Amaranthus Viridis Research Articles

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS FOR MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF AMARANTHUS VIRIDIS

Amaranthus viridis, a weed found in upland rice farming poses a threat, to crop plants because it competes for vital resources like water, minerals, and nutrients. This competition leads to decreases in crop yield. To tackle this issue a designed study was conducted to examine the characteristics of Amaranthus viridis in three different locations with distinct environments. The results showed a meaningful connection between traits such as dry weight, fresh weight, plant height, leaf area, leaf width, leaf length and root length. Interestingly the width of the plant leaves was found impact on its height. Additionally, location two was identified as an environment for the vigorous growth and development of Amaranthus viridis plants. To effectively minimize losses, in crop yield caused by this weed it is strongly recommended to remove or control Amaranthus viridis populations. This study underscores the importance of population management strategies.

Comparative evaluation of four herbicides for effective control of post-emergence weeds in cotton fields

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of four different herbicides, namely Glyphosate, Paraquat, Dicamba, and S-metolachlor, in controlling post-emergence weeds in cotton fields. The experiment was conducted in Layyah, and the selected weed species included Pigweed, Canada thistle, barnyardgrass, Field bindweed, Purslane, Bermuda grass, Green amaranth, and Puncture vine. A randomized complete block design was employed, with four treatments and four replications within each treatment. One-meter quadrates were randomly placed within each replication to collect data on weed abundance. The recommended herbicide doses were applied, including 3 liters per hectare of Glyphosate, 1 liter per hectare of Paraquat, 1 liter per hectare of Dicamba, and 1.5 liters per hectare of S-metolachlor. The effectiveness of the herbicides was observed at regular intervals, noting the time taken for visible weed control and weed mortality. Data were collected for three time points to assess the herbicides' long-term efficacy. Data analysis revealed variations in the effectiveness of the herbicides on different weed species. Treatment T3 (Dicamba) consistently exhibited the highest control, while T4 (S-metolachlor) showed the lowest effectiveness. Mean weed densities across the treatments indicated significant reductions in pigweed, Canada thistle, barnyardgrass, and field bindweed. However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the treatments for purslane, Bermuda grass, green amaranth, and puncture vine. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of different herbicides in controlling post-emergence weeds in cotton fields. The results can inform farmers and agricultural professionals in selecting appropriate herbicides for effective weed management. Further research is warranted to evaluate the long-term effects and environmental considerations associated with the herbicides. The study highlights the importance of multiple data collection time points to assess the sustained effectiveness of herbicide treatments.

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and nitric oxide production effect of formulated crispy vegetables from thermal processing of Amaranthus viridis and Sauropus androgynous

Background: Amaranthus viridis and Sauropus androgynous are common edible vegetables consumed by the natives of Asia. This research aimed to carry out a comparative evaluation on the antioxidant activity and nitric oxide production effect of crispy vegetables formula of A. viridis and S. androgynous made by thermal processing.Methods: A. viridis and S. androgynous fresh vegetable leaves were dried, processed and formulated into crispy vegetables: A. viridis crispy vegetables, S. androgynous crispy vegetables and 50:50% (w/w) mixture of A. viridis and S. androgynous crispy vegetables. Total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the three crispy vegetables were evaluated using Folin Ciocalteu colorimetric and aluminum chloride assay. Results: S. androgynous crispy vegetable had higher phenolic (36.55 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (81.17±0.00 mg QE/g) contents than A. viridis crispy vegetables (16.55±0.00 mg GAE/g and 40.58±0.01 QE/g respectively) and 50:50% mixed crispy vegetable formula of A. viridis and S. androgynous (26.01 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g; 59.38±0.00 QE/g respectively). S. androgynous crispy vegetable sheet also demonstrated a better antioxidant activity against the radical effect of DPPH (15.43±0.07%), ABTS (34.04±0.05%) and FRAP (1.73±0.01) than A. viridis (13.45±0.11%, 26.35±0.17 &; 1.56±0.01 respectively) and was comparable with mixed formula (14.23±0.43%; 32.31±0.12%, 1.81±0.03 respectively). A significant dose-dependent cytotoxic effect was induced by the three crispy vegetables with IC50 of 8.33±0.69, 7.84±0.35, 7.86±0.33 respectively on HUVECs. The results also showed that mixed crispy vegetables (50:50%) promoted endothelial nitric oxide production. Conclusion:The study concludes that the antioxidant activity of the crispy vegetables reflects the total phenolic and total flavonoid content as their functional properties. Our findings also suggest that thermal processing of foods could have significant effect on the antioxidant activity of functional foods; however, A. viridis and S. androgynous prepared in crispy form may pose no potential threat to the body like the fresh vegetables.Keywords:Amaranthus viridis, S. androgynous, crispy vegetables, antioxidant, nitric oxide, hypertension, Thailand

Evaluation of herbicides for effective weed control in irrigated castor (Ricinus communis L.)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of weed management practices using pre-emergence(pendimethalin and trifluralin) and post-emergence herbicides (quizalofop-ethyl and fenoxaprop-ethyl) along with weed free and unweeded check in castor (cv. GCH-6) under irrigated conditions at Main Oilseeds Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh for three consecutive years during kharif 2010 to 2012. The experiment was conducted in randomised block design with three replications on medium clay soils with pH 7.9. The experimental field was infested with grasses and broad leaved weeds viz., Echinochloa colonum, Eluropus villosus, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Brachiaria sp., Cyperus rotundus, Commelina benghalensis, Digera arvensis,Indigofera glandulosa and Amaranthus viridis. The highest castor seed yield during the study period was found in weed free control (4429, 2546 and 2581 kg/ha during yearI, II and III, respectively). Similarly, pooled mean ofseed yield (3183 kg/ha) was highest in weed free control. Among the herbicidal treatments, trifluralin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha followed by post-emergence application of quizalofop-ethyl @ 0.05 kg a.i./ha at 25 days after sowing (DAS) recorded highest seed yield (3005 kg/ha) due to lower dry weight of weeds (374 kg/ha), higher weed control efficiency (85.9%) at 75 DAS and lower weed index (5.5%). This treatment resulted in higher gross returns(` 120208/ha), net returns (` 90398/ha) and B:C ratio (3.0). However, this was at par with application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha followed by post-emergence quizalofop-ethyl @ 0.05 kg a.i./ha at 25 DAS.

Application of Micro-Nanobubble Aeration in Spinach (Amaranthus viridis) and Pakchoi (Brassica rapa Chinensis) Cultivation with the Wick System

This study aimed to determine the effect of micro-nanobubble generator (MNBG) aeration on the cultivation of spinach (Amaranthus viridis) and pakchoi (Brassica rapa chinensis) hydroponic wicks. The basic principle of this system is that the axis capillary action flows nutrients to the planting medium. There are no moving parts so the nutrients can settle rapidly and the dissolved oxygen content is limited. Micro-nanobubbles (MNB) have the characteristics of a long residence time in the water so that their generation can operate intermittenttly. This study aims to determine the effect of applying (MNBG) with a flow rate of 0.98 L/minute on root length, plant height, and wet weight of spinach and pakchoi plants in wick hydroponics. Cultivation was hold on a free environment. There are three kinds of treatment; without aeration (N0), aeration 15 minutes x 4 for 24 hours (N15), and aeration 30 minutes x 4 for 24 hours (N30). Variations in the types of materials used in this study were spinach and pakchoi, as per treatment was repeat five samples. The study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The measurement results compared by the One-Way ANOVA test (5% level), then continued with Duncan's test to determine the difference. The results showed that there was an effect of applying intermittentt MNBG aeration on the average weight and height of the spinach plants, N15 treatment was more effective than the N0 and N30. Intermittentt MNBG aeration did not show a significant difference in the average weight of pakchoi. Keywords: Aeration, Hydroponics, Spinach, Pakchoi, wick

Cardioprotective action of Amaranthus viridis methanolic extract and its isolated compound Kaempferol through mitigating lipotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation in the heart.

The current study was designed to evaluate the cardio-protective efficacy of Amaranthus viridis L. methanolic extract (AVME) and kaempferol, which was isolated from AVME in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The rats were pre-treated with AVME (250mg/kg body weight) and kaempferol (50mg/kg BW) for 30days, respectively, and then administered with ISO (20mg/100g body weight) on the 31st and 32nd days. We assessed the protective effects of AVME and kaempferol against ISO-induced cardiotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The study revealed that supplementation with AVME and kaempferol significantly attenuated cardiac lipotoxicity by reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels and simultaneously increasing the levels of high-density lipoproteins. In addition, AVME and kaempferol suppressed oxidative stress by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the heart. Further, they ameliorated cardiac inflammation by mitigating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β). Hence, the study results and histopathological analysis emphasized that AVME and kaempferol could be prospective prophylactic agents against ISO-induced cardiotoxicity and may be considered nutraceuticals in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders.

Pharmaceutical Activity of Medicinal Plant Amaranthus viridis Linn. Due to Its Chemical Constituents: A Review

Background: Amaranthus viridis, a herbal plant belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, has gained significant attention in the field of traditional medicine due to its rich chemical composition. This plant is known to contain various bioactive components that contribute to its pharmaceutical value. With its extensive range of chemical compounds, Amaranthus viridis has found applications in therapeutic, pharmaceutics, and cosmetic industries. In this study, we aim to explore the medicinal potential of Amaranthus viridis and investigate its various pharmaceutical activities. Methods: The process of writing this review involved conducting comprehensive electronic research using reputable sources, including international and national article databases, along with books accessed through platforms like Google Scholar, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect and others. The gathered data is subsequently analyzed, followed by employing synthetic approaches with narrative methods to derive meaningful conclusions and interpretations. Results: Amaranthus viridis displays potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to its rich composition of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and zinc. Its diverse pharmaceutical activities make it a promising contender for medicinal use, addressing labor pain, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and respiratory issues, while also exhibiting antimicrobial effects against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. It can be accomplished by Extraction with solvent, Phytochemical screening and Isolation and purification. Conclusion: Amaranthus viridis, a herbal plant, shows significant potential in therapeutic, pharmaceutics, and makeup industries. Its bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and zinc, contribute to its diverse pharmaceutical activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and antihelmintic properties.

Synthesis of cellulose from Amaranthus viridis root waste and development of pineapple fiber-vinyl ester composites: a step towards greener production and characterization

Synthesis of cellulose from Amaranthus viridis root waste and development of pineapple fiber-vinyl ester composites: a step towards greener production and characterization

Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus viridis Linn.) as Natural Molluscicide Against the Hatchability of Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck) Eggs

Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus viridis Linn.) as Natural Molluscicide Against the Hatchability of Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck) Eggs

The Assessment of the Microbial and Hygienic Quality of Leafy Vegetables Along with Associated Microbials among Vegetables Purchased from Different Markets in Guyana

Fruits and vegetables are important to human health because they provide nutritional benefits, they are a good source of vitamins and minerals and help to improve the immune system of individuals. It was advised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of Guyana that individuals should consume more fruits and vegetables to boost their immune systems during the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to the increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables, there can also be an increase in cases of food-borne diseases, as evident from studies done in countries such as, the United States, Malaysia, and India. The objectives of this research was to identify the presence of microorganisms on leafy vegetables, Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Brassica oleracea (cabbage), and Amaranthus viridis (callaloo), that were purchased from local markets and to determine if washing with tap water only, will significantly decrease the concentration of microorganisms on the vegetables by performing microbial assessments.
 It was found that the most common microorganisms present on the leafy vegetables were pathogenic bacteria such as Neisseria spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Paracoccus marcusii, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bordetella pertussis, and Klebsiella pneumonia. The results of a Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p value = 1) revealed that washing with tap water alone did not significantly decrease the quantity of microorganisms present on the leafy vegetables (avg: 3.305x10-2 CFU/ml). Therefore, it is recommended that other hygienic methods such as washing with salt, lemon juice, or vinegar should be utilized in order to significantly reduce the concentration of the microorganisms present on the leafy vegetables.

Chavibetol: Major and Potent Phytotoxin in Betel (Piper betle L.) Leaf Essential Oil.

Many essential oils and their constituting volatile organic compounds are known to be phytotoxic and potential bioherbicides. This study aims to investigate the phytotoxicity of propenylbenzene-rich essential oils and identify active molecule(s) therein. Five commercially available propenylbenzene-rich oils were screened, of which betel (Piper betle L.) oil was identified as a potent natural phytotoxin. It dose-dependently inhibited the wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) seed germination and growth in water and agar medium with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) in the range 23.2-122.7 μg/mL. Phytotoxicity-guided fractionation and purification revealed chavibetol as the major and most potent phytotoxic constituent of betel oil, followed by chavibetol acetate. The structure-activity relationship study involving twelve propenylbenzenes indicated the structural and positional importance of aromatic substitutions for the activity. Further, phytotoxic efficacy of chavibetol was established against wheatgrass germination and growth in water (IC50 15.8-53.4 μg/mL), agar (IC50 34.4-53.6 μg/mL) and aerial (IC50 1.7-4.5 mg/L) media with more pronounced effect on the radicle. Also, in open phytojar, it efficiently inhibited the growth of 3-7 days old bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) seedlings when sprayed directly (IC50 2.3-3.4 mg/jar) or supplemented in agar (IC50 116.6-139.1 μg/mL). The growth of pre-germinated green amaranth (Amaranthus viridis) was inhibited more effectively in both the application modes (1.2-1.4 mg/jar and IC50 26.8-31.4 μg/mL respectively). The study concluded betel oil as a potent phytotoxic herbal extract and its major constituent chavibetol as a promising volatile phytotoxin for the future management of weeds in their early phase of emergence. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effects of Electroplating Effluents on Growth, Heavy Metals Accumulation and Concentrations in Amaranthus viridis Lin.

Pollution in recent times has become prevalent due to industrial expansion, hence, releasing pollutants into the environment. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the effects of effluents from electroplating companies on growth, heavy metals accumulation and concentrations in Amaranthus viridis. Seeds of A. viridis were obtained from the National Institute of Horticulture, Ibadan. Loam soils were collected from Lagos State University and two samples of electroplating effluents were obtained from Oregun, Lagos. Seeds were sown, nursed, and transplanted in a uniform bucket filled with 5 kg loam soil and transplanted seedlings were treated with Effluent A (5 and 10% conc.) and Effluent B (5 and 10% conc.) and control respectively. Growth parameters such as plant height and so on were measured and plant samples harvested were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Data collected were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Results revealed that Effluents A and B are highly acidic and above discharge limits. Also, the result revealed that 5% conc. of Effluents A and B had more effects on growth (p < 0.05) of A. viridis across the harvests than 10% conc. in relation to control. This result showed that the effluent samples affect the growth rhythms of plants. Results further revealed vigorous accumulation of the heavy metals: Zn (241.66 µg kg–1 ± 0.10 at third harvest in Effluent A: 10%), Cu (68.25 µg kg–1 ± 0.23 at first harvest in Effluent B: 5%), Cr (500 µg kg–1 ± 0.90 in harvests at all concentrations.) and Ni (500 µg kg–1 ± 0.90 at third harvest in Effluent B: 5%) and all these metals are far above the control and permissible limits of WHO/FAO recommendations. From this study, it could be concluded that electroplating effluents had adverse effects on growth and increased metals’ bioaccumulation in A. viridis. Therefore, the treatment of effluents to enhance an eco-friendly environment should be done.

Phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cr and Pb) from sewage irrigated soil of tropical sub-humid region of Indo-Gangetic plain using Amaranthus viridis

This study was conducted to find out the potential of Amaranthus viridis for the phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cr and Pb) grown on sewage irrigated site. The status of heavy metals in sewage irrigated soil was observed as Pb 4.91±0.96 mg/kg and Cr 3.48±0.51 mg/kg maximum in Buxibandh site and minimum concentration 2.11 0.19 mg/kg and Cr 1.82±0.19 mg/kg in Phaphamau sites. A. viridis grown on a sewage irrigated soils recorded maximum accumulation of Cr ranging from 4.23 0.28-4.11 0.15 mg/kg and minimum concentration 2.52±0.05–2.34±0.05 mg/kg in Buxibandh and Phaphamau respectively and maximum accumulation of Pb 4.4±10.52–4.27±0.39 mg/kg and minimum accumulation 2.89±0.04–2.43±0.06 mg/kg in root and shoot, respectively. The result shows the maximum potential of accumulation Pb 4.41±0.52 mg/kg followed by Cr 4.23±0.28 mg/kg in Buxibandh sewage irrigated site. The maximum dry biomass yield of A. viridis plants was recorded in Phaphamau sewage irrigated site of Cr and Pb sewage irrigated soils ranging 3.8±0.5–4.9±0.7 g/plant and 36±5–39±4.4 g/plant, respectively, while the minimum dry biomass yield as 2.5±0.4–2.8±0.4 g/plant and 26±1.2–28±3.9 g/plant in shoot and root, respectively, at Buxibandh sewage irrigated site. The accumulation of heavy metals hampered plant development and nutrients bioavailability. Furthermore, their bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) greater than 1.0 indicated the hyperaccumulation efficiency of plants ranges of Cr and Pb was recorded 1.33±0.04–1.06±0.05 mg/kg and 1.03±0.02–1.12±0.1 mg/kg, respectively. The result proved that the A. viridis had a great potential to remove heavy metals from sewage irrigated soils.

Micro-morphological adaptations and tolerance assessment of selected vascular plant species exposed to vehicular exhausts

The vehicular exhausts on roadsides negatively affect living organisms and disturb their environment. These negative impacts of vehicular exhausts on plants demand a scientific investigation of roadside plants in Abbottabad, Pakistan. So, this observational and experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vehicular exhausts on morphology, epidermal structure and biochemical characteristics of leaves of plants near roadsides and compared with the non-polluted site. The quantitative morphological parameters: leaf area, length of petiole and vein-to-vein difference along with anatomical attributes such as stomata and epidermal cells were recorded. Compared to non-polluted areas, the chlorophyll content of plant leaves from polluted areas was higher. The results indicate that vehicular exhaust negatively affects leaf morphology and increases the Stomatal number at adaxial (front surface) of leaves. The air pollution tolerance index evaluated Melia azedarach and Salix angustifolia as tolerant tree species and Rumex dentatus, Amaranthus viridis and Sonchus hydrophilus as tolerant herbaceous species. In order to survive in polluted environments, this study demonstrated that plants go through adaptive processes.

Comparative study of phytoremediation of chromium contaminated soil by Amaranthus viridis in the presence of different chelating agents

Chromium is a harmful heavy metal to the environment due to the toxicity induced by it to plants and other living organisms. High concentration of Cr in soil poses severe toxicological problems ecosystem. Phytoremediation using different plants is an economical and environment-friendly method for removing Cr from soil. The addition of chelating agents augments the phytoextraction using plants.The present study aimed to augment the Cr phytoremediation capacity of Amaranthus virdis, a predominant plant species in the Cr-contaminated open dumpsites of Bangalore. . Phytoextraction of Cr by Amaranthus viridis was studied in the presence of different chelating agents viz. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), growth promoting hormone- indoleacetic acid (IAA) and NPK fertiliser. A. viridis grown under different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg/Kg) of Cr were treated with 0.5g EDTA/Kg of soil, 0.5g CA/Kg of soil, 1mg IAA/Kg of soil and NPK (125 mg of nitrogen, 45 mg of phosphorous and 156 mg of potassium per Kg of soil). Results indicated that CA, at 10 mg/kg Cr supply, induced the highest uptake (up to 29.25 µg/plant). Furthermore, the study revealed that CA amendment induced maximum Cr uptake in A. viridis at all levels of Cr supply as compared to other amendments. This was due to the increased solubility of Cr in the presence of citric acid and the amelioration of oxidative stress due to Cr to plants by citric acid. This study inferred that the non-hyperaccumulating plant, A. virdis could be used as a phytoremediator for Cr in the presence of citric acid in the places where it is grown abundantly.

Biological value of green amaranth mass and its use in composition of combined silos for young pigs

Every year in Ukraine and around the world, the demand for grain products increases, which leads to increased competition between humans and animals. The increase in global grain prices makes livestock production more expensive and less profitable. In turn, the change in natural climatic conditions, the shortage of energy resources prompts scientists to search for fodder crops that would be high-yielding, cheap, biologically complete, ecologically clean, able to effectively influence the productivity of animals and replace part of grain fodder. Today, the climatic conditions of the Polissia region, selection and advanced technologies ensure the growth of the cultivation of rare fodder crops. In addition, there is growing interest in introduced plants and the introduction process itself. These are high-yielding plants with a high content of biologically complete protein, capable of forming powerful biomass in a short growing season and being resistant to adverse environmental factors. Studying the results of research on the use of nontraditional crops, which include the amaranth family (Amaranthus L), in our opinion, the issue of finding scientifically based types of pig feeding using cheap and highly nutritious juicy fodder is of great importance. In order to realize this goal, the following tasks were set: to investigate the phenological parameters, yield and chemical composition of the green mass of amaranth according to the phases of growth and development; develop silage recipes and determine the optimal amount of amaranth green mass in the composition of combined silages for fattening young pigs. When developing recipes for combined silages, we followed the following requirements: combined silage should have a high energy value of about 4 MJ in one kilogram of feed; the content of digestible protein per feed unit is 80-100 g and the optimal amount of organic acids. It was established that the maximum yield of amaranth green mass (245.5 t/ha) and the yield of dry matter (62.5 t/ha) was obtained in the phase of wax maturity. It is advisable to include 20-26% of the green mass of amaranth in the composition of combined silos in the conditions of the Polissia of Ukraine and feed it to pigs for fattening from 55% to 75% in terms of total nutrition. Key words: pigs, green mass, productivity, nutrients, feeding.

Evaluation of phytochemicals and amino acid profiles of four vegetables grown on a glyphosate contaminated soil in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract Green vegetables are examples of staple plants eating in Nigeria, and are assumed to be a well-off basis of phytochemicals and amino acids that are useful for the management and prevention of infections. However, in the farming of these vegetables, glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH (round up™)) are used as control against pests invasions which has cause reasons to be concern about their effects on the phyto-constituents present in these vegetables. In this study, we evaluated the phytochemicals constituents and amino acid profile of the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis Hook F, Amaranthus viridis Linn, Celosia argentea Linn and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I. M. Johnst popular edible vegetables in Southwestern Nigeria. The vegetables seeds of these plants mentioned above were acquired from Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan. And on a land designed and previously treated with a GBH (round up™) the seeds were planted and allowed to grow. A destructive method of leaves after maturation was achieved by out rightly plucking them out and air-drying under shade. Phytochemical assessments were done on milled plant samples to determine the presence of ten phyto-constituents. Centrifugation of powdered samples (2 g each) with acetonitrile at 1000 rotations per minute’s (rpm) was used to extract amino acids. Thereafter the extracts were individually spotted on a thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate and developed using the mobile phase consisting of methanol: acetic acid: water in ratio 7:2:1 v/v. The visualization for the presence of amino acids was completed by spraying the developed chromatographic plates with 0.5% ninhydrin in 2-propanol solution and observed in both day light and under the ultraviolet lamp and the retention factor (R f ).calculated for the different spots developed to determine the type of amino acids present. The assessment of phytochemicals from the four vegetables reveals the presence of alkaloids, tannins and steroids in all samples while anthraquinone glycosides, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides were absent and other phytochemicals varying in them. Ssaponins was found absent in Telfairia occidentalis and flavonoids in Cnidoscolus aconitifolius respectively. The observation of the TLC plates in daylight shows that the vegetables likely contained primary, secondary and proline amino acids while the calculation of the R f values of the TLC spots observed under an ultraviolet (UV) light indicated that amino acids found in the vegetables were methionine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine. However, phenylalanine was found only in Celosia argentea. The study evaluated phytochemicals and amino acids parameters in four leafy vegetables grown on contaminated glyphosate based herbicide soil and assessments shows that their medicinal properties were not altered with the minimal exposure to contaminant.

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL STATUS OF CARDIOPROTECTIVE PLANT

Cardiovascular diseases involve abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disease, and are the main cause of the increase in mortality rate in the world. Herbal plants tend to be very useful to prevent cardiovascular disease. The phytoconstituents of herbal medicinal plants like tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides that have the ability to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Examples such as Nerium oleander, Amaranthus viridis, Ginkgo biloba, Daucus carota, Gingerol, Tinospora cordifolia etc. Many studies investigated the cardioprotective effect of these natural products against experimentally-induced myocardial damage, and their results revealed that their potential phytochemicals exhibited significant antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic activities. The review highlights the promising mechanisms and probable applications of various herbal plants, and their phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The cardioprotective plants contain a wide- variety of bioactive compound involve with diosgenin, isoflavones, sulforaphane, carotinized, catechin and quercetin are increasing the cardio protection and decreases the chances of cardiac abnormalities. KEYWORDS: Cardiovascular diseases, herbal products, phytochemicals, cardioprotective plant, Trichopus zeylanicus, cardiotoxicity

Use of vegetation cover in the control of different species of the genus Amaranthus

Soil cover has a physical, chemical, and biological effect on weed suppression. Although it depends on factors such as location and weed pressure, vegetation cover can even eliminate the need for herbicide application. Considering that the weeds popularly known as pigweed (Amaranthus sp.) have been expanding in agricultural areas and the use of only one form of management is not recommended for their control, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of using cover crop phytomass to control species of the genus Amaranthus. Soil vegetation cover at different percentage levels was evaluated in the control of the following weed species: Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus deflexus, and Amaranthus viridis, previously sown. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme (9x4), with four replications. The treatments resulted from the combination of nine cover crops with Crotalaria species (Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria breviflora, and Crotalaria spectabilis), black oats (Avena strigosa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), lablab bean (Dolichos lablab), and pencilflower (Stylosanthes macrocephala), and four percentage levels of phytomass (control – no phytomass; 50%, 100%, and 200% of the total mean production, identified as CONTROL, T50%, T100%, and T200%, respectively), with four replications. Black oats, pencilflower, and jack bean showed higher potential for controlling Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus deflexus, while sorghum and jack bean were more efficient in controlling Amaranthus viridis. Regarding the amount of green mass, the amounts T100% and T200% were the most promising in suppressing weeds.

Heavy Metal Contaminants in Popularly-consumed Vegetables of Freetown, Sierra Leone

The contamination of the environment with heavy metals is one of the challenges that make up Sierra Leone's environmental problem, with urbanization being one of the main causes; due to the lack of proper waste dumpsites and landfills for infrastructural development, rivers, and streams are polluted. The loss of biodiversity, but river and stream pollution have a significant impact on aquatic life. Animals and plants in contaminated water sources "may perish or reproduce improperly". This study assessed the level of concentration of heavy metals namely; chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in some commonly-consumed vegetables like Manihot esculenta (Cassava) leaves, Ipomoea batatas (Potato) leaves, Amaranthus viridis (African spinach), Corchorus olitorius (Krain krain); Solanum lycopersicum (Tomatoes); Cucumis sativus (Cucumber); Brassica oleracea (Cabbage); Abelmoschus esculentus fruits (Okra); Capsicum annuum (Bell Pepper); and Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) which were all purchased at local market places in Freetown. The vegetable samples were analyzed using an X-ray fluorescence machine (XRF) to determine their heavy metal concentration. The goal was to determine the food safety status of the vegetables by comparing the results to the maximum permissible limit (MPL) for vegetables, as set by WHO/FAO. The levels of Zn, Cr, Fe, Cu, and Pb in all vegetable samples varied from 4.70 – 5.69 %; 3.46 – 4.58 %; 4.00 – 4.52 %; 2.87 – 3.42 %; and 0.5 – 1.2 %, respectively. This result indicates that the metals were present at unsafe levels. According to the result, the maximum concentration values are much higher than the MPL value suggested by WHO/FAO for vegetables, implying that eating vegetables from the source market sites in this study may pose a health risk to humans. Heavy metals in vegetables should be monitored on a regular basis to prevent excessive accumulation of these heavy metals in the human food chain. When it comes to vegetable marketing, certain precautions should be implemented.