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A-E: Cyclopia laxiflora; F-J: C. subternata; K-O, U-Z: C. buxifolia; P-T: C. burtonii. A, F, K, P, U, V: leaves, abaxial view; B, G, L, Q, W: leaflets in transverse section to show orientation of margins; C, H, M, R, X: longitudinal section of bracts showing vestiture on the inner surface; D, I, N, S, Y: flowers in lateral view; E, J, O, T, Z: keel petals. A-E: Alexander s.n.; F, G: Schutte 503; H-J: Esterhuysen 27325; K-O: Thome s.n.; P-T: Fellingham 1240; U, W: Malan 151; V, X-Z: Compton 16230. Scale in mm.
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Cyclopia is a papilionaceous genus endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. The 23 species recognized within the genus have rather subtle differences, but characters of the leaves, bracts and calyces, as well as the adaptations to survive recurrent fires, are useful to distinguish between the species. Variations in morphol...
Citations
... For the preparation of the aqueous extracts, shoots of C. genistoides and C. subternata plants were harvested from cultivated plants on commercial farms in the Western Cape, South Africa. The species for seed collected in the wild and used for propagation was originally identified by J.H. de Lange (SANBI Kirstenbosch) based on the classification by Schutte (1997). The shoots were cut and dried to produce the green (unoxidized) herbal teas (Le Roux et al., 2008). ...
The anti‐cancer potential of Cyclopia species (honeybush) has been demonstrated in several models. The present study investigated the effects of aqueous and polyphenol‐enriched (PE) extracts of C. subternata and C. genistoides, as well as mangiferin and hesperidin, on different cell growth parameters in human liver (HepG2) and colon (HT‐29) cancer cells. Mangiferin and hesperidin were most abundant in C. genistoides and C. subternata, respectively. Cyclopia subternata extracts had the highest ferric‐reducing antioxidant capacity. Following exposure of the cells to the extracts and compounds, cell viability, proliferation, and death (apoptosis and autophagy) were determined. Cyclopia subternata extracts reduced cell viability and inhibited cell proliferation the most, associated with depletion of ATP. In HepG2 cells, the PE extracts were less effective than the aqueous extracts in reducing cell viability but more effective in inhibiting cell proliferation. Despite disrupting cell growth, none of the extracts induced apoptosis. The aqueous extracts affected autophagy in both cancer cells. Disruption of mitochondrial membrane integrity by the different extracts, presumably via polyphenol/iron interactions, is postulated to be involved; however, mangiferin and hesperidin had no effect, suggesting that other polyphenols and/or complex interactions between compounds are likely responsible for the differential cytotoxic and/or cytoprotective effects of the extracts.
... Honeybush, Cyclopia spp., is a plant that is indigenous 1 to South Africa with a long history of use as a herbal tea by locals in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces Van Wyk 2011;Van Wyk & Gorelik 2017). The genus Cyclopia has twenty-three species that are endemic to the fynbos biome with a distribution in the coastal plains and mountainous regions of the Eastern and Western Cape (Schutte 1997). Honeybush tea is one of the bush teas that have been used on the African continent by preference or as a substitute for ordinary tea (Cheney & Scholtz 1963). ...
... Honeybush (Cyclopia Vent.) is a model genus for such a pollination study as it is widespread across the fynbos biome (Schutte, 1997), a number of species are cultivated, and it has considerable value in the tea industry of South Africa (McKay & Blumberg, 2006;Koen et al., 2019). Smith (1966) claimed that the earliest indication of Cyclopia genistoides being used as tea, is implied by the vernacular name "Honigtee" [honey tea] that was recorded by Carl Thunberg in the 1770 0 s, during his botanical explorations in the Cape (Smith, 1966). ...
... The calyx in the Cyclopia genus is characterized by having two fused upper lobes and three lower lobes with varied appearance of size and shape between species (Fig. 4) (Schutte, 1997). All species have a bright yellow, continually structured corolla (with the exception of the duller C. sessiliflora) with sweetly-scented, rigid flowers (Schutte, 1997). ...
... The calyx in the Cyclopia genus is characterized by having two fused upper lobes and three lower lobes with varied appearance of size and shape between species (Fig. 4) (Schutte, 1997). All species have a bright yellow, continually structured corolla (with the exception of the duller C. sessiliflora) with sweetly-scented, rigid flowers (Schutte, 1997). The moveable lateral and ventral petals require active handling by pollinators in order to reveal the reproductive parts of the plant and perform successful pollination (C ordoba & Cocucci, 2011). ...
Pollination is an important ecosystem service. Animal-mediated pollination (mostly insects) increases the production of 35% of global crops. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are considered important crop pollinators globally , but are under pressure and therefore the value of wild pollinators for crop production is receiving more attention. The importance of pollinators (including non-Apis) has been extensively studied in the agricultural sector of South Africa, however little research is available on the pollination of indigenous crops. With the considerable value of the indigenous honeybush (Cyclopia Vent.) in the tea industry, it is important to determine the pollinators since Cyclopia is widespread across the fynbos biome and the pollinators are largely unknown. Here we ask whether carpenter bees (xylocopid bees) are the only pollinators of commercially important Cyclopia species, or if honey bees contribute to pollination. Floral observations and camera trapping confirmed that six species of xylocopid bees were the only pollinators of four commercially important Cyclopia species. Honey bees were observed to be ineffective pollinators of Cyclopia owing to their inability to trip Cyclopia flowers and gain access to the floral reproductive parts. Similarly, an additional seven species including Diptera, Apidae and Lema sp. were unable to gain access to Cyclopia flowers, although were observed visiting. Nectar measurements revealed the highest nectar volume in C. genistoides, while C. inter-media had the highest nectar sugar concentration (above 35% for all species). The value of native non-Apis insects for crop pollination in a changing world is highlighted in Cyclopia, an indigenous legume gaining traction in the global tea market and therefore in cultivation.
... Honeybush, Cyclopia spp. Vent (Fabaceae), is a papilionaceous genus endemic to South Africa, used to produce a unique herbal tea with a pleasant honey-like taste and flavour (Schutte 1995;McGregor 2018). Honeybush tea has gained global recognition due to its enjoyable flavour and, like other herbal teas, it does not contain caffeine (McGregor 2018). ...
The southern and eastern parts of the African Fynbos region favour the production of honeybush tea. Honeybush biomass and extracts are used to prepare a beverage both locally and internationally, mainly as herbal tea with health benefits. Honeybush tea is mostly grown organically requiring natural control measures for pests and diseases. The leafhopper, Molopopterus sp., is one of the most important pests of cultivated honeybush in South Africa, as its feeding compromises the quality and quantity of the yield through leaf discolouration and reduction of the photosynthetic area. Local entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can provide a pool of potential biocontrol agents for this pest. Therefore, a total of 98 soil samples were collected from organically grown honeybush fields and vegetation surrounding the honeybush fields in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated using the insect bait method and were characterised using molecular techniques. Twenty fungal isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Fusarium oxysporum were recovered from soil samples, of which 70% were from honeybush fields and 30% were from surrounding vegetation. Fusarium oxysporum isolates comprised 20% of the recovered isolates; M. anisopliae the remainder. Laboratory bioassays of the recovered isolates against adults and nymphs of the leafhopper, showed that F. oxysporum isolates caused 10–45% mortality and M. anisopliae isolates 30–80% mortality. Metarhizium anisopliae isolates J S1, KF S3, KF S11, KF S13, LS1 and LS2 were the most virulent and induced over 60% mortality in both nymphs and adults at a concentration of 1 × 107 conidia/ml.
... Honeybush (Cyclopia sp.) is a local, naturally occurring shrub found in selected regions and widely used as honeybush tea [7]. Out of 23 of the available Cyclopia species endemic to the fynbos biome in South Africa, only fve species (Cyclopia intermedia, Cyclopia maculata, Cyclopia subternata, Cyclopia sessifora, and Cyclopia genistoides) are vastly commercially made into honeybush tea [8]. Honeybush has been traditionally used against a number of ailments including the treatment of colds and fevers, intestinal complications, and skin ointment [9]. ...
Background. This study evaluated in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of different extracts (n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), and 70% ethanol) of honeybush tea (Cyclopia genistoides). Over a period of 28 days, antiprotein glycation was evaluated and some antidiabetic indicators (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effects) and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, metal ion chelating, and reducing power) for each of the crude extracts were also investigated. The results showed that all of the tested C. genistoides extracts had strong α-amylase and lipase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values from 0.018 μg/ml (DCM extract) to 9.93 μg/ml (n-hexane extract), respectively. The extracts also displayed inhibitory effects on protein glycation between the 14th and 28th days. The DCM and ethanolic extracts further exhibited strong antioxidant activities as they effectively scavenged most of the radicals tested, with IC50 values ranging from 0.014–0.048 mg/ml to 0.019–0.043 mg/ml. Two hundred and seventy-four chemical constituents had been identified by GC-MS, with the n-hexane extract having the highest number of peaks (127) followed by the DCM extract (107). Six compounds were identified across all the following three extracts: decane (RT: 6.4), undecane (RT: 7.7), dodecane (RT: 9.00), phytol (RT: 21.32), heptadecanoic acid, 9-methyl, methyl ester (RT: 21.65), and 9-octadecenamide (RT: 24.30). The cytotoxicity of the extracts against C3A cell lines was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, which demonstrated that honeybush tea had a toxicity effect ranging from 66.3–88.4 μg/ml on C3A cell lines. The results showed that honeybush has antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, which could be partially attributed to the phytochemical compounds identified within the extracts.
... Fresh leaves of C. genistoides plants were collected from the commercial farms situated in the Boland and Overberg regions of the Western Cape Province (South Africa) and were purchased from local nurseries. The identification of the plant was performed according to the taxonomic revision of the Cyclopia genus [29]. ...
Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using phytochemicals has become tremendously prominent in biomedical applications because of its enhanced bioactivity and biocompatibility. In this study, water extracts from the leaves of Cyclopia genistoides (C. genistoides), commonly known as honeybush (HB), were used to synthesize honeybush gold nanoparticles (HB-AuNPs). The HB water extracts (HBE) served as both reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of HB-AuNPs. The HB-AuNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of the HBE and HB-AuNPs, alone and in combination with doxorubicin (Dox), were examined against various human cell lines. Spherical-shaped HB-AuNPs with a hydrodynamic diameter range of 63 to 121 nm were produced. The HB-AuNPs conferred selective cytotoxicity against colon (Caco-2), breast (MCF-7), and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells and did not display any cytotoxicity to non-cancerous skin fibroblast (KMST-6) and human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells. Moreover, co-treatment of Caco-2 cells with HB-AuNPs and Dox (at non-toxic concentrations) significantly enhanced the anti-cancer effects of Dox towards the Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that HB-AuNPs induced PC-3 cell death through apoptosis. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which the HB-AuNPs influence cell death when used alone or in combination with drugs, as well as the type of phytochemicals involved in AuNPs synthesis and activity.
... Depending on the species, their natural habitat (Fig. 2) could be sandy, coastal plains, or mountains in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces [12]. Cyclopia genistoides grows naturally along the coast in sandy soils, from the dry, West Coast to the Cape Peninsula and further to Albertinia in the Southern Cape. ...
... Taxonomic and botanical information of the six commercially important species of Cyclopia[12] Phenolic Composition of Honeybush and Changes During Herbal Tea. . . habitat of C. maculata overlaps with that of C. subternata to some extent to the west. ...
Several Cyclopia species, including C. intermedia, C. subternata, and C. genistoides, are used to make honeybush tea. All species belonging to this genus (Family: Fabaceae) are endemic to the Cape Floristic region of South Africa. The various species differ in terms of their phenolic profiles, but mangiferin, isomangiferin, and hesperidin are ubiquitous to Cyclopia species. The use of conventional honeybush tea, which requires high-temperature oxidation for its characteristic aroma, flavor, and color development, predates 1900, but research on propagation, cultivation, plant breeding, processing, and product development began only in the mid-1990s. While high-temperature oxidation is integral to the production of conventional honeybush tea, this step substantially reduces the phenolic content of the plant material. The compounds are affected to varying degrees, and several, including the xanthone, mangiferin, and the dihydrochalcone, 3′,5′-di-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxyphloretin, are very labile. Chemical reactions during heating of the plant material or extracts include cyclization, dimerization, isomerization, and epimerization, depending on the phenolic compound. Their degradation during the production of conventional honeybush tea prompted the development of green honeybush to provide the market with a tea containing significantly higher levels of phenolic compounds. The main topics of this chapter are the preparation of phenolic-rich extracts from green honeybush and the quantitative changes in phenolic composition with processing and storage of the tea and its value-added products. These include spray-dried extract powder as a food ingredient, as well as “instant” powders and ready-to-drink beverages as final consumer products.
... The genus Cyclopia belongs to the leguminous family Fabaceae and is a member of the tribe Podalrieae. The genus Cyclopia is endemic to South Africa and comprises 23 species (Schutte, 1997). Cyclopia genistoides (L) R.Br. is a small, multibranched, woody shrub that is easy to miss when not in flower. ...
Cyclopia genistoides (L.) R.Br (Fabaceae), commonly referred to as ‘honeybush tea’, is one of 23 Cyclopia species endemic to South Africa. The natural habitat of this small fynbos shrub is restricted to very small areas in the Western Cape Province, spanning from the West Coast to Mossel Bay on the Southern Cape coast. Honeybush tea is mostly enjoyed as a hot beverage of the ‘fermented’ product. ‘Fermentation’ refers to the high-temperature oxidation process essential for the development of the sought-after sweet, floral aroma and flavour, and brown colour. Traditional medicinal uses include use as an expectorant in pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic catarrh, and a restorative with astringent properties. ‘Caspa Cyclopia Tea’ was the first branded product to appear on the market in the 1960s. The development of a formal industry in the 1990s gave rise to different branded honeybush products, and the production of extracts. Several studies investigating the anti-oxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating activities have been documented for different Cyclopia species (fermented and unfermented). Quality control protocols based on the chromatographic profiling of methanol extracts were developed using a semi-automated high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) system. The HPTLC profiles of the extracts viewed under 366 nm radiation after derivatisation with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent revealed the presence of mangiferin, isomangiferin and hesperidin in all samples, compounds ubiquitous to all Cyclopia species. Their presence in the methanol extracts was confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS).
... The name is derived from the Latin word "pubescens" meaning hairy, referring to the long narrow cylindrical leaves of this species. It is an erect, single-stemmed shrub growing up to 1.7 m tall (Schutte, 1997) (Fig. 1). In a later study, Du Toit and Cambell (1999) confirmed that C. pubescens is a non-sprouter, while its fecundity (ca six seeds per pod) (Grobler and Campbell, 2020) compares favourably with that of C. subternata (3.5 seeds per pod), another non-sprouter species (Motsa et al., 2017). ...
Cyclopia pubescens is an unutilised species that could potentially be used for production of honeybush tea, if general quality criteria for the herbal tea product could be met. This species is at risk of extinction in the wild, but if suitable for production of honeybush herbal tea, its cultivation could be stimulated. Cyclopia pubescens shoots were used to produce conventional (oxidised) honeybush tea and its quality parameters for the infusion were compared with those of the commercially-cultivated Cyclopia species, C. subternata and C. genistoides. Oxidised C. pubescens had a similar sensory profile to that of C. subternata, displaying ‘woody’, ‘fynbos-floral’ ‘fynbos-sweet’ and ‘sweet spice’ aromas and a slightly sweet taste. The soluble solids concentration, colour and turbidity of the infusions, prepared from the herbal teas of the three species, were similar. The high-temperature oxidation process, essential for the development of the sought-after sensory profile of honeybush tea, reduced the phenolic concentration of the C. pubescens infusions, in particular, the concentration of mangiferin and isomangiferin decreased > 70%. Despite this reduction, C. pubescens infusions would contribute ≥ 8 mg/L to the dietary intake of each of these xanthones. Cyclopia pubescens, thus, passed the first hurdle for commercial herbal tea production, but cultivation would be required as wild-harvesting of this species is not an option.
... CyclOPia spectes are leguminous fynbos and grow 1n the Cape coastal districts (Schutte. 1997). The foliage, fine stems and flowers of the Cyclopia species are used to make a honey-like flavoured herbal infusion known as honeybush tea (Du Toi t et al .. 1998). Seeds of both the resprouter (C. in termedia) and the seeder type (C. subternata) are dormant and will not germmate under normal conditions (Whitehead & Sutcliffe. 1994). H ...
Take home message A study was conducted to determine the effect of various seed treatments on germination of one and eight year old seeds of Cyclopia subternata and seven year old seeds of C. intermedia. Seeds were subjected to 10 d1fferent pre-sowing treatments including the control. All the treatments had a significant effect on germination with the exception of eight year old seeds of C. subternata after 18 days. A higher overall germination was obtained from one year old seeds of C. subternata compared to either etght year old seeds of the same species or seven year o ld seeds of C. intermedia. In terms of germination rate, germ1natton generally started after four days in most treatments.
