Insecticidal Effect of Piper guineense Seed Powder in the Control of Beans Weevil Callosobruschus maculatus (Fabr)

Piper guineense commonly called Usira in Edo, Uziza in Igbo and IgherelIyere in Yoruba belongs to the family piperaceae. The efficiency of its seed powder in the control of callosobruschus maculatus (beans weevil) was investigated in the Science Laboratory Department of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State Nigeria. The seed powder was applied at the rate of O control, 15, 25, 50 and 100 (gkg-1). The result obtained shows that piper guineense seed powder at 25gkg-1 to 100gkg-1 were effective in the control of callosobrusus maculatus at 0.01% level of significance. It was revealed that a very strong insecticidal action of I. piper guineense on beans weevil. However, the efficiency of this insecticidal action on callosobruschus maculatus with increasing concentration of the plant material seed powder with 100gkg-1 giving the highest mortality rate, residual action and egg plugs of the weevils. This finding is critical to resource poor farmers in developing countries who will find this trial practicable and affordable. colourkasi hustlers.

Continuous Intake of High Doses of Piper guineense (Ashanti pepper) Aqueous Seed Extract Impairs Renal Function in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND: Piper guineense seed is a well known spice consumed in many parts of West Africa as a result of its nutritional and medicinal properties. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five per group. The phytochemical analyses was done; different concentration of aqueous seed extract of Piper guineense was administered for 21 days to three experimental groups, Group 2 (25 mg/kg), Group 3 (50 mg/kg), Group 4 (100 mg/kg), while group 1 were given only rat feed and water. RESULTS: The investigation revealed that in low and medium dose groups, creatinine (62.3±7.3 to 51.1±4.5 and 51.1±8.1 respectively) and urea (6.6±1.3 to 5.2±0.8 and 4.8±1.0) levels decreased significantly while in high dose group, creatinine (62.3±7.3 to 66.9±11.0) and urea (6.6±1.3 to 7.0±0.8) increased significantly. There was a dose dependent increase in the serum electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chlorine and bicarbonate). Only bicarbonate (19.1±0.8 to 24.3±1.3) and chloride (102.4±3.8 to 107.0±1.6) had significant increase in their values. The histological study showed that at a low (25mg/kg) and medium dose (50mg/kg) of aqueous seed extract of Piper guineense the normal cyto-architecture of the kidney was maintained while in high dose group (100mg/kg) normal cyto-architecture of the kidney was distorted. CONCLUSION: The result obtained suggests that Piper guineense seed may not be harmful at a moderate dose; but high doses could be toxic. Caution should be taken on the quantity of Piper guineense seed consumed.

Safety assessment of bio-synthesized iodine-doped silver nanoparticle wound ointment in experimental rats

Background In the wake of antibiotic resistance, treatment of intractable wound have been very challenging and any alternative treatment which may lead to less use of antibiotics deserves further exploitation. Nanoparticle conjugates has potentially not only reduce antibiotic use but it has been considered safe and effectively disinfect wounds already colonized with resistant bacteria as well as promoting granulation tissue formation. In this study, Iodine-doped silver nanoparticle Ointment (Ag-I NPs) was investigated for its toxicological effect on excisional wound of albino rats. Methods Aqueous extraction of Piper guineense leaf was carried out and used for the synthesis of Ag-I NPs. The synthesized Ag-I NPs were characterized by Ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer which confirmed the availability of silver nanoparticles. The particles were then used to prepare a wound healing ointment for treating excision wound inflicted on wistar rat model. Blood samples, liver and kidney biopsies were collected on the 21st day of the experiment from all the rats for hematology, biochemical and histopathological analysis. Result In the hematological and biochemical analysis, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of experimental rats treated with Ag-I NPs were significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the untreated group. In the histopathology, the photomicrograph of the liver showed the normal control, PEG, Ag-NP, and Ag-I NP groups remained intact displaying distinctive histo-morphological appearance and stable cell density while the untreated (UTD) group showed fatty liver and reduced cellular density. The kidney photomicrograph of the normal control and Ag- I NP groups were present with intact renal corpuscles while the other photomicrographs displayed corpuscular degeneration marked by the large halo-spaced bowman space. Conclusion Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and iodine-doped silver nanoparticle (Ag-I NP) altered haematological parameters in the rats and also influenced some biochemical changes in the serum of the rats. While in the histopathological study, the antioxidant present in the plant extract used to synthesize Ag NPs and Ag I-NPs may have functioned in synergy to maintain and preserve the integrity of the hepatocytes and renal corpuscles of the rats.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities of Fractions from Ethanol-Extracted Residues of Piper guineense Leaves on Gram Negative Clinical Isolate

The problem of drug resistance to orthodox antimicrobial agents has remained a setback in the treatment of bacterial infections in the modern society. Adverse effects, coupled with scarcity and high cost of orthodox drugs have necessitated interest in the search, development and use of antibacterial agents from plant origin. Piper guineense is claimed in traditional medicine as a remedy for gram negative organism-transmitted infections. The leaves of Piper guineense plant was collected, washed, dried at room temperature and pulverized. The plant material was extracted with 80% ethanol. The ethanol-extracted residue was subjected to fractionation. Seventeen fractions were obtained, and were pooled together based on their Rf values into five pooled-fractions labeled: PF-1, PF-2, PF-3, PF-4, PF-5. Both the ethanol and fraction extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis, preliminary antibacterial screening, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations determination using both clinical isolates and type culture organisms. The yield of ethanol-extracted residue was low (21.08g) when compared to the amount of pulverized plant material (500g). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids in all the extracts. The extracts produced statistically significant lower zone of inhibition (p<0.05) when compared with the standard drug (amoxicillin), it also demonstrated activity against test organisms used in the study. The findings of this study demonstrated that ethanol leaf extract of Piper guineense possess antibacterial activities, therefore justifies the traditional claim of the plant.

Insecticidal Activities of Aqueous Extracts of Five Nigerian Aromatic Spices against Garden Eggplant Defoliators and Fruit Borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee: Lepidoptera: Crambidae

The study evaluated the prospects of aqueous extracts of five Nigerian spices against garden eggplant defoliators and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) in the field. The treatments consisted of Piper guineense (black pepper), Aframomum melegueta (aligator pepper), Eugenia aromatica (cloves), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Capsicum annum (chilli pepper) and untreated check (control). All the aqueous extracts evaluated reduced leaf damaged by defoliators on garden eggplant compared to control. P. guineense, with mean value of 11.02 number of perforations, was the most effective against defoliators, followed by E. aromatica (12.97) reducing leaf damage by 39.64 and 28.74%, respectively. However, their efficacies against defoliating insects were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among other extracts. P. guineense was also more effective than other spices against infestations by garden eggplant fruit borer and larvae density on fruits with mean values of 1.07 and 0.47, respectively. Plots treated with P. guineense recorded highest fruit yield (629 g/plant), followed by E. aromatica (219.3 g/plant). Piper guineense and E. aromatica extracts were thus more efficacious than other spices against defoliating and fruit boring insects of garden eggplants. Adopting the applications of extracts from these spices in home garden will minimize environmental and health hazards associated chemical pesticides and enhance healthy living among the populace. Keywords: spices, aqueous extracts, garden eggplant, Leucinodes orbonalis.