Index:PSA/Medicinal

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Medicinal Plants of South Africa by South African National Biodiversity Institute

PSA Page	Family	Genus (our page)	Synonyms	Parts used	Major chemical constituents	Bioactivity
Agathosma betulina (Berg.) Pillans	Rutaceae	Agathosma	Barosma betulina Bartl. and Wendl. f. Hartogia betulina Berg.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; colour light yellow-green; odour highly aromatic; texture soft when fresh, leathery when dry	limonene; rutin; diosmin; menthone; isomenthone; (psi) -diosphenol; diosphenol; pulegone; isopulegone; cis-8-mercapto-p-menthane-3-one; trans-8-mercapto-p-menthane-3-one	weak antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa); no antimicrobial (Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa); smooth muscle spasmogenic (guinea pig ileum); no antiviral (Herpes Type 2, Influenza A2, Poliovirus II, Vaccinia); no cytotoxic (HeLa); antimutagenic (ethyl methanesulphonate, amino anthracene); antiinflammatory (rat paw oedema)
Agathosma crenulata (L.) Pillans	Rutaceae	Agathosma	Barosma crenulata Hook. Barosma serratifolia (Vent.) Willd.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; colour light yellow-green; odour highly aromatic; texture soft when fresh, leathery when dry	limonene; menthone; isomenthone; pulegone; isopulegone; cis-8-mercapto-p-menthane-3-one; trans-8-mercapto-p-menthane-3-one	no cytoxic (HeLa, Vero, Jurkat E6.1, AA-2, CEM-SS); no antiviral (HSV-1, Coxsackie B2); weak antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae); no antimicrobial (Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa); smooth muscle spasmogenic (guinea pig ileum)
Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. et Zeyh.	Apiaceae	Alepidea	no data	fresh or dried rhizome and root; colour russet-brown externally; odour pleasant aromatic; texture crisp resinous)	kaurene-type diterpenes (e.g. ent-16-kaurene-19-oic acid)	antimicrobial; antihypertensive; diuretic (rat); no cytotoxic (HeLa, Vero, Jurkat E6.1, AA-2, CEM-SS); no antiviral (HSV-1); antiviral (Cocksackie B2)
Arctopus echinatus L.	Apiaceae	Arctopus	no data	fresh or dried sliced root; odour pleasant aromatic; texture pliable when fresh, brittle when dry	saponins; reducing sugars; kaurene-type diterpenes (e.g. ent-16-kaurene-19-oic acid)	no data
Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd.	Asteraceae	Artemisia	no data	fresh or dried aerial parts; colour grey; odour highly aromatic; taste extremely bitter	saponins; tannins; triterpenes (e.g. alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, friedelin); alkanes ceryl cerotinate; n-nonacosane; luteolin methyl ethers; sesquiterpene lactones; alpha- and beta-thujone; 1,8-cineole; camphor; alpha-pinene	antihistaminic; narcotic analgesic; antioxidant (beta-carotene, linoleic acid); weak antimalarial (Plasmodium falciparum); antitumour (mouse); antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmat, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae); antinematodal (Caenorhabditis elegans); antiamoebic (Entamoeba histolytica); cytotoxic (HeLa, Vero, Jurkat E6.1, AA-2, CEM-SS); no antihypertensive (Coxsackie B2, HSV-1)
Asclepias fruticosa L.	Asclepiadaceae	Asclepias	no data	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; colour light yellow-green; odour faint; taste bitter	glycosides of the cardenolide; pregnanes type (e.g. beta-hydroxygomphoside); monosaccharides (e.g. digitoxose, olivose, cymarose, oleandrose and deoxyallose); monosaccharides with cinnamic acids (e.g. sinapic acid)	uterotonic; cardiotonic; antihypertensive; no decongestant; no analgesic; no antimicrobial (Staphylococus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli)
Ballota africana (L.) Benth.	Lamiaceae	Ballota	Marrubium africanum (L.) Benth	fresh or dried overground parts; colour deep green; odour pleasant aromatic; texture rough-hairy	saponins; tannins; labdane type diterpene lactones (e.g. ballotenone, premarrubiin); flavonoids; pyrrolidine-type alkaloids	no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis); no cytotoxic (HeLa, Vero, Jurkat E6.1, AA-2, CEM-SS); antiviral (Coxsackie B2, HSV-1)
Buddleja saligna Willd.	Buddlejaceae	Buddleja	Chilianthus olearaceus Burch.	fresh or dried leaves; colour grey-green; odour faint pleasant; texture leathery	saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; phenylpropanoid glycosides (e.g. verbascoside); lignans; neolignans; alkaloids; iridoids; acetylated iridoids; sesquiterpenoids; flavonoids	no data
Bulbine frutescens (L.) Willd.	Asphodelaceae	Bulbine	Bulbine caulescens L Bulbine rostrata Willd.	fresh leaves	knipholone; isoknipholone; gaboroquinone A; gaboroquinone B; demethylknipholone glucoside	no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillis subtilis)
Carpobrotus acinaciformis L.	Aizoaceae	Carpobrotus	Carpobrotus concavus L. Bolus Carpobrotus vanzijliae L. Bolus	fresh or dried leaves; colour dull green when fresh, brittle pale green when dry; taste sour and astringent	citric acids; malic acid; mesembrine	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis); no antibacteriophage (MS2, PHI-X0174, T-7, T2, T4, Type1)
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bol.	Aizoaceae	Carpobrotus	no data	fresh or dried leaves; colour dull green when fresh, brittle pale green when dry; taste sour and astringent	citric acid; malic acid; flavonoids (e.g. rutin, neohesperidin, hyperoside); ferulic acid; catechol tannins	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella catarrhalis); no antimicrobial (Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Chironia baccifera L.	Gentianaceae	Chironia	no data	fresh or dried aerial parts; colour bright green-yellow; odour faint biter-aromatic; texture soft when fresh	saponins; tannins; secoiridoids (e.g. chironioside, eustomoside, gentiopicroside); triterpenes; oleanolic acid	no data
Cissampelos capensis L. f.	Menispermaceae	Cissampelos	Antizoma capensis (L.f.) Diels Antizoma capensis (L.f.) Diels var. pulverulenta (harv.) Diels Cissampelos fruticosa L.f. Cissampelos humilis Poir.	fresh or dried leaves; colour light green; odour faint characteristic; texture thin and soft	alkaloids; saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; benzylisoquinolines; bisbenzylisoquinolines (e.g. tubocurarine, cissampareine); diterpenes; triterpenes	no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Cliffortia ferruginea L. f.	Rosaceae	Cliffortia	Cliffortia berberidifolia Lam. Cliffortia ferruginea var. flexuosa (E.Mey.) Harv. Cliffortia ferruginea var. latifolia Eckl. et Zeyh. Cliffortia ferruginea var. longifolia Eckl. et Zeyh. Cliffortia ferruginea var. villosa Harv.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; odour faint aromatic; texture leathery	saponins; tannins	weak antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
Cliffortia odorata L. f.	Rosaceae	Cliffortia	Cliffortia alnifolia Reichenb. Cliffortia odorata L. f. var. vera Harv.	fresh or dried overground parts; colour dull green; odour pleasantly aromatic; texture leathery	saponins; tannins; triterpenes	brine shrimp lethality; antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Conyza scabrida DC.	Asteraceae	Conyza	Conyza ivifolia (L.) Less. Baccharis ivaefolia L.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; odour pleasantly aromatic; texture soft	saponins; tannins; cardiac glycosides; diterpene acids (e.g. conyscabraic acid, hautriwaic acid, nidoresedaic acid, printziaic acid)	no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosus)
Cotyledon orbiculata L.	Crassulaceae	Cotyledon	no data	fresh leaves; colour bright green to grey-green often with characteristic red margin; odour faint, texture fleshy	orbicusides A; orbicusides B; orbicusides C; tyledoside D	no data
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.	Sapindaceae	Dodonaea	Dodonaea thunbergiana Radlk. Dodonaea thunbergiana Radlk. var. linearis Sonder Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. var. angustifolia Benth.	fresh or dried flowering tops; colour yellow-green when young; odour faintly aromatic;texture soft to leathery	saponins; tannins; quinones; triterpene; diterpenoid acids (e.g. hautriwaic acid, dodonic acid); flavones (e.g. santin, penduletin, aliarin, 5,7-dihydroxy-3'- (3-hydroxymethylbutyl) -3,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone); flavanones (e.g. pinocembrin)	brine shrimp lethality; no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis); analgesic (mouse); antipyretic (rat)
Elytropappus rhinocerotis (L.f.) Less.	Asteraceae	Elytropappus	Stoebe rhinocerotis L. f.	fresh or dried young tops; colour grey-green; odour distinctive aromatic; taste bitter	saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; cardiac glycosides; rhinocerotinoic acid	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis); antihypoglycaemic
Eriocephalus africanus L. subsp. africanus Eriocephalus africanus L. subsp. Paniculatus	Asteraceae	Eriocephalus	Eriocephalus umbellulatus DC.	fresh or dried flowering tops; odour highly aromatic	tannins; sesquiterpene lactones of the eudesmanolide type (e.g. 4a,11-dihydroxy-eudesmane, 11-OH-5a-hydroperoxy-eudesmane; ivangustin), dehydrofalcarinol	antispasmodic; weak antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans); brine shrimp lethality
Euclea undulata Thunb. var. myrtina (Burch.) Hiern Euclea undulata Thunb. var. undulata	Ebenaceae	Euclea	Euclea myrtina Burch. Euclea undulata Thunb.	fresh or dried leaves; colour foliage pale green when young, becoming darker green; odour faint pleasant; texture rough-leathery; taste intensely astringent	saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; triterpenoids; aliphatics; napthoquinones (e.g. 7-methyl-juglone, diospyrin, isodiospyrin);	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Galenia africana L.	Aizoaceae	Galenia	Galenia namaensis auct. non Schinz	fresh or dried aerial parts; colour yellow to yellow green; odour faintly aromatic	alkaloids	no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Geranium incanum Burm. f. var. incanum Geranium incanum Burm. f. var. multifidum (Sweet) Hilliard and Burtt	Geraniaceae	Geranium	Geranium incanum Burm. f. var. b. Geranium multifidum Sweet	fresh or dried aerial parts; colour silver-grey; odour aromatic, texture soft	saponins; tannins (e.g. gallitannin, geraniin)	weak antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis); cytotoxic (HeLa, Vero, Jurkat E6.1, AA-2, CEM-SS); antiviral (Coxsackie B2, HSV-1)
Gunnera perpensa L.	Gunneraceae	Gunnera	no data	fresh or dried rhizome; colour dark brown externally, cream todark pink internally; odour faint; texture hard to fleshy	celastrin	uterotonic (rat); no antimicrobial (Staphylococus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli)
Harpagophytum procumbens DC. ex Meissner subsp. procumbens Harpagophytum procumbens DC. subsp. transvaalense Ihlenf. et H. Hartm.	Pedaliaceae	Harpagophytum	Harpagophytum burchellii Decne. Uncaria procumbens Burch	dried sliced secondary tubers; colour light brown, often with a greenish tinge; odour faint; taste very bitter	Iridoid glycosides (e.g. cinnamyl ester of harpagide harpagide, procumbide); sugars (e.g. stachyose, raffinose, sucrose, monosaccharides); triterpenoids (e.g. oleanolic acid, 3beta-acetyl oleanolic acid, ursolic acid); phytosterols (e.g. beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol); aromatic acids (e.g. caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid); flavonoids (e.g. luteolin, kaempferol)	antiinflammatory (rat, mouse, human); cardiovascular; antiarrhythmic
Helichrysum patulum (L.) D. Don	Asteraceae	Helichrysum	Gnaphalium patulum L. Helichrysum crispum (L). D. Don var. citrinum Harv. Helichrysum crispum auct. non (L.) D. Don	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; colour grey; odour pleasantly aromatic; texture soft	tannins; flavonoids; diterpenes; acylphloroglucinol; alpha-pyrone; sesquiterpenes (e.g. labdane derivatives)	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard et Burtt	Asteraceae	Helichrysum	Helichrysum petiolatum auct. non (L.) DC.	fresh or dried flowering tops; colour grey; odour aromatic; texture soft	flavonoids; phloroglucinol derivatives (e.g. caespitin); sesquiterpenes (e.g. caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, alpha-humulene); alpha-pyrone derivatives; diterpenes	brine shrimp lethality; no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Hippia frutescens (L.) L.	Asteraceae	Hippia	Tanacetum frutescens L.	fresh or dried aerial parts; colour bright green; odour aromatic; texture soft hairy	saponins; tannins; alkaloids; camphor; trans beta-farnesene; linalool; linalool acetate; terpenen-4-ol; alpha-terpineol	antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis or Candida albicans)
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A. Mey.	Hypoxidaceae	Hypoxis	Hypoxis rooperi S. Moore	fresh or dried sliced corm; colour brown-black externally, bright yellow internally when freshly cut, darkening rapidly	hypoxoside; beta-sitosterol; sterolins; monoterpene glycosides; cytokinins (e.g. zeatin, zeatin riboside, zeatin glucoside)	antimutagenic; no toxicity (mouse, rabbit); no foetotoxic (mouse); no teratogenic (mouse); no cytotoxic (CA-9KB); no antitumour (mouse)
Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br.	Lamiaceae	Leonotis	Phlomis leonurus L. Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br. var. albiflor	dried aerial parts; colour bright yellow-green; odour characteristic-aromatic, pungent; texture rough	saponins; tannins; quinones; alkaloids; triterpene steroids; diterpenoid labdane lactones (e.g. premarrubiin, marrubiin)	antinematodal (Caenorhabditis elegans); no antiamoebic; no molluscicidal (Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus truncatus); anticonvulsant (mouse); no antiphage (MS2, PHI-CHI-174, T-7, T2, T4, OPS7); antifertility (rat); uterotonic; antiimplantation; no brine shrimp lethality
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson	Lamiaceae	Leonotis	Phlomis ocymifolia Burm. f.	leaves and smaller stems; colour bright green when fresh; odour characteristic-aromatic; texture soft	saponins; tannins; alkaloids; labdane type diterpene lactones (e.g. leonitin)	no data
Leysera gnaphalodes (L.) L.	Asteraceae	Leysera	Asteropterus dinteri Rothm. Asteropterus gnaphalodes (L.) Rothm. Asteropterus gracilis Rothm. Asteropterus incanus Rothm. Callisia gnaphalodes L. Leysera incana Thunb. Leysera tenuifolia Salisb.	fresh or dried leaves and stems; colour grey; odour aromatic; texture soft	tannins; alkaloids; triterpenes (e.g. oleanolic acid); benzofuran derivatives; diterpenes (e.g. labdane, kaurene derivatives)	no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans)
Lobostemon fruticosus (L.) Buek	Boraginaceae	Lobostemon	Echium fruticosum L. Echium obovatum (DC.) I. M. Johnston Lobostemon lasiophyllus DC.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; colour blue-green; odour no perceptible; texture rough-leathery	saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; polysaccharides	no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis)
Melianthus comosus Vahl.	Melianthaceae	Melianthus	no data	fresh or dried leaves; colour dull yellow-green; odour characteristic unpleasant; texture rough and leathery	saponins; tannins; triterpenes (e.g. oleanolic acid); bufadienolides (e.g melianthusigenin)	antimicrobial (Candida albicans, Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium smegmatis); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa); antitumour (mouse); cytotoxicity (CA-9KB); toxicity (mouse colon carcinoma, mouse leukaemia)
Melianthus major L.	Melianthaceae	Melianthus	no data	fresh or dried leaves; colour blue green; odour characteristic unpleasant; texture smooth and pliable	saponins; tannins; triterpenes (e.g. cyclolaudenol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetaroic-30-caffeate); phytosterols (e.g. beta-sitosterol, daucosterol)	antimicrobial (Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis); no antimicrobial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq. Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. subsp. polyadena (Briq.) Briq.	Lamiaceae	Mentha	Mentha capensis Thunb. Mentha longifolia (L.).L. subsp. bouvieri (Briq.) Briq. Mentha longifolia (L.).L. subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq. var. cooperi Briq. ex Cooke Mentha longifolia (L.).L. subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq. var. doratophylla Briq. Mentha longifolia (L.).L. subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq. var. obscuriceps Briq. Mentha longifolia (L.).L. subsp. capensis (Thunb.) Briq. var. salicina Burch ex Benth. Mentha sylvestris L. subsp. polyadena Briq.	dried aerial parts; colour dull green; odour characteristic spearmint-like	saponins; tannins; flavonoids (e.g. acacetin, hesperidin, luteolin, apigenin glucuronides); monoterpene ketone carvone; piperitenone; piperitone; pulegone	antimicrobial (Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans); no antimicrobial (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida stellatoidea, Candida vaginalis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmatis); weak mutagenic (Salmonella typhimurium); no cytotoxicity (V79); gastrointestinal motility (mouse); no antioxidant
Nylandtia spinosa (L.) Dumort. Nylandtia scoparia (Eckl. et Zeyher) Goldblatt et J. C. Manning.	Polygalaceae	Nylandtia	Mundia spinosa (L.) DC	flowering tops; odour faint pleasant; texture stiff, thorny	saponins; tannins; reducing sugars; cardiac glycosides	no data
Ocotea bullata (Burch.) Baill.	Lauraceae	Ocotea	no data	dried bark; colour grey (outer surface) and red-brown (inner surface) when young, becoming dark grey-brown (outer surface) and light grey-brown (inner surface); odour pleasant, characteristic-aromatic	tannins, neolignans (e.g. ocobullenone, iso-ocobullenone, sibyllenone, neolignan ketone)
Olea europaea L. ssp. africana (Mill.) P.S. Green	Oleaceae	Olea	Olea africana Mill.	fresh or dried leaves and smaller stems; texture leathery; colour grey-green to grey-brown; odour faintly aromatic; taste extremely astringent	saponins, tannins, alkaloids (cinchonine, cinchonidine), flavonoids (e.g. apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol), triterpenes (e.g. beta-amyrin, oleanolic acid); monoterpenes (e.g. oleuropein and oleacein)	antimicrobial (Mycobacterium tuberculosus); no antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium digitatum, Rhizopus nigricans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces pastorianus, Salmonella typhi); antiviral (HIV-1); hypoglycaemic (rat); antiarrhythmic (rat); antihypertensive (rat); inotropic (rabbit); spasmolytic (guinea pig, rat, rabbit); positive chronotropic (rabbit); antihypercholesterolaemic (rat); antihypertensive (rat); diuretic (human, rat); antiinflammatory (rat); glutathione S-transferase induction (mouse)