Effect of leaf extracts of Draceana aborea l. and Vitex doniana sweet on the larvae of Anopheles mosquito

The leaf extracts of Draceana aborea and Vitex doniana of Agavaceae and Verbenaceae families respectively, were tested on the larvae of anopheles mosquito for their botanical insecticidal effects. The results of the investigation showed that the minimum percentage mortality concentration (MPMC) of these leaf extracts on the test organisms were at 75ml/20ml and 10ml/20ml as the startng ponts for D. aborea and V. doniana, respectively. Findings equally revealed that the combination of D. aborea and V. doniana leaf extracts exerted synergistic effects on these organisms at 5.0ml/20ml, whereas the use of the D. aborea and V. doniana extracts separately resulted in reduced efficacy. Analysis of variance showed that, there was no significandifference (P = 0.01) between the synergy and the individual treatments of the leaf extracts on these organisms. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, free phenolics, condensed tannins, pseudoanins, triterpenes, glycosides and saponins which have someinsecticidal effects on their targeted organisms. These findings represent one of the steps in identifying plants, with insecticidal properties from the rich Bioresources in the Mosaic of the Low-Land Rainforest vegetation zone of Southeastern Nigeria.Keywords: Draceana aborea, Vitex doniana, Leaf extract, Botanical insecticide, Phytochemical, Anopheles mosquito

Distribution and Abundance of Airborne Palynomorphs in Aku, Enugu State, Nigeria

A study of airborne palynomorphs of Aku was carried out with the use of tauber pollen sampler from October to December, 2004. A total of 3,390 palynomorphs was recorded with the breakdown as follows: October, 1248; November, 1156 and December, 1526. Out of the counted palynomorphs, pollen grains constituted 2,125.The count of 736 pollen in October was followed by a decrease to 545 in November and a further increase to 844 in December. The pollen grains belonged to 20 families of flowering plants (17 dicotyledons and 3 monocotyledons) consisting of 20 genera. The result revealed dominance of wooded shrub grassland/woodland  vegetation sub-type, relics of tropical lowland rainforest and secondarygrassland. The taxa of both tropical lowland rainforest and secondary Grassland decreased from October to November and increased again in December. Fungi were the major spore contributors to the atmosphere and were dominated by the spores of Spadicoides, Curvularia, Dreschlera/Helminthosporium and Nigrospora. Pollen grains were next to fungi in total abundance and were dominated by the pollen of; Elaeis guineensis Jacq, Poaceae, Milicia excelsa Wild C.C. Berg, Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen, Syzygium guineense Engl. and Ageratum conyzoides L. December had a high influx of charred gramineae cuticles indicative of increased burning  activities in the area. Fungal spores recorded per month had an inverse relationship with the monthly rainfall and relative humidity.Keywords: Distribution, Abundance, Airborne spore, Palynomorphs, Ak

Aspect of ethnobotany of traditional leafy vegetables utilized as human food in rural tropical communities

The ethnobotanica survey of traditional leafy vegetabes of Izzi clan in Ebonyi State oNigeria was investigated. Twenty-five traditional eafy vegetabes belonging to eighteen plant families were identified and documented with their habits/forms. Majority of these vegetables were from the families of Pipilionaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Tiliaceae and Moraceae. Sixty percent (60 %) of the identified vegetabe species werecultivated, while 40 % were collected from the wild or semi-wild. Fifty-two percent (52%) of the eafy vegetables were tree species, while 4 % were shrubs and 44% were herbs (and or herbaceous climbers) Thirty-two percent (32 %) of these species wereavailabe during the dry season while 68 % were rainy season species. The need for conservation and sustainability of these bioresources are stressed, in order to safeguard them for future generatons and avoid their genetic erosion

Assessment of nutritional values of three underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The nutritional values of three underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of Izzi land in Ebonyi State of Nigeria; Zanthoxylum zanthoyloides Herms, Vitex doniana Sweet and Adenia cissamploides Zepernick,were investigated. Their proximate and mineral values (Ca, P, Na, Mg, Zn, K, Fe, Cu, Pb) were determined. Results of the proximate analysis showed their moisture contents to be 10.8, 10.2 and 9.6% for V. doniana, A. cissamploides and Z. zanthoxyloides, respectively. Their protein contents were 8.74, 8.5 and 6.12%, respectively, while their carbohydrate values were 58.94, 59.5, and 66.2% respectively.Fat and ash contents were highest in Z. zanthoxyloides (8.1 and 3.5%, respectively), while crude fiber content was highest in A. cissampeloides (14.6%). Macro and micro nutrients of these vegetables showed high levels of Ca 90.1 > 72.08 > 54.06 mg/100 g for Z. zanthoyloide, V. doniana and A. cissamploides, respectively. High values of Cu and Mg were recorded for Z. zanthoxyloides and V.doniana. The result also indicated the values for Na and K, while the complete absence of Zn and Pd in the three vegetables was of significant interest. The mineral values of the three vegetables exceeded 1% of their dry weights. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between their nutritional values and those of the conventional leafy vegetables

Etymology on folk nomenclatures for sphenostysis stenocarpa (Hoechst ex A. Rich) harms

Folk nomenclature is habitually established for species that have attained high utilitarian and cultural significance by custodians of such plants worldwide. Such folk names assigned to species often carry etymological values such as therapeutic effects, morphological features, mythical connotations, and their allegorical values. This research sought to unveil the etymology in folk nomenclatures of Sphenostysis stenocarpa (Hosch ex A. Rich) Harms (African Yam Bean). Three hundred and fifty respondents were randomly selected from 13 local communities in Ebonyi State in South-eastern, Nigeria. Data were collected through oral interviews with semi-structural questionnaires, along with focused group discussions. Analysis of data was carried out using simple statistical methods involving frequencies and percentages. The results recorded ten folk nomenclatures assigned to this species in seven dialects affiliated to cultural values within these communities. Etymologically, the results also revealed that out of the ten folk names of AYB cryptic connotations, five reflected their trust in the gods that answered their prayers, two were attributed to the healing potentials inherent in this crop for medicine, three names were associated with the seeds, while one referred to feminist attachment to the crop, another to its resilience/ adaptability to climatic stress and one as a sustainer of farmers. Considering that folk nomenclature is based mainly on qualitative data and the information outside the scientific domain, they are nonetheless highly valued because they are based on long-term interactions, utilization and observations of the custodians of these natural resources. However, these data are equally vulnerable to erosion if not properly documented and conserved for posterity

Larvicidal effects of ethanol extracts on leaves and fruits of Physalis angulata L. on the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes from Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The larvicidal activities of ethanol extracts of leaves and fruits of Physalis angulata L. on the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes were investigated. Larval mortalities were recorded within 30 minutes of contact with the plant extracts. Leaf extracts of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% concentrations caused 61%, 80% 91% and 92% mortalities while the same concentrations o fruit extracts caused 38%, 47%, 72% and 83% mortalties respectively. A combination of leaf and fruit extracts exerted synergistic effects and caused higher mortality rates of 67%, 84%, 91% and 95% mortalties at the same concentrations and time. The results also showed that the larvicidal effects of the leaf, fruit and synergy extracts increased wth increase in concentration. Significant result was observed for the synergy with 20% extract causing 95% mortality. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the leaf, fruit and synergy extracts. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloid (2.0%), cyanide (0.30%), flavonoid (15.5%), phytate (0.02%), saponin (2.0%) and tannin (0.05%) in the leaf and 0.01%, 0.2%, 13.2%0.01%, 1% 0.03% respectivelyinthe fruitKeywords: Larvicidal, Effects, Physalis angulata, Anopheles, Synergy, Ebonyi Stat

Larvicidal effects of leaf, bark and nutshell of Anacardium occidentale on the larvae of Anopheles gambiae in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Comparative analysis of the larvicidal properties of aqueous extracts of leaves, bark and nutshell of Anacardium occidentale L. (Cashew) were evaluated on the larvae of Anopheles gambiae. Three concentrations of 10/100ml, 20/100ml and 30/100ml each of leaf, bark and nutshell were prepared in three replicates. The treatments were exposed to two durations of thirty minutes and one hour. After thirty minutes of treatment, the mean mortalities were 53%, 68% and 56% for leaf, 64%, 71% and 57% for bark and 53%, 68% and 58% for nutshell, while the mean mortalities after one hour of exposure were 68%, 70% and 93% for leaf, 84%, 93% and 97% for bark and 61%, 68% and 73% for nutshell. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that at thirty minutes of exposure, there were no significant difference (P&lt;0.05) between concentrations and the percentage mortality, but it was highly significant (P&lt;0.01) after 1 hour of exposure. Quantities phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin, oxalate, stearic acid, glucoronic acid and glutamic acid in the leaf, bark and nutshell extracts