Effects of Different Seeds Pretreatments on the Germination of Five Local Trees: Four From The Fabaceae Family and One From the Bombacacea

The problem of the effectiveness of the established pre-treatments of seeds of local tree species is posed more and more often, with acuity. It appears necessary that studies are led to explore new methods of pre-treatment, or to update the old instructions applied, for a better success and at lower cost, of the production of seedlings. The present study concerned five species: Acacia nilotica, Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Piliostigma reticulatum and Tamarindus indica. The methodology involved subjecting the seeds to three different pretreatments: (i) seeds treated with sulfuric acid (T0), (ii) seeds soaked in hot water for 24 hours (T1), (iii) seeds soaked in hot water for 48 hours (T2). For Acacia nilotica seeds, the different pretreatments did not result in statistically different germination rates. The germination rates are 77%, 65% and 62% (respectively for soaking in hot water for 48 hours, sulfuric acid and soaking in hot water for 24 hours). The different pretreatments also do not result in different germination rates for Tamarindus indica. Indeed, the germination rates after 30 days for this species are good but statistically identical (85% for the pretreatment with sulfuric acid and hot water for 24 hours). For Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa and Piliostigma reticulatum, the sulfuric acid pretreatment gave the best germination rate (49%, 54% and 41% respectively). The results of this study may have practical consequences in terms of management of the different species studied. They show that immersing in boiling water and left for 24 hours and 48 hours yields fairly satisfactory germination rates for Acacia nilotica and Tamarindus indica seeds. These inexpensive techniques, accessible to all, can be considered as means to easily produce seedlings of these species.

Etude biophysique et socio-économique du fruitier forestier Detarium senegalense J. F. Gmel. en Basse-Casamance (Thiobon, Bignona, Sénégal)

Au Sénégal, la Basse-Casamance est une zone où la recherche a du terrain à explorer en raison de la situation de conflit qui y prévaut depuis de nombreuses années. C'est l'une des principales zones de production des fruits de Detarium senegalense, qui sont très importants pour la consommation humaine et pour le gain derevenus. L’objectif de cette étude est d’établir les caractéristiques biophysiques et socio-économiques deDetarium senegalense dans le peuplement ligneux du terroir villageois de Thiobon en Basse-Casamance. Pour y parvenir, des enquêtes ont d’abord été menées auprès de la population, puis 64 relevés de végétation ont été effectués sur des placettes de 2500 m². Les résultats ont montré que la flore est constituée de 85 espèces relevant de 73 genres appartenant à 26 familles botaniques. Les familles des Fabaceae, Moraceae, Anacardiaceae et Apocynaceae sont les plus diversifiées. Les espèces les plus fréquentes sont Detarium senegalense (93,75%), Parkia biglobosa (75%), Cassia sieberiana (68,75%), Dialium guineense (64,06%), Anacardium occidentale et Piliostigma reticulatum (54,69%), Terminalia macroptera et Uvaria chamae (50%). La densité réelle est de 342 individus.ha-1, la surface terrière est de 18,07 m².ha-1 avec un taux de recouvrement de 81,49% et un taux de régénération de 81,47% pour le peuplement. Les résultats des enquêtes ont révélé que les principaux usages faits de Detarium senegalense sont l’autoconsommation, la vente des fruits et la pharmacopée. 71% de la population affirment que la tendance de la population de Detarium senegalense est progressive et 56% pensent que sa production augmente au cours des années. Les formes de régénération de l’espèce sont le semis naturel et le rejet de souche. Les fruits de Detarium senegalense sont vendus par comptage et par panier à des prix variant de 5 francs CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) le fruit à 12000 francs CFA le panier. Cette étude permettra d’établir la situation actuelle des ressources forestières de la zone, mais également d’en améliorer la gestion en proposant des pistes d’amélioration des méthodes de gestion existantes. In Senegal, Basse-Casamance is an area where research has to explore because of the conflict situation that has prevailed there for many years. It is one of the main production areas for Detarium senegalense fruits, which are very important for human consumption and for income generation. The objective of this study was to establish the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of Detarium senegalense in the woody stand of the village of Thiobon in Lower Casamance. To achieve this, surveys were first conducted among the population and then 64 vegetation surveys were carried out on 2500 m² plots. The results showed that the flora consists of 85 species from 73 genera belonging to 26 botanical families. The families Fabaceae, Moraceae, Anacardiaceae and Apocynaceae are the most diversified. The most frequent species are Detarium senegalense (93.75%), Parkia biglobosa (75%), Cassia sieberiana (68.75%), Dialium guineense (64.06%), Anacardium occidentale and Piliostigma reticulatum (54.69%), Terminalia macroptera and Uvaria chamae (50%). The actual density is 342 individuals.ha-1, the basal area is 18.07 m².ha-1 with a cover rate of 81.49% and a regeneration rate of 81.47% for the stand. The results of the surveys revealed that the main uses of Detarium senegalense are self-consumption, sale of fruits and pharmacopoeia. 71% of the population affirm that the population trend of Detarium senegalense is progressive and 56% think that its production increases during the years. The forms of regeneration of the species are natural seedling and stump rejection. The fruits of Detarium senegalense are sold by counter and by basket at prices ranging from 5 CFA francs (Communauté Financière Africaine) per fruit to 12,000 CFA francs per basket. This study will establish the current situation of forest resources in the area, but also improve management by proposing ways to improve existing management methods.

Antioxidant and Radical Scavenging of Piliostigma reticulatum using FRAP and DPPH

The antibacterial activity, phytochemical constituents and the radical scavenging ability using FRAP and DPPH of Piliostigma reticulatum were investigated in this study. Of all the solvent extracts used to assay the antibacterial effect, ethanol extract had the highest activity, followed by the aqueous extract with very weak activity against Pseudomonsa aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and E. coli, methanol extract had no visible effect on the test organisms while ethyl acetate was active against only E. coli. The presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, anthraquinones, phenol, tanin and saponin was observed. Antinutrients such as Tanin, Phenol, Phylate, Oxalate, Saponin and Flavonoids in copious amount. Ethanol extract of P. reticulatum was found to have the highest antioxidant ability, followed by the methanol extract. Ehtyl acetate extract had minimal radical scavenging ability. The antibacterial effect, phytochemical content and the radical scavenging properties of the plant makes it a good candidate in the development of antimicrobial therapeutics.

Nutritional potential of (dc.) Hochst. pods in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria

ThestudywasconductedtoevaluatethenutritivevaluesofPiliostigmareticulatumpodsfrom field grown stands within the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. 250 fruiting trees from five locations within coordinates of longitude 11 42' to 12 27' and latitude 07 29' to 11 04' with 50 stands per location were monitored up to pod maturity to 80% dried pods. The harvested pods were sampled and bulked in 50kg jute bag per location and analyzed for nutritive values, antinutritional factors (ANFs), macro-and micro-minerals.Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the fruiting trees and which were monitored incompletely randomized design (CRD). The results revealed that locations had significant differences (P<0.05) in all parameters evaluated except for Phytate (PHY) and Saponins (SAP). DM (94.83%), OM (89.23%), EE (3.66%), K (14.05g/kg) and Cu (35.53mg/kg) obtained from Itas-Gadau were statistically superior (P<0.05) to others; sample obtained from Dutse-Ma proved superior (P<0.05) in ASH (6.16%), CP (19.46%), P (1.06g/kg), Zn (33.26mg/kg), Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) (0.36mg/g) and Tannins (TAN) (1.21mg/g); Results obtained from Potiskum revealed superiority (P<0.05) in CF (16.90%), NDF (53.17%) and HEMCELL (13.62%) than others; Jahun sample lead (P<0.05) in NFE (68.94%), ADF (40.51%) and Mn (208.77mg/kg) and sample from Dambatta had higher values (P<0.05) in Ca (2.08g/kg) and Fe (29.80mg/kg). The study concluded that the values obtained on nutritive, antinutritive and minerals compositions of Piliostigma reticulatum pods were within the recommended requirement for ruminant nutrition and therefore recommended its use as feedstuff.

Catalase Activity and Hydrophobicity Test of Bacteria Susceptible to Extracts of Cleistopholis Patens and Piliostigma Reticulatum

Antibacterial effect of the ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Piliostigma reticulatum and Cleistopholis patens on ten pathogenic bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marscences, Yersinia enterocolitica and Shigella dysenteriae was investigated. Survival rate after treatment was investigated. Cell surface hydrophobicity after treatment was tested and the catalase activities of the plant extracts were determined. The results revealed that at 100mg/ml of extracts, the ethanol extracts of C. patens showed antibacterial activities against S. typhi, P. vulgaris, Str. pyogenes, K. aerogenes, Saureus and Yersinia enterocolitica with zones of inhibition of 18mm, 14mm, 18mm, 24mm, 14mm and 18mm respectively and the ethyl acetate extract was active against Sal. typhi, P. vulgaris, Str. pyogenes, K. aerogenes, S. aureus Ser. marscences and Y. enterocolitica with zones of inhibition of 14mm, 22mm, 18mm, 18mm, 14mm, 16mm and 16mm respectively while ethanol extract of P. reticulatum showed activity against P. aeruginosa, Sal. typhi, E.coli, Str. pyogenes, K. aerogenes, S. aureus, and Sh. dysenteriae with zones of inhibition of 13mm, 12mm, 10mm, 10mm, 8mm, 10mm and 14mm respectively. The ethyl acetate was active against E.coli, Str. pyogenes, K. aerogenes, S. aureus and Sh. dysenteriae respectively. The methanol extract had no activity against the test organisms. The kill- time curve showed that susceptible cells die after 10 and 20minutes after contact with the extracts of C. patens for most of the test bacteria while cell death occurred at 10, 20, 40, 50 and 60 min after contact. The hydrophobicity test showed that test organisms had hydrophobicity of between 47% and 99% in the extracts. Catalase production reduced considerably in some bacteria after treatment with plant extracts. The results obtained presupposes that the plant extracts are effective against some of the test organisms and their mode of activity are is that they interfere with the ability of bacteria to produce catalase, inducing cell death by the production of hydroxyl radical and also by to the enhancement of non-opsonic phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages.

Anti-Inflammatulatory Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Bark Extracts of Piliostigma reticulatum Hochst (Caesalpiniaceae) and Analysis by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS of its Methanol Fraction

Use of plants as remedies dates back to the time of the oldest civilizations. Among these active ingredients, polyphenols play an important role. Piliostigma reticulatum, a plant whose barks are rich in condensed tannin is often used as an anti-inflammatory. The purpose of this work was to correlate the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts with their chemical composition through chromatography fractionation analyses (HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS). The barks were extracted by moderate hydroethanol decoction followed by silica gel splitting with successively ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the method of carrageenan induced hind paw edema in Wistar rats. The chemical study was carried out by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS after isolation of the compounds by fractionation on Sephadex LH-20 gel. The bark hydroethanolic extract had shown ability to inhibit significantly the inflammation induced by carraghenan. Among the hydroethanolic bark extract fractions that methanol fraction had the best activity at 10 mg/kg with inhibition percentages similar to those of acetylsalicylic acid with 48.51% ± 2.26; 54.71% ± 5.13; 64.19% ± 6.70 vs. 54.69% ± 7.23; 57.83% ± 9; 65.13% ± 8.44 respectively. The HPLC-DAD analysis showed that the SF5 sub-fraction presented the best chromatogram with several peaks, three of which were high intensity. The latter would correspond to monomer, dimer and trimer of catechin according to the weights [M-H] + m / z: 291.07; 579.18; 867.27 obtained by HPLC-MS. The compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory activity would be condensed tannins. The latter would consist mainly of catechin oligomers. Keys words: Piliostigma reticulatum, bark, anti-inflammatory activity, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS