Study of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Plants Used by Pastoralists in Northern Gombe State, Nigeria

Ethnoveterinary is the total of all practices that enable man to prevent his livestock from diseases, alleviate and relieve suffering to bring about healing, and increase the production and productivity of livestock within a minimum cost. Overutilization, overexploitation, deforestation for fuelwood, and farmland expansion expose some of the plants to threaten. The study was carried out in three randomly selected districts in Northern Gombe State, Nigeria. Among all, 80% of the respondents are male among which 56% are 35 years and above. 43 plants were reported used as ethnoveterinary plants in the area (oral interview) among which only 28 were found to be present in the field (field assessment). Guiera senegalensis is the most abundant plant (7.85%) followed by Piliostigma reticulatum (7.23%), Combretum collinum and Detarium microcarpum (3.00% both). Fabaceae is the most abundant family (30.85%) of the identified plants followed by Combretaceae (15.25%). Plant bark is the most common part used in curing and preventing animals from diseases which subject some of the plants (Burkia africana) to nearly endangered states. 28 plant samples were collected, identified, pressed, and laid in Botany Department Herbarium, Gombe State University, among these, 2 plant samples were not successfully identified. It is recommended that regulatory bodies should be empowered to check the uncontrolled deforestation occurring in the area

Educational and scientific aspects of history of genetics and selection at The Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko (1960–1990)

The article is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Natural Geography at the Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko. The article focuses on the primary aspects of educational and scientific work on genetics and selection performed by the lecturers of the Botany Department – Professor Nina Ivanivna Dehtiarova and Professor Mykhailo Ivanovych Steblianko, docent Klavdia Demianivna Honcharova and docent Maiia Havrylivna Shulha during the 1960s–1990s. Their contribution to the establishment and development of genetics and selection at higher pedagogical and secondary education institutions in Ukraine was analysed. The importance of Ukrainian genetics and selection for historiography as well as popularisation of scientific and pedagogical accomplishments of lecturers in higher education institutions, who are engaged in basic training of future genetics and selection specialists, was denoted. Keywords: genetics, selection, history of the Faculty of Natural Geography, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko.

Physiological Variations in Cucurbita moschata Duch. Ex. Poir Due to a Nigerian Strain of Moroccan Watermelon Virus: Lagenaria breviflora Isolate

Aim: Physiological variations in Cucurbita moschata due to infection with a Nigerian strain of Moroccan watermelon virus (MWMV): Lagenaria breviflora isolate was studied. Study Design: Randomized block design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Botany Department, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria between March and May, 2015. Methodology: Seeds of C. moschata were sown, on germination inoculated with the virus and analyzed for possible variations between healthy and inoculated plants. Results: Results analysis revealed increase in all amino acids investigated. Highest significant (P=0.05) percentage variation in amino acids of inoculated and healthy were -40.0% for aspartic acid, -36.1% (histidine), -29.7% (proline), -28.8% (lysine), -23.3% (glysine), -16.6% (phenylalanine) and -12.6% (glutamic acid). Infection of C. moschata with a Nigerian Strain of MWMV: Lagenaria breviflora isolate caused significant decrease in leaf nitrogen and relative water content of inoculated plants compared to the healthy. Highest percentage decrease in leaf nitrogen was 40.7% at 2 weeks after inoculation (WAI) and lowest of 25.0% at 10 WAI. The virus caused decrease in relative water content of 29.6% at 6 WAI. Activity of oxidative stress enzymes: peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (6PGdH) and 6-phosphogluconic acid dehydrogenase (G6PdH) were significantly (P=0.05) increased in infected C. moschata- MWMV plant. Enzymes activity was significantly higher in inoculated than in healthy plants at all stages of growth with decrease at later periods for both inoculated and healthy plants. Percentage increase in POD, PPO, G6PdH and 6PGdH activity due to infection at 8 WAI had values of -40.5%, -46.7%, -98.9% and -89.1% respectively. Conclusion: The Nigerian strain of MWMV: Lagenaria breviflora isolate caused significant variations with increase and decrease in biochemical and physiological components of C. moschata affecting its growth and yield.

Examination of Impact of Arsenic Stress on Soil Microbes

The research was performed at Botany department, Nusrat Jahan College Rabwah Pakistan to screen stress tolerance level of soil microbes (pseudomonas and penicillium) taken from NARC (National Agricultural Research Centre) Pakistan against different levels of sodium arsenite stress (1 mg/L to 10 mg/L). The research was based on completely randomized design. Three drops were applied to microbes grown on CLED (cysteine-, lactose-, and electrolyte-deficient) media to determine zone of inhibition through disk, well and spread method, while control group was without sodium arsenite application. After application of various levels of arsenic stress organisms were incubated for 24 h at 37°C. After incubation, zones of inhibition were measured. Our study has shown that both micobes cannot overcome higher levels of arsenic stress because in higher stress petriplates, increased inhibitory zones were observed.

Extraction of Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate from Kaempferia galanga L.

In this study, ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) was extracted from Kaempferia galanga L. by different methods. The study results show that vacuum drying process led to a significant decrease in EPMC content in the herb (about 7%); EPMC obtained by water distillation not only had a high purity and yield but could also be applied for both fresh and dried herb; whereas, Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane solvent brought the highest extraction yield (1.99% on dried herb weight) despite lower purity when compared to that by water distillation method. Keywords Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate, EPMC, Kaempferia galanga L., extraction. References [1] Botany Department, Botany, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 2005 (In Vietnamese).[2] A. Kumar, Phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and uses of Indian traditional medicinal plant Kaempferia galanga L. – An overview, Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020) 112667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112667.[3] H.J. Ko, H.J. Kim, S.Y. Kim, H.Y. Yun, K.J. Baek, N.S. Kwon, W.K. Whang, H.R. Choi, K.C. Park, D.S. Kim, Hypopigmentary Effects of Ethyl P‐Methoxycinnamate Isolated from Kaempferia galanga, Phytotherapy research 28(2) (2014) 274-279. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4995.[4] M. Bonesi, J. Xiao, R. Tundis, F. Aiello, V. Sicari, M. R. Loizzo, Advances in the Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Plant Source, Current Medicinal Chemistry 26(18) (2019) 3279-3299. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867325666180522091311.[5] M.I. Umar, M.Z. Asmawi, A. Sadikun, A.M. Majid, F.S. Al-Suede, L.E. Hassan, R. Altaf, M.B. Ahamed, Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate isolated from Kaempferia galanga inhibits inflammation by suppressing interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and angiogenesis by blocking endothelial functions, Clinics 69(2) (2014) 134-144. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2014(02)10.[6] D. Lakshmanan, J. Werngren, L. Jose, K.P. Suja, M.S. Nair, R.L. Varma, S. Mundayoor, S. Hoffner, R.A. Kumar, Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate isolated from a traditional anti-tuberculosis medicinal herb inhibits drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, Fitoterapia 82(5) (2011) 756-761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2011.03.006.[7] W. Sirisangtragul, B. Sripanidkulchai, Effects of Kaempferia galanga L. and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s enzyme activities in mice, J. Sci. Technol. 33(4) (2011) 411-417.[8] J. Wu, F. Ge, D. Wang, X. Xu, Combination of supercritical fluid extraction with high-speed countercurrent chromatography for extraction and isolation of ethyl p -methoxycinnamate and ethyl cinnamate from Kaempferia galanga L., Separation Science and Technology 51(10) (2016) 1757-1764. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2016.1176046.[9] N. Srivastava, Ranjana, S. Singh, A.C. Gupta, K. Shanker, D.U. Bawankule, S. Luqman, Aromatic ginger (Kaempferia galanga L.) extracts with ameliorative and protective potential as a functional food, beyond its flavor and nutritional benefits, Toxicol Rep 6 (2019) 521-528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2019.05.014.[10] I. Komalaa, Supandia, Nurhasnib, O.S. Bethaa, Yardia, S. Mufidaha, M. Rezaa, M.S. Alia, N.S. Auliaa, Sutara, Microwave Assisted Synthesis of p-Methoxycinnamamides and p-Methoxy-β-nitrostyrenes from Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate and Screening their Anti-inflammatory Activity, Natural Product Communications 12(8) (2017) 1265-1268.[11] Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia, the 5th edition, Appendix 2, (2017) (In Vietnamese)[12] AOAC International, AOAC official methods of analysis, Appendix K: Guidelines for Dietary Supplements and Botanicals, 2013.[13] P. Lunger, M. Weber, N. X. Dung, N. T. B. Tuyet, Ethyl p-Methoxycinnamate from Kaempferia galanga L. in Vietnam, Acta Cryst C52 (1996) 1255-1257. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0108270195016027.[14] S.K. Gupta, A.B. Banerjee, Achari B., Isolation of Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, the major antifungal principle of Curcumba zedoaria, Curcumba zedoaria. Lloydia 39(4) (1976) 218-222.[15] M.I. Umar, M.Z. Asmawi, A. Sadikun, I.J. Atangwho, M.F. Yam, R. Altaf, A. Ahmed, Bioactivity-guided isolation of ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate, an anti-inflammatory constituent, from Kaempferia galanga L. extracts, Molecules 17(7) (2012) 8720-34. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules17078720.

Fungicidal Property of Andrographis paniculata extract on Fungal Organisms from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad (Melon Seeds)

Antifungal property of A. paniculata on fungal isolates from Citrullus colocynthis was investigated. Citrullus colocynthis were bought from traders in a major market in Abia State, Nigeria. The melon seeds were first cleaned and disinfested by keeping them in a freezer at -50C for 7 days to kill all hidden infestations. The disinfested seeds were dried in a Gallenkamp oven at 40oC for 4 hours before they were stored in plastic sterile containers with tight lids. Fresh plant of A. paniculata was collected from botanical garden of the Rivers State University and was identified in the botany department. The leaves of the plant were shade dried and blended into fine powder. Twenty grams (20g) of the powdered leaves was extracted using methanol and ethanol. The filtrate was evaporated and the resulting crude extract was used for antifungal sensitivity test. Fungi associated with rotted C. colocynthis were identified using standard microbiological methods. The antifungal activity of the extracts was carried out using the well in agar diffusion method. In this method, 48 hours old fungal isolate was inoculated on dried Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates in duplicates. five wells were bored using sterile 6mm cork borer on the dried seeded plates before 0.2ml of the different concentrations of 100, 50, 25, and 12.5mg/ml of the methanol extracts were transferred into the wells using sterile pipettes. Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus sp and Mucor sp were identified from the melon seeds. The zone diameters of methanolic extract of A. paniculata on Rhizopus arrhizus, A. niger, A. flavus, Rhizopus sp and Mucor sp were 11.50±0.71, 19.50±0.71, 34.50±0.71, 15.00±0.00 and 17.00±0.00mm, respectively. The zone diameters of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata on Rhizopus arrhizus, A. niger, A. flavus, Rhizopus sp and Mucor sp were 0.00±0.00, 16.50±0.71, 34.50±0.71, 20.50±0.71 and 0.00±0.00mm, respectively. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the antifungal activity of the extract across the fungal isolates. The antifungal activity of the leave extracts showed that the ethanolic extract and the methanolic extract were very active on the fungal isolates and the antifungal activities of the extract was greatly influenced by the concentration of the extract, with higher concentrations of extract having high zone diameter.

Characterization of Polyphenols, Flavonoids and Their Anti-microbial Activity in the Fruits of Vangueria madagascariensis J. F. Gmel

Aim: The study aimed to characterize phenolic acids, flavonoids, and determine their antimicrobial activities in fruits of Vangueria madagascariensis (Tamarind of Indies). Study Design: The design of the study included picking of Vangueria madagascariensis fruits from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) botanical garden and analysis for their antimicrobial activities at the Botany department research laboratory, JKUAT. Characterization of phenolic acids and flavonoids were conducted at MacEwan University Canada. Place and Duration: JKUAT, Kenya and MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta Canada between June 2013 and June 2016. Methodology: Phenolic acids and flavonoids from Tamarind of Indies were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSN). The antimicrobial assay was determined using the disk diffusion method. Results: Based on the retention time, the UV spectrum, and the tandem MS behavior, the results revealed a profile composed of 25 phenolic compounds. Some of the identified phenolic compounds included: 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-feruloyl quinic acid, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin, 3,4-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 4, 5-di-caffeoylquinic acid, kaempferol, diosmetin, caffeic acid, epicatechin, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside. The fruit extracts had a probable presence of quercetin 3-O-6’-malonylglucoside, ikarisoside C, epimedin C, unknown epigallocatechin-3-gallate and quercetin conjugate derivatives. Furthermore, the fruit extracts from Vangueria madagascariensis showed appreciable antimicrobial properties against human pathogen strains. Strong antimicrobial activity was observed for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The Vangueria madagascariensis was found to be highly potent against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis even at low concentrations of 0.1 mg/mL. Conclusion: The research findings may suggest value of the use of Vangueria madagascariensis fruits as a rich source of antioxidants with therapeutic and nutraceutical value.

The Effect of Coconut Water (Cocos nucifera L.) and Atonik to The Growth of Tomato Plant (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.)

The purpose of this study was to find how the effects of coconut water plus atonic on tomato plant growth. The study was conducted from October to November 2019 at the Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology FMIPA University of Lampung. The study was conducted in a 2x3 factorial experiment with a completely randomized design. Factor A is young coconut water with 3 levels of concentration i.e. 0% v/v, 25% v/v, and 50% v/v. Factor B is atonic with 2 concentration levels, namely 0% v/v and 10% v/v. As variables are high, fresh weight, dry weight, relative water content, and chlorophyll content of plants. Levene Test, Variance Analysis is carried out at a 5% significance level. Main effects and simple effects were analyzed by the Tukey test at 5% significance level. The results showed that the interaction between coconut water and atonic had a negative effect on the growth of tomato plants. The results of the study concluded that coconut water combine with atonic can not improve tomato plant growth.

Catalog of the mite (Acari) type specimens deposited at the “Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de São José do Rio Preto”, São Paulo, Brazil (DZSJRP)

A catalog of the type specimens of mites deposited at the Mite Collection of the Zoology and Botany Department of São Paulo State University (São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state, Brazil) is presented. The collection of type specimens includes 120 species of 64 genera and 16 families, most of which from Brazil, but also from Angola, Australia, Costa Rica, Phillipines, South Africa, Sultanate of Oman and Thailand. For each species the original publication, provenance data, specimens conditions are provided.

Moulting pattern and mortality during the final emergence of the Coromandel Marsh Dart Damselfly Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) in central India

The final emergence of the Coromandel Marsh Dart Damselfly Ceriagrion coromandelianum was studied for 50 days (22 January–12 March, 2011) from the botanical garden of Hislop College, Nagpur, India, (a semi controlled site) where small underground cement tubs/tanks are used to grow macrophytes by the Botany department. In C. coromandelianum emergence is asynchronous, diurnal and occurs between 07.00h and 18.00h. Stage-I starts when the ultimate instar nymph of C. coromandelianum leaves the water body, searches for a suitable place and then begins to shudder its body to detach the trapped pharate from the nymphal exuvia. The pharate exerts pressure on the thoracic tergites to split the cuticle. Stage-II starts when the head and thorax of the pharate emerges out of the split exuvia. The pharate struggles to remove its trapped body from the nymphal exuvia. During Stage-III, the wings expand but are opaque; pigmentation of the body occurs simultaneously all over the body. Soon the whole body develops its species specific coloration while the expanding wings gain transparency, unfold and separate out and now the imago is ready for its maiden flight. Stages I, II, and III occupy 31.66%, 11.73%, and 56.60% of the total moulting period, respectively. A total of 243 emergences occurred during the observation period, 158 emergences occurred in tanks containing Pistia stratiotes, while 65 emergences in tubs containing Nymphaea nouchali indicating that C. coromandelianum prefers P. stratiotes over N. nouchali for oviposition. Twenty deaths were recorded during the present observation. Failure to moult (15%) and failure to emerge completely out of the exuvia (85%) were the two reasons for mortality.