Pericopsis Laxiflora Research Articles

In vitro antitrypanosomal activity, antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extracts of nine Nigerian medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo study the in vitro antitrypanosomal activity, antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extracts of nine Nigerian medicinal plants. MethodsIn vitro antitrypanosomal activity test was carried out on aqueous extracts of dried leaves of Acacia albida (A. albida), Artemisia absinthium, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Gongronema latifolium, Holarrhena floribunda, Leptadenia hastata, Pericopsis laxiflora (P. laxiflora) and dried stem barks of A. albida and P. laxiflora. The phytochemical constituents and composition of the extracts and the in vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts were subsequently measured using the α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) activity assay and H2O2 radical scavenging activity assay. ResultsFrom the study, it was discovered that the stem bark extracts of A. albida and P. laxiflora were most active against both Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma congolense. There was complete cessation of motility in both trypanosomes within 5 min at 40 mg/mL of the stem bark extract of A. albida and complete cessation of motility within 25 min and 40 min at 40 mg/mL with P. laxiflora stem bark extract for Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma evansi, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extracts of the plant parts such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenols revealed that the stem barks of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Leptadenia hastata contained relatively high amount of all the phytochemicals quantified. The stem bark extracts of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Gongronema latifolium possess more scavenging capacity when compared to other extracts in relation to vitamin C, the reference antioxidant. ConclusionsThis study provides scientific evidence for the use of A. albida, and P. laxiflora for the treatment of trypanosomosis and diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Tree species composition and stand structure of woody savanna in Dahomey Gap

The Dahomey gap is a savanna region separating the West African rainforests to two regions. We set two sites in this woody savanna, at north and south regions in purpose to examine the differences in tree community properties between sites and among canopy-closure types, and to reveal the factors affecting the differences. Two sites are ca. 225 km distant from each other and have different rainfall patterns. Six 1-ha plots in each site were studied, which cover three types of canopy-closure (closed, semi-open and open). We recorded 3,720 trees that are equal to or more than 5 cm diameter at the breast height, consisted of 70 species belonging to 34 families. Most abundant three species, Isoberlinia doka, Vitellaria paradoxa and Pericopsis laxiflora appeared in both sites. The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) based on species abundance divided 12 plots into groups of north and south sites along the first axis, whereas canopy-closure types were not associated with DCA axes. At any given total tree height, trees in the north site had slenderer stems with narrower crowns than those in the south site. The specific leaf area was smaller in the north site. Between-site differences in species abundance and allometry are possibly driven by rainfall variation.

Antitrypanosomal activity of some medicinal plants from Nigerian ethnomedicine

Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease with complex clinical presentation, diagnosis, and difficult treatment. The available drugs for the treatment of trypanosomiasis are old, expensive, and less effective, associated with severe adverse reactions and face the problem of drug resistance. This situation underlines the urgent need for the development of new, effective, cheap, and safe drugs for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. The search for new antitrypanosomal agents in this study is based on ethnomedicine. In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of 36 plant extracts from 10 plant species from Nigerian ethnomedicine was evaluated against bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense STIB 900. Cytotoxic activity was determined against mammalian L6 cells. Alamar blue assay was used to measure the endpoint of both antitrypanosomal and toxicity assays. The ethyl acetate extract of leaves of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (Labiatae) showed the highest antitrypanosomal activity (IC(50) of 2.08 ± 0.01 μg/ml) and a high selective index of 29. Furthermore, the hexane, ethyl acetate, or methanol extracts of Trema orientalis (L.) Blume (Ulmaceae), Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth. ex Baker) Meeuwen, Jatropha curcas Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae), and Vitex doniana Sweet (Verbenaceae) displayed remarkable antitrypanosomal activity (IC(50) 2.1-17.2 μg/ml) with high selectivity indices (20-80) for trypanosomes. The antitrypanosomal activity of T. catappa and T. orientalis against T. brucei rhodesiense (STIB 900) is being reported for the first time in Nigerian ethnomedicine, and these plants could be a potential source of antitrypanosomal agents.

Anthelmintic Activity of Medicinal Plants Used in Northern Côte d'Ivoire Against Intestinal Helminthiasis

Based on the results of ethnomedical and ethnoveterinary surveys that we had carried out in northern Côte d'Ivoire during 1999–2001, 79 plant species belonging to 36 families were selected for in vitro. anthelmintic screening. The activity of ethanol crude extracts was investigated using the nematode Haemonchus contortus. Rudolphi (1803) as the test species. Of 115 extracts tested, 50 showed larvicidal activity and two were ovicidal. The most active came from Sclerocarya birrea. (A. Rich) Hochst followed by Lannea kerstingii. Engl. & K. Krause, Aframomum alboviolaceum. (Ridely) K. Schum., Pericopsis laxiflora. (Benth) van Meeuwen, Pseudocedrela kotschyi. (Schweinf.) Harms, Securidaca longepedunculata. Fres., Alchornea cordifolia. (Schum. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg., Anthostema senegalense. A. Juss, Ficus vallis-choudae. Del., Ampelocissus grantii. (Lour) Merrill, Vitellaria paradoxa. C. F. Gaertn, and Hibiscus asper. Hook f. The results supported the traditional uses of some of the tested plants in the treatment of intestinal helminthosis. As Haemonchus contortus. is a pathogenic nematode in small ruminants, the active plant species could be a potential source of new lead anthelmintic agents.

Local perceptions of vegetation change and priorities for conservation of woody-savanna vegetation in Senegal

Ethnobotanical information relevant to the management of savanna vegetation was obtained through interviews with 57 elderly villagers living near Delta du Saloum National Park, Senegal. Local people had observed a change in the local environment from forest to savanna during their lifetime and considered it primarily a result of frequent intensive fires and declining rainfall. Most people preferred the woody vegetation to be dense. In particular, nine woody species were useful for construction, 10 for protection in agricultural fields, 19 for medicine and 10 for livestock fodder. Some of the locally highly preferred species were also considered to be declining in the local environment, they included Cordyla pinnata, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Daniellia oliveri, Parkia biglobosa, Khaya senegalensis and Pericopsis laxiflora. Highly preferred and declining species were characteristically large trees, non-thorny, with edible fruits and of Sudano-Guinean to Guinean affinity. The study furthermore identified a close coincidence between the interest in conserving tree species diversity in protected areas and the priorities of local people which included preservation of plenty of large trees (including many fruit trees), maintenance of a variety of species, improvement of woody regeneration, and reduction of fire intensity and frequency. Focusing management strategies on increasing populations of such declining and highly preferred species, by active fire protection for instance, would enhance the natural resource value considerably and thereby the quality of life for the local people.

Identification of bioactive metabolites from the bark of Pericopsis (Afrormosia) laxiflora

AbstractThe α‐methyldeoxybenzoins angolensin, 2‐O‐methyl‐angolensin and the pterocarpan maackiain (demethylpterocarpin) have been isolated by bioactivity‐guided fractionation (brine shrimp test) from the bark of the medicinal African plant, Pericopsis (Afrormosia) laxiflora.

Les ligneux fourragers du Nord-Cameroun. I. Inventaire et phénologie

Une soixantaine d'espèces ligneuses ont été inventoriées dans les savanes du Nord-Cameroun comme entrant dans l'alimentation des ruminants domestiques. La phénologie de certaines d'entre elles a été suivie tant sur parcours naturels qu'en plantation pendant 4 ans. De cette étude, il ressort que les arbres et arbustes les plus exploités sont par ordre de préférence : Ficus sycomorus, Daniellia oliveri, Afzelia africana pour ce qui est du feuillage, Acacia albida, Dichrostachys cinerea, Prosopis africana pour ce qui est des fruits. Les fleurs de Daniellia oliveri, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Bombax costatum sont également très appréciées. Ficus sycomorus, Pericopsis laxiflora, Daniellia oliveri et Detarium microcarpum présentent en outre une phénologie en milieu naturel compatible avec une exploitation optimale du feuillage pendant la période de soudure alimentaire.