Biological activity of folkloric plants used in the treatment of ‘u wela’ against pathogens

Bibliographic Details
Title: Biological activity of folkloric plants used in the treatment of ‘u wela’ against pathogens
Authors: Tryphina T. Ramavhale, Salome M. Mahlo, Jacobus N. Eloff
Source: Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp e1-e10 (2024)
Publisher Information: AOSIS, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Botany
LCC:Pharmacy and materia medica
Subject Terms: u wela, gonorrhoea, antimicrobial activity, bioautography assay, candida albicans, neisseria gonorrhoeae, Botany, QK1-989, Pharmacy and materia medica, RS1-441
More Details: Background: ‘U wela’ also known as ‘Divhu’ in ‘Tshivenda’ is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a combination of fungal and bacterial microorganisms that affects males because of unprotected sexual encounters with a woman who has had an abortion or miscarriage. Aim: The study aimed to investigate medicinal plants used to treat ‘u wela’ and determine their biological activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Candida albicans. Setting: Eight plant species (Elaeodendron transvaalense[Burtt Davy] R.H. Archer, Albizia versicolor Welw. ex Oliv, Xanthocercis zambesiaca Baker, Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana [Holmes] Brenan, Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg, Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw., Mimusops zeyheri Sond, and Capparis tomentosa Lam.) used to combat ‘u wela’ were selected from the Ethnomedicinal plant’s database of over 300 medicinal plants used for medicinal purposes in humans, in the Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts was investigated against Candida albicans and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using serial dilution and bioautography assays. Results: The plant extracts of A. versicolor and C. abbreviata had excellent activity with a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). value of 0.02 and 0.07 mg/mL, respectively. In bioautograms developed in benzene/ethanol/ammonia hydroxide (BEA), active compounds were visible in the extracts of A. versicolor. Conclusion: A. versicolor had excellent antimicrobial activity and may be used in traditional therapy to combat ‘u wela’. Contribution: The study has demonstrated that A. versicolor is a promising plant species that could lead to the discovery of novel drugs to combat ‘u wela’.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2519-559X
2616-4809
Relation: https://jomped.org/index.php/jomped/article/view/238; https://doaj.org/toc/2519-559X; https://doaj.org/toc/2616-4809
DOI: 10.4102/jomped.v8i1.238
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/6eabf30ec22b4b50b4799c5ee5d2bfdb
Accession Number: edsdoj.6eabf30ec22b4b50b4799c5ee5d2bfdb
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2519559X
26164809
DOI:10.4102/jomped.v8i1.238
Published in:Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development
Language:English