Resultados recentes mostraram efeito ansiolítico do extrato hidroalcoólico bruto de Erythrina mulungu (EM) em ratos submetidos aos modelos do labirinto em T elevado (LTE) e da transição claro-escuro (TCE). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um estudo fitoquímico biomonitorado com a intenção de se verificar a participação dos alcalóides eritrínicos na atividade ansiolítica do extrato. Foi observado que o extrato bruto de EM apresentou efeito ansiolítico nas medidas de esquiva inibitória (100, 200 e 400 mg/Kg) e fuga (400 mg/Kg) dos braços abertos do LTE e na medida de tempo gasto pelos animais no compartimento iluminado (100 e 200 mg/Kg) no TCE. A partir do extrato hidroalcoólico de EM foi isolado um novo alcalóide eritrínico, a 11-hidroxi-eritravina, e dois já registrados na literatura, a eritrartina e a eritravina. Os testes com o LTE mostraram que a eritrartina, a eritravina (3 e 10 mg/Kg) e a 11-hidroxi-eritravina (10 mg/Kg), apresentaram efeito ansiolítico na medida de esquiva inibitória dos braços abertos. No TCE foi observado efeito ansiolítico com a eritravina (3 e 10 mg/Kg) e com a 11-hidroxi-eritravina (10 mg/Kg) na medida de tempo gasto pelos animais no compartimento iluminado. No TCE, a 11-hidroxi-eritravina (3 mg/Kg) também apresentou efeito ansiolítico aumentando o número de transição entre os dois compartimentos do modelo. Os efeitos ansiolíticos provocados pelos três alcalóides foram independentes de qualquer alteração locomotora, pois nenhum dos compostos estudados e, tampouco, o extrato bruto alterou o comportamento avaliado na arena. Desta forma, os resultados do presente trabalho mostraram que os alcalóides eritrartina, eritravina e 11-hidroxi-eritravina são responsáveis pelo efeito ansiolítico observado com o extrato bruto, o que explica a ampla utilização popular das plantas do gênero Erythrina como \"calmante\". / One new erythrinian alkaloid derivative 11-OH-erythravine (3) and the known erythravine (2), and erythrartine (1) from Erythrina mulungu were isolated, and their structures were determined by spectral analysis. The relative stereochemistry of the new alkaloid was determined mainly by 1H NMR experiments, including NOESY spectrometry. Furthermore, the anxiolytic properties of the hydroalcoholic crude extract (CE) and of the alkaloids were evaluated using the elevated plus-maze test (EPM), the elevated T-maze test (ETM) and the light-dark transition model (LDTM) for mice. The CE showed anxiolytic-like effects in the ETM, i.e., the doses 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (po) of CE impaired the inhibitory avoidance of the open arms of the maze. In the LDTM, CE (100 and 200 mg/kg) increased the time spent by the animals in the illuminated compartment, an anxiolytic-like effect. Since CE did not alter the anxiety related responses in mice exposed to the EPM, we did not use this model to test the anxiolytic-like effects of the erythrinian alkaloids. Interestingly, the compounds 1, 2, and 3 also attenuated anxiety in the ETM, an effect that was confirmed in the LDTM with the alkaloids 2 and 3. Taken in account, these results strongly suggest that these erythrinian alkaloids are the compounds responsible for the anxiolytic properties attributed to the crude extract and seem to supports the folk medicinal use as a natural anxiolytic.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Dentre as espÃcies do gÃnero Erythrina (Fabaceae), duas conhecidas popularmente como mulungu, E. velutina e E. mulungu, tem comprovado interesse social e econÃmico para o Brasil. E. mulungu ocorre no Sudeste, pertence à RelaÃÃo Nacional de Plantas de Interesse para o SUS (RENISUS). Jà E. velutina à uma Ãrvore amplamente utilizada no Nordeste, cuja casca do caule à utilizada tradicionalmente no tratamento da ansiedade, agitaÃÃo e insÃnia. Contudo, nÃo existe um produto farmacÃutico com qualidade agregada e estudos farmacolÃgicos dessa espÃcie para justificar seu uso medicinal. Diante do exposto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar o desenvolvimento e o controle de qualidade do extrato de Erytrhina velutina e investigar as atividades antioxidante e neuroprotetora, visando seu emprego no tratamento de doenÃa neurodegenerativa, como a DoenÃa de Parkinson (DP). Inicialmente, foi validado mÃtodo espectrofotomÃtrico para dosagem de fenÃis totais (FT) em produtos derivados de E. velutina, sendo este especÃfico, linear, preciso, exato e robusto. Foi estabelecido o mÃtodo de preparaÃÃo (estufa com circulaÃÃo e renovaÃÃo de ar â 80ÂC; 24h) e especificaÃÃes para o controle da droga vegetal. O extrato etanÃlico de E. velutina (EEEV) produzido por percolaÃÃo foi caracterizado quando ao teor de FT (155,14  3,31  EAG/mg de extrato) e perfil cromatogrÃfico por CLAE-DAD (FenÃis: hesperidina - Tr: 18,8 min; abssinina - Tr: 22,9 min; homoesperidina Tr: 31,2 min; Ãcido rizÃnico (AR) - Tr: 32,1 min e sigmoidina C - Tr: 38,6 min). O EEEV nÃo mostrou citotoxicidade no teste do MTT, mas aumentou (EEEV: 100 e 200 Âg/mL) a atividade da LDH em neutrÃfilo humano. Em cÃlulas 9L/lacZ, o EEEV (100, 400, 1000 mg/mL) reduziu significativamente a viabilidade celular, teste MTT. EEEV (0,0025 â 1 Âg/mL) e AR (0,0025 â 1 Âg/mL) nÃo foram citotÃxicos e inibiram parcialmente a neurotoxicidade induzida por 6-OHDA em cÃlulas SH-SY5Y, modelo experimental de DP, observada pela reduÃÃo significativa dos nÃveis de nitrito/nitrato. Na avaliaÃÃo do potencial antioxidante, testes DPPH e NBT, o EEEV (10 â 200 Âg/mL) apresentou atividade sequestradora de radicais livres no teste DPPH. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo permitiram definir as condiÃÃes ideais de preparaÃÃo da droga vegetal e do extrato, os quais foram caracterizados, incluindo validaÃÃo de mÃtodo analÃtico e avaliaÃÃo farmacolÃgica, comprovando o potencial antioxidante e neuroprotetor do EEEV e AR.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:59:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3920642 bytes, checksum: 700cc99c707640a6e78c710c821073b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The family Combretaceae comprises of genera with over 600 species, in which Combretum and Terminalia are the two largest genera, with about 250 species each. Aiming to contribute to the chemotaxonomic study of the family Combretaceae and the genus Combretum, the leaves of Combretum duarteanum were subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological study. The essential oil (2.0 mL) was obtained from fresh leaves by steam distillation of the species, and subsequently analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Massass Spectrometry. The extracts and phases obtained were subjected to usual chromatographic methods for the isolation and purification of the chemical constituents. For the identification of the isolated substances, spectroscopic methods such as infrared, uni-dimensional and bidimensional spectroscopic 1H NMR and 13C NMR for mass spectrometry were used in addition to the comparison with published data. Chemical studies of the C. duarteanum leaves resulted in the identification of twelve substances: cycloartane- 24-ene-1α, 3β-diol (Cd-1), isolated for the first time in the investigated family; 2α, 3β- urs-12-en-28-oic acid (Cd-2); 4α-carboxy-3β-hydroxy-24-cycloartenol (Cd-3), isolated for the first time in the genus Combretum; 2α, 3β, 28-trihidroxiurs-12-ene (Cd-4); 2α, 3β acid, 23α-trihidroxiurs-12-ene-28-oic acid and 2α, 3β, 23α-trihydroxyolean-12-ene- 28-oic acid (Cd-5); stigmasterol (Cd-6); stigmasterol and spinasterol (Cd-7); methyl gallate (Cd-8); 3',5,7-trihydroxy-3, 4'- dimethoxyflavone (Cd-9); 5,7,3',4'- tetrahydroxyflavone-3-O-galactopyranoside (Cd-10), catechin (Cd-11) and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (Cd-12). The chemical composition of the essential oil showed twenty-eight components, among which spathulenol (15.1%) and β-caryophyllene (14.1%) were the major compounds. Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol extract phases, as well as the Cd-2, Cd-5, and CD-10 substances were tested against bacterial strains of Gram positive and Gram negative, strains of the Candida genera. All phases, extracts and substances tested did not show any significant antibacterial and antifungal activity. Substances Cd-2, Cd-5, Cd-9 and Cd- 10 were tested in vitro during the cytotoxicity assay on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells, in order to evaluate antitumor activity. The substances Cd-2 (IC50 = 17.82 μg/mL) and Cd-5 Cd-2 (IC50 = 31.23 μg/mL) showed potent cytotoxic activity. / A família Fabaceae (Leguminosae) possui distribuição cosmopolita, incluindo cerca de 650 gêneros e aproximadamente 18000 espécies. O gênero Erythrina possui cerca de 110 espécies, das quais 70 são nativas das Américas. Erythrina velutina Willd. é uma árvore de porte médio, ornamental e com elevada ocorrência na vegetação da caatinga nordestina. Esta espécie é conhecida popularmente como "mulungu", "suínã" e "bico de papagaio", sendo etnofarmacologicamente reputada como sedativa, calmante e sudorípara. O presente trabalho descreve o isolamento e a identificação estrutural de alguns constituintes químicos das cascas do caule de Erythrina velutina Willd., com o objetivo de ampliar o conhecimento químico sobre o gênero Erythrina, bem como da família Fabaceae. Os constituintes químicos foram identificados através da análise de dados obtidos por métodos espectroscópicos como IV e RMN de 1H e 13C uni e bidimensionais, além de comparação com dados da literatura. O estudo fitoquímico da fase clorofórmica de E. velutina resultou no isolamento de um triterpeno, o 3β-olean-12-ene-3,28-diol, relatado pela primeira vez na espécie; um alcalóide, 3β-1,2,6,7-tetradehidro-3,16-dimetoxi-eritrinan-15-ol, descrito pela primeira vez nas cascas do caule de E. velutina; e os flavonóides, 3,9-dihidroxi-10-prenilpterocarpano e 5,7,3 - trihidroxi-4 -O-metil-5 -prenilflavanona, compostos já descritos anteriormente para esta espécie. O estudo fitoquímico da fase n-butanólica levou ao isolamento do flavonóide glicosilado, 5,7,4 -trihidroxiisoflavona-7-O-[α-ramnopiranosil-β-glicopiranosídeo], sendo este composto inédito no gênero Erythrina. O isolamento de diversas classes de metabólitos na espécie Erythrina velutina evidencia o potencial deste gênero. Portanto, este trabalho é de grande importância por contribuir com uma espécie etnofarmacologicamente bastante utilizada. Palavras-chave: Fabaceae, Erythrina velutina Willd, constituintes químicos.

Fabaceae family is one of the largest botanical families and of wide geographic distribution. Erythrina genus is among the several genus of this family. Erythrina mulungu, popularly known as mulungu, is a native tree of the southeast and northeast of Brazil. In the herbal medicine is considered an excellent sedative to treat anxiety, nervous coughs, agitation psicomotory and insomnia, besides asthma, bronchitis, hepatitis, gengivite, hepatic and esplenics inflammations and fevers. This work had as aim accomplishes the phytochemical investigation of the crude ethanolic extract of the root of E. mulungu, and the pharmacological evaluation of the ethanolic extracts of the root bark, root, stem bark and stem. As result, it has been isolated two substances of the root of E. mulungu, that were identified by infrared, 1H and 13C NMR analyses as Quercitrin and Luteollin, obtained from the chloroformic and Ethyl Acetate phases, respectively. These substances had never been isolated before from this species. All of the tested crude extracts, as well as the chloroformic and ethyl acetate phases of the root exhibited a significantly inhibition of the contortions induced by acetic acid. In the hot plate test, any extract and/or phase presented antinociceptive effect, indicating that the tested extracts and phases don t have central analgesic action. In the first phase of the formalin test, no sample presented significant statistic effect, and in the second phase, all of the extracts and phases induced reduction of the time of latency. In the peritonitis test all of the extracts and the chloroformic phase reduced the number of cells significantly in the peritoneal washed. Finally, we can conclude that the two identified substances are valuable for literature, once this is the first time they were isolated of this species; and the pharmacological tests were showed promising antiinflammatory potential for Erythrina mulungu. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A família Fabaceae é uma das maiores famílias botânicas e de ampla distribuição geográfica. O gênero Erythrina está dentre os vários gêneros desta família. Erythrina mulungu, popularmente conhecida como mulungu, é um arbusto nativo do sudeste e nordeste do Brasil. Na medicina herbária é considerada um excelente sedativo para tratar ansiedade, tosses nervosas, agitação psicomotora e insônia, além de asma, bronquite, hepatite, gengivite, inflamações hepáticas e esplênicas e febres. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a investigação fitoquímica do extrato etanólico bruto da raiz de E. mulungu, com a avaliação farmacológica dos extratos etanólicos da casca da raiz, raiz, casca do caule e caule. Como resultado, foram isoladas duas substâncias da raiz de E. mulungu, que através de análises de infravermelho, RMN de 1H e 13C, e comparação com dados da literaura, foram identificadas como Quercitrina, proveniente da fase clorofórmica; e Luteolina, proveniente da fase Acetato de Etila, substâncias estas nunca relatadas antes na espécie. Todos os extratos brutos testados, assim como as fases clorofórmica e acetato de etila da raiz exibiram uma inibição significativa das contorções induzidas por ácido acético. Já no teste da placa quente, nenhum extrato e/ou fase apresentou efeito significante, indicando que as amostras testadas não têm ação analgésica central. Na primeira fase do ensaio de nocicepção induzida por formalina, nenhuma amostra apresentou resultado estatisticamente significante, e na segunda todos os extratos e fases induziram redução do tempo de latência. No ensaio de peritonite todos os extratos e a fase clorofórmica reduziram significativamente o número de células no lavado peritoneal. Sendo assim, pode-se concluir que as duas substâncias identificadas são de grande valia para literatura, uma vez que esta é a primeira vez em que foram isoladas desta espécie; e os testes farmacológicos se mostraram promissores no que diz respeito ao potencial anti-inflamatório para Erythrina mulungu.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:00:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1723617 bytes, checksum: 1b2863e0e3517940e6fde2af16d18f12 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Erythrina velutina Willd., is a plant species native to the caatinga of northeastern Brazil, known popularly as ―mulungu‖. Its leaves are used as a decoction in folk medicine as a remedy for anxiety and as a sedative. The aim of this work was to perform an interdisciplinary study of the species, combining a pharmacobotanical, chemical and pharmacological approach to investigate the basis of its popular use in folk medicine. Morphological and morphodiagnosis studies were performed to estabilish the identity of the species. For anatomical characterization cross section preparations of the blade, petiole and petiolule were performed as well as paradermic preparations on both sides of the blade leaflets. The sections were cleared, stained with safranin and/or safrablue, observed and photographed under an optical microscope. The pharmacological study involved the selection of extracts from the bark and leaves with CNS depressant pharmacological profile using a behavioural screening and further pharmacological tests with emphasis on evaluation of the anxiolytic/sedative activity. To chemically characterize the active methanolic fraction (Fr.MeOH) obtained from the aqueous extract of the leaves, theusing Amberlite XAD-2® further fractionation and preparative purification was done using HPLC and spectroscopicl analysis by 1H and 13C NMR. The pharmacobotanical study showed the presence of distinctive parameters for Erythrina velutina, easily identifiable, and of great importance to its quality control. The pharmacological profile of Fr.MeOH is characteristic of drugs sedative and its chemical characterization revealed the presence of alkaloids that are probably responsible for the sedative effects observed in pharmacological tests of this study. / Erythrina velutina Willd., é uma planta nativa da caatinga do nordeste brasileiro, conhecida pela sinonímia popular de ―mulungu‖. Destaca-se por uso das folhas, cascas e frutos na medicina popular, na qual é indicada como ansiolítica e sedativa. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um estudo interdisciplinar farmacobotânico, químico e farmacológico, como uma contribuição ao maior conhecimento desta espécie de importância etnomedicinal. Estudos morfológicos foram realizados para sua identificação e morfodiagnoses. Para a caracterização anatômica realizou-se secções transversais (lâmina, pecíolo e peciólulo) e paradérmicas em ambas as faces das lâminas folíolares. As secções foram clarificadas, coradas com safranina e/ou safrablue, observadas e fotografadas ao microscópio óptico. O estudo farmacológico compreendeu a seleção dos extratos das cascas e folhas com melhor perfil farmacológico, a partir de uma triagem comportamental e em seguida, a realização de testes específicos com ênfase na avaliação da atividade ansiolítica/sedativa. Para caracterizar quimicamente a Fração Metanólica (FR. MeOH) obtida do extrato aquoso das folhas utilizando Amberlite XAD-2®, realizou-se o isolamento dos constituintes por CLAE e análises espectroscópicas de RMN de 1H e 13C. O estudo farmacobotânico evidenciou a presença de parâmetros distintivos para Erythrina velutina, facilmente identificáveis, e de grande importância ao seu controle de qualidade. A Fração Metanólica apresentou características de droga sedativa e o seu estudo químico, apontou a presença de alcalóides que provavelmente são os responsáveis pelo efeito sedativo observado nos testes farmacológicos do presente estudo.

Orientadores: Roy Edward Bruns, Ieda Spacino Scarminio / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T09:42:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Soares_PatriciaKaori_D.pdf: 5987452 bytes, checksum: b7f6d3605c80bd74286d32f100d29f54 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Nos últimos anos muitos avanços foram feitos em termos da descoberta de novos princípios ativos de plantas medicinais. Mesmo com toda a tecnologia dos dias de hoje, uma das etapas mais importantes na busca pelo isolamento de novas substâncias continua sendo o processo de extração. Nesta etapa, além do método de extração, outra escolha fundamental é o solvente extrator a ser utilizado, pois a informação química a ser obtida, tanto qualitativa quanto quantitativa dependerá exclusivamente desses dois fatores. O planejamento de misturas neste caso permite identificar as interações entre os solventes utilizados, ou mesmo constatar que não há interação significativa entre eles, auxiliando na maximização ou minimização de uma resposta. Neste trabalho, a composição química das folhas da planta Erythrina speciosa Andrews foi investigada. Os extratos foram preparados com base em um planejamento experimental de misturas do tipo Centróide-Simplex com quatro componentes; etanol, diclorometano, hexano e acetona. Ao todo foram quinze misturas diferentes, sendo que o ponto central foi feito em quintuplicata, totalizando 19 extratos. Os extratos brutos passaram por um processo de fracionamento, que resultou nas fibras, nas frações neutra, básica e orgânica e também nas sobras, que foram calculadas subtraindo do extrato bruto, o peso das fibras e de todas as frações. Para avaliar os rendimentos através da metodologia de superfície de resposta, foram utilizados os pesos dos extratos brutos, das fibras, das frações neutra, básica e orgânica e também das sobras. Os resultados dos dados gravimétricos demonstraram a importância do planejamento experimental de misturas aplicado à obtenção dos extratos brutos de Erythrina speciosa e das frações em termos da quantidade extraída por cada um dos diferentes extratores, pois em todos os casos destacaramse as misturas binárias e ternárias. Os extratos brutos e as frações básica e orgânica foram analisados por cromatografia líquida. Os dados cromatográficos obtidos foram interpretados com a aplicação dos métodos de análise de componentes principais e análise hierárquica de agrupamentos e os dados cromatográficos de segunda ordem foram avaliados através da aplicação do método Tucker3. A análise exploratória dos dados cromatográficos permitiu discriminar as quinze misturas diferentes de acordo com os solventes utilizados e com base em alguns picos mais importantes / Abstract: In recent years many advances have been made in terms of discovering of new substances from medicinal plants. Even with all the present day technology, one of the most important steps to achieve the isolation of new substances remains the extraction process. Besides the extraction method itself, another fundamental choice is the organic solvent to be used because the chemical information to be obtained, both qualitatively and quantitatively depend solely on these two factors. The experimental mixture design in this case, can identify the interactions between the solvents used, or even perceive no significant interaction between them, helping to maximize or minimize a response. In this work, the chemical composition of the leaves of Erythrina speciosa Andrews was investigated. The extracts were prepared based on a Simplex Centroid mixture design with four components, ethanol, dichloromethane, hexane and acetone. A total of nineteen extractions were carried out with fifteen different mixtures. A five run replicate was performed at the center point. The extracts were submitted to a fractionation process, which resulted in the fibers, in the neutral, basic and organic fractions and also on the rest, which were calculated by subtracting from the crude extract, the weight of the fibers and fractions. To evaluate the yield by response surface methodology, the weights of the crude extract, the fibers, neutral, basic and organic fractions and also the rest were used. The results of the gravimetric data demonstrated the importance of mixture design applied to obtain the crude extracts of Erythrina speciosa and its fractions in terms of quantity extracted by each of the different extracts, because in almost all cases binary and ternary mixtures were more efficient. The extracts, basic and organic fractions were analyzed by liquid chromatography. The chromatographic data were interpreted by the application of principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis and the second-order chromatographic data were evaluated by the application of the Tucker3 method. The exploratory analysis of the chromatographic data allowed discriminating the fifteen different mixtures according to the solvents used based on some major peaks / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutor em Ciências

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology, 2007 / The homoeopathic drug proving of Erythrina lysistemon 30CH took a form of a randomised triple–blind, placebo–controlled study. This trial was conducted at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic on the premises of Durban University of Technology. The research group consisted of 32 provers, which were recruited from amongst practicing homoeopaths, homoeopathic students (2`nd–5`th year), as well as patients of the Homoeopathic Day Clinic (DUT) and their relatives. The participation was purely on voluntary basis. Provers were randomly divided into two groups: a placebo group of 12; a proving group of 20. Each researcher supervised 8 provers. Neither the provers, nor the researchers were aware of the name or nature of the substance being proved, and whether a prover is receiving a placebo or the proving substance until the unblinding process. Provers had a homoeopathic case history taken and a physical examination performed on them before commencement of the proving to establish each individual’s baseline. Provers were required to keep journals in which they recorded their sign and symptoms: starting 7 days prior to commencing the proving, throughout the proving, as well as after administration of the remedy formulated. All the information gathered was then correlated and interpreted by the researchers i.e. four M.Tech.Hom students. Subsequent translation of the symptoms into materia medica and repertory language took place. On completion of the proving a homoeopathic picture of the remedy with III distinct affinities was established. Those affinities were then compared to the toxicology of the major chemical constituents of Erythrina lysistemon. Data was then analyzed by qualitative methods for it was not amendable to standard statistical analysis.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment for the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology in Biomedical Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Introduction Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. Recently, the acceptance of traditional medicine as an alternative form of health care and the development of microbial resistance to the available antibiotics have led scientists to investigate the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from medicinal plants used in traditional medicine. A comparative study was carried out on the antimicrobial properties of extracts obtained by two different methods in order to choose that which extracts the most effective antimicrobial compounds. Methodology The plants used in this study Artemisia afra, Erythrina lysistemon and Psidium guajava were harvested from the Silverglen Nature Reserve (Chatsworth) early in the morning (8 a.m.). The leaves of A. afra and P. guajava extracts and the bark of E. Lysistemon were used to prepare the extracts. All plant extracts were prepared according to modified method of the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoea. Two solvents, water and 60 percent ethanol were used to extract the antibacterial compounds from plant material. The extracts were then assessed for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The effect of the plant extracts on these bacteria was determined by the disk diffusion test, which was used as the screening test. Positive results were further subjected to the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration assays. Tubes that showed no turbidity were then sub-cultured onto non-selective plates. Bacterial sensitivity testing was carried out in accordance with modified Kirby-Bauer Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test. An attempt was made to identify some antibacterial compounds using Thin Layer Chromatography and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Results None of the gram negative organisms were inhibited by Artemisia afra, Erythrina cafra and Psidium guajava. Only the ethanol extracts of all three plants were able to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus but not Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas auruginosa. None of the test organisms were inhibited by the aqueous extracts of all three plants used in this study. In the screening test, the zones of inhibition for ethanol extracts against Staphylococcus aureus ranged from 3mm – 7mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 16.67 percent – 83.3 percent inhibition depending on the dilution of the extract. Quercetin and Catechin were identified as some of the antibacterial compounds present in the leaves of Psidium guajava. These two compounds were not identified on Erythrina lysistemon and Artemisia afra. Conclusion The results obtained in this study have proven that Artemisia afra, Erythrina cafra and Psidium guajava ethanol extracts contain antibacterial substances. The ethanol extracts of all plants in this study inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus but had no effect on the gram negative bacteria. Aqueous plant did not inhibit the growth of any bacteria in this study. This study has also shown that antibacterial effect of these extracts may be considerably enhanced in traditional treatment if traditional healers can include ethanol as one of the extraction solvents. The results obtained in this study might be considered sufficient for further studies aimed at isolating and identifying the active compounds and evaluating possible synergism of antimicrobial activity among these extracts. Investigations on toxicity of these extracts should also be carried out.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2007. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of an indigenous South African substance and the traditional uses of that crude substance. The substance under evaluation was Erythrina lysistemon which was prepared homoeopathically to the thirtieth centesimal (30CH) potency. / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology, 2007 / The homoeopathic drug proving of Erythrina lysistemon 30CH took a form of a randomised triple–blind, placebo–controlled study. This trial was conducted at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic on the premises of Durban University of Technology. The research group consisted of 32 provers, which were recruited from amongst practicing homoeopaths, homoeopathic students (2`nd–5`th year), as well as patients of the Homoeopathic Day Clinic (DUT) and their relatives. The participation was purely on voluntary basis. Provers were randomly divided into two groups: a placebo group of 12; a proving group of 20. Each researcher supervised 8 provers. Neither the provers, nor the researchers were aware of the name or nature of the substance being proved, and whether a prover is receiving a placebo or the proving substance until the unblinding process. Provers had a homoeopathic case history taken and a physical examination performed on them before commencement of the proving to establish each individual’s baseline. Provers were required to keep journals in which they recorded their sign and symptoms: starting 7 days prior to commencing the proving, throughout the proving, as well as after administration of the remedy formulated. All the information gathered was then correlated and interpreted by the researchers i.e. four M.Tech.Hom students. Subsequent translation of the symptoms into materia medica and repertory language took place. On completion of the proving a homoeopathic picture of the remedy with III distinct affinities was established. Those affinities were then compared to the toxicology of the major chemical constituents of Erythrina lysistemon. Data was then analyzed by qualitative methods for it was not amendable to standard statistical analysis.