Methanol Extract Of Stem Bark Research Articles

Specialized plant metabolites from indolic and polyphenolic biosynthetic pathways in Wrightia religiosa (Teijsm. & Binn.) Benth. and Wrightia pubescens R. Br. (Apocynaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of different organs and of the latex of Wrightia religiosa (Teijsm. & Binn.) Benth. as well as of the stem bark of Wrightia pubescens R. Br. (Apocynaceae), both collected in Thailand, yielded a total of seven known compounds. All are specialized metabolites from indolic and polyphenolic biosynthetic pathways. From leaves of W. religiosa, 3-indole d-apio-β-d-furanosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and benzouracil (2) were isolated. Compound 1 and blepharin (3) were purified from the root bark, and the lignan 4-pinoresinol d-apio-β-d-furanosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (5) was isolated from the stem bark of this species. Chromatographic separation of the hitherto unstudied latex yielded blepharigenin (4). The methanolic stem bark extract of W. pubescens yielded tryptanthrin (6) and kelampayoside A (7). Radical scavenging activities of the isolated compounds and of the crude methanolic extracts indicate that the isolated specialized metabolites do not contribute appreciable to the antioxidative properties of the plant extracts. The crude methanolic extracts do not show noteworthy anti-feedant response of the insect pest Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval. Ecological aspects are shortly addressed, and results are discussed in the phylogenetic framework of the studied species.

Toxicological evaluation of aqueous and methanol extracts of Dacryodes edulis stem bark

Aim: This study is aimed at evaluating the toxicological effect of aqueous and methanol extracts of Dacryodes edulis stem bark on Wistar Rats Methodology: The stem bark of Dacryodes edulis were locally sourced from a farmer in Ologbo area of Edo State, Nigeria and were identified by a botanist. The stem bark were chopped in pieces, air dried and ground to fine powder using milling machine and extracted using water and methanol respectively. Acute toxicity was determined using Lorke’s method. In the main study, 35 adult male Wistar were acclimatized for seven days and were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group A served as normal control in which rats were given only feed and water. Groups B, C and D were administered 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of aqueous extract of D. edulis stem bark respectively while groups E, F and G were administered 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg bw of methanol extract of D. edulis stem bark respectively via oral route for 28 days. At the end of the 28 day, animals were sacrificed and blood was collected for biochemical assays. Liver, kidney and heart of animals were harvested for enzymes assays and histopathology. Results: The result of the acute toxicity of Dacryodes edulis in this study showed that the LD50 of its aqueous and methanolic extract of stem bark is greater than 5000 mg/kg as no mortality was recorded at this dose except for a decline in the normal activity of the animals administered 5000 mg/kg dose. Administration of 500 and 1000 mg/kg of aqueous and methanol extracts of D. edulis Stem bark was observed to have no significant effect on the parameters determined when compared with those in the control animals. However, administration of 2000 mg/kg of aqueous and methanol extracts of D. edulis stem bark significantly (p

Phytochemical and high-performance thin-layer chromatography analysis of Ashawattha (Ficus religiosa Linn.) Kaanda Twaka (outer portion of stem bark) Churna (powder)

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate phytochemical constituent and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of Ashawattha Kandatwaka (the outer portion of stem bark) Churna (powder). INTRODUCTION: Ashawattha Kandatwaka Churna is a major constituent of numerous ayurvedic formulations. The plant has possessed their various pharmacological activities such as antifungal, anthelmintic, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and wound healing activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were performed on authenticated plant materials following standard procedures. The methanol extract of stem bark of Ficus religiosa Linn. was used for the HPTLC study. Toluene (9 ml) and ethyl acetate (1 ml) were used for stem bark of F. religiosa Linn. as a mobile phase. RESULTS: Identification of alkaloids, steroids, and amino acids was confirmed through the phytochemical parameter. In the HPTLC study, the Rf values obtained at 254 nm were 0.02 and at 366 nm were 0.01, 0.17, and 0.53, respectively. CONCLUSION: Physiochemical analysis including HPTLC of Ashawattha Kaanda Twaka Churna will help in further standardization.

ISOLATION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PLANT SECONDARY METABOLITES IN ALBIZIA CHEVALIERI USING COLUMN-CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES.

Plants have served human beings as natural source for treatments and therapies from ancient times to date; amongst them medicinal herbs which have gain attention because of its wide use and less side effects. Chromatographic techniques have significant role in natural products chemistry as well as contribute dramatically in the discovery of novel and innovative compounds of pharmaceutical and biomedical limportance. In the present study, phytochemical analysis of Albizia chevalieri was carried out for the three Arial parts of the plant extracted with three different solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane). This study also focused on step-by-step visual demonstration of fractionation and isolation of biologically active plant secondary metabolites in A.chevalieri using column-chromatographic techniques. Isolation of bioactive compounds using column-chromatographic involves: Preparation of sample; Packing of column; Pouring of sample into the column; Elution of fractions; and Analysis of each fractions using thin layer chromatography. Based-on the column-chromatographic technique, it was observed that in each fraction one band were detected. Qualitative analysis showed that methanol extracted almost all the secondary metabolites in all the three Arial parts of the plant. After quantification, it was observed that methanol Root extract was having the highest phenolic contents (44.83µg/GAE/g), followed by methanol leaf extract (38.89 µg/GAE/g), and methanol stem bark extract (22.00 µg/GAE/g). Root ethyl acetate extract (8.19 µg GAE/g), stem bark ethyl acetate extract (13.49 µg GAE/g), and leaves ethyl acetate extract (23.66 µg GAE/g), while n-hexane extracts were having a very low phenolic content with; n- hexane root (0.66 µg GAE/g), n-hexane stem bark extract (2.69 µg GAE/g), and n-hexane leaves extract (7.80 µg GAE/g). The presence of high amount of phytochemical compounds suggest that A. chevalieri plant has high medicinal value and can be carefully studied to extract the natural compounds which are beneficial to human beings and that could be commercialized for higher production than using synthetic drugs with side effects. However, depending on nature of research, compounds can be further purified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)spectral analyses.

The Sub Acute Toxicity Evaluation of <i>Stereospermum kunthianum</i> Aqueous Methanolic Stem Bark Extract

Stereospermum kunthianum (Bignoniaceae) is a plant widely used for health benefits. A safety profile evaluation (acute toxicity study) of the plant extract is critical, in a step to the systematic pharmacognostic study of this plant. Thirty-two (32) rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups labelled 1 to 4 with the initial weights of the rats recorded. The animals in group 1 served as control and were administered distilled water, while those in Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg respectively, of the Stereospermum kunthianum aqueous methanolic stem bark extract daily. The results indicated no deaths, no observable clinical signs of toxicity, no obvious stress or changes in physical appearance or behaviour in the rats. This general picture of safety is further supported by the multiple comparison post hoc test (Turkey’s) of, the organs weights, the renal (electrolyte, urea and creatinine), the haematological parameters (RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Platelet), and the hepatic enzymes (AST and ALT), that all showed the control group to be insignificantly different from the extract treated groups. In conclusion, the extract was deduced to be safe on oral administration for 28 days and it also showed a hepatoprotective quality.

Effect of methanolic stem bark extract of Azadihiracta Indica on morbidity and mortality of chickens experimentally infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (kudu 113)

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a dangerous disease of poultry all over the world. Economically, ND is characterized by mortality which may reach up to 100% in affected poultry farms. This study was designed to evaluate the protective properties of crude methanolic extract of Azadihiracta indica in chickens experimentally infected with a velogenic strain of ND virus. A hundred- day old cockerel was brooded for three weeks before randomly divided into five equal groups (I, II, III, IV and V). They were not vaccinated with ND vaccine LaSota. At six weeks of age, each bird in groups I-IV was inoculated with 0.2mL of the live ND viral inoculum intramuscularly while group V was not inoculated with the virus. Thereafter, groups I, II and III were daily given in drinking water 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg of Azadihiracta indica extract, respectively whereas, groups IV and V were not treated with the extract. All the groups were monitored for the onset of clinical signs, morbidity and mortality rate. In all the groups inoculated with the ND virus, about 80% birds showed signs of depression, gasping, coughing, increased thirst, complete inappetence, huddling, diarrhoea, partial/complete paralysis on day 2 post inoculation (PI). A hundred percent (100%) mortality rate was recorded for groups I and IV by day 5 PI and in groups II and III on day 6 PI. Therefore, under the conditions of this study, oral administration of Azadihiracta indica extract does not protect birds from ND.

Anti-Snake Venom, Anti-Arthritic and Cytotoxic Activities of Tectona grandis L. f. Stem Bark (Lamiaceae)

Tectona grandis L. f. (Lamiaceae) is famous for timber production and has been used in traditional medicine for treating bronchitis, liver-related roubles, urinary discharge amongst other diseases. Methanol extract of the stem bark was investigated for in vivo antiophidian assay against Bitis arietans and Naja nigricollis. Also, the extract and chromatographic fractions were subjected to cytotoxicity tests using tadpole model and antiarthritic assay by proteinase inhibition. Chromatography of crude methanol extract afforded three highly polar vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) fractions (BVLC-1, BVLC-2 and BVLC-3). BVLC-2 further gave four semi-pure uncharacterized isolates (I, II, III, IV). Only BVLC-2 and BVLC-3 were cytotoxic at 10 - 80 mg/ml, with BVLC-3 being most potent (100% mortality, LC50 40 mg/ml). Concentration-dependent proteinase enzyme inhibition (24 - 71%) at 200 - 1000 μg/ml of BVLC-2 was observed, and this was less (IC50 659.24 μg/ml) than the activity of the standard drug, acetyl salicylic acid. However, neutralization of B. arietans and N. nigricollis snake venoms using methanol extract was not dose-dependent, but the extract atthe least dose, 50 mg/kg offered better protection (75%) on Naja nigricollis envenomed-mice in 48 h. Its activity was comparable to that of the positive antivenin tested at 0.2 mg/kg. These findings justify the folkloric use of T. grandis in the treatment of snake bites, arthritic conditions, and oxidative stress-induced diseases.
 Keywords: Tectona grandis, methanol extract, anti-snake venom activity, tadpole cytotoxicity, anti-arthritic activity

Antidepressant effect of methanol stem bark extract of Adansonia digitata: involvement of monoaminergic, nitric oxide and cholinergic pathways

Introduction: Hausa people of north-western Nigeria were reported to utilize the plant Adansonia digitata for the management of depressive illnesses in an ethnobotanical survey. Thus, this study aimed to establish the mechanism(s) via which methanol stem bark extract of A. digitata (MEAD) exhibits antidepressant activity in mice. Methods: Antidepressant activity of MEAD was evaluated using tail suspension test (TST) at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. For the mechanistic studies, mice were pre-treated with sulpiride (50 mg/kg), prazosin (1 mg/kg), yohimbine (1 mg/kg), metergoline (1 mg/kg), cyproheptadine (3 mg/kg), L-arginine (50 mg/kg), N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 50 mg/kg), atropine (1 mg/kg) and naloxone (2 mg/kg) 15 minutes prior to MEAD (1000 mg/kg) administration, then antidepressant activity was assessed using TST one hour later. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. Results: The extract (at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) and dose-dependently decreased the duration of immobility in the TST. Sulpiride (D2 receptor antagonist), prazosin and yohimbine (α1 and α2 receptor antagonists, respectively), metergoline and cyproheptadine (5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, respectively) significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the antidepressant effect of MEAD. On the other hand, L-NNA (NOS inhibitor) augmented the antidepressant effect of MEAD while L-arginine (nitric oxide substrate) had no effect on MEAD. However, atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist) significantly (P < 0.01) augmented the antidepressant effect of MEAD. Conclusion: The antidepressant activity of methanol stem bark extract of A. digitata was established to be via the monoaminergic, nitric oxide and cholinergic pathways.

Wound healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the leaf and stem bark of Entada africana Guill. & Perr.

Entada africana (Mimosaceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine as a wound healing agent. This study investigated the wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities of the leaf and stem bark of E. africana in order to scientifically validate its wound healing properties. Methanol extracts of the leaf and stem bark were formulated into creams (5–20%) and tested in the dermal excision wound model in rats. The broth dilution assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity; DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined to assess the antioxidant activity. Significant wound healing was demonstrated by topical application of the extract creams. By the 10th day, a total wound surface closure of 98.8%, 95.8%, 96.3% and 73.9% was observed for the 10% stem bark and leaf creams, standard drug and blank cream treated groups respectively. Histopathological examination of the healed tissue sections showed significant collagen production, scanty inflammatory cell infiltrates and re-epithelialization whereas tissues from the blank cream treated group displayed focal areas of abscess and diffused inflammatory cells. The methanol stem bark extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. pyogenes with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56 mg/mL. The stem bark and leaf had antioxidant activity and were found to contain a total phenolic content of 47.25 and 133.7 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent respectively and total flavonoid content of 21.06 and 88.21 mg/g quercetin equivalent respectively. The above results indicate that the leaves and stem bark of E. africana have great potential for the treatment of open wounds.

Evaluation of the Stem Bark Extract Picralima nitida for Antinociceptive Property

Aims: To investigate the antinociceptive property of Picralima nitida stem bark methanol extract. Place and duration of study: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria from February to July, 2020.
 Methodology: The extraction was done by cold maceration of the pulverised P. nitida stem bark in 80% methanol for 48 hours. Acute toxicity study was done using up and down method. The antinociceptive study was carried out using tail flick and hot plate antinociceptive models. The extract was used at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg while pentazocine 3 mg/kg was used as the standard reference drug (positive group) and 5 ml/kg distilled water was used for the negative group.
 Results: In the tail flick test, P. nitida at the doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg with the standard drug pentazocine significantly (P = 0.05) increased the pain reaction time (PRT), increasing the PRT from 1.80 ± 0.08 sec in the negative group (distilled water 5 ml/kg) to 2.90 ± 0.18 sec at the dose of 200 mg/kg group of mice representing 62.06% increase. Also, in the hot plate model, the PRT was increased from 2.03 ± 0.02 sec in distilled water treated group of mice to 9.58 ± 0.99 sec in the 400 mg/kg dose of the extract.
 Conclusion: The stem bark methanol extract of P. nitida demonstrated a good level of antinociceptive activity in the models used in this study.

Antidiabetic, anthelmintic and antioxidation properties of novel and new phytocompounds isolated from the methanolic stem-bark of Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asteraceae)

The use of plants for the treatment of diseases in Africa is attracting more attention. This use of plants calls for more researches towards the validation of the healing claims by herbalist and the users of these herbs. Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asteraceae) is one of the widely used plants in Nigeria by herbalists for the treatment of different diseases. In our previous studies on the methanolic stem-bark extract of this plant, we isolated novel and new compounds after scientifically validating the antidiabetic and anthelmintic effect of the methanolic stem-bark extract. In this present study, we aimed at identifying which of the isolated compounds is or are responsible for the antidiabetic and anthelmintic properties of the methanolic stem-bark extract of the plant. We also evaluated the antioxidation effects of the isolates. The antidiabetic effects of the isolated compounds were carried out in-vivo using streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats, while the anthelmintic effect was done in-vitro with Eisenia foetida, an adult worm. The antioxidation properties were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging protocols. The results obtained showed that out of the five compounds tested, only 6β,10β,14β-Trimethylheptadecan-15α-olyl-15-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,5β-olide showed a significant reduction in the blood glucose in the course of treatment compared to standard metformin, while only glucuronolactone showed anthelmintic effect with total paralysis and death times of 153.7±1.21, 84.9±1.24 and 53.4±0.08, in comparison to 17.3±0.08, 10.5±0.06 and 8.3±0.06 for the standard (albendazole) at 30, 50 and 70 mg, respectively. The isolates also produced different percentages of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging abilities. From the results obtained in these studies only 6β,10β,14β-Trimethylheptadecan-15α-olyl-15-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,5β-olide has antidiabetic property out of the five isolated compounds, while only glucuronolactone has anthelmintic property. All the isolated compounds showed mild antioxidation effect. Further researches are needed to identify the mechanism through which the two compounds exerted antidiabetic and anthelmintic effects.

METABOLIC PROFILE ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN CEIBA PENTANDRA (L.) GAERTN, FROM ZARIA CITY, NIGERIA

Ceiba pentandra (Silk cotton) is a multipurpose tree in the province of Zaria city, Kaduna State, Nigeria, which is being exposed to uncontrolled exploitation by the natives. Samples of the plant were collected from standing trees located at Zaria city: Kofar Gayan, Rimin Doko, Kwarbai, Kofar Doka and Kofar Kibo. The study was aimed at assessing the secondary metabolites in C. pentandra plant extracts of leaves, stem barks and roots This was achieved through subjecting the extracts to phytochemical screening and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry fingerprinting (metabolic profiling) of phytochemical markers. The results of the screening revealed flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, triterpenoids and reducing sugars to be present in moderate variation, across the extracts. The metabolic fingerprinting indicated high variation among the phytochemicals obtained from the plant extracts. Where, twenty-seven (27) secondary metabolites were predicted from the methanol leaf extracts, twenty-five (25) from the methanol stem bark extracts and twenty-seven (27) from the methanol root extracts, out of which only one of the metabolites (2-hydroxypropyl ether) was predicted in all the extracts. Therefore, for a clearer and broader identification of these phytochemical markers, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry (NMR) should be employed to determine the detailed chemical structures of the identified metabolites, which will help in determining their functions and how they can be used to improve the biodiversity of these tree species.

α-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Antiradical Properties of Acacia macrostachya

In this work, the anti-diabetic activity of three extracts of Acacia macrostachya was investigated by following the inhibitory effect of these extracts on -glucosidase using the in vitro model. The antiradical activity of these extracts was also determined. Methanol extracts of root and stem barks showed a very significant inhibitory effect against the enzyme activity of -glucosidase with IC50 2.487 ± 0.441 µg/mL and 1.650 ± 0.229 µg/mL respectively. For antiradical activity, the same extracts presented the highest scavenging of the radical DPPH● with IC50 values of 9.307 ± 0.262 µg/mL and 5.242 ± 0.068 µg/mL respectively. With the cationic radical ABTS●+, IC50 varied from 45.049 ± 0.730 µg/mL for methanolic root barks extract to 14.136 ± 0.161 µg/mL for methanolic extract from stem barks. Thus, the methanol extracts of the root and stem barks of Acacia macrostachya possess compounds with very interesting anti-diabetic and antiradical properties and could justify its traditional use.

Invitro Antimalarial and Antibacterial Activities of Methanol Stem Bark Extract of Frankincense Tree (Boswellia dalzielii) and Leaves Extract of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

Aim: This research investigated the anti-malarial and antibacterial activities of stem bark methanol extract of Frankincense tree and Kenaf leaves extract on Plasmodium falciparum parasite and against five clinically significant bacteria.
 Study Design: Laboratory-experimental design was used for this study.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out between September 2019 and November
 2019 at Biochemistry and Microbiology laboratories, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
 Methodology: The in vitro antimalarial activity test was conducted by determining the parasitemia for each sample concentration by manual counting on thin Giemsa smears after a 24-hour incubation with the extracts in order to determine the IC50 values. The antibacterial study was done using a modified agar well diffusion technique.
 Results: The testing revealed that methanol stem bark extract of Frankincense tree and Kenaf leaves exhibited good and potent (very good) antimalarial activities against P. falciparum respectively with IC50 values of 1.25 μg/mL and 0.16 μg/mL respectively. They also show good inhibitory activities against E.coli but slight inhibitory activities against the other pathogens tested.
 Conclusion: The current study indicates that extracts of these plants exhibit anti-malarial and antibacterial activities and may serve as useful sources of drugs for treatment of malaria caused by P. falciparum parasite as well as bacterial infections caused by the tested bacteria.

Effect of hydro-methanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana on erythrocyte osmotic fragility and haematological parameters in acetaminophen-poisoned rats

BackgroundBurkea africana is a widely used medicinal plant in folkloric medicine in many developing countries of the world. It is useful in the treatment of various ailments including hepatitis, jaundice, diarrhea, stomach aches, abscesses, oedema, epilepsy, bloody diarrhea, gonorrhea, syphilis, toothaches and poisoning. Nevertheless, there are little or no scientific evidence to substantiate this medicinal claim by traditional healers. Burkea africana stem bark was therefore, investigated for its protective or stabilizing effect on erythrocyte membrane in acetaminophen-treated rats. B. africana stem bark was extracted using 80% methanol. Erythrocyte stabilizing effect was studied using erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) test. Thirty (30) male rats were randomly assigned into five (5) groups of six (6) rats each. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal control and negative control (acetaminophen-treated group) respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with methanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana (MSBEBA) at doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively once daily for seven (7) days. Blood samples were collected from the animals in all the groups on the 8 day for evaluation of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell counts, and differential white blood cell count as well as erythrocyte osmotic fragility.ResultsThe erythrocyte osmotic fragility test showed that there was a significantly (p < 0.05) low percentage hemolysis in the groups pre-treated with the extract when compared with the negative control. The percentage hemolysis was least at 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract. There was also a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell count at all the doses of the extract used. Neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased while lymphocytes were significantly increased in the groups administered MSBEBA 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight.ConclusionMethanol stem bark extract of Burkea africana had protective effect on the red blood cells and also improved haematological parameters. This indicates that Burkea africana may be useful in the treatment of disease conditions that results in hemolytic anemia by stabilizing red erythrocyte membranes and enhancing erythropoiesis.

Antimicrobial activities of extracts from stem bark of Tagetes minuta

Tagetes minuta hexane stem bark extract (TMHESB), chloroform stem bark extract (TMCHSB), ethyl acetate stem bark extract (TMEASB) and methanolic stem bark extract (TMMESB) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities using hole-plate diffusion method. Six bacterial isolates viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli (wild), Escherichia coli (O157:H7), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens and two fungal isolates viz. Candida albicans and Penicillium digitatum were used for this study. The inhibition zones were found to be in the ranges of 10.0±1.6 to 15.5±1.9 mm against bacterial isolates and 11.3±2.1 to 13.4±1.2 mm against P. digitatum. However, these extracts did not exhibit any visible inhibition zone against C. albicans. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these extracts were also determined and was found to be in the range of &lt;31.25 to 1000 µg/mL. From this study, we concluded that extracts of the stem bark of T. minuta showed a moderate to significant antimicrobial activities. T. minuta has been used in food and beverage industries as preservative, coloring and flavoring agents. T. minuta also finds therapeutic applications in the traditional medicine.

Secoiridoids and Iridoids from Morinda asteroscepa.

The new 2,3-secoiridoids morisecoiridoic acids A (1) and B (2), the new iridoid 8-acetoxyepishanzilactone (3), and four additional known iridoids (4–7) were isolated from the leaf and stem bark methanol extracts of Morinda asteroscepa using chromatographic methods. The structure of shanzilactone (4) was revised. The purified metabolites were identified using NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques, with the absolute configuration of 1 having been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crude leaf extract (10 μg/mL) and compounds 1–3 and 5 (10 μM) showed mild antiplasmodial activities against the chloroquine-sensitive malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (3D7).

In Vitro Studies on Antioxidant and Anti-Parasitic Activities of Compounds Isolated from Rauvolfia caffra Sond.

As part of an ongoing study of natural products from local medicinal plants, the methanol extract of stem bark of Rauvolfia caffra Sond was investigated for biological activity. Column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography were used to isolate lupeol (1), raucaffricine (2), N-methylsarpagine (3), and spegatrine (4). The crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds were tested for anti-oxidant, antitrypanosomal and anti-proliferation activities. Two fractions displayed high DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity and reducing power with IC50 (The half maximal inhibitory concentration) and IC0.5 values of 0.022 ± 0.003 mg/mL and 0.036 ± 0.007 mg/mL, and 0.518 ± 0.044 mg/mL and 1.076 ± 0.136 mg/mL, respectively. Spegatrine (4) was identified as the main antioxidant compound in R. caffra with IC50 and IC0.5 values of 0.119 ± 0.067 mg/mL and 0.712 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. One fraction displayed high antitrypanosomal activity with an IC50 value of 18.50 μg/mL. However, the major constituent of this fraction, raucaffricine (2), was not active. The crude extract, fractions and pure compounds did not display any cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 50 μg/mL against HeLa cells. This study shows directions for further in vitro studies on the antioxidant and antitrypanosomal activities of Rauvolfia caffra Sond.

Antidiabetic effect of partitioned methanol extract of Boswellia dalzielii (Frankincense tree) in rats

Medicinal plants have been the major source of bioactive phytochemicals employed for the treatment and management of disease since time immemorial. The present study was aimed at investigating the antidiabetic potentials of various partitioned portions of crude methanol extract of Boswellia dalzielii in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Fresh leaf of Boswellia dalzielii was air-dried, pulverized and extracted using cold maceration method with 85% methanol and concentrated to dryness. The crude methanol extract was partitioned using n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol to afford portions encoded BMENH, BMECM, BMEEA, BMENB respectively, and were screened for phytochemicals. The portions were evaluated for their anti-diabetic effects on alloxan-induced rats. The phytochemical studies of the crude methanol leaf, stem and root bark extracts revealed the presence alkaloids, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The partitioned crude methanol leaf extract yielded 14.12 % ( w/w) n-hexane, 6.85 % (w/w) chloroform, 4.18% (w/w) ethyl acetate and 36.40 % (w/w) n-butanol extracts respectively. Antidiabetic activity of fractions BMEH, BMEC, BMEE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg bd wt. produced significant (p&lt;0.05) % inhibitions of glycaemia of 13.51, 18.91, 53.36 and 71.21 respectively, as the highest inhibitions at 400 mg/kg bwt. compared to 52.67 % of Glibenclamide 2.0 mg. (a standard drug). Thus, the leaf of Boswellia dalzielii possesses potent antidiabetic activity which increases as the extract is purified. The anti-diabetic effect of the plant in rats may likely be due to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids.

Qualitative phytochemical screening and antipyretic activity of methanolic stem bark extract of Mangifera indica in wistar rats

Mangifera indica stem bark is traditionally used in management of fever especially in meru community of Kenya though its antipyretic activity is not yet evaluated. The present study aim was to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antipyretic activity of the methanolic extract of Mangifera indica. The standard methods were used to qualitatively analyze the phytochemicals revealing the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, phenols, coumarins, steroids and acids. Fever was induced by injecting distilled turpentine in the left dorsal hind paw of the rats. The test groups were treated by administering Mangifera indica extract in three dose levels of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight. The rectal temperature was taken at an interval of one hour after treatment with plant extracts and the data obtained was analyzed using ANOVA to give the descriptive statistics and summarized data in terms of means ±SEM. This was followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for comparing the means separation. The data analysis was set at 95% confidence level with statistical significance of P ≤ 0.05. The data was analyzed and results presented in graphs and tables. The percentage change in rectal temperature of the 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight dose levels at 4th hours after administration of the plant extract were 3.13, 3.93 and 4.10% respectively. The result obtained from this research suggest that the methanolic stem bark extract of Mangifera indica could be used in management of fever associated with various diseases.