In South Africa, the number of people suffering from diabetes is believed to be rising steadily and the current antidiabetic therapies are frequently reported to have adverse side effects. Ethnomedicinal plant use has shown promise for the development of cheaper, cost‐effective antidiabetic agents with fewer side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity and mechanism of action of aqueous leaf extract prepared from Brachylaena elliptica. The potential of the extract for cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay in HepG2 cells. The effects of the plant extract on glucose utilization in HepG2 cells and L6 myotubes, triglyceride accumulation in 3T3‐L1, INS‐1 proliferation, glucose metabolism in INS‐1 cells, and NO production in RAW macrophages were also investigated using cell culture procedures. The inhibitory effects of the extract on the activities of different enzymes including alpha‐amylase, alpha‐glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV), collagenase, and CYP3A4 enzymes were evaluated. The extract also tested against protein glycation using standard published procedure. The plant extract displayed low level of toxicity, where both concentrations tested did not induce 50% cell death. The extract caused a significant increase in glucose uptake in HepG2 liver cells, with efficacy significantly higher than the positive control, berberine. The crude extract also displayed no significant effect on muscle glucose uptake, triglyceride accumulation in 3T3‐L1, glucose metabolism in INS‐1 cells, alpha‐amylase, alpha‐glucosidase, DPP‐IV, lipase, protein glycation, and collagenase compared to the respective positive controls. The extract displayed a proliferative effect on INS‐1 cells at 25 μg/ml when compared to the negative control. The plant also produced a concentration‐dependent reduction in NO production in RAW macrophages and also demonstrated weak significant inhibition on CYP3A4 activity. The findings provide evidence that B. elliptica possess antidiabetic activity and appear to exact its hypoglycemic effect independent of insulin.

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial and phytochemical properties of ethanol extracts of Brachylaena elliptica and Brachylaena ilicifolia against wound infecting bacteria normally found in diabetic patients. Methods: The in vitro antioxidant activity of the two plants extracts were investigated spectrophotometrically using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide, azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ferric reducing power. The antibacterial assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the agar dilution method against five bacteria strains using amoxycillin and ciprofloxacin as positive control. The phytochemical analyses (tannins, total phenol, flavonoids, flavonols, proanthocyanidin, alkaloids and saponins) were assessed using standard methods. Results: The ethanol extract of both plants exhibited strong antioxidant activities in some cases when compared to the standards (vitamin C and BHT). The antibacterial activity of both plants showed an appreciable broad spectrum activity against these wound pathogens with MIC value ranges between 0.3 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL. Tannins, phenols, flavanols, proanthocyanidins and alkaloids content of B. ilicifolia were significantly higher than those in B. elliptica. However, there were no significant differences in the flavanoid content of both plants extracts. Conclusions: These results indicated that the ethanol leaf extracts of these plants have antioxidant and antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria possibly due to the presence of bioactive compounds and therefore could be used as alternative therapy against wound infection caused by these bacteria in diabetic patients

Cancer occurrence is rapidly increasing all over the world, including in developing countries. The current trend in cancer management requires the use of herbal remedies since the majority of anticancer drugs are known to be costly, with unwanted side effects. In the Eastern Cape province, the use of medicinal plants for cancer management has been climbing steadily over the past two decades due to their cultural belief, low cost, efficacy, and safety claims. With the aim of identifying some potential anticancer plants for probable drug development, this study was undertaken to review plants reported by ethnobotanical surveys in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa for the traditional management of cancer. Information regarding plants used for cancer management in the Eastern Cape province was obtained from multidisciplinary databases and ethnobotanical books. About 24 plant species belonging to twenty families have been reported to be used for the traditional management of cancer in the Eastern Cape province. Among the anticancer plant species, only 16 species have been explored scientifically for their anticancer activities. This review authenticated the use of anticancer plant species in the Eastern Cape province and, therefore, identified several promising unexplored species for further scientific evaluation.

Scabiosa columbaria is a plant traditionally used to treat skin ailments, such as scabies, wound bruises, sores and hyperpigmentation. To find a novel skin depigmenting agent, the present study was investigated to determine the possible anti-melanogenesis, antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase effects of methanol extract of S. columbaria leaves. Cytotoxicity towards human dermal fibroblast (MRHF) cells was assessed using the live-cell fluorescence imaging microscopy. The inhibitory effects of the extract on tyrosinase, collagenase and melanin synthesis were also investigated using standard in vitro method, while ferric reducing power (FRAP) was used to determine the antioxidant potential of the plant extract. The effect of the extract on collagen content in MRHF cells was also investigated. The plant extract displayed no meaningful cytotoxicity towards MRHF cells and no significant cell death was recorded at all the tested concentrations. The extract (25–100 µg/mL) effectively decreased melanin content in B16F10 (mouse melanoma) cells with moderate inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner. However, the extract also demonstrated no significant effect on collagenase and collagen content in MRHF cells, but showed strong antioxidant activity at the concentrations tested. The results suggest that S. columbaria could be a promising candidate in the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation disorders

Cosmetology is the science of change of appearance and has been practiced since ancient times. In South Africa, especially Eastern Cape, the concept of using plants for beautification finds its origin in the traditional medicine literature. Moreover, herbal extract as a whole or part thereof has been used since time immemorial for various ailments of the skin, hair, and for overall appearance. Recently, the interest of consumers in the use of herbal cosmetics has been stimulated by the decline of faith in modern cosmetic products based on the beliefs that herbal cosmetics contain natural ingredients that are less dangerous to the skin and thereby superior to synthetic cosmetics and the reference to successful historical use by different cultures. A number of South African plants have been evaluated for their cosmetic potential. In this article, we reviewed 105 plant species used by the people of Eastern Cape Province for various cosmetic purposes with a majority of them used for skin care (70 species) and dental care (6 species). These plants are distributed in 59 families with the Asteraceae being the most represented with 9 species, followed by Fabaceae (7 species), Asphodelaceae (5 species), Lamiaceae (4 species), Apocynaceae (3 species), Hyacinthaceae (3 species), and other families with two to one species each. The results of the studies conducted confirmed the potential of the Eastern Cape medicinal plants in cosmetic products and identified a number of promising species for further investigation as plant-based cosmetic agents.

The global management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves the administration of recommended anti-diabetic drugs in addition to a non-sedentary lifestyle upon diagnosis. Despite the success recorded from these synthetic drugs, the traditional method of treatment using medicinal plants is increasingly accepted by the locals due to its low cost and the perceived no side effects. Helichrysum species are used in folk medicine and are documented for the treatment of DM in different regions of the world. This study reviews Helichrysum species and its compounds’ activities in the management of DM. An extensive literature search was carried out, utilizing several scientific databases, ethnobotanical books, theses, and dissertations. About twenty-two Helichrysum species were reported for the treatment of diabetes in different regions of the world. Among these Helichrysum species, only fifteen have been scientifically investigated for their antidiabetic activities, and twelve compounds were identified as bioactive constituents for diabetes. This present review study will be a useful tool for scientists and health professionals working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to develop potent antidiabetic drugs that are devoid of side effects.