Triterpenoids From the Leaves of Olax mannii Oliv.

The study of the acetone extract of the leaves of Olax mannii Oliv. led to the isolation of two triterpenoids; glutinol and rhoiptelenol. These compounds are reported for the first time in Olax mannii. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, IR and GC-MS.Keywords: Glutinol, Rhoiptelenol, Olax manniiNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2):193- 19

The effect of Colocynthis citrullus (Cucurbitaceae) seeds on body weight and haematological parameters in albino rats

This work was designed to evaluate the effects of dried powdered seeds of Colocynthis citrullus (Cucurbitaceae) fed to albino rats on haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and Differentials) and weight changes using 12 rats. The rats were separated into 4 groups of 3 rats per group. Animals in group A were fed with the amended dietcontaining 25%(w/w) Colocynthis citrullus seed powder, group B 50%(w/w) and group C 75%(w/w) for a total of 13 weeks. Group D served as control and fed with standard diets (Feed Master Grower Mash) alone. Blood samples of the animals were collected, from which red blood cell count and white blood cell/differential counts were carried out. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that the faeces of rats fed with 75% formulated diets were loose and the animals showed weight decreases compared with those fed with standard diet. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) single factor and Dunnett's multiple comparison tests on the haematological data obtained in rats fed with different concentrations of amended diets that contained Colocynthis citrullus powdered seeds showed thatthere was no significant difference (

Comparative phytochemical and antibacterial screening of leaves of Terminalia catappa Linn.(Combretacea)

Terminalia catappa Linn (Combretaceae), a tree commonly found in the tropics is used in Hausa ethnomedicine in the treatment of liver diseases, diabetes, asthma, diarrhoea and typhoid fever. In the latter case however, only the dried fallen leaves are used. Comparative preliminary  phytochemical screening of the fresh and dried fallen leaves extractsrevealed the presence of saponins, steroids and triterpenes, fatty acids, tannins and glycosides in both types of the leaves. Alkaloids and flavonoids were found only in the dried fallen leaves. The antibacterial assay of both the fresh and dried fallen leaves extracts indicated higher activity against Salmonella typhii (clinical isolates) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145) by extracts of dried fallen leave