Ethnobotany of Aromatic Plants used by Phytotherapists in the District of Glazoue, Ouesse and Save in Benin

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMP) are flora with a fragrant essence. The aim of this study is to identify the aromatic plants used by herbalists in three districts of the Departement des Collines. The method of data collection is based on ethnobotanical surveys of herbalists using the Dagnelli formula and pre-established survey questionnaires. The results of the survey of 300 herbalists identified 22 most commonly used aromatic plants, divided into 17 families and 21 genera. The most represented families are Lamiaceae (15%); Annonaceae (15%). Among the MAPs inventoried, the most cited and used are: Ocimum canum L. Ocimum gratissimum L.; Chenopodium ambrosioides L.; Hyptis suaveolens L.; Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich; Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. MAPs treat 163 conditions identified in this study. Some of the AMP are used alone or in combination with other plants. AMP drugs are: leaves (64%), roots (23%). The ailments treated by the majority of AMP are: fever; tooth decay; conjunctivitis; constipation; haemorrhoids; hernia; inflammation; skin lesion; stomach ache; snakebite; causes of malaria; sores and painful periods. In view of the proven importance and different uses of AMP, it is necessary to study them further (ecology, distribution, and conservation status) in order to better prevent or cure human health.

Prevalence and Distribution of Weed Flora in Some Major Sugarcane Growing Areas of Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

Weed population survey was undertaken to determine prevalence and distribution of weeds, and asses weed flora shift in major sugarcane growing areas in Southern guinea savanna of Nigeria. The selected areas surveyed are namely Badeggi, Sulti, and Isenyi. The Sugarcane fields were assessed using 1.0 m x 1.0 m quadrat placed randomly at vegetative stage. Weed seedlings in each quadrat were clipped at the soil level and identified according to standards. Result revealed that a total of 38 weed species were recorded. Graminaea and compositae were most abundant and diversified families based on the number of species recorded. Individual weed species shows variation in their abundance, dominance and frequency. The most frequent weed species in the Sugarcane fields irrespective of the soil, climate and crop varieties were Hyptis suaveolens, Paspalum scrobiculata, Kyllinga squamulata, Dactylactenum aegypium and Cynadon dactylon and were considered as the most important species in the surveyed areas. From Similarity indices, variations were observed between locations. Accordingly, areas having similarity indices more than 60 % indicate similarities in weed community. Thus, when devising a weed control strategies same control option should be considered for the location that have similar weed flora and vise-versa.

Bioassay-Guided Discovery of Potential Partial Extracts with Cytotoxic Effects on Liver Cancer Cells from Vietnamese Medicinal Herbs

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of primary liver cancer and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Vietnam. Our study aims to discover the partial extracts with the potential cytotoxic effects on HCC cells from the different parts of 24 Vietnamese medicinal plants traditionally used in liver cancer treatment. Out of 52 crude methanol extracts, we found that Luvunga scandens leaves, Hyptis suaveolens roots, and Solanum torvum leaves showed the notable cytotoxic effects against HCC cells. After that, we carried out partial extract of the three methanol extracts with ethyl acetate, water, n-hexane, and 90% methanol. The cytotoxic activity on Huh-7 HCC cells, antioxidant capacity, and total flavonoids content (TFC) of each partial extraction were determined. Methanol, ethyl acetate, and 90% methanol extracts showed moderate to strong cytotoxicity activity against Huh-7 HCC cells. Notably, the ethyl acetate and 90% methanol extract from H. suaveolens roots with high TFC values and strong antioxidant capacity could be promising sources of novel therapeutic modalities for HCC treatment. For the leaves of L. scandens and S. torvum, the ethyl acetate extract showed high TFC value and promising anti-HCC activity, therefore recommended further studies.

AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF WHOLE PLANT OF HYPTIS SUAVEOLENS (L.) POIT: AN ANTI-ULCER AGENT

The aim of current experimental study was to determine anti-ulcer potential of Watery extricate of Hyptis suaveolens entire plant (AEHS) on the Wister strain albino rats. The Watery extricate of Hyptis suaveolens entire plant (in two different doses, 250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) was allowed for anti-ulcer activity against Pylorus ligation induced model in Wistar albino rats. Omeprazole (20mg/kg) was used as standard for the evaluation of activity. Parameters like Proportion of Ulcer protection was reckoned based on Ulcer index and Digestive juice volume, pH and acidity of gastric juice, Mucus production and Pepsin estimation, tensile strength. The AEHS with 500 mg/kg dose was shown significant anti-ulcer activity when compared with the control group.

Chemical composition and anticancer effects of Hyptis Suaveolens L. Poit (lamiaceae) volatile oil

The leaf of Hyptis suaveolens have found application in ethnomedicine in the treatment of various ailments including those that are related to tumor and cancer. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of its volatile oil. Volatile oil distilled from freshly collected leaves using a Clavenger-type apparatus was screened using tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus (10-40 µg/mL) and brine shrimp of Artemia salina (10-1000 µg/mL) with bench-top assay procedures for cytotoxicity while growth inhibitory activity was assessed using radicles of Sorghum bicolor seeds (1-30 mg/mL). The essential oils were further tested on breast cancer (AU 565) and cervical cancer (HeLa) at 50 µg /mL using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and afterwards subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometric (GCMS) analysis for its constituents. An LC50 of 188.67 and 8 µg/mL were obtained in the brine shrimp mortality and tadpole lethality assays respectively. The oil showed inhibitions of 86.74 and 21.8 % against AU 565 and HeLa cells respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents as sabinene (10.64 %) and (-)-4-terpineol (7.27 %). These results support its use in treating tumor-related ailments and should be considered for further studies.

Potentials of Three Plants Leave oils mixture in Protecting Maize Grains against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Over the last decade, Sitophilus zeamais are being control using synthetic insecticides. The overuse of these chemicals has lead to the development of insecticides resistance, environmental pollution, and killing of non-target organisms. The efficacy of Hyptis suaveolens, Ocimum gratissimum, and Psidium guajava leaf oils combination against adult S. zeamais was investigated on maize grain during the study. The leaves of the plants were grounded into powders and oils were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus separately. Maize variety 99% EDVT used was obtained from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Kano. The insects were cultured in a containers and identified using a standard taxonomic key for Sitophilus spp. Different oils combination of two plants leaves oils were made in the ratio of 50%:50% of the test dose 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4ml/20g.Ten newly emerged S. zeamais were introduced separately for examination of adult mortality test and lethal concentration determination. Results showed that mortality increases with exposure period. The leaves oils combination show a significant difference in adult mortality of S. zeamais (P<0.05). Isobutylcyclohexane, Oleic Acid and 11-octadecenoic acid were the most occurring compound present in the individual plant extract. H. suaveolens and O. gratissimum combination protecting maize grains against S. zeamais infestation and therefore, the active ingredient of these plant combinations should be evaluated. Keywords: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GS-MS), Maize, Mortality, Plant leaves