Journal of Essential Oil Research
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Essential Oil Composition and In Vitro Biological
Activities of Seven Namibian Species of
Eriocephalus L. (Asteraceae)
Alvaro M. Viljoen, Elizabeth W. Njenga, Sandy F. van Vuuren, Carlo Bicchi,
Patrizia Rubiolo & Barbara Sgorbini
To cite this article: Alvaro M. Viljoen, Elizabeth W. Njenga, Sandy F. van Vuuren, Carlo Bicchi,
Patrizia Rubiolo & Barbara Sgorbini (2006) Essential Oil Composition and In Vitro Biological
Activities of Seven Namibian Species of Eriocephalus L. (Asteraceae), Journal of Essential Oil
Research, 18:sup1, 124-128, DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2006.12067133
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2006.12067133
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]. Essent. Oil Res., 18, 124-128 (Special Edition 2006)
Essential Oil Composition and In Vitro Biological
Activities of Seven Namibian Species of
Eriocephalus L. (Asteraceae)
Alvaro M. Viljoen*
School ofPlwnnacy, Tshwane University of Technology, Priwte Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Elizabeth W. Njenga and Sandy F. van Vuuren
Department of Phanrwcy and Phannacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road,
Parktown, 2193, South Africa
Carlo Bicchi, Patrizia Rubiolo and Barbara Sgorbini
Dipartimento di Scienzia e Technologia del Fannaco, Universita Degli Studi di Torino, Via P Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
Abstract
The essential oil composition of seven Namibian Eriocephalus species (E. clinteri, E. ericoides subsp. ericoides, E.
klinghardtensis, E.luederitzianus, E. merxmuelleri, E. pinnatus, E. scariosus) were determined by GC and GC/M S. The
oils of E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (sample 1), E. merxmuelleri and E. scariosus were found to he rich in 1,8-cineole
and camphor. Eriocephalus scariosus oil contained santolina alcohol (14.8%). The highest levels of camphor (38.4%)
was found in E. dinteri oil. The major component of E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (sample 2) was linalool (10.4%).
A chemical similarity between E. luederitzianus and E. klinghardtensis was observed which both accmnulated high
p-cymene and y-terpinene. Eriocephalus luederitzianus oil contained a-longipinene
levels of a-pinene, ~-pine,
(13.3% ). The morphologically anomalous E. pinnatus was very different in oil composi(10.3%) and ~-caryophlen
tion when compared to the other taxa and is characterized by isoamyl2-methylbutyrate (7.9%) and isoamyl valerate
(fL'5%). Antimicrobial disc difTusion assays and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were perf(Jrmed on all
seven species. Good antifungal activity was noted f(Jr E. ericoides subsp. ericoides. Highest activities were noted for E.
merxmuelleri against the Gram-positive test organisms and generally poor activity was noted against the Gram-negative test organisms for all species. The anti-inflammatory activity of the oils were assessed using the 5-lipoxygenase
(.5-LOX) enzyme and E. dinteri displayed the most promising inhibition (IC50 = 3.'5Jlglml).
Key Word Index
Eriocephalus dinteri, Erioceplwlus ericoides subsp. ericoides, Eriocephalus klinghanltensis, Eriocephalus luederitzianus, Eriocephalus merxmuelleri, Eriocephalus pinnatus, Eriocephalus scariosus, Asteraceae, Namibia, essential oil
1,8-cineole, santo !ina alcohol, linalool, chrysanthenone, camphor,
composition, chemotaxonomy, a-pinene, ~-pine,
antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity.
a-longipinene, ~-caryophlen,
Introduction
The genus Eriocephalus L. commonly known as wild
rosemary or Cape snow bush belongs to the family Asteraceae
(tribe Anthemideae). The genus is characterized by presence
of aromatic terpenes found in the highly dissected leaves ( 1-3).
Thirty-two endemic species are reported to occur in southern
Africa, ofwhich 11 occur in Namibia. Sevenoftheseareendemic
to Namibia. The genus is economically important as a source
of Cape chamomile oil obtained from E. punctulatus DC. and
some of the species are used in traditional herbal remedies for
the treatment of respiratory tract infections, gastro-intestinal
disorders, dennal infections and as anti-inflammatory agents
(4-8). Sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents for nine
species of Eriocephalus have been reported (5). This study
aims at scientifically validating traditional uses of Eriocephalus
species and to report preliminary results on the oil composition
of an important yet poorly studied plant group.
Experimental
Plant material and hydrodistillation: The aerial parts
of the selected Eriocephalus species were collected during
the flowering stage from various natural populations. Locality
•Address for correspondence
1041-295/63X$.~
124/Journal of Essential Oil Research
2006 Allured Publishing Corp.
Vol. 1B (2006)
Eriocepha/us
Table 1. Collection data and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity for Namibian species of Eriocepha/us
Species
Voucher
Locality
Anti-inflammatory activity
IC50 (JLg/ml)
E. dinteri S. Moore
E. ericoides (L.F.) Druce subsp ericoides
E. ericoides (L.F.) Druce subsp ericoides
E. klinghardtensis M.A.N. MOiler
E.!uederitzianus O.Hoffm.
E. merxmuelleri M.A.N. MOiler
E. pinnatus 0. Hoffm
E. scariosus DC
Near Aus
Windhoek district
Farm Hohenheim
Neiaab Mountain
12 km East of Windhoek
Buschmanberge
Brandberg
Near Aus
nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)
data for the studied species are given in Table I. The voucher
specimens have been deposited in the Herbarium at the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, {/niversity of the
Witwatersrand, South Africa and the duplicates are housed in
the Herbarium of the National Botanical Research Institute
(NBRI), Namibia. The dried aerial plant parts were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus for 4 h.
Essential oil analysis: GC analyses were carried out on
a Thermo Electron Trace GC Ultra device provided with high
frequency fast FID detector(300Hz, time constant: 6ms). Data
processing was by Hyper Chrom software (Version 2.3) (Thenno
Electron Rodano, Italy). The GC/MS analyses of the oils were
carried out on an Agilent 5973n GC-MS system provided \Vith
a 6890 GC unit (Agilent, Little Falls, DE, USA). Injection
volume: 1 f.lL of each oil diluted 1:200 in cyclohexane.
GC analysis conditions: Injection temperature: 250°C,
mode: split, split ratio: 1:20; detector temperature: 270°C;
columns: FSOT polydimethylsiloxane (OV-1, 25m, 0.25 mm,
0.25 J.lm film thickness) (Mega, Legnano (Milan), Italy). The
temperature program was as follows: from 50°C (1 min) to
220°C (5 min) at 3°Chnin rate. The injector temperature was
230°C; split sampling mode, split ratio 1:10; the transfer line
was 250°C, carrier gas, hydrogen at a flow rate of 1.0 mUmin
in constant flow mode.
GC/MS analyses were carried out on the same column
under the same conditions reported for GC except that helium
was used as carrier gas; flow rate: 1.0 mUmin, in constant flow
mode. MS was in EI mode at 70 eV. Ion source temperature:
230°C.
The components were characterized and identified by
comparison oftheir mass spectra and retention indices on OV-1
with those of authentic samples or with data from literature.
Percent normalization data were obtained by GC-FID.
Antimicrobial activity: Two assays (disc diffusion and
minimum inhibitory concentration) were employed to determine the antimicrobial activities of the oils.
Disc diffusion assay: The selection of the microbial strains
was carried out from a broad preliminary screening of 16 test
pathogens and the seven most susceptible were selected for
further disc diffusion assay (3). The disc diffusion assay was
performed using five bacterial reference strains namely: Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778), Bacillus suhtilis (ATCC 6051),
Staphylococcus au reus (ATCC 25923), Klebsiella pnewnoniae
Vol. 18 (2006)
AV871
AV866
AV867
AV870
AV 865
AV869
AV864
AV872
35 ± 1.8
43.1 ± 3.0
59± 2.1
40.5 ± 2.5
44.5 ± 2.8
58.7±3.1
> 100
5 ± 0.5
(NCTC 9633), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and two yeast
strains: Cryptococcus neofimnans (ATCC 90 112) and Candida
albicans (ATCC 10231). Tryptone Soya agar was prepared by
dissolving 30 g of the agar in 750 mL of water and autoclaved
for 15 min at 121 °C and cooled to 55°C in a water bath. A base
layer oflOO mL ofagar was poured into the plate and inoculated
with a top layer of 100 mL of agar containing an inoculum of
approximately 1 x 106 CFU/mL. Sterilized paper discs (6 mm)
were saturated with approximately 8 pL of each of the oils and
loaded onto the agar plates. The plates were kept at 4°C for
one hour to pre-diffuse the oil and then incubated for 24 h at
37°C for bacterial isolates. The yeasts were incubated for 48
h. Neomycin (30 pgper disc) was used as a positive control for
the bacterial strains and Nystatin (100 IU per disc) as a control
for the fungal strains. Activity was measured as growth inhibition zones in millimeters from the edge of the disc. Replicates
were made to confirm results.
Detennination ofminimwn inhihitonJ concentration (MIG):
The oil yields were relatively low hence only those species
with sufficient oils and with notable activity from the disc diffusion assay were included in this assay. The test was carried
out using the p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet (INT) microplate
method (9). The oils with a starting concentration of 128 mgl
mL were transferred into the first well in the microtitre plates
and serially diluted. The test cultures yielding an inoculum of
approximately 1 x 106 CFU/mL were added to the wells and
incubated at 37°C for 24 h for bacterial strains and 48 h for the
yeast strains. The controls included were Ciprofloxacin (0.01
mglmL stock solution) for bacterial strains and Amphotericin
B (0.01 mglmL stock solution) for the yeast strains. Culture
growth was visualized by transferring 40 f.lL of0.2 mglmL INT
to all the wells and examining them to determine the color
change after 6 h for bacterial strains and 24 h for yeasts. The
tests were done in triplicate.
Anti-injlammatonJ assay: Possible inhibition of5-lipoxygenase activity was determined follmving published protocols
(10,11). All concentrations refer to final concentrations in 3
mL cuvettes maintained at 25°C in a thermostated bath. The
standard assay mixture contained 10 f.lL of each oil dissolved in
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) andTween20, A0.1M potassium
phosphate buffer (pH 6.3, 2.95 mL)was prepared \vith analytical
grade reagents and 100 uM linoleic acid (~9%
). The reaction
was initiated \vith the addition of 100 U isolated 5-lipoxygenase
Journal of Essential Oil Research/125
Viljoen et al.
Table 11. Percentage chemical composition, yields and retention index (RI) of the oils for seven Namibian species of Eriocephalus
Rl
901
921
922
928
939
939
939
963
966
970
984
988
992
996
1005
1008
1016
1018
1024
1047
1050
1070
1077
1083
1085
1089
1092
1110
1116
1134
1141
1141
1155
1158
1160
1166
1173
1183
1210
1215
1240
1239
1262
1336
1342
1360
1362
1398
1432
1474
1500
1544
1548
1608
1611
Compound
oil yield(%)
dint
eric 1
eric 2
kling
lued
merx
pin
scar
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.7
0.3
1.7
1.0
0.6
2.0
0.3
santolina triene
artemisia triene
a-thujene
a-pinene
a-fenchene
a-fenchene + camphene
camphene
sabinene
13-pinene
2,6-dimethyl, 3, 5-heptadien-2-ol,
myrcene
yomogi alcohol
a-phellandrene
isoamyl isobutyrate
a-terpinene
p-cymene
1,8-cineole
limonene
santolina alcohol
y-terpinene
cis-sabinene hydrate
artemisia alcohol
filifolone
linalool
isoamyl 2-methyllbutyrate
isoamyl valerate
chrysanthenone
camphor
terpinen-1-ol
nerol oxide
pinocamphone
borneol
terpinen-4-ol
artemisyl acetate
myrtenal
a-terpineol
trans-piperitol
cis-piperitol
methyl thymol
piperitone
linalyl acetate
trans-chrysanthenyl acetate
bornyl acetate
a-longipinene
neryl acetate
geranyl acetate
a-copaene
13-caryophyllene
a-humulene
bicyclogermacrene
li-cadinene
spathulenol
caryophyllene oxide
a-cadinol or T-muurolol
13-eudesmol
38.4
14.3
1.2
3.4
2.9
4.6
2.1
1.1
0.8
1.6
1.8
0.7
0.5
0.2
1.7
1.8
1.0
1.4
Total
89.8
83.9
56.2
0.2
0.9
2.8
0.3
2.5
0.6
5.4
1.7
0.5
7.9
1.2
4.4
3.8
30.8
2.5
10.3
2.0
1.1
1.7
0.5
1.7
0.5
7.2
1.1
0.9
1.9
0.3
1.1
1.2
1.5
2.3
0.4
0.7
4.2
4.4
1.3
2.2
0.5
1.9
5.6
4.3
2.8
1.2
39.0
2.1
1.5
4.8
6.1
0.7
1.0
8.9
1.4
0.6
4.3
0.4
3.3
2.1
0.6
3.5
17.4
0.7
3.6
1.3
6.7
1.6
0.9
0.6
2.3
0.6
4.5
5.1
0.4
0.8
1.1
2.2
1.0
4.2
24.1
14.8
1.4
1.7
2.2
10.4
4.5
7.9
6.5
24.4
5.2
14.0
0.7
1.8
3.8
17.2
2.0
1.6
5.8
4.3
3.6
0.6
1.3
2.9
1.4
3.0
5.4
3.2
3.2
0.4
0.7
1.5
4.1
0.8
0.5
5.0
4.1
5.6
0.9
4.3
4.1
2.8
10.3
1.6
0.7
1.1
0.3
0.3
1. 9
0.2
13.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.4
4.2
1.7
2.9
2.9
1.6
5.3
81.7
88.4
75.2
0.6
0.2
< 0.1
56.8
87.4
dint= E. dinteri; eric 1 = E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (AV 866); eric 2 = E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (AV 867); kling = E. klinghardtensis; lued = E. /uederitzianus; merx = E.
merxmue/leri; pin =E. pinnatus; scr =E. scariosus
126/Journal of Essential Oil Research
Vol. 18 (2006)
Eriocephalus
and E. scariosus share several compounds but this correlation
in oil composition could not be supported by morphological
and DNA data. The extent of variation \vithin individual species is not fully represented here as it has been noted that
Eriocephalus exhibits rampant variation, both morphologically
and chemically (12). A wider sampling is recommended both
to fully assess and confirm relationships between species and
to identify the unknown components present in the different
oils. It should also be noted that the present study on the oil
composition is preliminary and that an in depth investigation
of the most interesting species is under way.
The antimicrobial activities of the Namibian Eriocephalus
oils against the test pathogens are summarized in Table III.
With reference to the disc diffusion assay the oils showed
activity against most of the test pathogens with highest activity noted against cry,Jtococcus neofonnans (7 mm) by the
oil of E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (AV 867) and this is in
agreement to other observations that essential oils are more
active against yeasts than the bacteria (3,13,14). Moderate
activity was noted against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus
aureus and least activity against Escherichia coli. The oils of
E. dinteri, E. ericoides subsp. ericoides and E. merxmuelleri
showed the most promising activity against most of the test
pathogens (Table III).
Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 2 mglmL
to > 32 mglmL for the oils. The lowest MIC was noted for
E. merxmuelleri (2 mglmL) against Staphylococcus aureus.
Moderate to low activity was noted against Cnjptococcus
neofonnans and Cmuli&t alhicans.
In some cases there is little correlation between the inhibition diameters and MIC values and it is evident that qualitative screening methods and quantitative minimum inhibitory
concentration methods are not necessarily comparable (15).
The diffusion ofan essential oil in water or culture medium and
the volatility of oils in the various assay systems may contribute
to the incongruent results (16).
Natural products have been used to regulate the process
of inflammation which is a physiological body response to at-
diluted with an equal volume of potassium phosphate buffer
maintained at 4°C. The increase in absorbance at 234 nm was
recorded for 10 min with a single beam spectrophotometer
(Analytikjena Specord 40) linked to a PC by the Winaspect
software. Increasing amounts of oils were added and the initial
reaction rate was determined from the slope of the straight
line portion of the curve. The percentage inhibition of enzyme
activity was calculated by comparison with the negative control
(DMSO and Tween 20). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)
represented the positive control. Percentage enzyme activity
was plotted against concentration of each oil. The concentration of each oil that caused 50% enzyme inhibition (IC 50 ) was
determined using Enzfitterversion 1.05 software. In addition,
single IC50 values for each oil standards identified as major
compounds were determined.
Results and Discussion
The essential oils of the aerial parts of the seven species
of Eriocephalus gave a total of 54 compounds which could be
identified. Their retention indices and percentage composition
are listed in Table II. Notable compounds detected in many
species include: P-pinene, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene,
camphor, spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide. The oils of E.
dinteri, E. ericoides subsp ericoides, E. merxmuelleri and E.
scariosus had characteristically high contents of camphor and
1,8-cineole. The presence of camphor in E. merxmuelleri has
previously been reported (5). Erioceplwlus klinglumltensis and
E. luederitzianus have similar oil profiles, and it is interesting
to note that in a phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus using
both DNA sequence (ITS) data and chemical characters these
two species were placed in the same clade (12). Both species
have sericeous and opposite leaves. Eriocephalus pinnatus is
one of the species in the genus that has unique autapomorphies
such as yellow rays, pinnatisect leaves and absence of secondary growth in the habit. This anomaly is chemotaxonomically
supported as it is the only species sampled in the greater
study by Njenga (12) containing isoamyl 2-methylbutyrate
and isoamyl valerate. Erioceplwlus merxmuelleri, E. dinteri
Table Ill. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of Namibian species of Eriocephalus. Activities are determined by disc
diffusion assay (DO) measured in mm from disc edge and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) in mg/ml
Antimicrobial Activity
Species name
E. dinteri
B. cereus
B. subtilis
S.aureus
DO
MIC
DO
MIC
DO
MIC
DO
MIC
DO
6.6
3.2
7.0
6.2
2.8
32
1.5
2.0
2.5
32
16
3.6
4.0
16
1.2
1.5
8
16
8
32
8
16
3.0
8
1.0
8
2.1
4
32
8
8
2.6
4
8
1.2
1.2
2.0
12
3.8
1.5
8
<1.0
2.5
1.0
1.0
4
1.5
C. neofonnans C. albicans
E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (AV866)
E. ericoides subsp. ericoides (AV867)
E. klinghardtensis
E. luederitzianus
E. merxmuellerl
E.pinnatus
6.0
16
2.0
1.5
1.5
16
2.8
2.1
3.5
3.8
16
1.5
16
5.0
E. scarlosus
3.5
1.5
3.5•
>32
1x10-3c
1.3
Conventional antimicrobial control
8
1x10_,.
8.o•
8
12
8.5• 6x1o-••
8
6.0• 6x10_..
K. pneumoniae E. coli
MIC
DO
3.2
4
1.5
8
1.0
2.0
4
1.0
16
R
1.5
8
R
8
1.0
2
2.4
<1.0
1.5
8
R
R
8
<1.0
5.o• 1x10-3d
MIC
DO
MIC
32
32
R
8
1.0
8
2.0• 1.3x10-3d 5.0 • 3x10·"'
controls= •Nystatin, •Neomycin, 'Amphotericin B, "Ciprofloxacin; R = resistant; •not determined due to insufficient sample or lack of activity
Vol. 18 (2006)
Journal of Essential Oil Research/127
Viljoen et al.
tacks by infectious organisms, or response to environmental
aggressions such as sun bum, pollution, mechanical shock
etc, resulting in a complex cascade of biochemical events
culminating in symptoms such as redness, swelling, irritation,
oedema, heat (17,18). The results in Table I show that the oils
of Eriocephalus tested had the ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase.
Eriocephalus dinteri showed the most promising inhibitory
activity with an IC50 of 35 l!g/mL.
It is evident from the results obtained in this study
that Namibian species of Eriocephalus have potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties for treatment of
dermal infections, respiratory ailments and gastro-intestinal
disorders as evidenced by their activities against the relative
causive pathogens and enzyme. This study provides the most
recent account of the oil composition and biological properties
(albeit in vitro) for some Namibian Eriocephalus species.
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C. Zdero, F. Bohlmann and M. Muller, Sesquiterpene lactones and other
constituents from Eriocephalus species. Phytochemistry, 26, 2763-2775
(1987).
6.
B-E. Van Wyk, B. van Oudtshooorn and N. Gericke, Medicinal Plants of
South Africa. pp 122-123, Briza, Pretoria, South Africa (1997).
7.
A. Dyson, Discovering Indigenous Healing Plants of Herb and Fragrance
Gardens at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. pp 33-34, National
Botanical Institute, Cape Town, South Africa (1998).
8.
B-E. Vnn Wyk and N. Gericke, People's Plants. A Guide to Useful Plants
of Southern Africa. pp 218-219, Briza, Pretoria, South Africa (2000).
9.
J.N. Eloff, A sensitive and quick microplate method to determine the
minimal inhibitory concentration of plant extracts for bacteria. Planta Med.,
64,711-713 (1998).
10.
J.C. Sircar, C.J. Shwender and E.A. Johnson, Soybean lipoxygenase
inhibition by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prostaglandins, 25,
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A. T. Evans, Actions of cannabis constituents on enzymes of arachidonate
metabolism: anti-inflammatory potential. Biochem. Pharmacal., 36, 20352037 (1987).
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E.W. Njenga, The Chemotaxonomy, Phylogeny and Biological Activity of
the genus Eriocephalus L (Asteraceae). PhD thesis, Faculty of Health
Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
(2005).
13.
E. Bagci and M. Digrak, Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of some
Abies (fir) species from Turkey. Flav. Fragr. J., 11,251-256 (1996).
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H.J.D. Dorman and S.G. Deans, Antimicrobial agents from plants:
antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. Appl. Microbial., 88, 308-316
(2000).
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A.M. Janssen, J.J.C. Scheffer and A. Baerheim Svendsen, Antimicrobial
activity of essential oils: A 1976 -1986 literature review. Aspects of the
test methods. Planta Med., 53, 395-398 (1998).
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A.M. Viljoen, S.F. van Vuuren, E. Ernst, M.J. Klepser, B. Demirci, K.H.C.
Ba~er
and B. E. VanWyk, Osmitopsis asteriscoides (Asteraceae)- The
antimicrobial activity and essential oil composition ofa Cape-Dutch remedy.
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H.P.T. Ammon, T. Mack, G.B. Singh and H. Safayhi, Inhibition ofleukotriene
8 4 formation in rat peritoneal neitrophils by an ethanolic extract of the gum
resin exudates ofBoswellia serrata. Planta Med., 57, 203-207 (1991).
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Acknowledgments
The National Research Foundation (NRF), J!edical Faculty
Research Endowment Fund and the Third \Vorld Organization for
Women in Science (TIVOWS) are hereby acknowledgedforthefmancial support for this study. Gillian Maggs-K6lling and the staff of the
National Botanical Research Institute (Namibia) are acknmvledged
for the collection and identification of the plant nwterial.
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