The Asteraceae family of plants is a widely distributed medicinal plant throughout the world and has been used since ancient time. Members of this family have been used traditionally as astringent, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diaphoretic in fevers, smooth muscle relaxant, nerve tonics, laxatives and for the treatment of wounds, bleedings, headache, pains, spasmodic diseases, flatulence, dyspepsia dysentery, lumbago, leucorrhoea, hemorrhoids, gangrenous ulcer and disorders causing cachexia.Phytochemical investigations of the Asteraceae family have revealed that many components from this family are highly bioactive. There are many reports on the mentioned herbal effects. Although, the medicinal properties ofplants belonging to the Asteraceae family are recognized worldwide, there is no review article mainly about the structures of the phytochemical constituents of the plant of the asteraceaefamily. The present paper reviews the medicinal properties alongside with peculiar phytoconstituent of various plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. Various medicinal effects of these plants may be due to the presence of a broad range of secondary bioactive metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpenes) and sterols which have been frequently reported from the Asteraceae family.

Bacterial pathogens were isolated from some Nigerian packaged fruit juices. The isolates were characterized and identified as Bacillus licheniformis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus circulans, Proteus morganii, Pseudomonas cepacia, Bacillus alvei and Pseudomonas chlororaphis. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the seven isolates was determined and it was discovered that 65% of the microorganisms isolated were resistance to the antibiotic used while 35% were sensitive. The effect of pH, benzoic acid and sodium chloride concentration on the growth rate of isolates was investigated. It was found that as the pH of the growth medium increased from 3 to 9, the rate of growth of most isolates also increased except for Pseudomonas cepacia, which had optimum growth at neutral pH 7. As the concentration of sodium chloride increased from 2 to 5%, the rate of growth of all the seven isolates decreased. It was also noted that as concentration of benzoic acid increased from 250 to 1000 mg L(-1) Bacillus licheniformis decreased from 1.330 to 0.167 nm, Aeromonas hydrophila decreased from 1.208 to 0.164 nm Bacillus circulans decreases from 1.158 to 0.299 nm, Proteus morganii decreases from 1.377 to 0.141 nm etc. The higher the concentration of Benzoic acid the lower the rate of growth of the isolates.

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Chemical tests were carried out on the aqueous extracts of the air-dried powders of two tropical moss plants, <i>Thidium gratum</i> and <i>Barbula indica</i> using standard procedures, to identify the phytochemical constituents. The extracts were screened for the presence and quantities of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and steroids with a view to assess their therapeutic values in ethnomedicine. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and steroids in varying quantities in the two moss plants but there was absence of phenol in <i>Barbula indica</i>. These results suggest that the two moss plants can be veritable and potential source of useful drugs in treatment of ailments

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The present study was carried out to determine the phytochemical and anti nutritional composition of some selected edible mushrooms collected in Ekiti State, Nigeria such as Pleurotus sajor-caju, Termitomyces robustus, Lentinus squarosullus, Termitomyces microcarpous, Termitomyces clypeatus, Lentinus tuber-regium and Polyporus sp. The results of phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids (0.03-0.17%), saponin (0.03-0.12%), total phenols (0.12-4.32%), flavonoids (0.20-6.04%) and tannins (0.04-2.60%). The least concentration of all the phytochemicals was found in Polyporus sp. Results of anti nutrient screening revealed the presence of phytate (0.17-0.34mg/g), oxalate (1.87-4.04mg/g) and cyanide (0.05-0.27mg/g). Furthermore, results revealed significant differences in the phytochemical as well as anti nutritional composition of the mushrooms though some species had similar compositions. The obtained values of phytochemicals and anti nutrients were significantly lower in all the mushroom species compared to their toxic levels according to World Health Organization stipulated safe limits. Thus, the study suggests that all the mushroom species are very safe for consumption while the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenols and flavonoids indicate medicinal potentials. Hence, screening and characterization of the secondary metabolites are required.

The crude extracts obtained from two tropical moss species namely: Philonotis hastata (Duby) Wijk & Margad and Barbula lambaranensis C. Mull were analysed with a view to identifying the bioactive compounds present in them. The mosses were collected from their natural population and air dried at ambient temperature in the laboratory for fourteen days. The aqueous extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis using standard methods while the n- hexane extracts were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids (0.189mg/g), saponins (0.047mg/g) and flavonoids (22.35QE/g) in P. hastata while the alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids content in B. lambaranensis were 0.184mg/g, 0.037mg/g and 14.18QE/g respectively. Steroids and reducing sugars were also present in the two moss species. The results of the GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 23 compounds in P. Hastate with 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- methyl ester, cis-Vaccenic acid, Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and 1- Phenanthrenecarboxylic acid, tetradecahydro-7-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethlidene)-1,4a,8-trimethyl-9-oxo-, methyl ester forming the major components while in B. lambaranensis, 31 compounds were present from which Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, 13-Tetradecenal, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)- methyl ester and Hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl ester formed the prominent components. Five compounds: Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, n-Hexadecanoic acid, cis-Vaccenic acid, Octadecanoic acid and 9-Octadecanoic acid methyl ester were commonly identified in the two moss species. The identified compounds are considered to be biologically and pharmacologically important. Further investigation on the identified bioactive compounds from the studied moss species will be beneficial to formulate novel drugs for the treatment and management ...

A Lipomyces strains was isolated from shear butter leaf (Vitellaria paradoxa) by placing the leaf sample in 10 ml of sterile distilled water containing 0.002 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and incubated for 3 days at 28 o C. A drop of this was subsequently streaked nitrogen free medium. For determination of growth rate and volume of lipid produced, 24 h culture of the Lipomyces species isolated was washed into each of the following medium: yeast extract both (YE), nitrogen free broth (NF), maize broth free of salts (MF), maize broth with salts (MB), sorghum broth with salts (SB) and sorghum broth free of salts (SF). These were incubated for 7 days at 28 o C on a shaker, and the lipid produced was extracted by using diethyl ether. The Lipomyces species was found to be able to grow and produce lipid more efficiently in yeast extract broth than in other medium used. The organism produced 25 ml of lipid per 8 g of glucose in yeast extract broth.