Screening of plants used as traditional anticancer remedies in Mkuranga and Same Districts, Tanzania, using brine shrimp toxicity bioassay
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Abstract
Background. Inadequate specialized cancer hospitals and high costs are contributing factors that delay cancer patients from
accessing health care services in Tanzania. Consequently, majority of patients are first seen by Traditional Health Practitioners
(THPs) before they access specialized services. This study presents ethnomedical information and preliminary evaluation of 25
plant species claimed by THPs in Mkuranga and Same districts of Tanzania on use for treatment of cancer. Literature search
and laboratory investigation results are presented to support evaluation. Methods. This study was a single disease ethnomedical
enquiry focusing on plants being used for cancer treatment. Face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were administered to eight
( ) THPs in Mkuranga and Same districts on the claimed plants and their use for management of cancer. Plants were selected
based on being frequently mentioned and emphasis given by THPs. Literature search and brine shrimp toxicity (BST) of methanol
: dichloromethane (1:1) extracts was used as surrogates to evaluate strength of the claims. Results. This study reports 25 plant species
used by the THPs in two districts of Tanzania. Eight plants (32%) have been reported in the literature to have activity against cancer
cells. BST results revealed, 14 (56%) plants exhibited high toxicity against brine shrimps. The most active plants included Croton
pseudopulchellus Pax (LC50 4.2 𝜇g/ml), Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. (LC50 6.8 𝜇g/ml), Loranthus micranthus Linn (LC50
4.0 𝜇g/ml), Ochna mossambicensis Klotzsch (LC50 3.3 𝜇g/ml), and Spirostachys africana Sond. (LC50 4.4 𝜇g/ml); their toxicity was
comparable to that of Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don. (LC50 6.7 𝜇g/ml), an established source of anticancer compounds. Nine other
plants had LC50 values between (19.8 and 71.6) 𝜇g/ml, indicating also potential to yield anticancer. Conclusion. Literature search
and BST results provide a strong support of the potential of the claimed plants to yield active anticancer compounds.
Description
Keywords
Toxicity Bioassay, Traditional Anticancer Remedies, Mkuranga and Same Districts, Tanzania
Citation
Matata, D.Z., Ngassapa, O.D., Machumi, F. and Moshi, M.J., 2018. Screening of plants used as traditional anticancer remedies in mkuranga and same districts, Tanzania, using brine shrimp toxicity bioassay. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018.