Assessment of indigenous plants for health care delivery by the people of Okpara Inland, Ethiope East L.G.A. Delta State, Nigeria

The Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was carried out at Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. The research was aimed at assessing and reviewing plant species used for the treatment of different ailments issues by the people. The information on the plants administration was gotten from, locals, farmers and traditional healers. Medicinal plants believed to be effective in treatment and management of human diseases were collected and identified. Phytochemical screening was carried out on selected species to quantitatively evaluate their composition. Twenty one (21) plants were identified into fourteen (14) plant families comprising of Asteraceae (19%), Cucurbitaceae (14.2%), Annonaceae (9.4%), Euphorbiaceae (9.4%), Anacardiaceae (4.8%), Basellaceae (4.8%), Bignoniaceae (4.8%), Convolvulaceae (4.8%), Crassulaceae (4.8%), Dioscoreaceae (4.8%), Lamiaceae (4.8%), Moringaceae (4.8%), Myrtaceae (4.8%) and Poaceae (4.8%). The life forms were observed to be herbs (42.9%), climber (28.6%), tree (23.8%) and shrub (4.7%). The plants were used to treat ailments such as malaria, cough, catarrh, dysentery, ear pain and body pains among others. The plants collected posse some essential phytochemicals in varying quantities. Quantitative analysis of Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium guajava showed the presence of Alkaloid, saponin, steroid, tannin, flavonoid and phenol occurring at different percentage which could be responsible for the medicinal potentials of the plants

An Assessment of some of the Poisonous Plant Species to Animals found in Delta State, Nigeria

This study investigated some poisonous plants to animals in three communities viz; Ebor-Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area; Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area and Ozoro in Isoko South Local Government Area, all in Delta State, Nigeria. Dried leaves, roots and tubers of Dennettia tripetala, Cola nitida, Dracaena marginata, Cucumis melo, Terminalia catappa, Persea americana, Manihot esculenta, Telfaira occidentalis and Vernonia amygdalina were grounded to coarse powders and 16g of each powder was weighed into a conical flask.  Distilled water (120cm3) was added and the content was shaken and kept for 48hours at room temperature. Filtration of the extract was carried out using whatman No1 filter paper and concentrated using vacuum evaporator. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard methods. The results revealed that there were nine (9) indigenous plants with poisonous effects to animals as reported by the community dwellers, among the selected plants and these include: D. tripetala, C. nitida, D. marginata and C. melo, T. catappa, P. americana, M. esculenta (tuber), T. occidentalis (root) and V. amygdalina (root). Qualitative analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, anthocyanines, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, glycoside, phenol, reducing sugar, saponin, saponin, tannin and terpenoid in low, moderate and high level in the plants. The chemical quantification revealed the presence of tannin (26.90%, 22.95%, 27%) in C. melo, D. tripetala and C. nitida, saponin (13%) in N. laewis, cyanogenic glycoside (3.24mg/l, 1.11mg/l) in M. esculenta and V. amygdalina followed by hydrogen cyanide (0.76mg/l, 0.75mg/l, 6.41mg/l) in P. americana, T. catappa and T. occidentalisas the major cause of poisoning in the plants encountered.There is need for evaluation of the effects of these substances on the organs and systems of animals in order to ascertain the actual site of toxicity of these substances

The anthropogenic impact of railway operation on the flora diversity on rail embankment in two stations, Delta State, Nigeria

This study was carried out with the aim of anticipating the effects of anthropogenic activities on the plant species flora on railway embankment in Urhuovie-Abraka and Ujevwu-Warri train stations in Delta State, Nigeria. Quadrat sampling method using line transect was adopted for the collection of plant species along the designated embankment of the rail track. Twelve (12) plant species were encountered and documented within the designated rail track at Ujevwu train station, Warri. The species of plant encountered in the railway station cut across six (6) different families including Poaceae as the most dominant family with four (4) representative species, followed by Fabaceae which had three (3) species. Asteraceae family was represented by two (2) species while Cyperaceae, Malvaceae and Plantaginaceae families were represented by single species whereas in Urhuovie-Abraka train station, A total of ten (10) plant species were encountered which cut across five (5) different families including Asteraceae (2), Convolvulaceae (1), Fabaceae (4), Malvaceae (1) and Poaceae (2). Ujevwu-Warri rail track had more plant species (12) than that of Urhuovie-Abraka station (10). Activities around these rail tracks included open cattle grazing, emerging human communities and periodic cutting of plant species to prevent the plant species encroaching into the rail track which could hinder the smooth operation of the railway system