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Medicinal use, method of administration and phytochemicals in Zehneria scabra

  • August 2018
Authors:
Getasile Assefa at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
Getasile Assefa
Ejigu Bayu at Debre Markos University
Ejigu Bayu
Muley Alemseged at Wolkite University
Muley Alemseged
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~ 114 ~
Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2018; 6(5): 114-116
ISSN (E): 2320-3862
ISSN (P): 2394-0530
NAAS Rating: 3.53
JMPS 2018; 6(5): 114-116
© 2018 JMPS
Received: 10-07-2018
Accepted: 12-08-2018
Ejigu Bayu
Department of Chemistry,
College of Natural and
Computational Science, P.O. Box
07, Wolkite University, Wolkite,
Ethiopia
Getasile Assefa
Department of Chemistry,
College of Natural and
Computational Science, P.O. Box
07, Wolkite University, Wolkite,
Ethiopia
Muley Alemseged
Department of Biology, College
of Natural and Computational
Science, P.O. Box 07, Wolkite
University, Wolkite, Ethiopia
Correspondence
Ejigu Bayu
Department of Chemistry,
College of Natural and
Computational Science, P.O. Box
07, Wolkite University, Wolkite,
Ethiopia
Medicinal use, method of administration and
phytochemicals in Zehneria scabra
Ejigu Bayu, Getasile Assefa and Muley Alemseged
Abstract
Herbal medicines have been used in local healing for a long time. Zehneria scabra which is for family of
cucurbitaceae is one of the herbal medicines which have been used. Ethnomedicinal study indicated its
wide use in the local healing. It is also used frequently in Ethiopia. It has a wide therapeutic spectrum
which includes treating skin diseases, gonorrhea, syphilis, cleansing uterus before a child is delivered,
malaria, diarrhoea, malaise, mumps, fever, taeniasis, constipation, conjunctivitis, swelling, rabies, fever
and headache, eye infection, evil eye and michi. The purpose of this review is to examine the recent
ethnomedicinal research and phytochemicals of Zehneria scabra.
Keywords: herbal medicines, Zehneria scabra, ethnomedicinal
1. Introduction
Zehneria scabra is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Ethiopia. It is one of the species
in the genus Zehneria [1]. The genus Zehneria belongs to sub-tribe Cucumerina of the
Benincasa together with eleven other genera [2]. Its morphological characteristics is
indeterminate growth habit, triangular leaf shape, green leaf color, oval fruit shape, yellow
flower color, light green primary fruit color, dark green secondary fruit color, red ripe fruit
color, dark brown seed coat, rough seed coat texture, 6 - 7 inter-node length (cm) and 3 – 5
petiole length (cm) [1].
The green pharmacy, which is to mean the use of plants for medicinal purposes, is increasing
[3]. Zehneria scabra have been used as a source of medicine to treat illness since time
immemorial.
Ethnobotanical Studies
Ethnobotanical studies are significant in revealing locally important plant species especially
for the discovery of crude drugs. Right from its beginning, the documentation of traditional
knowledge, especially on the medicinal uses of plants, has provided many important drugs of
modern day [4, 5]. It is believed that about 70% of world’s population use plants as their primary
source of medicinal agents [6]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that
more than 80% of the world’s population in developing countries depends primarily on herbal
medicine for basic healthcare needs [7]. In Ethiopia, 90% of the population uses traditional
medicine to meet their primary healthcare needs [8]. Natural products are playing significant
role in drug development. The table below reviews the ethnobotanical studies of Zehneria
scabra.
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Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies
Table 1.1: Use(s), parts used and preparation of Zehneria scabra.
Use(s)
Parts used
Preparation
Administration
Citation
skin diseases, syphilis,
gonorrhea, and malaria
leaf
The leaves are boiled and decoction taken.
Often is mixed with several other plants for treatment of malaria
oral
[9]
Worm
leaf
The filtrate of fresh and crushed leaves is taken
oral
[10]
Diarrhoea
leaf
Crush, homogenize with cold water and drink
oral
[11]
Malaise
whole
Boil and do steam bath
dermal
Mumps
root
Extract the juice/oil/latex and pour or paint it
anal
Fever
whole
Boil and do steam bath
dermal
Taeniasis
leaf
Crush, homogenize with cold water and drink
oral
Constipation
root
Crush, homogenize with cold water and drink
oral
Conjunctivitis
leaf
Extract the juice/oil/latex and pour or paint it
auricular
Swelling
leaf
Leaf and bark of Zehneria scabra and leaf Rumex nervosus are
pounded and rolled in clean cloth, and tied on swelling.
dermal
[12]
Rabies for animals
root
Pounded root of Zehneria scabra is concocted with pounded root of
Ricinus communis.
oral
Fever and headache
leaf
Leaf juice is given thrice times a day
oral
[13]
Snakebites
root
Tuber is consumed for the snakebites; the tuberous herbaceous
perennial plant is grown at home to keep away snakes.
oral
[14]
Eye infection
leaf
Boil with leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, Withania somnifera and
Zehneria scabra in water
inhalation
[15]
Evil eye
whole
Crush by mixing with roots of Carissa spinarum
fumigation
Michi
whole
Soak in water by mixing with leaves of Rumex nervosus and juices of
Citrus aurantifolia; Boil by mixing with Justicia schimperiana
washing body
By mixing with leaves of Zehneria scabra and Eucalyptus globulus
fumigate
Internal mitch
arial
Boiled fresh Arial part with water and steam inhaled
inhalation once
[16]
Phytochemistry
Review of the ethnobotanical studies show the extensive
medicinal use of the leaf. However, the phytochemical
investigation of the leaf is remains unknown. The general
techniques of medicinal plant extraction include maceration,
infusion, percolation, digestion, decoction, hot continuous
extraction (Soxhlet), aqueous-alcoholic extraction by
fermentation, countercurrent extraction, microwave-assisted
extraction, ultrasound extraction (sonication), supercritical
fluid extraction, and phytonic extraction (with hydro
fluorocarbon solvents). The following are among the
inadequate phytochemical investigation results available.
Table 1.2: Phytochemical tests results of tuber and leaves in different solvents
phytochemicals
Solvents and citation
tuber
Leaf
Aqueous [14,17]
Ethanol [14,17]
Chloroform [14]
80% Methanol [18]
80% Methanol [19]
Phenol
+
+
+
+
+
Steroids
+
+
-
-
Tannins
-
-
+
+
+
Flavonoids
-
-
+
+
Alkaloids
-
-
-
-
Saponins
-
-
+
-
Glycosides
+
+
-
+
Proteins
+
+
+
Amino acids
+
+
+
-
Anthraquinone glycosides
+
O-anthraquinones
+
Phlobatannins
+
Diterpenes
+
Carbohydrates
-
(+) = Present, (-) = Absent,
Conclusion
Ethnobotanical studies showed the significance of Zehneria
scabra in ethnomedicine. Limited phytochemical
investigations have also displayed the presence of
phytochemicals in a limited solvent and method of
extractions. As far as its value in the treatment of various
disorders, the plant should be studied in detail in the future by
varying the solvents and extraction methods.
Acknowledgement
Authors are thankful to acknowledge all authors and their
work included in this review.
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View
... Traditionally, plant-based products have constituted an important source of insecticides and other pharmaceutical drugs for many centuries; Calpurnia aurea, Momordica foetida, and Zehneria scabra are the foremost mentioned in Africa [28,29]. In Ethiopia, these botanicals have been reported as having medicinal properties to prevent vector-borne diseases [30][31][32] and protect against insect pests [33,34]. Moreover, these three medicinal plants are cheap and easily available. ...
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Preprint
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Background: The use of synthetic insecticides against mosquitoes may lead to resistance development and potential health hazards in humans and the environment. In connection to these adverse effects, a paradigm needs to shift towards the alternative use of botanical insecticides that could strengthen an insecticide resistance management program. This study aimed to assess the insecticidal effects of crude leaf solvent extracts of Calpurnia aurea, Momordica foetida, and Zehneria scabra on an insectary colony of Anopheles stephensi larvae and adults. Methods: Fresh leaves were collected and dried, then separately ground to powder. Powdered leaves of test plants were extracted using sonication with aqueous, hexane, and methanol solvents. The extracts were concentrated, and a stock solution was prepared. For comparison, temephos (Synthetic larvicide) and control solutions (a mixture of water and emulsifier) were used as the positive and negative controls, respectively. A range of test concentrations for the larvae and the adults were prepared and tested according to WHO (2005) and CDC (2010) guidelines to determine lethal concentration (LC) values. Mortality was observed after 24 hrs exposure. The statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (Kruskal-Wallis test) and R software (a generalized linear model was used to determine LC50 and LC90 values of the extracts). Results: The lowest LC50 values were observed in aqueous M. foetida extract, followed by Z. scabra and C. aurea at 34.61, 35.85, and 38.69 ppm, respectively, against the larvae. Larval mortality was not observed from the hexane and negative control, while the standard larvicide (temephos) achieved 100% mortality. In addition, the adulticidal efficacy was greatest for aqueous Z. scabra extract with LC50 = 176.20 ppm followed by aqueous C. aurea (LC50 = 297.75 ppm). Conclusions: The results suggest that the leaf extracts of the three test plants have the potential of being used for the control of vector An. stephensi larvae and adult instead of synthetic mosquitocides. Further studies need to be conducted to identify the active ingredients and their mode of action.
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... Phytochemical tests results of tuber and leaves of Zehneria scabrain different solvents[26]. ...
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Full-text available
  • Apr 2012
The Kagera region of north western Tanzania has a rich culture of traditional medicine use and practice. Traditional medicines are the mainstay of healthcare in this region and are known to support the management of many illnesses such as malaria, bacterial infections, epilepsy, gynecological problems and others. However, most of the plants being used have either not been documented or evaluated for safety and efficacy or both. This study, the sixth of an ongoing series, reports on the medicinal plants that are used at Kikuku village, Muleba District. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the common/local names of the plants, parts of the plants used, diseases treated, methods of preparing the herbal remedies, dosage of the remedies administered, frequency and duration of treatment and toxicity of the medicines. A literature review was carried out for information on the ethnomedical uses of the reported plants. A total of 49 plant species belonging to 47 genera and 24 plant families were documented. The family Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae had the highest representation. The plants are used for the treatment of skin conditions (10 plants; 20%), bacterial infections and wounds (14 plants; 28.6%), malaria (14 plants; 28.6%), gastrointestinal disorders (11 plants; 22.4%), gynecological problems including infertility (8 plants; 16.3%), hypertension (5 plants; 10.2%), viral infections (7 plants; 14.3%), chest problems (5 plants; 10.2%), diabetes (3 plants; 6.1%), cancer (2 plants; 4.1%), inflammatory conditions (arthritis, rheumatism), HIV and AIDS, and hernia each treated by 1 plant (3 plants in total; 6.1%). Information obtained from the literature indicate that 25 (51.0%) of the therapeutic claims are supported by laboratory results or have similar claims of ethnomedical use from other countries. Herbal remedies comprise an important and effective component of the healthcare system in Kikuku village with plants in the families Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae comprising an important part of plants used in the indigenous healthcare management in the village. Malaria and bacterial infections dominate the list of diseases that are managed using traditional medicines.
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Phytochemical evaluation of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Ormocarpum Sennoides (Willd) Dc. Prodr. (leaf), Zehneria Scabra (L. f.) Sond. (tuber) and Bauhinia Tomentosa Linn. (leaf)
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  • Jan 2014
Ormocarpum sennoides (Willd) DC. Prodr. (leaf), Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond. (tuber) and Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. (leaf) are most commonly used medicinal plants to cure human illness. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out in these plants using aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The various extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, Saponins and several secondary metabolites.
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Morpho-anatomical characters of Zehneria capillacea (Schumach) C. Jeffrey and Zehneria scabra (L.F.) Sond Cucurbitaceae
  • Jan 2015
  • 457-465
Morpho-anatomical characters of Zehneria capillacea (Schumach) C. Jeffrey and Zehneria scabra (L.F.) Sond Cucurbitaceae. African Journal of Plant Science, 2015; 9(12):457-465.