No presente trabalho, realizou-se o estudo químico da fração alcaloídica total de Duguetia lanceolata St. Hil. (Annonaceae), espécie proveniente do cerrado paulista, tendo-se obtido o perfil cromatográfico e a separação decomponentes da fração alcaloídica, que resultou na obtenção do alcaloide aporfínico majoritário N-acetilanonaína, isolado da espécie, pela primeira vez. No estudo botânico de folhas, foram descritas as características da morfologia externa e interna, tendo sido ilustradas por fotografias e fotomicrografias dos itens mais importantes para a diagnose da droga caracteres xeromórficos, como: consistência coriácea, cutícula espessa, escamas e tricomas tectores estrelares nas epidermes, presença de bainhas e grandes grupos de células esclerenquimáticas freqüentes, na nervura mediana e no pecíolo. Entre outros elementos de destaque encontram-se: a distribuição de drusas na epiderme e a presença de células oleíferas dispersas no mesofilo. A avaliação da atividade antiprotozoária mostrou, de forma geral, que frente ao Plasmodium falciparum, os alcalóides totais são mais ativos sobre a cepa resistente à cloroquina (K-1) (CE50:2,0µg/mL) o que também foi observado para os mesmos componentes acetilados (CE50:3,0µg/mL). Tanto o extrato etanólico, quanto os alcaloides totais (l00µg/mL) da espécie, demonstraram elevados níveis de atividade frente às formas tripomastigotas de Tripanosoma cruzi, tendo apresentado percentual de morte de cerca de 100% e 66%, respectivamente. Este último, foi comparável ao benznidazol, fármaco usado como referência. Tais resultados são promissores tendo em vista que, os extratos não apresentaram citotoxicidade sobre as células de camundongos (RAW 264.7), até a maior concentração testada (120µg/mL). No ensaio de citotoxicidade sobre Artemia salina, os extratos etanólico e alcaloídico foram ambos inativos (DL50>1000µg/mL), em contraste com os alcalóides totais acetilados que demonstraram nível de toxicidade comparável ao do sulfato de atropina (DL50:867,60µg/mL) utilizado como referência, no ensaio. / ln this work, some chemical, botanical and pharmacological aspects of the brazilian Duguetia lanceolate St. Hil (Annonaceae) were considered. The plant specimen was collected from the cerrado biome, at São Paulo, Brazil. The isoquinoline alkaloid fraction was extracted and then acetylated. After performed the chromatographic profile, the column fractionation led to the first isolation of the major aporphine N- acetyl-anonaine from this specie. Morphological and anatomical characters of the leaves were described and illustrated by photographies and photomicrographies. Some xeromorphic characters, typical from cerrado species, were recognized: coriaceous leaves, thick cuticle, scales, stellate non-glandular trichomes, sclerenchymatic vascular sheats and scattered sclerenchymatic cell groups in the median nervure and petiole. Other important features were observed: isolated druses of calcium oxalate in each epidermal cells and oil cells scattered in the mesophyll. Evaluation of the antiprotozoal activity showed that the total alkaloid fraction (EC50:2,0µg/mL) and the same acetylated fraction (EC50:3,0µg/mL), were more active against the chloroquine resistant strain (K-1) of Plasmodium falciparum. The total acetylated alkaloids and the ethanolic extract (l00µg/mL) were highly active (0% of survival) against trypomastigotes of Tripanosoma cruzi. ln the same test, non acetylated alkaloids (l00µg/mL) killed about 66% of the parasite forms, having an activity comparable to Benznidazole, the standard drug. Those results were promising, considering the low cytoxicity showed by the plant extracts (ethanol and total alkaloid) over mice macrophages RAW 264.7, at the maximum tested concentration (120 µg/mL). The ethanol and total alkaloid extracts showed, also, low levels of citotoxicity (LD50>l000µg/mL), when assayed against the Artemia salina while the acetylated alkaloids had a LD50 value (843,2 µg/ml) comparable to the atropine sulphate.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-11-08T16:41:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Wagner Mcklayton Alves de Souza.pdf: 1430165 bytes, checksum: 6865be14673aa551296e87905cdd469c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-08T16:41:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Wagner Mcklayton Alves de Souza.pdf: 1430165 bytes, checksum: 6865be14673aa551296e87905cdd469c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Lippia sidoides Cham (rosemary pepper) is a plant present in part of the semi-arid on Brazil northeastern. Their leaves have shown a high potential in the treatment of dermatitis in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of the L. sidoides Cham oil on ectoparasites of domestic dogs (Canis familiares) and antimicrobial activities on Staphylococcus sp. isolated in these animals. To this end, were selected 20 dogs suffering from ectoparasites. In 40 samples of skin culture for bacterial growth it was found positive result in 09 samples analyzed, being Staphylococcus sp isolated, for in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of oil L. sidoides they were subjected to MIC. The results also revealed the presence of flea C. felis felis, tick R. sanguineus. For in vitro evaluation of insecticidal activity against Ctenocephalides felis felis through the filter paper test, were used 150 adult fleas divided into three groups each with ten subjects. G 01 being distilled water + Tween 20, G 02 oil L. sidoides 5% with Tween 20 as a dispersant and G3 three spray fipronil, evaluating motility in time of 10 minutes 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours. In the in vivo test 20 pet dogs of both sexes parasitized by C. felis felis were divided into two groups G1 with shampoo of essential oil of L. sidoides 5% and G2 shampoo neutral, bathed twice a week for nine weeks. To in vitro acaricide evaluation against R. sanguineus were used 90 female ticks divided into three treatment groups, being G1 based on essential oil of L. siodoides Cham using Tween 20 as a dispersant at distilled water, G2 cypermethrin + Dichlorvos ® DDVP and in the negative control G3 distilled water and Tween 20. The results showed significant inhibition of bacterial growth at a concentration of 5% against S. sp. 100% mortality against R. sanguineus in the same concentrations. On in vivo tests against C. felis was a reduction of 100% in the number of fleas treated with L. sidoides and efficacy of 100% in the mortality in vitro of C. felis felis after 24 hours exposure to oil L. sidoides. It was concluded that the essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham 5% presented insecticide effectiveness on the adult form of Ctenocephalides felis felis in both tests. Well as antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus spp and acaricide against ticks of R. sanguineus. / A Lippia sidoides Cham (alecrim pimenta) é uma planta presente em parte do semi-árido do Nordeste Brasileiro. Suas folhas tem apresentado elevado potencial no tratamento de diversas dermatites em humanos. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a atividade biológica do óleo de L. sidoides Cham sobre ectoparasitos de cães domésticos (Canis familiares) e antimicrobiana sobre Staphylococcus sp isoladas destes mesmos animais. Para tal, foram selecionados 20 cães acometidos de ectoparasitoses. Em 40 amostras de cultura de pele para crescimento bacteriano foi verificado resultado positivo em 09 amostras analisadas, sendo isolada a bactéria Staphylococcus sp , para avaliação in vitro da atividade antimicrobiana do óleo de L. sidoides as mesmas foram submetidas ao MIC. Os resultados revelaram ainda a presença da pulga C. felis felis, e carrapato R. sanguineus. Para avaliação in vitro da atividade inseticida contra Ctenocephalides felis felis através do teste de papel filtro, foram utilizadas 150 pulgas adultas divididas em três grupos com dez indivíduos cada. Sendo G 01 água destilada + Tween 20, G 02 óleo de L. sidoides a 5% tendo como dispersante o Tween 20 e G3 fipronil spray, avaliando-se a motilidade em tempos de 10 minutos 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 horas. No teste in vivo 20 cães domiciliados de ambos os sexos parasitados por C. felis felis foram divididos em dois grupos G1 com shampoo de óleo essencial de L. sidoides a 5% e G2 shampoo neutro, banhados duas vezes por semana por nove semanas. Para avaliação acaricida in vitro contra R. sanguineus utilizou-se 90 fêmeas teleóginas divididas em três grupos de tratamento, sendo o G1 à base de óleo essencial de L. siodoides Cham a 5% utilizando-se tween 20 como dispersante em água destilada, G2 cipermetrina + Diclorvós® DDVP e no controle negativo G3 água destilada e tween 20. Os resultados revelaram inibição do crescimento bacteriano significativo na concentração de 5% frente a S. sp. mortalidade de 100% frente R. sanguineus nas mesmas concentrações. Nos testes in vivo contra C. felis houve uma redução de 100% no número de pulgas tratadas com L. sidoides bem como eficácia de 100% na mortalidade in vitro de C. felis felis após 24h de exposição ao óleo de L. sidoides. Conclui-se que o óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides Cham a 5% apresentou eficácia inseticida sobre a forma adulta de Ctenocephalides felis felis em ambos os testes. Bem como ação antimicrobiana frente a isolados de Staphylococcus spp e acaricida frente a teleóginas de R. sanguineus.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sutherlandia frutescens on the inflammatory response and T cell differentiation in vitro using cytokines as biomarkers. Whole blood cells containing various concentrations of Sutherlandia frutescens were stimulated in vitro with either Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Results show that Sutherlandia frutescens is not toxic at any of the concentrations tested. The addition of Sutherlandia frutescens at high concentrations to the stimulated whole blood cell cultures reflects a significant down regulation of Interleukin(IL) 6 and IL-10 compared to the control (P<0.05) hence suppressed the inflammatory and humoral immune response. Results obtained for Inteferon-gamma (IFN ) shows that Sutherlandia frutescens is donor specific as it reflects both up and down regulation in the release of IFN at the concentrations tested. The in vitro data generated by this study supports the use of Sutherlandia frutescens in the management of inflammatory conditions and allergies such as asthma. However the effects of Sutherlandia frutescens on cell mediated immunity was found to be donor specific. Further investigation of Sutherlandia frutescens on cellular immunity is advised. / South Africa

Summaries in English and Sesotho / This qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study explored culturally sensitive health information about the use of herbal medicine by pregnant women in Lesotho, in order to provide culturally sensitive health advice to pregnant women. Pregnant women used herbal medicine and remedies during pregnancy resulted in still births and complications during labour. Data on the beliefs and practices of fifteen purposively and conveniently sampled pregnant women attending a rural antenatal clinic was collected through semistructured interviews and analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Ethical principles and strategies to ensure trustworthiness were applied. One central theme emerged: ‘Women believe that the use of herbal medicine and remedies is a traditional practice that pregnant women need to follow due to culture’. The cultural beliefs and practices of the women were deeply rooted in Basotho culture, which guided the use of herbal medicine. However, some considered herbal medicines to be harmful, as the dosage and content of these medicines vary. Nurses are therefore key to providing culturally sensitive health care advise on using herbal medicine during pregnancy. / Boithuto bona ba boleng bo botle, bo hlalosang le ho fumaneng tlhaiso-leseling e mabapi le bophelo bo botle mabapi le ts’ebeliso ea meriana ea litlama ke basali ba baimana Lesotho, ele ho fana ka likeletso tsa bophelo bo botle ba setso. Lintlha tse mabapi le litumelo le litloaelo tsa basali ba baimana ba leshome le metso e mehlano ka boomo le ka mokhoa o fumanehang li ile tsa bokelloa ka lipuisano tse hlophisitsoeng le ho hlahlojoa ho sebelisoa mekhoa e supileng ea Colaizzi. Melao-motheo ea boits’oaro le maano a ho netefatsa hore a ts’epahetse a sebelisitsoe. Ho ile hoa hlaha sehlooho se le seng se bohareng: ‘Basali ba lumela hore ts’ebeliso ea litlama ke tloaelo eo basali ba baimana ba lokelang ho e latela ka lebaka la moetlo’. Litumelo le litloaelo tsa basali li ne li metse ka metso moetlong oa Basotho, o neng o tataisa ts’ebeliso ea meriana ea litlama. Leha ho le joalo, ba bang ba ne ba nka meriana ea litlama e le kotsi, hobane litekanyetso le litlhare tsa meriana ena li ea fapana. Ka hona baoki ke senotlolo sa ho fana ka thuto ea bophelo bo botle ba setso mabapi le ho sebelisa litlama nakong ea boimana. Mehopolo ea bohlokoa Meriana ea litlama, litumelo le litloaelo tsa moetlo, basali ba baimana, thuto ea bophelo bo botle / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Healthcare in South Africa is polarised between western and traditional African systems of therapy. The latter is consulted by the majority of the population and therefore plays an integral role in the delivery of healthcare to South Africans. Traditional medicines are primarily plant products with long storage lives, among which the dominance of bark is typical of southern African traditional healthcare systems. Expansion of the traditional healthcare sector during the twentieth century, in response to rising consumer demands, stimulated a lucrative trade in medicinal plants that is centred in KwaZulu-Natal. Since herbal medicines are sourced almost exclusively from indigenous vegetation, harvesting pressures exerted on the indigenous flora to meet demands for traditional medicines have rendered such resources non-sustainable. Although trees comprise a small fraction of South African medicinal plant species, bark from them constitutes a substantial proportion of the plant products used medicinally. Trees are among the most threatened medicinal plants in South African due to their limited abundance, the ecological sensitivity of the vegetation in which they occur, and destructive methods of commercial bark harvesting that frequently take place within protected areas. In KwaZulu-Natal, bark is harvested primarily from forests that occupy an extent of only 0.1 % in the province. Conservation of economically valuable tree species is particularly problematic since data necessary for the establishment of sustainable usage systems are absent or inaccessible. Alternatives to in situ conservation for renewable bark resources include propagation, multi-use timber systems and reintroduction of locally extinct species. To facilitate appropriate management of bark resources, there is a need for specialist publications and consolidated data with which sustainable usage levels may be determined. The importance of bark in South African traditional healthcare is poorly reflected by the ethno botanical literature. In this study, 180 bark species used in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal were inventoried from thorough literature surveys, but this number is anticipated to be a conservative reflection of actual statistics. Where trade data were recorded in the literature, they indicated intensive exploitation of bark resources in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout South Africa, but conservation and management data were lacking for 72 % of the species inventoried. A number of problems were encountered in the literature, of which vague information and the documentation of local vernacular nomenclature were the most troublesome. Despite the importance of traditional medicine, the country's political history led to the prevailing situation, where the traditional healthcare sector is largely unregulated. Coupled with increasingly limited availability of medicinal plants, the quality and appropriate use of traditional medicines is negatively affected by growing numbers of inadequately trained practitioners, herbalist retailers and plant gatherers. Possibilities of misidentification or purposeful adulteration of medicinal bark products therefore lead to concerns for patient safety, since dried bark is difficult or impossible to identify. Whilst bark characters are useful for field identifications, many useful diagnostic characters are lost through desiccation, and anatomy and morphology of bark are variable. Additionally, medicinal bark products used in KwaZulu-Natal, and their identification, are largely undocumented. This study focussed on eight bark species used medicinally in the province, elected by an esteemed traditional medical practitioner as having problematic identity. Monograph-type characterisation profiles were drawn up for reference specimens collected from various localities, and their medicinal bark products traded under vernacular names recorded in the literature. In the absence of standardised traditional medicines, there is a need for reliable and affordable methods for their authentication. Phytochemical bark characters identified by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) have proved useful in chemotaxonomic studies, and the technique is widely used for herbal drug authentication. TLC was tested here for authentication of medicinal bark products from the aforementioned study species. Three reference samples of each species were collected, and TLC-generated fingerprints compared. At the intraspecific level, TLC was useful in confirming the relationship of ethanol and hexane bark extracts, but was less meaningful in distinguishing between fingerprints of different species. Three medicinal bark products of each study species were purchased and fingerprints compared to a reference. The technique proved useful in confirming the identity of several medicinal bark products. Authentication of medicinal bark products may be useful in toxicology cases and in the accurate documentation of their trade. This research identified a complexity of issues surrounding the use of bark in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, and indeed South Africa. A multi-faceted approach is required to secure their sustainability. Critical, however, to factors such as effective conservation and regulation of the traditional healthcare sector, is recognition of the importance, and documentation, of traditional bark medicines. The integrity of traditional healthcare, and the future of the South African flora, hinge upon the sustainable use of medicinal products such as bark. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Au cours des trente dernières années, avec la multiplication des effets secondaires des médicaments synthétiques, les médicaments traditionnels à base de plantes ont été redécouverts. Cette catégorie de médicaments est définie juridiquement par la directive communautaire 2004/24/CE. Le but de cette recherche est, d’une part, de comparer les textes sino-Européens sur le contrôle de la qualité des matières premières végétales dans les domaines de la production et du commerce international ; d’autre part, de comparer les textes sino-Européens sur le contrôle de la qualité, de la sécurité et de l’efficacité des médicaments traditionnels à base de plantes, en tant que produits finis. Toutes les réglementations communautaires et chinoises, concernant les médicaments traditionnels à base de plantes, ont pour objectif essentiel la sauvegarde de la santé publique ; la qualité, la sécurité et l’efficacité de ces médicaments particuliers sont strictement contrôlées dans ces deux régions du monde. Toutefois, il est important de noter que ces deux systèmes juridiques présentent des nombreuses divergences tenant à l’histoire et à la culture dans le secteur des médicaments traditionnels à base de plantes. L’harmonisation des textes sino-Européens sur les médicaments traditionnels à base de plantes soulève un problème particulièrement complexe. / In the recent three decades, with the increase of side effects of synthetic drugs, attention to traditional herbal medicines has been paid again and given a clear legal definition by the directive 2004/24/EC. In this thesis, we are making a comparative study: first on the Chinese-European texts on the quality control of vegetal raw material in the fields of production and international trade, then on the Chinese-European on the quality control, the security and effectiveness of traditional herbes-Made medicine as products. Although Chinese and European tradition herbal medicine regulations all mainly aim at protecting public health, and strictly controlling the quality, safety and efficacy of such medicines, there are big difference for traditional herbal medicine regulations between China and the EU due to difference of the history, culture and traditions in the pharmaceutical industry and the legal system. For a long period of time, coordination between the two will remain difficult.

Introdução: A curcumina é um polifenol presente no rizoma da espécie Curcuma longa L. que tem sido usado há séculos como medicamento anti-inflamatório na medicina asiática. A síndrome nefrótica é classicamente tratada com corticosteroides, uma potente classe antiinflamatória e imunossupressora. O tratamento pode trazer sérios efeitos adversos. Objetivos: Este estudo foi desenhado para avaliar o efeito anti-inflamatório e antiproteinúrico da C. longa na forma de droga vegetal, na lesão renal induzida pela doxorrubicina. Desenho do estudo: Trata-se de um estudo experimental in vivo. Métodos: O efeito anti-inflamatório e anti-proteinúrico da C. longa foi avaliado utilizando-se 4 grupos de ratos Wistar: dois grupos com lesão renal induzida por doxorrubicina (3,5 mg/kg) em dose única endovenosa, sendo um alimentando-se de ração padrão e outro com ração misturada a C. longa (5 mg/g de ração). Outros dois grupos controles sem lesão renal foram alimentados, sendo um com ração padrão e outro com C. longa. Foram coletadas amostras de urina para dosagem de albuminúria a cada 2 semanas. Após 8 semanas os animais foram anestesiados e coletado sangue para dosagem no plasma de creatinina, albumina, sódio, potássio, colesterol e osmolalidade. Nas amostras de urina foram dosados albuminúria, sódio, potássio, osmolalidade e os mediadores inflamatórios proteína quimiotática para monócitos-1 e fator de transformação do crescimento beta urinário. Foi coletado tecido renal para realização de microscopia de luz e de imuno-histoquímica para desmina, vimentina e células ED-1 positivas. Resultados: Após a 8a semana de acompanhamento, o tratamento com C. longa atenuou o aumento do MCP-1 urinário, do TGF-? urinário, da imunomarcação para desmina, vimentina e células ED-1+ nos ratos com lesão renal induzida. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que o uso de C. longa em um modelo experimental de lesão renal por doxorrubicina, por 8 semanas, não reduz a albuminúria, mas leva a diminuição dos mediadores inflamatórios renais MCP-1 e TGF-? urinário, além de imunomarcação para desmina, vimentina e células ED-1+ no tecido renal. / Background: Curcumin is a polyphenol present in the rhizome of the species Curcuma longa L., which has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory remedy in Asian medicine. Nephrotic syndrome is classically treated with corticosteroids, a potent antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive class. The treatment can cause serious adverse effects. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiproteinuric effects of C. longa, as powdered dried rhizomes, in renal injury induced by doxorubicin. Study design: This is an in vivo experimental study. Methods: The antiinflammatory and anti-proteinuric effects of C. longa were evaluated in four groups of Wistar rats: two groups with intravenous doxorubicin-induced kidney injury (3.5 mg/kg), one fed with standard food and another with standard food mixed with C. longa (5 mg/g food). Two other control groups without kidney injury were fed, one with standard and one with C. longa-mixed food. Urine samples were collected for albuminuria every 2 weeks. After 8 weeks, the animals were anesthetized and blood was collected for measurement of plasma creatinine, albumin, sodium, potassium, cholesterol and osmolality. In the urine samples, measurements of albuminuria, sodium, potassium, osmolality and inflammatory mediators as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and transforming growth factor beta were done. Renal tissue was collected for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry for desmin, vimentin and ED-1 positive cells. Results: After the 8th week of follow-up, treatment with C. longa attenuated the increase of urinary MCP-1, urinary TGF-?, and immunostaining for desmin, vimentin and ED-1+ cells in rats with doxorubicin-induced kidney injury. Conclusion: The results suggest that the use of C. longa in an experimental model of nephrotic syndrome for 8 weeks does not reduce albuminuria, but there is a decrease in the inflammatory mediators urinary MCP- 1, urinary TGF-?, and immunostaining for desmin, vimentin and ED-1+ cells.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Traditional medicine plays a major role in the primary health care of many people residing in rural areas. People in these areas still consult traditional healers who utilise plants as medicine. Medicinal plants have come under increasing pressure due to a number of factors, which have resulted in the decline of certain species, extinction in others, and a general decrease in biodiversity of high use areas of South Africa, Blouberg Mountain included. To date there has been a lack of information on how traditional healers utilise the Blouberg Mountain with respect to amounts and species removed, or where the most important collecting sites are located. Thus, no conservation strategy exists for the Blouberg Mountain to ensure sustainable management of its natural resources. Furthermore, there is a perception amongst elders of this area that, as with indigenous knowledge around the world, the knowledge centered around Blouberg’s medicinal plants is declining, and little formal documentation of that knowledge has taken place. Consequently, this study investigated aspects related to medicinal plant use such as collection, patterns of collection, legislation, storage and packaging of medicinal plants by traditional healers around Blouberg Mountain. These were documented via a semi-structured questionnaire and a data collection sheet. Furthermore, traditional harvesting methods employed by traditional healers, and in situ conservation issues related to species removal from the mountain were investigated. Data was collected between September 2010 and September 2011. Sixteen villages in close proximity to the mountain, and 32 healers (two per village) were selected. In addition 16 consulting rooms were sampled (one per village) in order to gather information on the number of species collected from the mountain and stored in the consulting rooms. The 16 most used (indicated by village traditional healers) collection tracks, (one per village surrounding Blouberg Mountain), were travelled with traditional healers to record botanical and vernacular names of the medicinal plants, vegetation type, habitat, parts used, harvesting method, replacement value of plant species and perceived rarity of collected material. A Garmin GPS was used to record waypoints for the beginning and end of each track. Co-ordinates were logged automatically every 10 m. A map using Quantum GIS software to capture the position of the healers’ collection tracks, overlaid with topographical and vegetation information, and protected area information of the Blouberg Mountain, was generated. Geographic Information System software was used to geo-process the collection tracks of the healers with respect to where medicinal plants were collected relative to the various vegetation types. This gave information on vegetation types important to healers. The majority of traditional healers were females. Most of them had no formal education, with only a minority reaching secondary school. Due to their low level of literacy they tended to shy away from sources of written information, with the result that none of the questioned healers had any knowledge of the various national or provincial environmental legislations. The majority of them see between 15 and 20 patients per month. Most of the healers had more than 30 years of experience in traditional healing. The study found 64 plant species commonly used for medicinal purposes. Most of them were harvested for their roots and bark. According to the healers, Boophane disticha and Hypoxis hemerocallidea are declining in Blouberg Mountain, with Warburgia salutaris, endangered in South Africa, not perceived as rare or declining. However, a number of plant species recorded in the Red Data List as of least concern, or not threatened, are seen as rare by the healers. These include Clivia caulescens, Erythrina lysistemon, Lannea schweinfurthii and Maerua juncea. No exotic species were documented from the surveyed tracks. However, two naturalised exotics were collected from the mountain, namely Cassytha filiformis and Corchorus tridens. Cocculus hirsutus, a naturalised exotic and Abrus precatorius, an exotic species were found in one of the consulting rooms. Dichrostachys cinerea, Philenoptera violacea and Tarchonanthus camphoratus, which are indicators of bush encroachment, were identified on selected tracks. Tracks on which indicators of bush encroachment are present should be investigated more thoroughly to ascertain the extent and severity of such a threat. vii Investigations into healers’ collection tracks showed that the Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld vegetation type is the most heavily utilised of the five vegetation types around Blouberg Mountain. This vegetation type is vulnerable to human population densities as most species were collected from it, therefore it should be conserved and managed if possible as it is targeted for plant species of medicinal value. The most travelled tracks were found in the Catha-Faurea Wooded Grassland community. Solutions to the problems of over harvesting of medicinal plants require local innovations and the full participation of traditional healers in resource management initiatives. The development of medicinal plant nurseries together with propagation of key species will be a crucial management tool, as this will reduce over harvesting of natural resources from the wild. In conclusion, it was found that although most species utilised around Blouberg Mountain are abundant and not threatened, healers are nevertheless concerned about dwindling medicinal plant supplies. They would welcome conservation initiatives and the use of GIS maps would be useful in prioritising conservation areas.

Background: Interest in alternatives to hormone therapy (HT) for menopausal symptoms increased following its association with serious health risks. In terms of phytotherapeutic interventions, while traditional use supports a range of herbs for treating menopausal symptoms, evidence from rigorous scientific trials is limited, and has largely focused on the phytoestrogenic plants. Because of some safety concerns over long-term use of isoflavones, the present study focused on two non-estrogenic herbs, Hypericum perforatum and Vitex agnus-castus, also employed in this context in the Anglo-American and European traditions. Both herbs have shown effectiveness for the alleviation of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which is reported to be more severe during the perimenopause, and may account for many of the so-called 'menopausal symptoms' at this time. Research on menopausal vasomotor symptoms is prone to substantial placebo responses. There has been much interest in increasing our understanding of the placebo response with a view to controlling it in clinical research and harnessing it in clinical practice. Methods & Results: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT), with a 16-week treatment phase, was conducted on 100 late-perimenopause and early postmenopause women. The herbal combination (Hypericum and Vitex) was not found to be superior to placebo for any of the endpoints - daily weighted flushing scores, overall menopausal symptoms (on the Greene Climacteric Scale) and depression (on the Hamilton Depression Inventory). However, significant improvements across the treatment phase were observed in both arms for all of these outcome measures. No significant change was found for either group on the Utian quality of life scale. The effects of the herbal combination were also examined on PMS-like symptoms in the small sub-population of late-perimenopausal women, and found to be superior to placebo for total PMS-like symptoms and the sub-clusters, PMS-D (depression) and PMS-C (cravings). The active treatment group also showed significant improvements on PMS-A (anxiety) and PMS-H (hydration), although these effects were not superior to placebo. Predictors of the placebo response were investigated and found to include study-entry anxiety for the outcome measures of flushing, depression and overall menopausal symptoms, and improvement during non-treatment run-in for depression and overall symptoms. Because no difference had been found between 'active' and placebo groups in the menopause RCT, it was hypothesised that the same predictors would predict the response to the study treatment. However, low anxiety was significantly associated with improvement in this group. None of the other variables that predicted the placebo response was relevant to the study treatment response. This finding is discussed with reference to the possibility that 'drug' effects and placebo effects are not necessarily additive, and that the same magnitude of effect in both arms might not necessarily imply activity via the same pathways. Conclusions: This research contributes to the growing body of scientific knowledge about evidence-based complementary therapies that informs the community, health-care providers and regulatory authorities. The findings may facilitate identification of potential placebo responders in future research. The need for more research in the area of mechanisms of placebo versus active responses is supported.

This thesis examines the meanings of naturopathy through the experiences of twelve women with refugee backgrounds involved in naturopathic treatment at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House), a refugee torture and trauma rehabilitation service in Melbourne, Australia. The findings of this research show that the naturopathic encounter provided a transformative and meaningful meeting place for healing, a place in which the women felt at ease and in place.At Foundation House naturopathy has been practised alongside counselling since 1989, two years after the organisation’s inception. The women I interviewed for this project came from diverse sociocultural backgrounds and a wide range of countries including Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Burma and Serbia.The thesis brings together two contemporary fields of practice: Western models of refugee health care and traditional medicine. It argues for the place of non-biomedical approaches in refugee health care in a Western setting. The thesis takes an interdisciplinary approach to theorise the naturopathic encounter. The distinction between holistic and reductionist perspectives on health, illness and the body is underpinned by the theoretical work of medical anthropologists Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Margaret Lock and that of medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky. A cultural studies perspective, influenced by the work of embodiment scholar Elspeth Probyn is employed to theorise these women’s experiences of the naturopathic encounter.This qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews and draws on grounded theory as an approach to data analysis. Descriptions of respite, renewal, and healing in the naturopathic encounter are cited as the most observable themes emerging from the women’s stories. These themes represent a health-oriented, as opposed to a disease-focused, perspective. Importantly, a health-orientated approach is congruent with the core tenets of naturopathic philosophy. Listening to the body is a crucial therapeutic tool in the naturopathic encounter, where primacy is given to supporting and strengthening health-creating strategies. I argue that this orientation disrupts the existing dominant biomedical approach to refugee health care. I draw on the work of Probyn to theorise the movement from the naturopathic encounter (NE) to the naturopathic meeting place (NMP). Central to this transposition is Probyn’s articulation of the body’s awareness of being in and out of place. This awareness lends itself to an understanding of the connectedness between past and present in the bridge-making that these particular refugee women have engaged in across cultures in the NMP.The thesis addresses an important but often neglected focus in refugee research: the resilience and agency of refugees. This positive aspect of refugee recovery is revealed in the research by theorising the women’s stories through Probyn’s embodiment analysis and cognisance of the ‘everyday’ as a productive and creative process. The research interrupts the ubiquitous image of the ‘disempowered refugee victim’. It highlights the practical wisdom and agency of these particular women that is often overshadowed in the complex resettlement process. It makes a call for further health-orientated research to broaden and deepen our understanding of the refugee experience.