Pharmacognostical Profile of Selected Medicinal Plants - African Medicinal Plants - page 201

conclusive experiments, the inferences listed next have been drawn by promoters of honeybush as
a dietary supplement.

Isoflavones and Coumestans

• Regulation of menstruation cycles

• Prevention of breast, prostate, and uterus cancer

• Reduction of the risk of osteoporosis

• Antifungal properties

• Antiviral properties

• Anticholesterolemic: lowers cholesterol levels

• Hypolipidemic: lowers fat levels

• Antimicrobial

• Antioxidant

Xanthones

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antihepatotoxic

• Antiviral

• Antidiarrheal

• Antifungal

• Antioxidant

• Antidepressant

Flavones

• Vitamin-type activity (mixture of eriodictyol and hesperidien)

• Antioxidants

• Antimicrobial

• Antiviral

• Anti-inflammatory

• Spasmolytic

• Diuretic (increases urination)

• Nonfeeding sweeteners

Commerce — Cyclopia species have now become established commercial teas but are not as
popular as rooibos tea. The biggest hindrance to commercial growth is the fact that honeybush is not
one distinct species, and trade in the tea varies according to region. Differentiation of the four major
commercial species is often difficult. Microscopic pharmacognostical profiling, using the leaf and
stem microstructure of the species, has proved useful in determination of ultraspecific identity of
the commercially important Cyclopia species ( Cyclopia intermedia , Cyclopia subternata , Cyclopia
maculata, Cyclopia genistoides ). Leaflet characters of diagnostic value include the shape; margin
(flat or revolute); bundle sheath extensions; crystals (aggregates, solitary crystals, and crystal sand);
relative size of the upper and lower epidermal cells; and thickness of the cuticle. Studies also revealed
an abundance of phenolic compounds, not only in the leaf epidermal cells and leaf bundle sheaths,
but also in the secondary phloem, xylem rays, xylem parenchyma, and pith, showing that the inclu-
sion of older stems may be acceptable and does not necessarily lower the quality of the product. 492
Agriculture — Like most members of the fynbos ecosystem, the honeybush tea plants are not
easy to cultivate. Some of the species are nonsprouting, which means that replanting requires a lot
of care, but once the plant is established, it is a hardy shrub. The life span of the nonsprouters is 7