Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) and
The process of hemostasis involves the body turning blood into a thick, gel-like mass at the site of injury or damage in order to stop bleeding. Africa and Latin America are the native habitats of Aspilia africana (Family Asteraceae). Hemorrhage plant and wild Sunflower are frequent names for this plant, which grows in savanna wastelands and forested areas. Conyza canadensis (Family Asteraceae) is commonly known as Canadian horseweed or Canadian fleabane. It is present in all warm nations, but because of its global distributions from America, it is thought to have originated there and spread to the rest of the world. This study investigated hemostatic activities of the leaves extract of Aspilia africana and Conyza canadensis on mice. Fresh leaves of the plant samples were extracted with methanol and thirty-two (32) mice grouped into eight of four mice were used for the study. Incision was made on the tail of each mouse. Warfarin, a standard drug (3 mg/kg), was used as positive control while each plant extract was made into concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The bleeding time (seconds) of breaking tail and volume of bleeding were measured to evaluate the hemostatic activity after administration of treatments for 5 days (once per day). The results of this study showed reduction in the volume of bleeding in all the treatment groups when compared to untreated (negative control) group but highest activity was recorded in warfarin (Positive control). Aspilia africana (200 mg/kg) methanol extract (1.12±0.01) was not statistically different from the mean values of warfarin (1.11±0.01). The results of bleeding time (Seconds) in tails of the mice of warfarin, Aspilia africana methanol extract and Conyza canadensis methanol extract groups reduced when compared to the negative control group, but Aspilia africana extract gave highest activity at 200 mg/kg. The significant ability of Aspilia africana leaves extract to effectively arrest bleeding from fresh wounds and accelerate wound healing process might be attributed to the metabolites present. However, further studies should be carried out on its toxicity and mechanism of actions.
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve analgesia, relief from pain without loss of consciousness. Pain is one of the devastating health problems commonly treated with medicinal plants. Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax (Family Dioscoreaceae) is one of the popular species of yam, usually found in Africa and mostly consumed in West Africa. Tragia benthamii Bak. is an herbaceous twining or trailing plant which belongs to the Euphobiaceae family. The plant is indigenous to Ivory Coast extending wide spread across Africa including Nigeria. This study investigated the analgesic activities of Dioscorea dumetorum and Tragia benthamii leaves’ methanol extract on mice. Acetic acid-induced writhing method was engaged. Thirty-two (32) healthy and energetic mice were grouped into eight (8) of four (4) mice. Indomethacin (25 mg/kg) was administered to the positive control group, negative control group received distilled water (10 ml/kg) while each extract treatment groups received 50, 100, 200 mg/kg respectively. Analgesic activities of the plants’ extract were assessed by counting the number of writhes for 30 minutes after a latency period of 5 minutes. Reduction in the number of writhes as compared to the control groups was considered as evidence for analgesic potential of the plants. In this study, the positive control (Indomethacin), D. dumetorum and T. benthamii significantly decreased the mean number of abdominal constrictions or writhes in a dose dependent manner following the order of 200>100>50 mg/kg. The result showed that the potency of the two plants’ extract was superior to that of Indomethacin but T. benthamii (200 mg/kg) exhibited higher analgesic activity. Values of reduction time in writhing were significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatments. This research revealed effective potential analgesic effects of D. dumetorum and T. benthamii which could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals in them. Therefore, further studies to explain their mechanisms of action should be conducted to aid the discovery of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of pains.
Background: Nigeria as a multi-ethnic and multi-regional nation is blessed with a great diversity of traditional approaches to common diseases of mankind. Thus, ethnomedicinal surveys are key in reconciling long existing therapeutic approaches as bedrocks for drug discovery to ailing diseases of man today. Objective of Study: An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out in Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Oyo States of South-western region of Nigeria where mostly the Yoruba people live; to identify and document medicinal plants used in the management of cancer. Methods: Herbalists, traditional healers, herb sellers, old men and women who have information regarding the use of herbs either by inheritance or by trainings were questioned with the help of a well-structured questionnaire. A sample size of 200 respondents was randomly chosen with the help of their (community) leaders. Data on the local names, methods of preparation and the plant parts used were collected and analyzed to determine their frequency of citation, species use value and informant consensus factor (ICF). Results: A total of 126 plant species (belonging to 112 genera and 119 families) used in the treatment of 20 types of cancer were identified. Members of the family Fabaceae (10 species) were the most widely used. It was observed that Bryophyllum pinnatum and Tetrapleura tetraptera were the most frequently cited species for the treatment of cancer. Analysis revealed 14 plant parts used in the treatment of cancer by the practitioners. Result also showed that bone and kidney cancers had highest degree of consensus from informants (0.5 each). Conclusion: Bioassay guided fractionation is required on the most frequently cited plant species such that adequate information based on ethnomedicinal practice for the treatment of cancer in South-Western Nigeria can be kept for successive generation. New anti-cancer herbal medicines may also be discovered to alleviate the suffering of mankind.
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