E.O OSHOMOH

Bryophyllum pinnatum, commonly known as “Miracle Leaf,” has long been employed in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections and various oxidative stress-related ailments. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of B. pinnatum. Fresh leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol and distilled water. The extraction yields were determined, revealing a higher yield for the aqueous extract (18.3%) compared to the ethanol extract (14.3%). Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening indicated the presence of diverse bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, and anthraquinones in both extracts. Quantitative analysis showed that the ethanol extract contained higher concentrations of flavonoids (31.63 mg/g), phenolics (37.06 mg/g), and alkaloids (21.06 mg/g), whereas the aqueous extract exhibited elevated saponin content (31.57 mg/g). The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The ethanol extract demonstrated superior free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 63.11 µg/mL) and reducing power (345.5 µmol Fe²⁺/g) compared to the aqueous extract, correlating with its higher phenolic and flavonoid contents. ntimicrobial activity was evaluated against clinically relevant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger using agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration/minimum fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) methods. Both extracts displayed dose-dependent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, with Gram-positive bacteria being more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi showing the least sensitivity. Notably, the ethanol extract exhibited greater potency, requiring lower concentrations to inhibit and kill test organisms. These findings collectively validate the ethnomedicinal use of B. pinnatum and highlight the influence of extraction solvent on bioactivity. The study underscores the potential of the ethanol leaf extract as a promising source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, warranting further pharmacological and mechanistic investigations for therapeutic development

Polyherbal formulations are widely utilized across the globe and have gained increasing recognition due to their natural origin and minimal side effects. These combinations enhance therapeutic potency while reducing the required concentrations of individual herbal components. This research investigates the hematological effects of a polyherbal aqueous extract in phenyl hydrazine induced anemic Wistar rats. The plant materials were collected, processed, and formulated into the polyherbal aqueous extract. Thirty-six rats were randomly assigned into six groups: positive control, negative control, normal control, and three treatment groups receiving different doses of the extract. Variations in body and organ weights were assessed, and blood samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters. The results revealed significant differences in white blood cells, lymphocytes, mid-sized cells, granulocytes, platelets, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit, and platelet large cell ratio compared to the control groups. These findings support the ethnomedicinal use of the selected plants as anti-anemic agents and highlight their potential for further preclinical and clinical evaluation. Overall, the study suggests that the polyherbal aqueous extract may serve as a promising alternative therapy for anaemia