Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Based on high frequency index, Ximenia caffra Sond. var. natalensis was selected
for further phytochemical investigation and biological assays.
Aim: The study aimed to isolate the active antifungal compounds from the leaves of X. caffra
var. natalensis.
SETTING : The ethnobotanical study was conducted in Aganang Local Municipality, Capricorn
District.
METHODS : Acetone extract was partitioned five times with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate,
butanol and water, respectively. Fractions were screened for antifungal activity against
Candida albicans using the microplate method and bioautography assays. The structures of
isolated compounds were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and
mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity of isolated compounds was determined using
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.
RESULTS : Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate fraction led to the isolation of four
compounds, out of which only two were identified. Compound 1 was identified as
epigallocatechin gallate, and Compound 3 was confirmed as kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside.
Epigallocatechin gallate exhibited moderate antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) of 0.5mg/mL and less toxic to the cells with LC50 = 32.32 μg/mL.
CONCLUSION : The antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of isolated compounds validate the use of
X. caffra Sond. var. natalensis in combating oral candidiasis.
CONTRIBUTION : The results have shown the potential bioactivity of X. caffra Sond. var. natalensis
in the treatment of oral candidiasis.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY : The data used to support the findings of this study may be
released upon application to the corresponding author, S.M.
Sections of this manuscript are published in a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s in the University of Limpopo and University of Pretoria entitled ‘Ethnobotanical survey and biological activity of medicinal plants used against C. albicans in Aganang Local Municipality, Limpopo Province’. Supervisor: Prof. L.J. McGaw, 2019 available from http://ulspace.ul.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10386/2985/ tlaamela_dm_2019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
