In-Vitro Cytotoxicity Screening of Plant Extracts
Abstract
AP1 of the ICBG "Drug Development and Conservation of Biodiversity in West and Central Africa," provides data on the variety, distribution, abundance and dynamics of West and Central African flora. other APs focus primarily on the chemistry and antiparasitic activities of traditionally used medicinal plants. The research conducted under AP 6 is concerned with development of African medicinal flora for their non- antiparasitic activities. Screening extracts from locally used plants can capitalize on traditional knowledge in order to provide information about the potential alternative uses of known plants. Some of Western medicine's most useful anti-cancer drugs have come from plants traditionally used for anti-parasitic or anti-helminthic activity. Screening of West African flora for anticancer activity can provide information on species utility not recognized by traditional healers because cancer is frequently not diagnosed at that level. Similarly, as discussed last year, many of the plants traditionally used to teat various illnesses also show important anti-viral activity, in particular, anti-HIV activity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA417374
Entities
People
- Louis R. Barrows
Organizations
- University of Utah