Bonface Mwamatope

Vernonia amygdalina Del., a plant recognised for its medicinal properties, is widely available in Malawi, but remains underutilised. The study aimed to analyse phytochemicals and their functional groups in the aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina Del. leaves. The functional groups of the compounds were determined using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Phenolic compounds were quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet visible assay. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to identify volatile phytoconstituents. The FT‐IR spectrum revealed characteristic absorption bands corresponding to C═C, C═O, C═O, ─OH and ─NH active functional groups. The phenolic compounds identified included gallic acid, sinapic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, rutin and quercetin, whose concentrations varied significantly ( p < 0.05). Volatile compounds (21) were observed with dl‐α‐Tocopherol as a major compound, followed by β‐sitosterol, ethyl iso‐allocholate, 9,12,15‐octadecatrienoic acid, 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)‐ and stigmasterol. The aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina Del. leaves contained phytochemicals with active functional groups that can act as reducing and capping agents, thereby demonstrating potential applications in green chemistry. Based on these findings, we recommend further studies using this extract to actually synthesise silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles and characterise them using spectroscopic techniques for use in promoting sustainable farming practices.

This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh, Psorospermum febrifugum Spach, Inula glomerata Oliv. and Hiern, Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. and Monotes africanus A.DC., claimed to treat cancer by Malawian traditional herbal practitioners. Ground and dried plant extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total alkaloid content (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using standard assays. The TPC, TFC, and TAC ranged from 539 ± 2.70 to 4602 ± 32 mg GAE/g DW, 6.18 ± 0.03 to 64.04 ± 0.16 mg QE/g DW and 19.25 ± 0.07 to 76.05 ± 0.36 mg CE/g DW, respectively, and the variations were significant, p < 0.05. FRAP values ranged from 82.15 ± 0.7 to 687.28 ± 0.71 mg TEAC/g DW and decreased in the following order: P. thoningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh > P. febrifugum Spach > M. africanus A.DC > Z. chalybeum Engl > I. glomerata Oliv. and Hiern. The scavenging activity (SA₅₀) of the extracts ranged from 0.09 ± 0.01 to 1.57 ± 0.01 μg/mL of extract with P. thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh showing the lowest value. Based on the levels of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity, the plants in this study could be considered for use as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds and antioxidants.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of 17 edible wild fruits that are widely distributed and consumed in Malawi for pharmacological value exploration. Qualitative phytochemical analysis, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant activity (TAA), and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were performed in aqueous and methanolic fruit extracts. The results showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and quinones. Piliostigma thonningii had the highest total phenolic content (1675.33 ± 12.34 mg GAEg^-1 FW) in methanolic extracts, and Annona senegalensis gave the highest levels of total flavonoid content (649.67 ± 2.08 mg RE g^-1 FW) in aqueous extracts. The results of antioxidant activities (FRAP, TAA, and DPPH) varied widely, and the variations were significant (P < 0.05). Thespesia garckeana and Mangifera indica exhibited a high ability to chelate metal cations in methanolic extracts and in aqueous extracts, respectively. DPPH levels were higher in aqueous extracts and ranged from 11.07% to 99.61%. This study provides evidence that the studied edible fruits of Malawi have potential as value‐added products for various treatments of oxidative stress‐associated ailments as they contain more phytochemical constituents. We recommend further studies to determine if the presence of a particular class of phytochemicals would translate into the bioactivity capability of these edible fruits.

Background: In Malawi, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This has led to increased use of herbal medicines for cancer management. Objective: This study aimed at identifying medicinal plants that are used for the management of cancer in the southern area of Karonga district, Northern Malawi. Methods: Semi-structured individual questionnaire interviews were used to collect ethnobotanical data from traditional herbal practitioners in the study area. Results: A total of twenty six (26) plant species from seventeen (17) botanical families were reported by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to be effective in the management of cancer. The botanical families with representation of more than one plant species were Fabaceae with five species, followed by Combretaceae and the Anacardiaceae with three species each, and Meliaceaewith with two species. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) showed that Senna singueana (RFC = 0.833), Lannea discolour (RFC = 0.833), Melia azedarach (RFC = 0.667), and Moringa oleifera (RFC = 0.667) were the medicinal plant species which were frequently mentioned and used in the study. The recipes could be a mixture of plant species or plant parts such as the leaves, barks, roots, rhizomes, seeds, flowers, and fruits. Conclusion: The study showed that a potential cancer management drug could be developed from the medicinal plant species found in the area. The results of this study could provide baseline information on medicinal plant species for further phytochemical studies and other studies to validate their use.