Objective: Hyaline cartilage degenerative pathologies induce morphologic and biomechanical changes resulting in cartilage tissue damage. In pursuit of therapeutic options, electrical and mechanical stimulation have been proposed for improving tissue engineering approaches for cartilage repair. The purpose of this review was to highlight the effect of electrical stimulation and mechanical stimuli in chondrocyte behavior. Design: Different information sources and the MEDLINE database were systematically revised to summarize the different contributions for the past 40 years. Results: It has been shown that electric stimulation may increase cell proliferation and stimulate the synthesis of molecules associated with the extracellular matrix of the articular cartilage, such as collagen type II, aggrecan and glycosaminoglycans, while mechanical loads trigger anabolic and catabolic responses in chondrocytes. Conclusion: The biophysical stimuli can increase cell proliferation and stimulate molecules associated with hyaline cartilage extracellular matrix maintenance.

Two hundred and seven extracts were prepared from sixty plants from South Africa and screened for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani, and Plasmodium falciparum. For the 21 extracts which inhibited the growth of one or more parasites with more than 95 % at 10 µg/mL, the IC₅₀ values against all four protozoal parasites and cytotoxic IC₅₀ values against L6 myoblasts were determined. Amongst the most notable results are the activities of Psoralea pinnata (IC₅₀ of 0.15 µg/mL), Schkuhria pinnata (2.04 µg/mL), and Vernonia mespilifolia (1.01 µg/mL) against Trypansoma brucei rhodesiense. HPLC-based activity profiling was used to identify the active constituents in the extracts, and the germacranolide sesquiterpene lactones schkuhrin I and II from S. pinnata, and cynaropicrin from V. mespilifolia were identified, with IC₅₀ values of 0.9, 1.5, and 0.23 µM, respectively.

Three hundred extracts were prepared from plants traditionally used in South Africa to treat malaria and screened in vitro for activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani, and Plasmodium falciparum. For the 43 extracts which inhibited the growth of one or more parasites to more than 95 % at 9.7 µg/mL, the IC₅₀ values against all four protozoal parasites and cytotoxic IC₅₀s against rat myoblast L6 cells were determined. Amongst the most notable results are the activities of Agathosma apiculata (IC₅₀ of 0.3 µg/mL) against Plasmodium falciparum, as well as Salvia repens and Maytenus undata against Leishmania donovani with IC₅₀s of 5.4 µg/mL and 5.6 µg/mL, respectively. This screening is the starting point for a HPLC-based activity profiling project in antiprotozoal lead discovery.