title: Screening of Zulu medicinal plants for prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitors.
abstract: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of 39 plants used in traditional Zulu medicine to treat headache or inflammatory diseases were screened for prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitors. Extracts were tested in an in vitro assay for cyclooxygenase inhibitors. In general, ethanolic extracts caused higher inhibition than aqueous extracts. Two-thirds of the plants screened had high inhibitory activity. The highest inhibition was obtained with ethanolic extracts of Bidens pilosa, Eucomis autumnalis, Harpephyllum caffrum, Helichrysum nudifolium, Leonotis intermedia, L. leonorus, Ocotea bullata, Rumex saggitatus, Solanum mauritianum, Synadenium cupulare and Trichilia dregeana.
authors: Department of Botany, University of Natal Pietermarizburg, Scottsville, South Africa.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Jäger
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hutchings
authors: J
authors: J
authors: van Staden
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep; D013019:South Africa; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists; D011453:Prostaglandins; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D007213:Indomethacin