title: Analytical and pharmacological investigation of Ocotea bullata (black stinkwood) bark and leaves.
abstract: Ocotea bullata (Lauraceae), one of the top-ten traditional medicinal plants used in KwaZulu-Natal, is close to extinction through high demand and destructive harvesting methods. The stem bark is traditionally used to cure headaches, urinary disorders and stomach problems. Substitution of leaves for bark provides a possible resource management solution for this threatened medicinal plant. One aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of O. bullata leaves and bark using TLC, HPLC and GC-MS analysis. The characteristic analytical fingerprints of leaf and bark extracts showed great similarities. A second aim was to investigate the pharmacological properties of O. bullata as a remedy against headaches. Leaf and bark extracts were tested in terms of cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibition. Extracts from the bark exhibited moderate inhibitory activity in both test systems. Extracts from fresh leaves were superior to bark extracts in terms of their in vitro inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase. Volatiles obtained from n-hexane extracts of leaves and bark showed better inhibitory activity towards cyclooxygenase-1 and especially towards 5-lipoxygenase than the original n-hexane extracts. Volatiles were therefore recognized as one of the main active principles in O. bullata with regards to the anti-inflammatory properties of this medicinal plant. This lends support to the traditional usage of O. bullata bark as an inhalant or snuff.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, 3209, Scottsville, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zschocke
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Drewes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paulus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Staden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D019770:Lauraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D013019:South Africa; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002734:Chlorophyll; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases