Prostaglandin Synthesis Inhibitory Activity in Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho Medicinal Plants

Twenty-six plants used by Zulu healers for the treatment of pain and inflammation were assayed for cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity. The plant parts used by the traditional healers were dried and milled. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the plants were prepared and assayed. Several plant extracts exhibited high inhibitory activity in the assay. Among these were Acacia rehmanniana, Cryptocarya latifolia, Dichrostachys cinerea, Erythrophleum lasianthum, Euclea natalensis, Felicia muricata, Mohria caffrorum, Phygelius capensis, Siphonochilus aethiopicus, Trichilia emetica and Turraea floribunda. The ethanol extracts generally showed higher activity than the aqueous extracts.