South African Journal of Botany

The data is the raw data of pyrosequencing.

Tree-ring data for Millettia stuhlmannii samples collected at the Catapú timber concession in Mozambique (18 degrees 00 minutes 05 seconds South and 35 degrees 08 minutes 13 seconds East) Samples consist of partial cross-sections collected from a total of 30 mature trees from the natural forest felled for harvest in June, during the logging seasons (dry season) between 2008 and 2010. Cross sections were obtained from 0.25-0.5 m above the ground level. About 25% of the natural grown forest tree samples were reliably crossdated however because of anatomical variability common to tropical species (e.g., ring wedging) we were restricted to determining the number of annual rings on the remaining samples by simply counting the number of annual rings. However, we are confident in the annual nature of the rings in general (Remane and Therrell, 2015) and age estimates likely only deviate slightly (1-5 years) from the true age. Following age determination, each ring from a single radius per tree, was measured on a stage micrometer to a nominal precision of 0.001 mm. These tree ring width data were accumulated from the innermost (pith) to the outermost ring (exclusive of bark) and were doubled to approximate the total stem diameter (TSD). Heartwood diameter was measured along one radii of each stem cross-section of the 30 trees sampled from the natural forest and 10 young, plantation grown stems. Heartwood percentage was determined by dividing HD by TSD.

This picture represents the authentification of the plant of the study by the Botanic laboratory of the High National Agronomic School.

The dataset represents biological assays, conducted to determine the inhibitory activity of extracts from 12 South African medicinal plants on selected inflammatory enzymes, as well as their ability to reduce nitric oxide production, in response to inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophage cells. The viability of macrophage cells and confirmation of cytotoxicity status of active extracts was done on Vero cells using the MTT assay. Results of antioxidant scavenging capacity of extracts are also presented. NMR spectroscopic data are presented as mestronova files while the amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents in the extracts were determined from a calibration curve of gallic acid and quercetin as shown in the data set. All experiments were carried out according to standard protocols as described in the full article.

Supporting Information: NMR and MS spectra

bark, stem, age and branching data for MidgleySAJBot

archaeological_data: The data is a summary of all plant species found within 18 archaeological sites within the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR). Plant species with a known range within the GCFR that were found in three sites that fall outside of the GCFR were also included. In total, 205 unique plant species (that occur within the GCFR) were recorded. historical_data: Eleven resources that capture human use of indigenous plant species (that occur within the GCFR) are summarized in this data set. In total 672 plant species with a known range within the GCFR are captured in this data set. Explanation of column headers for each data set: FOR BOTH DATA SETS: Species.name.in.original.text: The plant species name as recorded by the authors. Current.Scientific.name: The new scientific name is provided if the name has changed since the original publication. Family: The plant family in which the plant species occur Genus: The genus of the plant species GCFR: The occurrence of the plant species within the GCFR either: not listed or yes References: The publication in which the plant species is mentioned. FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATABASE: age.arc.layer: The age of the archaeological layer in which the plant species was recorded Min.age: The minimum age of the archaeological layer in which the plant species was recorded Max.age: The maximum age of the archaeological layer in which the plant species was recorded Site: The name of the archaeological site in which the plant species was found Location: Location of the archaeological site FOR CONTEMPORARY DATABASE: Use: A use category was assigned to each plant species depending on the recorded use by humans Part: Part of the plant used by humans Method of preparation: Details of how the plant is prepared for human use Type: The type of use the plant is utilized by Page.reference: The page number of the reference book that mentions that specific use of the plant by humans The SANBI red data list (www.http://redlist.sanbi.org/) and Manning and Goldblatt, (2012) and Snijman (2013) were used to verify plant species name changes and distribution range within the GCFR.

archaeological_data: A summary of all the botanical remains found within archaeological sites primarily within the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR). Three sites, situated close to the GCFR were also included. The data information include: old botanical name, updated name of the plant species if it has changed (this was done in 2017), type of material that was found (e.g. charcoal sample), the age of the archaeological layer in which it was found (e.g. 15,000 BC) and what the authors thought it was used for. The range of material dates from 0 to 80 000 BC. It also includes the name of the archaeological site, what part of the GCFR it falls in, and the name of the study in which it was published. contemporary_data: A summary of all written accounts of plant species that are mentioned to have a specific use for humans. It covers the last 400 years to date. The information includes the old botanical name, the current botanical name (2017), the use category (e.g. medicinal or edible), the part of the plant that is used (e.g. leaves or roots), what it is used for (e.g. headaches or for making beer), how it is prepared (e.g. cooked in coals). It includes the reference source in which it was published and in what part of the GCFR it occurs.

NMR, IR, UV and Mass spectral data of compounds isolated from Ficus glumosa

Experimental results from the measurement of enzyme activity (Alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27)) in the presence of caffeoylquinic acids. Raw experimental data in hidden sheets for better usability. Visible sheets hold lightly processed data and visualisation.