@article {1836, title = {In vitro Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities as well as Phytochemical Content of the Fresh Stem Juice from Montrichardia arborescens Schott (Araceae)}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {14}, year = {2022}, month = {August 2022}, pages = {296-304}, type = {Original Article }, chapter = {296}, abstract = {

Background: Montrichardia arborescens Schott (Araceae) is traditionally used for treating, among others, inflammatory conditions, but so far without scientific evidence. In this study, the fresh stem juice was assessed for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and phytochemical content. Methods: The stem juice{\textquoteright}s anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using a heat-induced bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation assay and a hypotonicity-induced human erythrocyte membrane lysis assay. Its antioxidant activity was determined by a DPPH free radical-scavenging assay and a FRAP assay. Diclofenac and Trolox were used as reference compounds. Its phytochemical content was qualitatively explored by standard methods. Data (means {\textpm} SDs; n >= 3) were evaluated for statistically significant differences (p \< 0.05) using ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc adjustments. Results: At >= 12.5\% (v/v), the stem juice inhibited BSA denaturation by 50\%-75\% and membrane lysis by roughly 90\%. At 0.20-7.0\% (v/v), it did not affect BSA denaturation but stabilized membranes by \> 50\%. The juice scavenged DPPH free radicals at an EC50 of 2.0 {\textpm} 0.2\% (v/v) and achieved at that dilution an antioxidant power of 2,616 {\textpm} 16 μM Fe2+ equivalents. All the effects were in the range of those found with diclofenac 50 μg/mL and Trolox 1.0-6.0 μg/mL. The stem juice contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and glycosides. Conclusion: The M. arborescens stem juice exhibited appreciable anti-inflammatory activities that might mainly be associated with the inhibition of the release of inflammatory mediators, along with notable antioxidant activity, which might be attributable to phytochemicals with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, In vitro studies, Montrichardia arborescens Schott, Phytochemical content, Stem juice}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2022.14.99}, author = {Dennis R.A. Mans and Priscilla Friperson and Meryll Djotaroeno and Vinoj Sewberath Misser and Jennifer Pawirodihardjo} } @article {1057, title = {Phytochemical and Pharmacological Support for the Traditional Uses of Zingiberacea Species in Suriname - A Review of the Literature}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {November 2019}, pages = {1511-1525}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {1511}, abstract = {

The Zingiberacea or ginger family is a family of flowering plants comprising roughly 1,600 species of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes divided into about 50 genera. The Zingiberaceae are distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Many members are economically important as spices, ornamentals, cosmetics, traditional medicines, and/or ingredients of religious rituals. One of the most prominent characteristics of this plant family is the presence of essential oils in particularly the rhizomes but in some cases also the leaves and other parts of the plant. The essential oils are in general made up of a variety of, among others, terpenoid and phenolic compounds with important biological activities. The Republic of Suriname (South America) is well-known for its ethnic and cultural diversity as well as its extensive ethnopharmacological knowledge and unique plant biodiversity. This paper first presents some general information on the Zingiberacea family, subsequently provides some background about Suriname and the Zingiberacea species in the country, then extensively addresses the traditional uses of one representative of the seven genera in the country and provides the phytochemical and pharmacological support for these uses, and concludes with a critical appraisal of the medicinal values of these plants.

}, keywords = {Pharmacological activity, Phytochemical composition, Rationale, Suriname, Traditional uses, Zingiberaceae}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.232}, author = {Dennis RA Mans and Meryll Djotaroeno and Priscilla Friperson and Jennifer Pawirodihardjo} }