Microscopy Features, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Mondia Whitei L

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Microscopy Features, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Mondia Whitei L ORIGINAL ARTICLE Discovery Phytomedicine 2018, Volume 5, Number 3: 34-42 Microscopy features, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity Original Article of Mondia whitei L. (Hook F.) (Apocynaceae): A mini-review CrossMark Doi: Discovery Phytomedicine.2018.67 Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua,1,3,4* Clément Inkoto Liyongo,1 Gédéon Ngiala Bongo,1 Lufuluabo G. Lufuluabo,2 Nathan Kutshi Nsimba,5 Colette Masengo Ashande,3,4 Volume No.: 5 Santos Kavumbu Mutanda,1 Benjamin Z. Gbolo,3,4 Dorothée D. Tshilanda,2 Pius T. Mpiana2 ABSTRACT Issue: 3 Aim: To provide update knowledge on phytochemistry and bioactivity phytochemistry and pharmacognosy. The chemical structures of of Mondia whitei. the A. reticulata naturally occurring compounds were drawn using Study Design: Multidisciplinary advanced bibliographic surveys, ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0 software package. First page No.: 34 utilization of ChemBioDraw software package and dissemination of Results: Findings revealed that this plant is traditionally used as the resulted knowledge. stimulant or pain reliever. This plant is reported to possess various Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa biological properties like anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and Department of Environmental Science, University of Gbadolite, the antihelmintic, antipyretic, antihyperglycemic, analgesic, wound RH_Author: XXX Democratic Republic of the Congo, between January and March 2018. healing, antisickling and cytotoxic effects. These properties are due Methodology: A literature search was conducted to obtain to the presence of numerous naturally occurring phytochemicals like information about the phytochemistry and pharmacognosy of A. tannins, alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, flavonoids and steroids. reticulata from various electronic databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, Conclusion: The present review can, therefore, help inform future Science Direct and Google scholar). The scientific name of this plant scientific research towards the development of novel drugs of relevance species was used as a keyword for the search, along with the terms from M. whitei for the improvement of human health and wellbeing. Keywords: Mondia whitei, Phytochemistry, Proximate analysis, Bioactivities, *Corresponding Author: INTRODUCTION of this medicinal plant species of high relevance in Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua, African populations. Department of Biology, University Background of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes Botany, ecology and geographical Republic of the Congo, Department that traditional and complementary medicines distribution of Mondia whitei of Environmental Sciences, 1 University of Gbadolite, (TCM) are a vital part of global health care system. Mondia whitei L. (Hook F.) is a forest floor plant Nord-Ubangi, Democratic Republic In Africa, it is estimated that over 80% of the popu- having aromatic rhizomatous roots belonging to of the Congo, Ubangi Bioxplore lation goes on relying on the traditional plants to the Asclepiadaceae family. It grows up to 6 m of Project (Biodiversity Exploration meet their basic health care needs.1-3 Significant height and its leaves are broadly ovate having a base of Ubangi River Basin and Carbon economic benefits in the development of this medi- cordate, apex acuminate and corona of 11 – 12 mm Assessment), Nord-Ubangi Province, 5 Democratic Republic of the Congo. cine are in the use of medicinal plants for the treat- long. It is a perennial woody climber with twining [email protected] ment of various diseases giving a bright future for stems which exudes white latex while it is cut and the management of several ailments.4 it possesses. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo M. whitei is a perennial woody climber reaching Cite this Article: Ngbolua, K.N., (DRC), medicinal plants represent the main 3–6 m high with twining stems which exudes white Liyongo, C.I., Bongo, G.N., Lufuluabo, L.G., Nsimba, N.K., product for both urban and rural populations for latex when cut. It has characteristic large,oppositely Ashande, C.M., Mutanda, S.K., their health care needs because the high costs of positioned heart-shaped leaves. The surfaces of the Gbolo, B.Z., Tshilanda, D.D., conventional drugs. leaves are endowed with soft hairs and distinctive Mpiana, P.T. 2018. Microscopy The present review aims to provide updated star-shaped stipules.6 The attractive flowers are red features, Phytochemistry and information on the phytochemistry and bioactivities dish purple in colour and are borne in branched Bioactivity of Mondia whitei L. (Hook F.) (Apocynaceae): A mini-review. Discovery Phytomedicine 1Department of Biology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5(3): 34-42. DOI:10.15562/ 2Department of Chemistry, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo phytomedicine.2018.67 3Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Gbadolite, Nord-Ubangi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4Ubangi Bioxplore Project (Biodiversity Exploration of Ubangi River Basin and Carbon Assessment), Nord-Ubangi Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 5Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 34 Discovery Phytomedicine 2018; 5(3): 34-42. doi: 10.15562/phytomedicine.2018.67 www.phytomedicine.ejournals.ca Microscopy features, Phytochemistry and ... Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua inflorescences. Flowers are assumed to be polli- naturally occurring compounds were drawn using nated by flies and are relatively short-lived surviv- ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0 software package. ing for 3–4 days. The flowering season ranges from October to March (peaking between November and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION January) in the south of the equator and from May to August (peaking in June to July) in the north of Ethnobotany and Microscopic features of the equator.7 M. whitei grows from a large, tuberous M. whitei rootstock and the roots have a very distinct vanilla In traditional medicine, various parts of M. whitei aroma which has been attributed to the presence are used for the management of several diseases and of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. The roots ailments such as impotence and sexual dysfunc- grow laterally and may spread out just beneath the tion11,12 constipation, abdominal pain, appetite soil surface covering large areas, making them easy stimulant13 urinary infections, gonorrhoea,14 pains, to harvest.6,8 The fruit is an ovoid follicle which and inducement of labor. In addition, the roots dehisces to release an estimated 180–320 seeds that are chewed to treat stress, blood pressure.13,15 It is are wind-dispersed.6,7 also used in the management of paralysis, epileptic M. whitei predominantly occurs in moist to wet attacks in children,15,16 and milk production in forests and it is easily found in vegetation types lactating mothers.17 It is used as well for the treat- which range from swamp forest, swampy shrubby ment of Kidneys, gastritis, backache and guts in grassland and riverine forest to disturbed forest at the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).18 In 1800 m of altitude.7 M. whitei is endemic in almost Central African Republic, seeds are used as antima- all African regions except in the Northern part larials,19,20 antiheminthics as well in the preparation while in the western region this species is commonly of arrow poisons.13,15 Roots are used either as spices, found in Guinea, Ghana and Nigeria. In the central aphrodisiacs or for the treatment of urinary tract region, it is found in Democratic Republic of the infection, jaundice and headache, while the whole Congo and in Cameroon meanwhile in the eastern plant is used to treat diarrhea21,22 region, this species can be found in Kenya, Tanzania Inkoto et al.3 reported the microscopic features and Uganda.7,8 In the southern region, M. whitei of M. whitei which revealed the presence of para- was reported in South Africa, Malawi, Angola, cytic stomata, fibers, fragments of spiral bundles, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.7 In South Africa, tecton hairs, parenchyma with numerous starch M. whitei is mainly found in the KwaZulu-Natal and grains, secreting hairs, fragments of Punctated Limpopo Provinces. In KwaZulu-Natal, the species vessels, as well as lignified fibers. is restricted to the midlands as well as lower, frost- M. whitei is a climbing shrub medicinally used free elevations; often near the coastal areas where in tropical Africa. The root and root bark have a colonies are becoming scarce in protected swamps.9 vanilla-like odour. The roots are valuable as aphro- disiac, to prevent premature ejaculation, increase Taxonomy sperm production and generally, to treat sexual Mondia whytei (Hook .f.) skeels belongs to the family weakness. A decoction or infusion of the roots formerly Asclepiadaceae sub family Periplocoideae is widely used to treat malaria, gastro-intestinal now Apocynaceae. It is commonly called ‘White’s problems, pains and as restorative and appetite ginger’ (English), ‘La racine’ (French),9 ‘Umondi/ stimulant.10 Mundi/Mindi’ (Zulus in South Africa). In Izzi land As food, the pulverised bark of M. whitei is eaten (an Ibo speaking clan) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria it is with fish or peanuts in Democratic Republic of called ‘Akoro’. Mondia whitei is endemic to South, Congo. The fresh or dried leaves are cooked with Central, East and West Africa.10 peanut butter, and eaten as a vegetable in Central and East Africa.23 METHODOLOGY Proximate analysis of M. whitei A deep literature search was carried out in order to The
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