Fabaceae

Tamarindus indica, or the Tamarind tree, known for its numerous health benefits, is a large evergreen tree native to tropical Africa and now found in Asia. Its alcoholic extract has been found to possess hypotensive effects, and this study seeks to evaluate the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Tamarindus indica for vascular smooth muscle relaxation effects, as a possible mechanism of blood pressure reduction. Isolated rat thoracic aortic rings were suspended in an isolated organ bath with a pair of tungsten wires. A 50 mg/mL stock solution of the extract was prepared, from which serial dilutions were done to obtain the concentrations used (25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56 and 0.78 mg/mL), and volumes of 25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 uL were administered cumulatively. The experiment was done using rat thoracic aorta with intact and denuded endothelium, and rat thoracic aorta with intact endothelium, pre-contracted with 80 mM potassium chloride (KCl). The extract caused concentration-dependent relaxation of the rat thoracic aorta with intact and denuded endothelium, though this effect was slightly reduced with denuded endothelium. The extract also caused concentration-dependent relaxation of rat thoracic aorta pre-contracted with 80 mM KCl. From the results obtained from the study, it can be concluded that the extract possesses vascular smooth muscle relaxation effects, which might be both endothelium-dependent and independent, and is possibly mediated through blockade of the L-type Ca 2+ channels. This could be responsible for its blood pressure reduction effects

Lonchocarpus cyanescens (Fabaceae), commonly known as Yoruba Indigo, is a medicinal plant widely utilized in West African ethnomedicine to treat skin infections, ulcers, and inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical constituents of the acetone fraction of L. cyanescens leaves using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to provide a scientific basis for its traditional uses. Dried and powdered leaves were subjected to ethanolic maceration and sequential solvent partitioning to isolate the acetone fraction. Constituents were then identified by comparing their mass spectra against the NIST14 library. The GC-MS analysis led to the tentative identification of 40 distinct compounds, with many key components showing high spectral match quality scores (>80). The chemical profile was predominantly composed of aromatic hydrocarbons, with Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl- (19.05%) being the most abundant constituent. Other major components included various fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), such as Dodecanoic acid, methyl ester (5.18%) and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (4.18%). Biologically relevant minor compounds, including the monoterpene o-Cymene and the anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene Azulene, were also detected. These findings provide a chemical basis for the plant's traditional therapeutic uses and establish a valuable phytochemical fingerprint for future quality control and pharmacological research.