Following the observation tha t the non-ball-rolling dung beetle Pachylomerus fem oralis (K irby) rolled the flesh-covered seeds from the fruit o f the spineless m onkey orange tree, Strychnos madagascariensis Poiret, an investigation into the chemical a ttrac tan ts o f this fruit was made. U sing headspace gas chrom atography with electroantennographic and flame ioni­ zation detection in para...

BACKGROUND Strychnos spinosa Lam. is a deciduous tree used in traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases. This study is designed to determine the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of extracts and fractions from leaves of S. spinosa. METHODS Extracts were obtained by maceration with acetone, methanol and dichloromethane/methanol (1/1) while fractions were prepared by l...

AIM OF THE STUDY The in vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of methanolic and dichloromethane extracts from five Congolese plants were evaluated. The plants were selected following an ethnobotanical survey conducted in D.R. Congo and focusing on plants used traditionally to treat malaria. The in vivo antimalarial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts active in vitro was also de...

BACKGROUND Skin diseases have been of major concern recently due to their association with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The study area (northern Maputaland) has the highest HIV infection rate in South Africa, which made them more prone to a wide range of skin conditions. Fungal infections due to the hot climate and overcrowding household...

'Ilogen-Excel', an Ayurvedic herbal formulation is composed of eight medicinal plants (Curcuma longa, Strychnos potatorum, Salacia oblonga, Tinospora cordifolia, Vetivelia zizanioides, Coscinium fenestratum, Andrographis paniculata and Mimosa pudica). The present study evaluates the antihyperglycemic effect of 'Ilogen-Excel' in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Rats were rendered diabetic b...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Plants from Kenyan flora are traditionally used against many ailments, including cancer and related diseases. Cancer is characterized as a condition with complex signs and symptoms. Recently there are recommendations that ethnopharmacological usages such as immune and skin disorders, inflammatory, infectious, parasitic and viral diseases should be taken into accou...

BACKGROUND Protein cross-linking which occurs towards the latter part of protein glycation is implicated in the development of chronic diabetic complications. Glycation induced protein cross-linking inhibitory effects of nine antidiabetic plants and three spices were evaluated in this study using a novel, simple, electrophoresis based method. METHODS Methanol extracts of thirteen plants inclu...

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Theme 3 of the HRAC-programme focuses on long-term use of natural resources with regard to agriculture, cattle, marine organisms, metals, housing and trade. However, people do not usually live only on crops, cattle or marine products. Many people combine cultivation with herding, fishing, gathering and/or hunting. The combination of such activities in a production system is influenced by the en...