Constituents of leaf, stem bark and root volatile oils of Anogeissus leiocarpus DC. Guill. & Perr.

We report volatile compounds in Anogeissus leiocarpus, which is scarce in literature. Here in Nigeria leaf, stem bark and root essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using Clevenger-type apparatus, analyzed by GC and GC-MS. 88% leaf oil comprised of eleven compounds, with abundance of z-9-octadecenoic acid (29.0), n-hexadecanoic acid (21.4), n-octadecanoic acid (12.7), methyl-7E-7-octadecenoate (8.5), and methylhexadecanoate (5.4). Thirteen compounds amount to 80% of the stem bark oil, its significant compounds being z-9-octadecenoic acid (22.8), n-hexadecanoic acid (20.8), methyl-9z-octadecenoate (12.4), methylhexadecanoate (7.8) and eicosane (4.1). Fourteen compounds make-up 91% of root oil, dominated by methyl-7E-7-octadecenoate (18.1), n-hexadecanoic acid (17.6), methyl linoleate (16.2),  z-9-octadecenoic acid (15.7) and methylhexadecanoate (14.2). Leaf, stem bark and root oils are characterized by the following classes of compounds respectively (%): fatty acids [65.8, 43.6, 36.7]; esters [17.9, 20.2, 49.9]; hydrocarbons [3.2, 15.7, 1.7]; leaf and root oils contain terpenoids [1.1, 1.1]; dl-arabinose (sugar) is in stem bark oil. Methylhexadecanoate and hexadecanoic acid are common to the three oils. They can serve as chemotaxonomic markers characteristic for this species. Compositions of Anogeissus leiocarpus three oils vary, are unique and of different chemo-types. This report is first of its kind in literature for ‘axlewood’ plant.Keywords: Combretaceae, Anogeissus leiocarpus, essential oil, GC-MS

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils of Physalis Angulata. L

The need for a reduction in drug resistance led to the investigation of Argemone Mexicana L. as an agent against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Candida stellatoidea and Candida torulopsis, using well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations methods. The sensitivity of Bacillus Subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to the essential oils of both the aerial and root parts were determined. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to the essential oil from both the aerial and root part of the plant. C. torulopsis, C. stellatoidea and C. albicans were susceptible to the essential oils from the aerial and root part of the plant. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging between 3.75mg/ml and 4.0mg/ml were recorded for Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae by the aerial and the root extracts, but P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were not susceptible to the aerial and root extracts. The observed inhibition of selected bacteria and fungi by oils of Physalis angulata makes it a promising antimicrobial agent. This study justifies its uses for treatment of sores, cuts, intestinal and digestive problems and some skin-diseases often reported in folkloric medicine