Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Pharmacological Studies —
Sansevieria
possesses anti-inflammatory activity in animal studies.
It significantly (
p
< 0.05) inhibited the development of paw edema induced by egg albumen in rats.
935
The extract of the leaves showed positive antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. It also exhibited hypo-
lipidemic, immune-modulating, ocular, hepatorenal, and cardioprotective potentials.
936
It was found
that in a dose-dependent manner, it significantly lowered (
p
< 0.05) ocular MDA content; atherogenic
indices; red cell, total white cell, and lymphocyte counts; mean cell hemoglobin concentration; plasma
levels of glucose, triglyceride, total, VLDL, LDL, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterols; total,
conjugated. and unconjugated bilirubin; sodium, urea, and blood urea nitrogen; as well as plasma
activities of ALP, alanine, and aspartate transaminases. However, the treatment significantly increased
(
p
< 0.05) hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell volume, neutrophil
and monocyte counts, and plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, potassium, chloride, calcium, bicarbon-
ate, and total protein, ocular ascorbic acid content, and ocular activities of CAT and SOD.
937
The plant possesses
in vitro
antiplasmodial and anticancer activities.
SCELETIUM TORTUOSUM
Botanical Name —
Sceletium tortuosum
(L.) N.E. Brown
Synonym —
Mesembryanthemum tortuosum
L.
Family —
Aizoaceae
Common Names —
Kanna, channa, kana, sceletium
African Names —
Khoi-khoi (South Africa): kougoed; San (South Africa): kanna; Afrikaans:
kougoed
Description —
The plant is described by the South Africa National Biodiversity Institute as a
prostrate to scrambling perennial succulent herb. The leaves are imbricate, flat triangular in sec-
tional view, with tips incurved, 30-40 × 10-15 mm, with large bladder cells giving foliage a glis-
tening surface, dying back after flowering to leave skeletal remains; flowers (July-September) are
white, pale yellow, pale pink, or salmon and ±20-30 mm in diameter; fruits are 4- to 5-locular, with
valve wings.
Habitat and Distribution —
The plant occurs in South Africa, where it appears restricted to
the western and northern Cape provinces. Eight species of
Sceletium
are known to exist, but only
S. tortuosum
is of commercial importance. It can be differentiated by its straight secondary veins,
prominent idioblasts, incurved leaf tips, and imbricate leaves.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The herb is used in traditional medicine by the Khoi-khoi and San
peoples of South Africa as a mood enhancer, sedative, and analgesic; for toothache and stomach
pains; and as an appetite/thirst suppressant. These properties of kanna were noted and recorded by
early settlers at the Cape, who adopted its use for similar purposes. It is also used as a masticatory
for social and spiritual purposes.
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Constituents —
Indole alkaloids belonging to the mesembrine group (mesembrenol, mesem-
branol, mesembrenone, and mesembrine) are the major constituents of
Sceletium
tortuosum
. Three
distinct structural types have been isolated and characterized. Mesembrine appears to be most abun-
dant (0.3% leaves and 0.86% stem). Mesembrenone and 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol are also present.
Tortuosamine, also isolated from
S. tortuosum
, represents a second structural type in which the pyrrole
ring is opened. Alkaloid levels appear to fluctuate seasonally and may be highest in late spring/early
summer; this is the time when plants are traditionally gathered and prepared for use. Investigation
of alkaloid ratios and total alkaloid content demonstrated that both are substantially altered by tra-
ditional processing methods. Mesembrine and 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol levels were lower in fer-
mented than in unfermented material, while mesembrenone content had doubled during fermentation/
drying. Material crushed and dried at 80°C immediately after collection had similar alkaloid patterns
to fermented material. The unfermented material showed high levels of oxalates (3.6-5.1%).
