Mamba et al. used the broth microdilution technique to test the antifungal activity of
. The extract showed activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.6 mg/mL, whereas ciprofloxacin had an MIC of <0.01 mg/mL
. The antifungal properties of
extracts demonstrate the species’ potential as an herbal remedy against fungal and microbial diseases.
Prinsloo et al. tested the anti-HIV effects of
E. croceum stem bark by measuring signaling pathway inhibition in the MT-2 VSV-pseudotyped and HeLa-TAT-Luc recombinant virus tests. At 100 ng/mL, the extracts inhibited signaling pathways effectively
[36]. Mamba et al. used an RT (non-radioactive HIV-reverse transcriptase) colorimetric test with doxorubicin as a standard drug to assess the anti-HIV activity of
E. croceum ethanol bark extract against recombinant HIV-1 enzyme. The extract had a lower inhibitory activity of 30.2%, whereas doxorubicin, a positive control, had a 96.5% inhibitory activity
[16]. The anti-HIV effects of
E. croceum extracts and the substance digitoxigenin-glucoside identified from the plant support the plants’ traditional use in South Africa to treat HIV opportunistic infections
[16].
E.
schlechteranum 80% MeOH extract and 4-O-Methylgallocatechin-(48)-4-O-methylepigallocatechin isolated from the extract were evaluated against HIV-1 (strain IIIB) and HIV-2 (strain ROD)
[37][38]. The anti-HIV testing and cytotoxicity evaluation of the fractions in MT-4 cells (expressing HTLV-1 Tax and permissive for replication of an HIV-1 gp41 mutant lacking the cytoplasmic tail) revealed that polyphenolic chemicals are responsible for at least some of the anti-HIV-1 action. HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and HIV-1 integrase were suppressed by
E.
schlechteranum [39]. The anti-HIV drug was discovered to be digitoxigenin-3-O-glucoside, a cardiac glycoside. Regardless of the fact cardiac glycosides are recognized for their toxicity, which may be connected to their anti-HIV effect, this chemical showed just a slight anticancer activity (20% suppression on Vero cells at 25 μg/mL)
[33][36]. At 100 ng/mL, approximately 90% of the recombinant virus was inhibited.
4.7. Anti-plasmodial Activity
Using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase test, Nethengwe et al. examined the anti-plasmodial effects of
E. transvaalense bark of dichloromethane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts against
Plasmodium falciparum the chloroquine-sensitive strain of (D10). Excluding dichloromethane, which had an IC
50 of 5.1 μg/mL, the other extracts were inactive
[40]. These findings supported the idea that
E. transvaalense might be a source of antimalarials and, to a certain extent, back up the species’ historical usage as an herbal treatment for fever and malaria
[40].
4.8. Larvicidal Activities
Using the mosquito larvicidal assay of
Culex quinquefascitus larvae, Nethengwe et al. examined the larvicidal properties of
E. transvaalense bark of dichloromethane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts. The percentage mortality of
Culex quinquefascitus fourth instar larvae revealed that aqueous extracts (35%) had the least larvicidal action, followed by methanol (47%) and dichloromethane (60%). Methanol and dichloromethane extracts had IC
50 values of 9.8 µg/mL and 18.2 µg/mL, respectively
[40]. These data confirmed the utilization of
E. transvaalense as an anti-malarial herbal medication
[40].
4.9. Anti-pyretic Activities
Nethengwe et al. investigated the anti-pyretic effects of
E. transvaalense bark of methanolic and dichloromethane extracts in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, using paracetamol as a control medication. The extracts reduced pyrexia in the provoked rats. Their effects were concentration and time course-dependent, with the extracts exhibiting action as soon as thirty minutes, even at the least dose of 100 mg/kg. The activity of the methanol extract was equivalent to that of paracetamol, the reference medication
[40]. These data reinforce the use of
E. transvaalense as a fever-fighting herbal medication.
4.10. Hypoglycaemic Activity
The inhibitory effects of
E. transvaalense stem bark acetone extract on carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase on hypoglycaemic activity were researched by Deutschländer et al. By assessing glucose absorption, the acetone extracts were tested against Chang liver, C2C12 myocyte, and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. At 50 μg/mL concentration, the extracts demonstrated a 138.6% potential to reduce blood glucose levels in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in an
in vitro experiment. The extracts’ 50% IC
50 for α-glucosidase and α-amylase were reported to be 50.6 µg/mL and 1.1 μg/mL, correspondingly
[41]. These results demonstrate the use of
E. transvaalense as an antidiabetic herbal medication
[41].
4.11. Anti-arthritic Activity
Using an anti-protein denaturation experiment, Elisha et al. examined the anti-arthritic effects of
E. croceum acetone leaves extract. In an
in vitro anti-arthritic test, the extract displayed an amount of the drug response, with an IC
50 value of 80.0 μg/mL, greater than the positive control diclofenac sodium’s IC
50 value of 32.4 µg/mL
[30]. The extracts’ promising properties back up the species’ longstanding use for inflammatory diseases
[30].
4.12. Anti-diabetic Activity
In an alloxanized rat model, Lanjhiyana et al. investigated the anti-diabetic effect of stem bark methanolic extract of
E. glaucum [17]. The goal of the investigation was to quantify the total phenolic content of ED methanolic extract (MED) and assess its antidiabetic potential in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The trial employed inbred adult male Charles-Foster (CF) albino rats for antidiabetic activity in OGTT and nondiabetic rats, as well as antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced rats. MED responded positively for carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins saponins, triterpenes, and sterols, according to phytochemical analysis. The MED also revealed a total phenolic content of 285.2 mg/g. In diabetic control experimental rats, the increasing level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is exactly proportionate to the reduced level of total hemoglobin. For assessing the degree of protein glycation during diabetes mellitus, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is utilized as the most accurate marker and standard diagnostic technique. Protein glycation is a non-enzymatic process that occurs when excess glucose in the blood reacts with free amino groups on hemoglobin’s globin component. The HbA1c level is used to determine long-term glycemic status and to connect with different problems associated with diabetes. In experimental rats, oral treatment with MED dramatically reduced HbA1c levels, probably due to normoglycemic control mechanisms, which also reflected lower protein glycation condensation reactions, and the results were consistent with prior findings
[17]. The continuing post-treatment with MED for 21 days demonstrated potential hypoglycemic action in OGTT and normoglycemic rats, as well as antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced rat models, according to the findings. This suggests that plants may have an insulin-like function, which might assist in lowering the risk of lipid-related problems. Significant lipid management may help to prevent the coexistence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, as well as lower cardiovascular risk factors
[17].