Asian Journal of Research in Botany

Phytochemical Constituents and Anti-Salmonella Activity of the Combined Leaves Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants in Mubi, Nigeria

2022-06-22T09:43:57+00:00

This study was aimed at determining the quantitative phytochemical constituents and anti-salmonella effect of the combined leaves ethanolic and aqueous extracts of selected plants in Mubi. The leaves of Citrus sinensis, Senna siamea, Moringa oleifera and Carica papaya were collected and shade dried; and consequently grounded and mixed in equal ratio. The combined powdered plants leaves was extracted using ethanol and water. The Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi used were obtained from the laboratory section of General Hospital, Mubi. The results of phytochemical analysis showed that the ethanolic extract had the significantly highest content of compounds like: tannins (4.96 mg/100g), alkaloids (8.45 mg/100g), flavonoids (3.00 mg/100g), saponins (9.12 mg/100g) and phenols (26.10 mg/100g), while the aqueous extract had lowest of all the compounds. The anti-salmonella activity test showed that the highest concentrations (200 mg/ml) of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts recorded the highest zone of inhibition of 0.73 and 0.70 cm and 0.60 and 0.80 cm on the S. typhi and S. paratyphi, respectively; while the lowest was recorded by the lowest concentrations of the extracts. However, the control used (ceftriaxone) was more effective against the two test organisms than the highest concentrations of the two extracts. The study concluded that the ethanolic extract of the combined leaves of S. siamea, C. papaya, C. sinensis and M. oleifera has higher phytocompounds than the aqueous extract; the anti-salmonella activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts on S. typhi have no significant difference, while on S. paratyphi, aqueous extract is more effective than ethanolic extract.

Wood Anatomical Study of Osyris quadripartita Salz.ex Decne (African Sandalwood) from the Northern Western Ghats, India

2022-06-23T11:02:29+00:00

The family Santalaceae is medicinally important. Osyris quadripartita Salz.ex Decne has been used for the medicinal use such as anthelmintic, leishmaniasis like leprosy diseases, abnormalities, kidney disease, forage, hygienic/perfuming, eye pain, cold, anaphylactic shock, epilepsy, circumcision wound, toothache, tonsillitis, abdominal pain, urine problem, breast cancer, mental problems and anti-coronavirus disease, etc. It has also been reported for its activities such as anti-ulcer activity, antiviral activity. Santalum album and O. quadripartita belong to the same family santalaceae and have many similarities in their morphological characteristics. Both plant species belong to the same family, that’s why anatomical character help to resolve this problem and easy to distinguish most wood anatomical characteristics. Therefore, distinguishing onefrom the other anatomically is very easy.

A study has been carried out to authenticate the identity of this specie based on anatomical characters. The anatomical sections of stem (Transverse Section (TS), Transvers Longitudinal Section (TLS) and Radial Longitudinal Section (RLS) of the species were observed under the bright-field compound binocular microscope, and characters were documented. The aim of the study is to elucidate the means and criteria to identify the anatomical structure of O. quadripartita. Though the diagrammatic outline of the stem sections is similar, detailed anatomical characters are significantly different. The characters such as the arrangement of cortical tissues, pericyclicfibres, phloem fibers, andphloem rays are useful in differentiating the stem and petiole of the species. Wood anatomical characteristics of O.quadripartita were seriation of rays, type of crystalliferous cells, and abundance of extractives. Ray cells frequently contain rhomboidal crystals. In cortex, and pith region of the stem observed solitary crystals. Based on the preliminary study, the species can be differentiated from other species of the same family based only on anatomical characters.

Algae, a Hope for Sustainable Living

2022-07-04T12:37:19+00:00

An alga is a microorganism that comes in the context of both present and future sustainable living in this present world at large. It has come a long way. Algae can be also a macro-organism, such as many Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Ochrophyta. Previously, alga was referred to as a pollutant, a menace in the society and the environment. However, now with the advent of great discoveries and biotechnological advancement of Algae, significant t benefits can be achieved. Cultivation of algae is not only safe but also requires less space, is capable more production and yield as well as being cost-effective, Algae have the ability to power a whole building, be used as biofuels for vehicles, for electrical purposes, for decorations and as health supplement for both humans and animals. The production of biofuels from algae has a good impact in the environment considering the problems experienced in the conventional fuels from hydrocarbons. The aquatics are not left out because they serve as great feeds for fishes and other aquatic livestock. Algae is the way forward when it comes to sustainable living.