ABSTRACT
Aims: To evaluate the antisickling and radical scavenging activities and acute toxicity of indigenous nutritive formula Drepanoalpha®, produced through a bio-guided based plant selection. Study Design: Drepanoalpha® extracts, Antisickling activity by Emmel test, Antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl bleaching methods; acute toxicity on rats, determination of biological and haematological parameters. Place and Duration of Study: Science Faculty University of Kinshasa, between January 2013 and February 2014. Methodology: The antisickling and antioxidant activities of Drepanoalpha® were determined using Emmel and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl bleaching methods respectively. Acute oral toxicity test was performed to determine the LD50. Liver and kidney functions, the hematological and histopathological examinations were assessed using standard techniques. Results: Obtained results revealed that Drepanoalpha® possessesinteresting in vitro antisickling and antioxidant activities as revealed by the observed normal biconcave form of sickle erythrocyte (normalization rate >80%) and the radical scavenging activity (ED50= 0.604 ± 0.028 μg/mL). Acute toxicity assessment revealed that the medium lethal dose (LD50) is higher than 4000 mg/kg. Drepanoalpha® significantly increases the values of WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT, PLT, IDR-CV and PCT. Furthermore, this polyherbal formula significantly decreases the values of IDR-SD, P-RGC, AST and ALT (p<0.05). Both the control and treated groups displayed comparable non altered histological architecture of the liver cells. Discussion: The mean values of biochemical markers and hematological markers of treated rats revealed that Drépanoalpha® is potentially safe indicating non-toxic effect of the phytomedicine on immune cells and blood clotting factors. Moreover, this poly-herbal formulation increases the hemoglobin rate in the all treated rats (500-4000 mg/kg bodyweight) and preserves the histological architecture of the liver cells. Conclusion: Drepanoalpha® may increase weight gain, promote erythropoiesis and thrombopoeisis in sicklers patients. This phytomedicine could be used in the treatment of all form of anemia and may also prevent bile duct obstruction or intra-hepatic cholestasis. The results can form the basis for clinical trials in humans.
ABSTRACT
Aims: An Ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the city of Bukavu, in order to identify plant species and recipes used in Congolese folk medicine for the treatment of malaria. Study Design: Survey; plant collection; plant identification and classification: family, used part, treated disease, recipes preparation; floristic characterization. Place and Duration of Study: “Université Officielle de Bukavu” (DR Congo), from February 2011toDecember 2012. Methodology: Forty-nine healers belonging to different ethnic groups were interviewed about the plant species used in traditional medicine for the management of malaria in the city of Bukavu. The name of the plants, the plant parts, the modes of preparation and the modes of administration of recipes were recorded. Cited plants were collected and identified at herbarium of the Laboratory of Ecology and Plants Resource Management, Faculty of Sciences, “Université Officielle de Bukavu”. The plants ecological status was also determined. Results: Forty species of plants belonging to twenty seven botanical families were identified. The main habitat preference of species is cultivated (62%), trees constituted 33% of morphological type while 30% of biological type are microphanerophytes. The decoction was the main mode of preparation (47.5%) and almost all recipes (100%of cases) are administrated by oral route. Leaves constituted sixty percent of plant organs used for drug preparation. Conclusion: Some plant species cited (62.5%) are known in the literature to possess antimalarial activity. Further studies should be undertaken to investigate effectiveness of other plants that have not yet been studied and to determine their chemical composition.