Buniyamin Adesina Ayinde

Waltheria indica is used in many medicinal preparations in ethnomedical practice in Nigeria. Its use in treating diarrhea has been scientifically validated and reported. The present work examined the probable intestinal relaxant effects of organic solvent fractions obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves. The methanol extract (90 g) was suspended in water and partitioned repeatedly with chloroform (200 mL x 5) in a separating funnel. The aqueous and the chloroform fractions were concentrated under pressure and separately evaluated for relaxant effects on 80µg Ach-induced ileum contractility at concentrations of 20, 40 and 80 mg. The aqueous fraction was further subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (vlc) using dichloromethane with increasing concentrations of ethyl acetate and later methanol. Seven fractions obtained were tested for effects on Ach-induced ileum contractions at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40mg and compared with atropine 20 µg. Both the aqueous and dichloromethane fractions significantly (p<0.0.5) inhibited the contractile effect of Ach on the isolated ileum. However, the inhibitory effect of the aqueous fraction was more pronounced particularly at 80mg as the Cmax of Ach was reduced to 11.23 ± 1.00 % in contrast to 58.37 ± 3.16% produced by the chloroform fraction. The vlc fractions (fraction 2 and to some extent fraction 4) obtained from the aqueous fraction produced remarkable relaxant effects on the ileum particularly fraction 2 which at 20mg, completely abolished the contraction produced by the Ach, similar to the effect of Atropine (20 µg). The extract of W. indica especially the aqueous fraction contains bioactive constituents that can be separated and purified for improved relaxant effects on the intestine. The results further provide evidence for the ethno-medical use of the plant in treating diarrhea.

Brachystegia eurycoma Harms (Fabaceae) is used Nigeria for its anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, anti-diabetics, and antihypertensive properties in combination with other plants. The seeds have particularly served as thickener in certain soups like ‘egusi’ and ogbono’ in the eastern part of Nigeria. The growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of the methanol extract of the leaves and its organic solvent fractions were evaluated on the radicles of guinea corn Sorghum bicolor seed and tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus respectively. The extract and the aqueous fraction completely inhibited the germination of the guinea corn seeds in 24 h at a concentration of 20 mg/ml. The lengths of the radicles produced were significantly (<0.05) reduced with increase in the concentration of the extract and the fractions. The extract had an IC50 of 5 mg/ml while the aqueous fraction was observed to have 1.61 mg/ml. The cytotoxic effects of the tested extract and its fractions were observed to be concentration and time related. The aqueous fraction produced 100 % mortality at the concentration of 100 µg/ml with LC50 of 30 µg/ml whereas the extract produced 96.67 ± 3.33 % mortality at 200 µg/ml with LC50 of LC50 of 62.5 µg/ml. In conclusion, the results obtained confirmed the probable use of B. eurycoma leaves in treating tumour related ailments and the activities are enhanced with partial purification with the aqueous fraction showing higher activities.

Background: Plants materials have been used for medicinal purposes over the years. It is important that natural medicines used in various Nigerian communities are identified and studied for the potentials for standardization and development as sources of new drugs. This survey is an effort in this direction.

Objective: Precisely, the study aimed to survey four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State (Central Nigeria) for the medicinal plants used in the management of tumor related ailments by traditional medical practitioners (TMPs).

Method: Data relating to the identities of the natural medicines, level of education and demographic information of participating TMPs were collected using interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaires. This study is cross-sectional and descriptive, and sampling was purposive. IBM SPSS (V23) software was deployed for data analysis, with p-value set at 0.05 for significance.
Results: A total of forty-five respondents were interviewed (56% male and 44% female). Most of them are fairly educated with 11 to 20 years’ experience as traditional healers. A total of 50 plants were mentioned as being used in the management of tumors and related ailments. Tumor regression was mostly monitored by patients’ verbal responses and physical examinations of affected parts by the practitioner. Most of the healers do not keep records of their treatments.

Conclusion: Several herbs were identified by the TMPs for tumors and related ailments in Kwara, Nigeria. From their responses, the need for improvement is dire. These identified herbs may provide natural sources for drug development of cheaper alternatives in developing countries and globally.