In Ebira Land, many medicinal plants are used as medicinal herbology which normally employed for the treatment of several diseases. These plants were not properly documented as to the dearth of knowledge of the uses of medicinal herbs. It is therefore important to document the medicinal values of these plants. The collection and identification of plants used for medicinal purposes, were conducted through field trips to each of the Four Local Government in the study area (namely; Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi and Okene) respectively in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. The total number of 124 botanical species of medicinal herbs were collected. This research supports the local use of this plant for therapeutic purposes especially in this time of economic recession. The knowledge opens a window of business potentials that will improve the economic situation of the nation. This will surely be of great assistance to researchers, herb sellers and the entire consumers in overcoming the long standing problems of health challenges.
Preserving the heritage of cacti from various botanical gardens and greenhouses, it has been and continues to be a topic of interest to the community. We are entitled to rally such concerns in the light of various collaborations over time with entities aimed at promoting and conserving cacti and succulents. From the promotion in profile events (such as workshops, conferences, and symposia, exhibition halls, etc.) to the conservation of various species of cacti is still a long way. In this context, through this paper, we want to emphasize, which were and are still the implications of the Romanian thematic philately in the promotion of cactus species. Through the rich philatelic material indexed and analyzed, we want to (re) bring to the memory of the community what Romanian philately has managed to record, in recent years, regarding the promotion and preservation of cacti (postage stamps, first-day covers - FDCs, postcard maxims, illustrated and semi-illustrated postcards, and various other philatelic effects and circulations). Given their exposure, we would like to sound the alarm on how these plant species are managed and how they are perceived at the Romanian community level.
Leafy vegetables are part of African households and these vegetables are eaten for their nutritive and medicinal uses. Scarcity of the vegetables has increased the demands. However, environmental pollution is a challenge on their safety. Gongronema latifolium, Piper guineense, Lasianthera africana, Heinsia crinata vegetables obtained from different markets in Lagos, Nigeria. Phytochemical, proximate and heavy metal analyses of the vegetables were carried out. These four vegetables were shown to be rich in nutrients. They also contained appreciable secondary metabolites- saponins, alkaloid etc. content of which may vary except terpenoids. However, mineral and heavy metal analyses revealed the ranges of K(29.43-68.09 mg/kg), Mg(26.33-28.41 mg/kg), Pb(0.01-0.03 mg/kg), Mn(2.44-21.84 mg/kg), Ag(0.01-0.24 mh/kg), Zn(0.54-1.34 mg/kg), Cd(0.01-0.02 mg/kg), Fe(2.17-3.92 mg/kg), Ni(1.22-1.46 mg/kg) and Na (1.84-4.32 mg/kg) in all the vegetables. These metals are within or below the W.H.O and other known world agencies’ permissible limits. Thus, the vegetables are safe for consumption as at the time of this research. However, despite the fact that the heavy metals’ concentration of the vegetables are within or below permissible limits, variation occurred in metallic compositions of the vegetables. Thus, this may serve as an indicator that the sources or locations in which these vegetables are grown before they are taken to markets should be monitored.
A comparative study on Cajanus cajan and Vigna unguiculata was evaluated and compared to determine their Phytochemical and Nutritional characteristics as medicine and food. A standard gravimetric and spectrophotometric method was employed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. Results revealed that seeds extract of Cajanus cajan and Vigna unguiculata all had the investigated Phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, sterols and phenol) in varied compositions. The seed extract of Cajanus cajan contained statistically higher percentages of the investigated Phytochemicals (0.34±0.15, 0.46±0.15, 0.22±0.10, 0.44±0.11 for Alkoloid, Flavonoid, Sterol, Phenol respectively) than the seed extract of Vigna unguiculata except for saponin. The proximate study revealed that the seeds extract of Cajanus cajan and Vigna unguiculata contained all the investigated nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fibre, moisture and ash) in varied compositions. The seed extract of Cajanus cajan contained statistically higher percentage of protein, fibre and ash (33.04±0.01, 9.24±0.10, 4.20±0.11 respectively) while the seed extract of Vigna unguiculata contained higher percentage of carbohydrate and moisture (54.66±0.01 and 9.57±0.10 respectively). The presence of these investigated biochemicals justifies the species uses in the treatment of diseases. The seed of Cajanus cajan can be regarded as more nutritious than that of Vigna unguiculata. Malnourished and diabetic patients could be advised to eat more of Cajanus cajan seed in relatively high amount than Vignaunguiculata seed. The biochemical compounds and the nutrients could be extracted from these species for the development of drugs and foods supplements.
The paper deals with the ethno-botanical survey and studies of medicinal and aromatic plants of some most remote villages of Singay-Lalok region (Wanla, Ursi, Hanupata, Hinju, Fanji-La, Hanupata, Sisir-La, Photoksar) of Leh district of Union territory of Ladakh. Though the region looks barren and lifeless still it represents a treasure house of diversity of plants with high medicinal, aromatic value and other useful properties like food, fodder, fuel and ritual purposes. Predominant species of these areas are:- Geranium wallichianum, Carum carvi, Aconogonom tortuosum, Argentina anserina, Corydalis stricta, Heracleum pinnatum, Cicer microphyllum, Rosa webbiana, Caragana versicolor, Artemisia macrocephala, Rosa webbiana, Hippophae rhamnoides, Astragalus tibetanus, Thalictrum foliolosum, Physcholaina praealta. The medicinal plants surveyed during tour was widely used in Sowa- Rigpa system of Indian medicine for curing various diseases ailments and it has no side-effects as compare to allopathic medicines. The present paper documents ethno-botanical information of sowa-rigpa traditional medicinal usage by the local people of Singay-Lalok region. Around 54 medicinal plants species botanical name, sowa-rigpa name, sowa-rigpa medicinal use, family, habitat and botanical feature are enumerated in this paper.
