Phytochemical compositions and antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Calotropis procera against food spoilage microorganisms

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of crude n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Calotropis procera leaves against food spoilage microorganisms. Methods: Standard protocols were employed for the analysis of qualitative phytochemical compositions of the extracts, and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aerugenosa and Aspergillus niger. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugar and phenolics. Terpenoids were absent in ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts while cardiac glycoside was absent in all extracts. All extracts produced antimicrobial activity at a varying zone of inhibition. The widest inhibition zone was produced by methanol extract (21.35±0.43 mm) on staphylococcus aureus while the lowest inhibition zone (12.05±0.45 mm) was observed in the n-hexane fraction. Similarly, the widest inhibition zone (17.24±0.95 mm) was produced by methanol on A. niger while the lowest inhibition zone (5.45±0.42 mm) was produced on n-hexane on A. niger. However, the ethyl acetate extract showed no visible inhibitory zone on all the tested microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 32 mg/ml (S. aureus and B. cereus) for ethanol extracts to 128 mg/ml (B. cereus, P. aerugenosa and A. niger) for n-hexane extract. Conclusion: The result shows that the plant is a good source of bioactive compounds that can be used as a natural alternative to a chemical agent in preserving and controlling food poisoning organisms.

Comparative evaluation of proximate composition and anti-sickling potential of Annona muricata Linn seeds and leaves

Background: Annona muricata Linn is a notable, well-studied plant of therapeutic value. Based on the abundant pharmacological constituents contained in the understudied plant, it is imperative that the plant parts are investigated for nutritional value and anti-sickling potentials. Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an inheritable haematological disorder, caused by an amino acid substitution on the haem protein. The outcomes for SCA are poor health indices and high mortality. Therefore, the use of natural products is necessary and widely promoted in countries with poor health infrastructure. Methods: In this study, A. muricata seeds and leaves were comparatively analysed for the proximate compositions. In addition, aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. muricata seeds and leaves were respectively analysed for anti-sickling potentials with the use of spectrophotometry. Results: Proximate composition of A. muricata seeds and leaves showed that both plant parts contain ash, carbohydrate, fat, fibre, moisture and protein. However, percentage proximate composition of A. muricata seeds was not significantly different from the percentage proximate composition of A. muricata leaves (p ≤ 0.05). From anti-sickling analysis, the aqueous extracts of A. muricata seeds and leaves were observed to inhibit HbSS polymerisation, while the ethanol extracts of A. muricata seeds and leaves showed limitations to the inhibition of HbSS polymerisation. Conclusion: A. muricata seeds and leaves possess potentials as health or nutritional supplements for the management of SCA. Further studies are necessary in order to ascertain efficacy and safety in in vivo models

Combretum dolichopentalum extract normalized biochemical and haematological parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) intoxicated rats

Background: The ethanol extract of Combretum dolichopentalum (EECD) is employed in Nigeria to stabilize the uterus after parturition. The ability of EECD to confer protection on rats destabilized by moderate concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was evaluated. Methods: Fifty rats were assigned to 5 groups of 10 rats each. The experimental animals after acclimatization were handled accordingly: Groups 1 and 2 respectively were maintained on food and water only throughout the study. Group 3, 4, and group 5 were pre-treated with 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of EECD and 50 mg/kg of silymarin for 28 respectively. All groups except group 1 were intoxicated to 0.2 ml/kg body weight of CCl4, administered via an intraperitoneal route on day 29. Serum pipetted from the blood of the rats after cardiac puncture was assayed for antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation product and serum iron, zinc and biocarbonate. Haematological analysis was also conducted. Results: Administration of CCl4 at 0.2 ml/kg b.w slightly increased the oxidizing species as indicated in the concentration of malondialdehyde in the rats while reducing the antioxidant enzymes; it increased the Iron and zinc concentrations and also the haematological parameters except for the white blood cells. However, this was corrected by pre-treatment with the EECD dosedependently. Conclusion: These characteristics portends that the crude ethanol extract of C. dolichopentalum could be employed to correct minor oxidative perturbation induced by CCl4 intoxication

Phytochemical screening, quantification and correlation matrix of Nigerian medicinal plant: Waltheria americana

Background: Plant’s kingdom provides new and important leads against various pharmacological targets due to the current wide spread of belief that green medicine is safe and more dependable than the costly synthetic drugs. The medicinal property of plants step from their ability to synthesize aromatic substances and secondary metabolites that are potent bioactive compounds found in medicinal plant parts that are precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs. In the present study, the leaf, stem, and root extracts of Waltheria americana were evaluated for phytochemical compositions and their correlation matrix. Methods: Quantitative and quantitative standard methods of analysis were used to evaluate the presence, amount, and the correlationships of the different phytochemicals in the leaf, root and stem of W. americana plant. Results: The quantitative phytochemicals percentage composition of W. americana varied with large ranges for alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, but short ranges occurred of terpenes and cardiac glycosides. Alkaloids had the highest percentage composition and cardiac glycosides showed the lowest for all the plant parts. The stem seems to be the major area of phytochemical production than other parts of the plant, indicating that the stem of W. americana could serve as a major source of phytochemicals in any herbal concoction. “The correlation” of phytochemical constituents, alkaloids and tannins in the leaf were positively and significantly correlated with cardiac glycosides in the stem at 95% confidence respectiely. However, no correlation was observed of any phytochemicals in the other plant. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the production, quantification, and distribution of these phytochemicals were complimentary in nature in Waltheria americana plant, and the shoot may have played a major role in this regard