Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
plant. In Britain, a patent medicine, called Vinculin, was sold for many years as a cure for diabetes.
In South and Central America, the infusion of the plant is employed, among other things, for the
treatment of laryngitis and sore throat and as an eye bath.
Constituents — The plant contains at least 63 indole alkaloids, of which 2 of them, vinca-
leukoblastine (vinblastine) and vincristine (leurocristine), are dimeric compounds used in clinical
medicine for the treatment of certain forms of cancer. Other alkaloids found in the plant include
reserpine, ajmalicine, alstonine, and their congeners. The leaf volatile oil contains loganin and
sulfurous compounds. 408 Organic acids have been shown to be major constituents, including proto-
cathechuic, caffeic- p- hydroxybenzoic acid, and ursolic.
Pharmacological Studies — The dimeric alkaloid vincaleukoblastine is used in the treatment
of Hodgkin's disease and choriocarcinoma. Vincristine is administered in the treatment of childhood
leukemia and breast cancer. The two drugs are combined in chemotherapy and sometimes with ste-
roids for different types of carcinoma with good results. A concentrated aqueous extract, when given
parenterally, lowered the blood sugar level in cats and abated the symptoms in human diabetes. 367
The alcoholic extracts demonstrated in vitro antibacterial activity, and the ethanolic extract gave
a maximum zone of inhibition (21.15 ± 1.64 mm) against Salmonella typhi ( S. typhi ) and a mini-
mum zone of inhibition (06.24 ± 0.69 mm) with ethanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus.
The methanolic extract gave a maximum (15.61 ± 1.35 mm) against S. typhi and a minimum (05.20
± 0.86 mm) zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli . 409 The phenolic and organic acids found in
the roots have been evaluated as potential antioxidants. 410
CENTELLA CORIACEA
Botanical Name — Centella coriacea Nannf.
Related Species — C. asiatica (L.) Urban.
Family — Apiaceae
Common Names — Pennywort, pepperwort
African Names — Arabic: herba, centella; Sotho: bodila-ba-dinku
Description — Centella is a small tropical plant with kidney-shaped leaves up to 2 cm wide
and 1 cm long. The margin is crenate, and the apex is rounded. It is native to Asia, and most of the
available supplies are obtained mainly from Asia. 28
Habitat and Distribution — It is distributed in savanna and secondary forest clearings. The
plant grows in North Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, northern Nigeria, Kenya, and southern Africa.
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