Medicinal Plants

The search for new therapeutic agents derived from natural sources has intensified due to the global rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Medicinal plants remain a significant source of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological potentials. This study examined the phytochemical components and bacterial inhibitory property of the dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of the stem bark of Antiaris toxicaria var. africana, a plant widely used in African ethnomedicine for treating various infections. The stem bark was extracted using 70% ethanol and subsequently fractionated with DCM using column chromatography. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) were employed for chemical characterization. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds with known antibacterial and antioxidant properties, including 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (18.86%), hexadecanoic acid (14.35%), benzoic acid (7.39%), and methyl stearate (6.66%). HPLC profiling confirmed the presence of important phytochemicals such as flavonoids (11.36 µg/mL), proanthocyanidins (13.99 µg/mL), flavanones (9.93 µg/mL), tannins (3.70 µg/mL), cardiac glycosides (5.53 µg/mL), sapogenins (7.96 µg/mL), and steroids (4.70 µg/mL), indicating a rich diversity of secondary metabolites. Antimicrobial testing showed that the extract exhibited inhibitory activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 mm), Bacillus subtilis (18 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (19 mm), Escherichia coli (20 mm), and Enterobacter cloacae (17 mm), but not against Bacillus cereus. Although the extract demonstrated lower activity than the positive control, ciprofloxacin, it displayed broad-spectrum antibacterial potential. Overall, the findings provide scientific validation for the traditional use of A. Toxicaria var. africana in treating bacterial infections.

Migraine is defined as a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe headache, typically unilateral and pulsating in nature, lasting between 4 and 72 hours, and commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. Current migraine treatments are effective but often limited by side effects, high costs, and the risk of medication-overuse headaches. Adverse effects such as vasoconstriction in cardiovascular patients, sedation from ditan, and the metabolic or teratogenic risks of some preventive agents restrict their broader use. These challenges highlight the need for safer, multi-targeted therapies and new compounds that act on established migraine targets like CGRP and 5-HT receptors. This study aims to use in-silico methods to assess the potential anti-migraine activity of phytoconstituents derived from Crassocephalum crepidioides, Nigella sativa, Petasites hybridus and Tanacetum parthenium. Phytoconstituents (493) present in these plants were obtained from literature sources, their 3D SDF structures were downloaded from PubChem. The protein targets: Serotonin 5-HT₁B (6G79), 5-HT₁D (7E32), 5-HT₁F (7EXD) and CGRP (63EY) receptor were obtained from Protein data bank and prepared using BIOVIA Discovery Studio 2020 and PYMOL. Molecular docking, post-docking analysis and ADMET profiling were done using PyRx, BIOVIA discovery studio 2020 and ADMETlab 3.0 web server respectively. Fourteen (14) phytoconstituents present in rassocephalum crepidioides, twenty four (24) phytoconstituents present in Nigella sativa, forty three (43) phytoconstituents present in Petasites hybridus, and thirty nine (39) phytoconstituents present in Tanacetum parthenium had binding affinity comparable to their reference drugs in the range of -6.9 to -11 kcal/mol. ADMET profiling of the phytoconstituents showed good oral bioavailability, and an overall balanced toxicity profile suggesting acceptable safety. These findings suggest that certain phytoconstituents from the selected plants may possess potential anti-migraine activity against key migraine-associated targets

This research aimed to investigate the cytomorphological aspects of Picralima nitida (Stapf) T. Durand & H, Durand and Hunteria umbellata (K.Schumann) H. Hallier, both belonging to the Apocynaceae family, within Edo State. The objectives included studying cytological details, potential evolutionary rates, and distinguishing differences between the two species. Matured plant samples were collected from the University of Benin's botanic garden and various locations in Benin City. Morphological characteristics, leaf length and width, and plant height were examined. Cytological techniques involved observing meiosis in flower buds and obtaining epidermal peels for microscopic analysis. The study revealed various stomatal types and their distribution, contributing to taxonomic insights. Chromosome numbers were assessed, with 2n=22 confirmed for Picralima nitida. The chromosome count for
Hunteria umbellata couldn't be confirmed due to pollen production interference. The constancy of chromosome numbers was emphasized as a crucial species trait. Epidermal characteristics, including cuticle, shape of subsidiary cells, and stomatal wall patterns, were explored for taxonomic and systematic significance. Stomatal abnormalities, such as contiguous stomata in Hunteria umbellata, were observed, suggesting ongoing evolutionary processes.