the bark had notable antimalarial activity with the highest inhibition at the lowest concentration of 27 μg/mL. The fruits were not as active as expected since they are particularly used as malaria remedy in traditional medicine. Two compounds were also isolated from methanol extracts of C. natalensis for the first time. A volatile isoprenoid ketone, (5E,9E)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadeca-5,9,13-trien-2-one, was isolated and characterised. The structure of the second compound could not be completely characterised due to complex data obtained from the NMR experiments.

M.Sc. (Botany) / The market and public demand for medicinal plants over the past few decades has increased dramatically with more than 1 000 plant species actively traded for medicinal purposes throughout South Africa. Intensive harvesting of wild material is now acknowledged as a serious threat to biodiversity in this country. Also the substitution of a valuable commodity (medicinal plant) by a cheaper alternative (other plant species), either inadvertently due to misidentification, or deliberately to cheat consumers, raises some serious concerns as these adulterants may not be as effective or may even be toxic and cause harm to consumers. To add to the problem many species are either traded as dried leaf, root, bark products, or extracts and their identification becomes problematic. Therefore, DNA barcoding can help to provide a rapid and accurate identification tool for medicinal plants. In the current study I targeted the most commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa and produced a set of barcodes for fast and easy DNA-based species identification (rbcLa & matK). I tested the efficiency of core barcodes in the identification of medicinal plants using four main analyses, in the R package Spider 1.1-1. Here the extent of specific genetic divergence, DNA barcoding gap, BLAST test, and the ability to discriminate between species were assessed. Overall, the matK region was found to be a more useful tool for the species identification of medicinal plants in South Africa.

No description available.

No description available.