Phyto-composition and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol seed extracts of Buchholzia coriacea

Background: There is a growing awareness in correlating phytochemical compounds with their biological activities. Folk medicines suggest that Bulccholzia coriacea is effective in the management of bacterial infections. Objectives: This research was aimed at investigating the phyto-composition and antimicrobial activities of Bulccholzia coriacea ethanol seed extract. Methods: Phyto-composition of Bulccholzia coriacea seeds were determined using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique. Clinical isolates; Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans were used to test for the antimicrobial activities of Bulccholzia coriacea seeds following disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Results: Gas chromatogram reveal six peaks depicting different phyto-constituents with Oleic acid (75.57%) highest peaked. Candida albican, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus had the same minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 6.25mg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of 12.5mg/ml. Conclusion: Findings from this study supports the claims of local people who use B. coriacea seeds for the management of infectious diseases. Keywords: Phyto-composition; antimicrobial; Buchholzia coriace

Toxicological studies of Anchomanes difformis Blume (Araceae) using rats and mice

Background: The toxicity; biochemical, hematological and histopathological study of Anchomanes difformis aqueous extract was carried out.Methods: Six groups; 0, 100, 1000, 5000, 7500, and 10,000 mg/kg p.o of mice consisting of four animals; two females, two male a group were used in the acute toxicology experimentation. For the sub-acute test, rats of either sex; three males and three females were shared into four groups; 0, 500, 1000, and 2500 mg/kg p.o for 21 days. Toxicity studies were done using automated techniques and prepared histology slides viewed under a light microscope.Results: Results showed no mortality - undeterminable lethal dose, 50%. Biochemical parameters tested were within permissible limits and no pathologies in the selected organs studied.Conclusion: It can be inferred that A. difformis aqueous extract is safe even at a dose as high as 10 g/kg body weight

Protective effects of neem (<i>Azadirachta indica A. Juss</i>) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

Background: Azadirachta indica (neem) seed oil was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect. Liver damage was induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) while silymarin served as a positive control. Aim: This study is aimed at testing the hepatoprotective potentials of A. indica seed oil on Wistar rats. Method: Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of 1.0 mL/kg of CCl4 subcutaneously to 72 healthy Wistar rats of both sexes (weight range: 145 g – 315 g). The seed oil of A. indica was orally administered daily in various doses of 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg for 14 days. Animal body and organ weights were recorded, while blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, haematological and histological analyses. Results: Treatment with neem seed oil lowered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels significantly (P  0.05) when compared with the control. Histology assessment was in agreement with the biochemical result as tissues of CCl4 exhibited significant fatty tissue accumulation, as opposed to that of 0.25 mL/kg neem treatment, which showed only moderate accumulation of fatty tissues, while higher doses, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg, showed a healthy liver as compared with the control. Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that neem seed oil had a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on the experimental rats

Indigenous plants used by the Otuo tribe of Owan East Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Background: Traditional medicine remains an integral part of the Otuo tribe in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. Aim: The study is aimed at documenting the ethnobotany of the Otuo tribe by evaluating the uses of plants found in the area, identifying the importance value (IV), fidelity level (FL) and principal taxonomic groups of the plants. Methods: Data were gathered following an oral interview of unlettered herbal practitioners. Literate men, women and young settlers in the community were cross-examined using a semi-structured questionnaire. Fifty respondents made up this study size. Data were collated to report botanical names, common and vernacular names of the species of plants surveyed. Information on the use, methods of preparation and plant part used was documented. The FL and IV were determined. Results: 101 plants belonging to 46 families were reported. The best-represented family was the Fabaceae with 11 species followed by the Euphorbiaceae with 6 species. Of the 101 plants, 80 plants have medicinal uses and 58 have other economic uses. Amongst the medicinal plants, Azadirachta indica had the highest FL and IV of 100 and 1.0, respectively, followed by Cymbopogon citratus with FL of 96; both plants are used to treat malaria. The major ailments treated with plants by the Otuo tribe include malaria, cataracts, rheumatism and dysentery, amongst others. Conclusion: The people of Otuo are rich in plant-based remedies. They devotedly practise local medicine use because it is cost-effective and efficient, thereby contributing greatly to the economic development of the area

Histopathological Studies of Physostigma venenosum Balf. on Wistar Rats

Physostigma venenosum Balf. seeds which have been implicated for treating diverse ailments were investigated for possible toxicity of the liver in both sexes of Wistar rats. Sixteen Wistar were weighed and divided into four groups of three treatment groups and one control group. Animals were allowed to acclimatize in standard metal cages for 7 days thereafter, fed with graded doses of P. venenosum extract. Group A (control) was administered 10 mg/kg distilled water only, while groups B, C and D were respectively administered with 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg b.w of P. venenosum seed extract of by gastric intubation for 14 days. On day 14, animals in all groups were anaesthetized, their liver were isolated and processed for histopathological studies. Rats treated with 10 mg/kg extracts showed presence of activated kupffer cells, sinusoidal dilatation and moderate vascular congestion, while the groups treated with 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg b.w showed mild vascular congestion, mild kupffer cell activation and mild tissue separation, which were significantly different from the control. Histopathological examination suggests that doses higher than 20 mg/kg may possibly induce liver cell injury