Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing a more natural clarification than the existing one. The foliar and floral morphology of these species were described while the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem and root are valuable characters in delimiting the species. The results obtained from the studies showed that species of Phyllanthus have different attributes in their vascular characteristics that could be used together with other existing systematic evidence in clarifying the confusion in identifying these plants. Evidence from the nature of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll, nature of the collenchyma, sclerenchyma and vascular bundles are presented and discussed with their values in the systematic positions of these plants. A dichotomous bracketed key to the identification of the species studied is provided.
The leaves of six medicinal plant species Anacardium occidentale, Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, Cymbopogon citratus, Psidium guajava and Vernonia amygdaline, widely used in Abia State, Nigeria were analyzed with a view to compare their phytochemical and mineral constituents. Result indicates that the bioactive contents of the leaves varied significantly (p< 0.05) among the medicinal plants; Cymbopogon citratus contained significantly higher concentration of phenols (0.27 a ±0 01), steroids (0.37 a ±0.02) and flavonoids (0.84 a ±0.02) than the other medicinal plants used for this study while there was no significant difference in phenol concentration between Cymbopogon citratus and Vernonia amgydalina. The concentration of alkaloids was significantly higher in Vernonia amgydalina (2.78 a ±0.02) than other species. Pisdium guajava had the lowest concentration of alkaloids (2.78 a ±0.02). While the result of minerals shows that the plants contained Ca, Mg, Na, K, and P. Vernonia amygdaline, Carica papaya and Anacardium occidentale have highest amount of Ca (0.21 a ±0.02 , 0.20 a ±0.02 and 0.19 a ±0.02) respectively and there was no significant difference in their calcium contents. Azadirachta indica had highest significant amount of Mg (0.45 a ±0.01) and K (0.34 a ±0.01) while Cymbopogon citratus had the least of all the mineral contents analyzed Vernonia amygdalina,Carica papaya and Anacardium occidentale had highest amount of Ca(0.21 a ±0.02, 0.20 a ±0.02 and 0.19 a ±0.02) respectively, however, there was no significant difference of calcium contained in the three species. Carica papaya had highest significant amount of phosphorus (0.38 a ±0.02) and there was no significant difference between Vernonia sp (0.30 b ±0.01), Psidium guajava (0.28 b ±0.01) and Anacardium sp (0.27 b ±0.02). Azadirachta indica had the highest significant amount of Mg(0.45 a ±0.01) and K(0.34 a ±0.01) and Vernonia sp highest significant amount of Na (0.46 a ±0.01) while Cymbopogon sp had the lowest amount of Mg(0.13 e ±0.01), Na (0.11 e ±0.01) , K (0.18 c ±0.01) and P (0.15 c ±0.01).
An assessment and investigation into three species of Cassia namely Cassia alata Linn., Cassia occidentalisLinn. and Cassia sieberiana DC. belonging to the family of Fabaceae (subfamily Caesalpinoideae) was carried out with the aim of identifying and quantifying the bioactive components of these ornamental shrubs. The alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, steroid, phenol and tannin contents of the vegetative and reproductive parts of these plants viz. the leaves, stems, roots and pods were screened and compared. All the plant parts investigated contained appreciable amount of alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins ranging from (1.24 ± 0.06% -4.06 ± 0.51%), (1.18 ± 0.0% -2.68 ± 0%) and (2.20 ± 0.03% -4.28 ± 0%) respectively. Tannin contents on the plant parts were equally high (1.12 ± 0.01% -1.54 ± 0.01%), while the phenol contents ranged from (0.13 ± 0% -0.36 ± 0%) respectively. These analytical results suggest the plants have a significant role in phyto-medicine. The importance of these plants was discussed in line with the role they play in ethno-medicinal life of the people.
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