Journal Article

The significant mortality related to cancer diseases has ignited a sustained wave of research by scientists to improve cancer management through optimized medical facilities, development of immunotherapeutic biologicals, molecular inhibitors and discovery of anticancer agents from medicinal plants. Lonchocarpus griffonianus (Baill) Dunn Fabaceae) is used to treat tumourrelated ailments in Nigeria. This study aimed to validate the folkloric use of this plant as an antitumor agent using two simple benchtop assays. The stem and root bark of the plant were extracted with absolute methanol using a Soxhlet extractor. Cytotoxic and growth-attenuation effects of the methanol extracts were evaluated using Raniceps raninus (tadpole fish) and Sorghum bicolor seeds radicle. Similarly, the aqueous and dichloromethane fractions of the stem bark extract were assessed. Results showed that the methanol extracts possess dose dependent cytotoxic nd growth-suppression activity, with the stem bark being the most potent. The stem bark extract (80 µg/mL) caused statistically significant (p<0.0001) 100 % mortality in the tadpoles. Growth-suppression effect of the same extract was 96 % at 30 mg/mL after 96 hours. Similarly dichloromethane fraction exhibited significant (P<0.0001) cytotoxic activity, 80 µg/mL exerted 100 ± 0.00% mortality to the tadpole, while 80 µg/mL of the aqueous fraction only caused 3.33 ± 3.33 % mortality which was not significant when compared to the control at P<0.0001. 30 mg/mL exerted a significant (P<0.0001) growth suppression of 1.27±0.19 mm (77.39 % suppression) within 24 hours which increased to 1.91±0.27 mm (81.81% suppression) by 96 hours. This study has validated the folkloric use of the plant as an antitumor agent.

Background: The blood pressure-lowering effect of aqueous leaves extract of Phyllanthus amarus has been reported in earlier work in normotensive albino rabbits. The effects of organic solvent fractions were evaluated in Wistar rats.
Methods: The aqueous fraction obtained from the crude extract of the leaves was evaluated for blood pressure-lowering effect in anaesthetized normotensive Wistar rats, at the graded doses of 2.5-40 mg/kg after which it was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) using combinations of chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. This yielded eleven fractions which were bulked into six samples (A-F) after thin layer chromatograph analysis, and samples A, B and C were evaluated for activities on the blood pressure of hypertensive Wistar rats at the graded doses of 5 to 20 mg/kg. Fraction “C” showed the highest blood pressure lowering effect and was further subjected to column chromatographic and VLC analysis, to obtain fraction (BVLC2) which was evaluated for possible blood
pressure lowering effect in hypertensive Wistar rats.

Results: The aqueous fraction caused a dose dependent decrease in the blood pressure of normotensive Wistar rats, decreasing the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) from a basal level of 104.58 ± 8.29 mmHg to 45.22 ± 6.71 mmHg (p<0.0001; 66.4%) at the dose of 40 mg/kg. Fraction “C” caused significant decrease in the MAPfrom 116.99 ± 10.28 mmHg to 68.33 ± 6.78 mmHg (p < 0.001; 0.01%) at the dose of 20 mg/kg, while the fraction BVLC2 decreased the MAPfrom 146.11 ± 8.29 mmHg to 79.33 ± 6.18 mmHg (***p< 0.001) at the dose of 10 mg/kg, indicating a trend of increasing potency along the course of purification.

Conclusion: The aqueous fraction of the leaves of Phyllanthus amarus yielded column chromatographic sample (BVLC2), that might possibly serve as a lead sample from which pure active hypotensive constituent(s) could be isolated.

Purpose: To examine the phytochemical constituents and verify the ethnomedical claim of Newbouldia laevis (P.Beauv.) Seeman ex Bureau Bignoniaceae in treating septic wounds and eye problems. Methods: Applying standard methods, the phytochemical constituents of the stem bark were examined while the antibacterial potentials of the methanol extract of the stem bark and its organic solvent fractions were tested on clinical bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes using the agar - well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were used as standard controls. The time-kill kinetics of the methanol stem bark extract and ciprofloxacin were determined using isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the stem bark revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids with no traces of cyanogenic glycosides. The 65 bacterial pathogens isolated included Proteus mirabilis (26.0 %) and Pseudomonas aeurginosa (17.4 %) from non-diabetic patients’ wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (32.0 %) and Escherichia coli (16.0%) from diabetic patients’ wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (35.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35.3 %) from infected eyes. The chloroform fraction was observed to be more active on Gram- negative organisms while the aqueous fraction was more active on Gram-positive organisms. Time-kill kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus showed that the extract was bactericidal (99.9 % killing) at MIC and 2 x MIC after 24 and 3 hours, respectively.

Conclusion: The study has established that the stem bark of Newbouldia laevis has antibacterial activities against bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes as claimed in ethnomedicinal practice.

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.

There is already a literature report on the anti-ulcer effect of water extract of Ficus exasperata. Some communities in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria use the decoction of the leaf as hypotensive crude drug. Verification of this claim and also the microscopy and other pharmacognostic parameters which can be used to establish the identity of the leaf were carried out. The microscopy of the leaf powder revealed the presence of straight walled epidermal cells, cone or nail shaped trichomes or epidermal hairs, clustered or prismatic calcium oxalate crystals of varying dimensions. The percentage weight loss on drying was 9.84 ± 0.08 whereas water and alcohol extractive values were 5.29 ± 0.07 and 2.21 ± 0.11, respectively. The ash value was 30.68 ± 0.44 whereas the acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash values were 17.87 ± 0.37 and 16.73 ± 0.13, respectively. Preliminary phytochemistry of leaf showed that it contains tannins, flavonoids and saponins with no traces of alkaloids or anthraquinones. The water extract showed a dose related reduction in mean arterial blood pressure. At 10 mg/kg, a reduction of 16.6 ± 1.1mmHg was observed, whereas at 30 mg/kg, a fall in mean arterial pressure of 38.3 ± 0.6 mmHg was obtained. The hypotensive effect of the extract was significantly reduced with a prior administration of 2.5 mg of either atropine or chlorpheniramine. This suggests the probable stimulation of muscarinic receptors in the heart or release of histamine into the circulatory system thereby causing the initial fall in blood pressure.

Use of synthetic chemicals in addressing livestock attacks by ticks has negative effects on animals, handlers and the environment. These problems necessitate search for potent alternatives in bioacaricides particularly volatile oils. Acaricidal effects of hydro-distilled volatile oils from the fresh leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora, Ocimum gratissimum (OG) and Callistemon citrinus were evaluated on ticks obtained from infested cattle using topical method at varying concentrations in acetone. For each concentration, ten ticks of similar species were placed in Petri dishes and administered 20µL of the mixture of volatile oil and acetone. Acetone (20µL) was used as control and the effects were observed for 24 h. Out of three tick species identified, Rhipicephalus microplus was most abundant and most sensitive
to the oils. Others are Amblyomma hebraeum and Hyalomma rufipes (most resistant). The volatile oil of OG was the
most potent with LC50 of < 2 % (< 0.4 µL), < 2 % and 7.97% (1.59 µL) on the organisms respectively. The 5% of OG produced 100% mortality on R. microplus in 10-25 min while 20% concentration produced 100% mortality on H.
rufipes in 24 h. Volatile oils of these plants particularly OG can serve as potent alternative bio-acaricidal agents to
chemicals.

The in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant studies of the leaf extract and fractions of Conyza sumatrensis was investigated by applying the SulforhodamineB and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assays (DPPH-RSA) respectively. While the antiproliferative activity was carried out at 1-250 and 1-100 µg/ mL for the extract and fractions against breast (MCF-7) and lung (NCI-H460) cancer cell lines, the antioxidant study was conducted using DPPH at 31.25 -500 µg/ mL with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents calculated as well with reference to quercetin and gallic acid respectively. The extract and fractions were observed to elicit cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects against breast (MCF-7) and lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H460) respectively. At 250 µg/mL, the extract of C. sumatrensis gave cytotoxicity of –1.76 ± 0.20 % against MCF-7 cell lines and inhibited growth of NCI-H460 at +94.40 ± 1.0 % respectively. While the chloroform fraction at 100 µg/mL gave -5.38 ± 0.33 % and 91 ± 1.61 % against MCF-7 and NCI-H460 cell lines, the aqueous fraction was observed to be inactive. For the DPPH-RSA activity, the chloroform fraction demonstrated an IC50 value of 125.5 µg/ mL compared to quercetin at 62.5 µg/mL. The bioactivities were more pronounced in the chloroform fraction. This work has shown that C. sumatrensis has antiproliferative and antioxidant activities which could be tied to the secondary metabolites present in the plant.

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.

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