A Systematic Analysis of Prunus Species with a Focus on Management Plan of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman: An Autochthon Plant of Africa

Aims: To provide complete data on the alike and differentiating characters of the bark of six species of Prunus i.e. P. amygdalus Stokes, P. armeniaca L., P. cerasoides Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, P. domestica L. and P. persica (L.) Batsch vis-a-vis P. africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman of family Rosaceae, with an aim of encouraging the use of more species of Prunus against men’s problems and be a part of the management plan of Pygeum.

Place and Duration of Study: The research work has been carried out in University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India between September 2011 and October 2016.

Methods: Systematic evaluation of the similarity and differences based on the morphological evaluation; anatomical and microscopical description; physico-chemical analysis; total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and sterols content; chemical profiling through TLC and HPLC suitably corroborated by chemometric analysis; together with efficacy against oxidative stress and inflammation, the important factors involved in disease progression of BPH.

Results: The plants under study showed many comparable features related to morphology, anatomy, microscopy, total content of various active constituents and significant biological activity. The chemical similarity between the species was supported by chemometric analysis of their HPLC fingerprint profile. The remarkable membrane stabilising activity in controlling inflammation and protective effect against oxidative stress corroborated their usefulness in BPH.

Conclusions: The study shall be of interest to people across the globe with diverse backgrounds for making correct identification and suitable selection of the Prunus species. It will not only enhance the therapeutic value of more species of Prunus, but will directly or indirectly contribute in the preservation of an autochthon plant P. africana from the dangers of getting extinct.