Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry )) --University of Limpopo, 2007 / Refer to document / The Cannon Collins Trust Fund and the National Research Foundation

Traditional medicines prepared from Sutherlandia frutescens are used to manage diseases including HIV and cancer. This study aimed at isolating and identifying biologically active compounds isolated from S. frutescens. Sutherlandia frutescens plants were collected in Petrusburg and Paarl. Powdered plant material was extracted using ethanol or water and their metabolite composition was compared using UPLC-MS. A novel cycloartane, an acetylated variant of this compound as well as a Sutherlandioside B triterpenoid was isolated and characterised using chromatographic and analytical techniques such as NMR and UPLC-MS. Preliminary biological studies were conducted to assess the activity of plant extracts on cell toxicity, herpes virus replication and cytokine expression. The results of this study suggest that aqueous extracts from S. frutescens do not appear to be cytotoxic or show anti-herpetic activity, but may activate the immune system by increasing expression of IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα. Further research should be conducted to confirm and optimise these results. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Science)