Tulbagia violacea

 

Vergleich:

Siehe: Asparagales + Begeleiter

Quelle: Remedia.at

Vergleich.: Lilienähnliche (= Liliopsida) + Lilienartige (= Liliales) + Lilien (= Liliaceae)

 

2.3.1 Family

Tulbagia violaeea forms part of the Alliaceae family (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000: 150).

Plants from this family are characteristically recognised as being perennial herbs with bulbs, bulblike corms, or a rhizome in the case of some South African species. Leaves form a sheath around

a flowering stem, with membranous bracts at the bottom. Some species have a characteristic onion smell. The family consists of around 30 genera, 4 native to Southern Africa. (Pooley, 1998:344.)

Within the Alliaceae, the genus Allium is distinguished from the genus Tulbagia, in that whereas the former has a bulb rootstock, campanulate flowers, connate tepals, and lacks a corona, the latter

has a rhizome rootstock, more or less tubular flowers and tepals, and does contain a corona (Goldblatt and Manning, 2000:52).

2.3.2 Nomenclature

The Tulbagia species is named after Ryk Tulbagh, Governor of the Cape, 1751 – 1771 (Pooley, 1998:344). Tulbagia violaeea is also sometimes known as wild garlic, or wilde knoflok (Roberts, 1990:233). In Zulu, it is known as either isihaqa (Hutchings, et al., 1996:37), or incinsini (Roberts, 1990:233). In Sotho it is referred to as rna/hebe (Dyson, 1998:61). Tulbagia violacea may also be identified under the synonym of Tulbagia eepaeea (Hutchings, et al., 1996:37).

2.3.3 Description

Tulbagia violaeea is a long-flowering perennial bearing round heads of small mauve flowers carried on long stalks (Joffe, 1993:300) [See figure 2.2]. The plants have tuberous rhizomes with many truck roots. Their leaves are long, narrow and hairless and have fleshy white bases. Tulbagia violacea are often found growing in clumps. (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000:150.) The fully grown plants reach a height of about 20 - 35cm (Goldblatt and Manning, 2000:53).

2.3.4 Habitat and cultivation

Tulbagia violacea is indigenous to Southern Africa, occurring mainly in the Southeast of South Africa, in the area between Knysna and KwaZulu-Natal (Goldblatt and Manning, 2000:53). It may however, be found as far north as Zimbabwe (Dyson, 1998:61). It is an attractive garden plant, and as such is grown in many gardens across South Africa (Roberts, 1990:233). The plant is easy to grow, and may grow in poor soil.

Tulbagia violacea may grow in sunny or partially shaded areas, and propagation may be from seed or by dividing larger clumps (Joffe, 1993:300). The Zulu often encircle their huts with the growing plant in order to keep snakes away (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962:717).

2.3.5 Parts used

The rhizomes and leaves are widely used in traditional South African medicine (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000: 150).

The Zulus often use the green parts and the flowers as a type of spinach, or as a condiment for meat (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962:717).

2.3.6 Constituents

The presence of alkyl cysteine sulfoxide lyases in chemical studies of Tulbagia violacea, suggest that the odour production mechanisms may be similar to those produced by allinase-like enzymes

in the genus Allium (Hutchings, et a!., 1996:37).

Other compounds isolated include sulphur compounds, 2,4,7-tetrathiaoctane-2.2-dioxide and 2,4,5,7-tetrathiaoctane, kaempferol, quercetin, thirteen more t1avones, several sugars and steroidal saponins (Hutchings, el al., 1996:37).

Sulphur compounds are often important in medicinal chemistry, as many drugs have a benzenesulfonamide nucleus (Lemke, 1983 :80). The anti-microbial activity of Allium sativum, a plant with which Tulbagia violacea is thought to share common pharmacological mechanisms (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000: 150), mainly due to its sulphur-containing compounds (Leung and Foster, 1996:261), and alliine, a methylcontaining amino acid (Evans, 1996:454).

2.3.6.1 Solubility of constituents

Water solubility of active-constituents is important when utilising an agar-based discdiffusion type experimental model (Rios, Recio and Villar, 1988: 127). Sulfonic acids and sulfonamides both contain the possibility of ion-dipole interaction with water which will favour water solubility. Amino and methyl groups, such as the type present in alliine, also greatly enhance water solubility. (Lemke, 1983:79.)

2.3.7 Actions

Tulbagia violacea is thought to be similar to Allium sativum in its medicinal activities (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000:150).

2.3.8 Preparation

Traditionally Tulbagia violacea is administered in many varied ways. It may be prepared as an infusion from the tubers, or as a decoction to be used in the form of an enema. Tubers or leaves may

be rubbed directly on the body, or rhizomes may be ground to form a powder. (Hutchings, et a!., 1996:37.) The leaves and flowers may be eaten whole (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000:150).

2.3.9 Traditional and current uses

The Zulus and Sothos use Tulbagia violacea for treating respiratory ailments. The bulb has been recommended as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and as an anthelminthic. Traditionally, infusions of the tuber have been used as love charm emetics, as well as administered as enemas for stomach ailments, constipation, rheumatism, paralysis and high fevers. The leaves may be used to treat sinus

headaches, or colic, wind and restlessness in small children. The leaves may be used to treat esophageal cancer. (Hutchings, el al., 1996:37~ Neuwinger, 2000:536; Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962:717.)

The Early Cape Colonists used Tulbagia violacea as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and as an anthelminthic (Hutchings, et al., 1996:37).

Rastafarians have been known to drink a Tulbagia via/Cleat decotion to treat coughs, colds and influenza (Dyson, 1998:61).

In the Transkei, the tubers are occasionally rubbed all over the body as a protection against evil spirits. (Hutchings, et al., 1996:37.) The plants are also cultivated near the homestead to keep snakes away (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962:717).

Young plants are sometimes eaten as vegetables, with the Zulus using the green parts and the Howers as a type of spinach, or as a condiment for meat. (Watt and Breyer- Brandwijk. 1962:717.)

2.3.10 Anti-microbial activity

A cold-water extract of an entire Tulbagia violacea plant tested positive in antimicrobacterial tests against M. tuberculosis and E. coli. In the same study, it was found that the extract had no effect against Staph. aureus. (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962:717.) The results from this study are often cited as a reference in later publications (Hutchings, el al., 1996:37; Neuwinger, 2000:536) to the anti-microbial propelties of Tulbagia violacea. However the methodology followed by the researchers in obtaining these results is not clearly stated for review.

McGaw, Jager and van Staden (2000:254) reported negative results in a subsequent anti-microbial test against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and B. Slib/i/is, using a crude hexanic, ethanolic and an aqueous extract of the entire plant, and measuring results by means of a disc-diffusion assay.

Bacteriostatic activity has been noted in water extracts from various parts of the plant, particularly when the extracts were fresh, from mature plants and not been heated (Hutchings, el aI., 1996:38). However, the methodology followed in obtaining these 'results is not stated.

Tulbagia violacea is thought to be similar to Allium sativum in its medicinal action (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000: 150). Allium sativum is a well known anti-microbial agent (Ross, 1999:33), with the antibacterial properties being much more pronounced in the hydroalcoholic extract than in the essential oil (Leung and Foster, 1996:261). This suggests that Tulbagia vielacea's possible antibacterial constituents may also be more pronounced in a hydroalcholic extract, and as such diffuse well through the agar base of the disc-diffusion assay.

2.3.11 Homoeopathic dilutions of Tulbagia violacae

In this study, the homoeopathic dilutions of Tulbagia violacea in the lX and 6X potencies will also be tested.

The Hahnemanian method of potentisation provides two separate scales, a centesimal one based on a dilution of one in a hundred, and a decimal one based on a dilution of one in ten.

The decimal potentisation process used in this study involves adding one drop of mother tincture to nine drops of diluents. This is followed by a burst of vigorous shaking or striking upon a hard surface, known as succussion, resulting in the first potency, which is named the IX or Dl potency level. This process of dilution and succussion can be repeated to further raise the potency another level. Each potency level is designated the value of the number of times that it has been through the process of dilution and succussion. (Kayne, 1997:43.)

Potentisation is the imparting of the pharmacological message of the original substance by means of trituration or succussion, along with serial dilutions. It is the modification of medicines by means of a mechanical and mathematico-physical process. (Gaier, 1991: 441.)

In Aphorism 269 of his book the 'Organon of The Medicinal Art', the founder of nomoeopathy, Samuel Halmemann speaks of potent isat ion as follows: "The homoeopathic medicinal art develops to a formerly unheard of degree the internal medicinal powers of crude substances. It does so by means of a procedure which belongs exclusively to it whereby these substances become altogether more than ever, indeed immeasurably, penetratingly effective and helpful, even those substances which, in their crucle state clo not manifest the least medicinal power in the human body."

(Brewster O'Reilly, 1996:235).

 

 

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