Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy) - Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 xviii, 122 leaves / This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Withania somnifera and Xysmalobium undulatum plant tinctures in 62% ethanol in inhibiting the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy) - Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 xviii, 122 leaves / This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Withania somnifera and Xysmalobium undulatum plant tinctures in 62% ethanol in inhibiting the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) causes fatal life-threatening disease, if left untreated. The current drugs have various limitations; hence, natural products from medicinal plants are being focused in search of new drugs to treat leishmaniasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antileishmanial and immunomodulatory activities of F5 and F6 alcoholic fractions from Withania somnifera leaves and purified withaferin-A in Leishmania donovani-infected peritoneal macrophages and BALB/c mice. We observed that F5 (15 mu g/mL), F6 (10 mu g/mL), and withaferin-A (1.5 mu M) reduce amastigote count in peritoneal macrophages and induce reactive oxygen species and significant decrease in IL-10 mRNA expression compared to control upon treatment. Subsequently, in vivo study mice were treated with F5 (25 and 50 mg/kg b.wt.), F6 (25 and 50 mg/kg b.wt.) orally, and withaferin-A (2 mg/kg b.wt.) intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days and a drastic reduction in parasite burden in both spleen and liver were observed. The treatment resulted in the reduction in IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-beta mRNA expression and a significant increase in IFN-gamma /IL-10 expression ratio in the treated group compared to control. The humoral response of these alcoholic fractions and withaferin-A shows increased IgG2a levels when compared with IgG1 in treated mice. Taken together, our result concludes that withanolides in alcoholic fractions demonstrate a potent antileishmanial and immunomodulatory activities in experimental VL.

Wihania somnifera L. (Dunal) är en ört med rötter inom den ayurvediska medicinen och dess användning sträcker sig nästan 3000 år tillbaka i tiden. Den kallas även ashwagandha och har fått ökad uppmärksamhet för sina potentiella hälsofördelar. Den anses vara en adaptogen med förmåga att hjälpa kroppen att hantera stress och främja återhämtning, tack vare sina huvudsakliga aktiva föreningar, withanolider. Traditionellt har ashwagandha använts för att lindra stress och främja välbefinnande. Kortisol är ett stresshormon frisatt av binjurarna, som spelar en avgörande roll i kroppens stressrespons. Kronisk exponering för höga nivåer av kortisol kan leda till negativa hälsokonsekvenser. Därför syftade detta litteraturarbete till att undersöka ashwagandhas potentiella effekter på kortisolnivåerna hos människor. Detta undersöktes genom en litteraturanalys av fyra randomiserade, dubbelblinda, placebokontrollerade studier som hittades genom databasen PubMed. Studie 1 visade en signifikant minskning av kortisolnivåerna med 23% hos deltagare som behandlades med ashwagandha jämfört med placebogruppen under en 60-dagarsperiod. Liknande resultat observerades i studie 2, där deltagare som fick ashwagandha visade signifikant minskning av kortisolnivåerna med 22,2% jämfört med placebogruppen under en 8-veckorsperiod. I studie 3 fanns en tendens till minskade kortisolnivåer med 7,8% hos deltagare som behandlades med ashwagandha, även om skillnaden inte var statistiskt signifikant jämfört med placebogruppen. I studie 4 observerades en betydande minskning av morgonkortisolnivåer med 10,9% och eftermiddagskortisolnivåer med 17,1% hos deltagare som fick ashwagandha under 60 dagar. Men när vi jämförde med placebogruppen var endast minskningen av morgonkortisolnivåerna statistiskt signifikant, medan skillnaden i eftermiddagskortisolnivåer inte var signifikant. Sammanfattningsvis tyder resultaten från dessa studier på att ashwagandha kan vara en effektiv metod för att minska kortisolnivåerna hos vuxna individer som upplever olika former av stress. Vidare forskning behövs för att utforska ashwagandhas effekter på olika befolkningsgrupper och deras unika stressprofiler. Längre studier med större populationer krävs också för att fastställa dess säkerhet och effektivitet. / Withania somnifera L. (Dunal), commonly known as ashwagandha, is an herb with roots in ayurvedic medicine dating back almost 3000 years, and it has garnered increased attention for its potential health benefits. It is considered an adaptogen, capable of assisting the body in managing stress and promoting recovery, due to its main active compounds, the withanolides. Traditionally, ashwagandha has been used to alleviate stress and promote well-being. Cortisol, a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands, plays a crucial role in the body's stress response. Chronic exposure to high levels of cortisol can lead to negative health consequences. Therefore, the aim of this literature review was to investigate ashwagandha's potential effects on the cortisol levels in humans. This was examined through the analysis of four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies found through the PubMed database. Study 1 showed a significant reduction in cortisol levels with 23% in participants treated with ashwagandha, compared to the placebo group over a 60-day period. Similar results were observed in study 2, where participants receiving ashwagandha exhibited decreased cortisol levels with 22,2% compared to the placebo group over an 8-week period. Study 3 indicated a trend towards decreased cortisol levels with 7,8% in participants treated with ashwagandha, although a reduction was detected the difference was not significant compared to the placebo group. In study 4, a significant decrease in morning cortisol levels by 10.9% and afternoon cortisol levels by 17.1% was observed in participants who received ashwagandha for 60 days. However, when compared to the placebo group, only the decrease in morning cortisol levels was statistically significant, while the difference in afternoon cortisol levels was not significant. In conclusion, the results of these studies suggested that ashwagandha may be an effective method for reducing cortisol levels in adult individuals experiencing various forms of stress. Further research is needed to explore ashwagandha's effects on different population groups and their unique stress profiles. Longer studies with larger populations are also required to establish its safety and effectiveness.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology : Homeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction The purpose of this study was to conduct a homoeopathic proving of Withania somnifera in the thirtieth centesimal potency [30CH], thereafter to determine and report the symptomatology in standard materia medica and repertory format, and then compare this symptomatology to the indigenous African and Ayurvedic medicinal usage of Withania somnifera. Methodology The homoeopathic drug proving of Withania somnifera 30CH was conducted as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the Durban University of Technology. The intervention, Withania somnifera 30CH, was manufactured according to methods 6, 8a and 10 of the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia [GHP] (Driehsen, 2003). Thirty healthy subjects were recruited as provers after meeting with the inclusion criteria (see Appendix A). The provers were randomised into two groups: 80% of provers received verum and 20% received a placebo control identical in appearance to the verum. The vehicle for both verum and control was six lactose powders, self-administered sublingually three times daily by all provers over two consecutive days. The measurement of proving symptoms was two-fold: a subjective account of symptoms produced by the verum/placebo recorded daily in a journal provided, and objective monitoring by the researcher. After the proving-generated symptoms had subsided, journals were collected and data analysis commenced. The accepted symptoms were collated and reported in standard materia medica and repertory format. Results The proving of Withania somnifera 30CH produced a total of 282 rubrics, five of which were newly formulated rubrics. There were 184 Grade 1 rubrics, 98 Grade 2 rubrics and 0 Grade 3 rubrics. The majority of rubrics were represented in the MIND, DREAMS, HEAD and GENERALS sections of the repertory. Analysis of results provided insight into the similarities and differences between indigenous African and Ayurvedic medicinal usage of Withania somnifera and the relationship to other homoeopathic medicines. Conclusion Clearly observable symptomatology was produced by healthy provers in response to the administration of Withania somnifera 30CH. In addition, there was significant correlation between the proving symptomatology and the indigenous African and Ayurvedic medicinal usage of Withania somnifera. / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy of Withania somnifera in tincture, 1X and 6X homoeopathic dilutions (in 62% v/v ethanol) as an antimicrobial agent against the in vitro growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as compared to 62% v/v ethanol only. The disc diffusion method was employed. W somnifera is indigenous to southern Africa and its use is well established amongst the traditional healers for many varied complaints. Infusions, decoctions and tinctures of the fresh and dry whole root are used. (Gericke and Van Wyk, 2000:150.) For this study 20 plates of Mueller-Hinton agar were inoculated with each bacteria, resulting in a total of 100 plates. Four dry discs previously impregnated with the test substances and two antibiotic discs were equidistantly placed on each plate and incubated at 3rC. The vancomycin and gentamycin discs were included to account for plate-to-plate variations in the sensitivity of the bacteria to the antimicrobial substances. The plates were observed at 18, 24 and 48-hour intervals. ' Statistical analysis was performed using the Friedman test to compare test and control substances at each observation interval. The Mann-Whitney-U test was used to compare the mean inhibition zones between test and control substances / M

The respiratory system is a target for environmental oxidants from airborne pollution and other contaminants. Chronic exposure may result in inflammatory conditions such as allergies and asthma. The ability of the body to counteract oxidation is dependent on the oxidative status of the individual, and can also benefit from the use of medicinal plant preparations such as Withania somnifera (WS), which is accredited with antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Selenium is an important cofactor of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase. A deficiency of Se will result in decreased antioxidant enzymes levels and a poor response to oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant content and activity of WS, as well as its in vitro effects with seleno-L-methionine (Se-Met), the major component of dietary selenium, in a physiologically relevant cell model system. Little is known about the combinational effects of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants i.e., WS in combination with Se-Met, and these effects were also quantified. The antioxidant content (total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC)) and activity (2,2- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of a water extract of WS, as traditionally prepared and used, was determined. The intracellular and total protection of WS alone (0-33.33 mg/ml) and in combination with Se-Met (0-33.33 pg/ml) (range: ½-100x RDA) was evaluated in a standard cell line, the SC-1 fibroblast cell line and in physiologically relevant primary cultures of chick embryo lung cells (CELC) using the 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. Water extracts of WS, as traditionally consumed, were found to possess significant antioxidant content and activity. For TPC and TFC, WS was found to contain 4.84 g CE/100 g DW, and 355 mg CE/100 g DW respectively. For DPPH, the IC50 of WS was 56.34 mg/ml, and the antioxidant activity of WS was 274.8 μmol TE/g. For TEAC, the IC50 of WS was 60.3 mg/ml, and the antioxidant activity of WS was 2.2 mmol TE/g. Using ORAC, the antioxidant activity of WS was found to be 15.05 μM TE/g. WS and Se-Met exhibited both pro-oxidant and antioxidant effects in the DCFH-DA assay and this may be a function of concentration, as well as combinations of WS and Se-Met ratios. Data indicates that both WS and Se-Met, alone and in combination, elicit protection via the intracellular (at all concentrations) and extracellular (at higher concentrations) compartment of the SC-1 cell. A synergistic interaction is observed extracellularly between WS and Se-Met, with mostly additive effects occurring intracellularly. For CELC, WS and Se-Met alone both demonstrated total protective effects at almost all concentrations, and intracellular protective effects at higher concentrations. The combination of WS and Se-Met provided total and intracellular protection to the CELC at the highest concentration combination. Antagonism between WS and Se-Met was observed at low concentrations in the total protection assay, with weak synergism and antagonism occurring at higher concentrations. Synergism between WS and Se-Met was observed at low concentrations intracellularly, with antagonistic interactions occurring at higher concentrations. In conclusion, WS and Se-Met, alone and in combination at non-cytotoxic concentrations, displayed significant cellular protection against oxidative damage and this was a function of cell line, concentration and ratios between WS and Se-Met. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Anatomy / unrestricted

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The C4 trituration method is a unique method for homoeopathically proving a substance and determining its therapeutic properties. The process requires the use of a mortar and pestle and involves many rounds of grinding (triturating) the raw substance. During the trituration process symptoms are experienced by the triturator. Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha in Ayurvedic medicine is highly regarded for its clinical efficacy as an adaptogenic herb. Due to the herb’s therapeutic properties and extensive use in Ayurvedic medicine a comprehensive homoeopathic drug proving was conducted at The Durban University of Technology by Laidlaw in 2015. Aim The aim of this study was to conduct a homoeopathic C4 trituration proving of Withania somnifera with a subsequent comparison to the conventional 30CH proving of Withania somnifera which was conducted by Laidlaw in 2015. The study was of a qualitative and exploratory nature hence employed a qualitative methodology with purposive sampling. Participants were required to triturate up to the fourth potency [C4] and all the symptoms experienced were recorded in the journals provided. The study incorporated thematic analyses of data. The data was transliterated by the researcher, thereafter those symptoms were classified systematically and converted into rubrics using Schroyens (2012) repertory. Recorded symptoms were collated to create a C4 trituration representation. Subsequently the symptoms obtained from the C4 trituration proving of Withania somnifera was comparatively analysed against the symptoms of the conventional 30CH proving of Withania somnifera, which was conducted by Laidlaw (2015). Method This research study followed a qualitative methodology which comprised a single blind study, and a proving sample. This was a qualitative study; the requirement for sample size is usually up to 10 participants until saturation of data, but this study utilised 18 participants to ensure the generation of rich data. Participants triturated 91: 100 lactose to the fourth potency [C4] using a mortar and pestle. All symptoms experienced were recorded in journals. The analysis of the data followed a qualitative phenomenological methodology. Results The C4 trituration proving yielded 145 rubrics. Two of these rubrics were newly formulated. The majority of the rubrics were produced in the MIND and HEAD section. There were 100 Grade 1 rubrics, 44 Grade 2 rubrics and 1 Grade 3 rubrics. Conlcusion The C4 trituration produced a symptom picture of Withania somnifera, which was comparable to the 30CH conventional proving. The C4 trituration proving produced observable changes in the triturators’ state of health but predominantly MIND symptoms were evoked. The symptom picture created with the C4 trituration had many similarities to the 30CH conventional proving. The polarity of symptoms that existed in Withania somnifera was observed in both provings and included symptoms such as: anxiety vs tranquillity, increased concentration vs decrease in concentration. Differences between the C4 trituration proving and the 30CH conventional proving were found in the description of physical symptoms such as headaches, in the types of delusions that occurred in each proving, and in some mental symptoms such as anger, sadness, clarity, and introspection. / M

No description available.

Ce travail de recherche a pour objectifs d’évaluer les activités antibactériennes, antiprolifératives et antioxydantes des extraits de feuilles de Solanum incanum L., S. schimperianum Hochst, S. nigrum L., Physalis lagascae Roem. & Schult. et Withania somnifera (L) Dunal. Plus précisément, les activités antibactériennes, anti-prolifératives et antioxydantes ont été déterminées à partir des extraits méthanoliques et des fractions de glycoalcaloïdes stéroïdiens (SGAF) de chaque plante. La sensibilité des bactéries, à Gram positif et à Gram négatif, était variable en présence de chacun des extraits (valeurs des IC50 dans la gamme de 15 > 1000 μg / mL). L'extrait méthanolique de la feuille de S. schimperianum a montré une activité anti-proliférative intéressante contre les lignées cellulaires humaines testées avec des valeurs de CI50 variant de 2,69 à 19,83 μg / mL tandis que l'activité la plus élevée des fractions de feuilles (SGAF) de W. somnifera a montré des valeurs IC50 variant de 1,29 à 5,00 μg / mL. Les fractions SGAF de toutes les espèces ont montré une activité antiradicalaire plus élevée que leurs extraits méthanoliques. La fraction SGAF de S. schimperianum a montré l'activité antioxydante la plus forte avec une valeur CI50 3,5 ± 0,2 μg / mL pour le test DPPH et 3,5 ± 0,3 μg / mL pour le test ABTS. L'analyse GC-MS des extraits méthanoliques et des fractions SGAF des espèces étudiées a révélé la présence d'alcaloïdes stéroïdiens, de saponines stéroïdiennes, de stéroïdes et d'autres composés comme des terpènes, des phénols et des alcanes. Leur répartition variait selon les espèces et, ce qui peut fournir des éléments pour évaluer les relations chimiotaxonomiques préliminaires. Douze dérivés de l'acide hydroxycinnamique ont été identifiés dans l'extrait méthanolique de la feuille de S. schimperianum et le composé N-caffeoyl agmatine était majoritaire. La présence d'alcaloïdes stéroïdiques comme la solanopubamine et la solanocapsine, ainsi que des dérivés des alcaloïdes 3-amino stéroïdes a été notée. De plus, trois composés, quercétine, kaempférol glycosylé et le β-sitostérol, ont été isolés et identifiés / This study aimed at the evaluation of in vitro antibacterial, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of methanolic leaf extracts and steroidal glycoalkaloids fractions (SGAFs) of Solanum incanum L., S. schimperianum Hochst, S. nigrum L., Physalis lagascae Roem. & Schult. and Withania somnifera (L) Dunal. The sensitivity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to each extract was variable (IC50 values in the range of 15->1000 µg/mL). The methanolic extract of S. schimperianum leaf demonstrated interesting anti-proliferative activity against the human cell lines tested with IC50 values in the range of 2.69 to 19.83 µg/mL while the highest activity from the SGAFs was obtained from W. somnifera leaf with IC50 values in the range of 1.29 to 5.00 µg/mL. The SGAFs of all species demonstrated higher scavenging activity than their respective methanolic extracts. The SGAF of S. schimperianum displayed the strongest antioxidant activity in both assays with IC50 value 3.5 ± 0.2DPPH and 3.5 ±0.3ABTS µg/mL. GC-MS analysis of methanolic and SGAFs extracts of the studied species revealed the presence of steroidal alkaloids, steroidal saponins, steroids and other compounds like terpenes, phenols and alkanes. Their distribution varied among the species and thus they could provide evidence to assess preliminary chemotaxonomic relationships. Twelve known hydroxycinnamic acid amides were tentatively identified from the methanolic extract of S. schimperianum leaf and N-caffeoyl agmatine appeared with the highest intensity. Moreover, the presence of steroid alkaloids solanopubamine and solanocapsine as well as dehydroderivatives of the 3-amino steroid alkaloids was suggested. Furthermore, three compounds quercetin, kaempferol glycoside and β-sitosterol were isolated and identified. In silico investigation of these three compounds for their potency against cancer revealed that β-sitosterol was found to be the most selective compound against human pregnane X receptor (PXR) and gave the highest binding energy (-11.2 kcal/mol). These results suggested that Solanaceae plants endogenous to Sudan could be a potential source of bioactive agents