An Ethnobotanical Survey of Herbal Markets and Medicinal Plants in Lagos State of Nigeria

An ethnobotanical survey of three largest herbal markets and medicinal plants used for treating ailments in Lagos state of Nigeria was undertaken by means of oral and written questionnaire. Traditional medicine is undoubtedly a reliable alternative approach to health care delivery in the metropolis because it is cheap, easily accessible, and efficacious. Herbs are obtained from bushes around the neighbourhood and forests from adjacent states. Recipes for the treatment of common ailments which are reported almost on daily basis such as hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, pile, menstrual disorder, leucorrhoea and fevers were given by the practitioners. Moreover, a list of medicinal plants and their reported folkloric uses was compiled during the survey. Apparently, daily health issues of Lagosians are partly taken care of by traditional medicine and its use is on the increase in Lagos state. The efforts of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board and Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency are praised in facilitating recognition of herbal medicine in the metropolis. Government should help in the area of conservation of medicinal plant and protect patent right of the Traditional Medicine Practitioners to encourage release of information

Systematic significance of the leaf cuticle of Hypodaphnis zenkeri (Engl.) Stapf (Lauraceae) and a record of its volatile organic compounds

Hypodaphnis zenkeri is a monotypic taxon whose position is basal in the phylogenetic tree of the family Lauraceae. Cuticular information on the plant is lacking. Given the systematic relevance of this character in the family and absence of its record for the species, the leaves of the species were investigated with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. Also, volatile organic compounds in leaves and fruits were studied with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), for the first time. Taxonomically useful cuticular features of the species include long stomatal rim and aperture, granulated periclinal walls on the adaxial surface and superficial stomatal orientation. The leaves and fruits of the plant are rich in volatile organic compounds such as 1,2-benzene-dicarboxylic acid, hexadecanoic acid ester and stigmasta-3,5-diene. Based on these features, the species can be distinguished from other related taxa in the family

MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE MECHANISM OF LEAF PAIR UNROLLING IN URARIA PICTA (JACQ.) DESV. EX DC. (PAPILIONACEAE), A MEDICINAL PLANT IN NIGERIA

Uraria picta leaf-pair unrolling inside out is a remarkable feat. A leaf-pair was investigated to understand the mechanism of spontaneous reverse inside out act of the plant. The upper (adaxial) and lower (abaxial) surfaces of the leaf-pair were examined using scanning and light microscopy. The scan showed diversity of hairs varying in shape from straight, pointed, curve, and club to hook. There were deposits of wax on both sides of the leaf-pair. The light microscope showed hairs are restricted to the midrib on the adaxial surface of the leaflets missing. Hooked hairs dominated the entire abaxial surface of the leaflets. The transverse section of the midrib section showed abundance of structural and mechanical tissues, collenchyma and sclerenchyma tissues. Both morphological and anatomical attributes were used to explain the mechanism and how the plant got its Yoruba vernacular name ‘Alupayida’ as well as its purported use in changing the sex of the unborn child and in breaking up love affairs

Evaluation of Pollen Grains and Spores Potential in Revealing Vehicle Travel History on the Ife-Ondo Road, Southwestern Nigeria

This study focuses on the significance of airborne pollen grains and spores as markers for tracking vehicles along specific routes. Using standard methods, the research examined monthly pollen distribution and its correlation with meteorological data. Dust and soot samples were collected monthly from the car air filters of commercial vehicles traveling on the Ife-Ondo road and subjected to palynological analysis for a period of 24 months. The findings revealed a total of 393 pollen grains and 131 spores, representing 40 pollen and 22 spore types from 27 and 17 families, respectively. Notable markers among these include Hagenia abyssinica, Podocarpus milanjianus, Theobroma cacao, Cannabis sativa, and Myrianthus arboreus, among others. These markers serve as crucial identifiers for vehicle-related investigations. The study revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between monthly total airborne pollen concentrations and relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed. In a practical context, the study has created a valuable dataset and monthly atlas of pollen and spore types. This resource can be instrumental for security agencies in their efforts to investigate vehicle-related crimes and monitor vehicular movements along the Ife-Ondo road