Mistletoes of the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae are hemi-parasitic plants and their preparations in the form of injectable extracts, infusions, tinctures, fluid extracts or tea bags are widely used in various cultures in almost every continent to treat or manage various health problems including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory conditions, irregular menstruations, menopause, epilepsy, arthritis, cancer, etc. The medicinal values of some species of Mistletoes (Loranthaceae) growing in the West African sub-region have been reviewed along with some considerations of their chemistries and local uses. These have been compared with Mistletoes (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) growing elsewhere in Europe and Asia. This review has attempted to update our knowledge on the values of these hemi-parasites which belong to the genera -Globimetula, Phragmanthera, Agelanthus and Tapinanthus, and which have, for years, been seen as only devastating and notorious plants. They are also seen as epiphyting economic, ornamental and medicinal plants. The hemi-parasitic plants (Mistletoes) are not well understood as very little is known about their biology (taxonomy, host/plant relationship, ecology, toxicology, physiological characteristics, etc.) and chemistry (chemical constituents' profile). Some pharmacological studies carried out on the various crude alcoholic extracts and purified fractions have, however, revealed that mistletoes showed hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, antilipidaemic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc. effects and were non-toxic in experimental animals at the doses used. The findings showed that mistletoes can be very useful as medicinal agents in ameliorating health problems such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis, pain, cancer and a host of other ailments if properly studied and developed.
The major characters which account for the variation among the mango varieties in Nigeria were studied using PCA and SCLA. Thirty-one varieties were collected in all ecological zones of the country. Altogether 64 characters were observed and coded for analysis. The results from both methods divided the varieties into two or four groups. The PCA showed that the combination of qualitative and quantitative data as well as combination of few vegetative characters with many reproductive characters are important for mango classification. The primary and secondary characters in classification of mango varieties are discussed.
The efficacies of some indigenous herbal dyes for use in staining plant materials were examined to obtain non-toxic, eco-friendly and cheap stains for use in plant histology. Dye extracts from Bixa orellana, Curcuma domestica, Lonchocarpus cyanescens and Pterocarpus osun were used to stain wood sections using the existing standard staining procedures with little modification. All the extracts had affinity for the fibre and vessel elements except the extract from L. cyanescens.The extracts from C. domestica and B. orellana had higher selectivity than those of P. osun for fibre. From the results of the absorbance curves, each of the dye extracts from all speciese had minimum of two peaks, indicating that they had two or more colour imparting chromophores except dye extract from C. domestica. All the dye extracts were acidic with pH range of 3.77 to 6.77. Therefore, this study shows that dye extracts from B. orellana, C. domestica and P. osun could be solitarily or in combination with artificial dyes for plant histological staining.
The foliar anatomy of four Celosia species occurring in southwestern Nigeria is described. The distinguishing characteristics of taxonomic value include the petiole shapes in distal, median and proximal regions, arrangement of vascular supply to the petioles, presence or absence of protuberances on the polar ends of the stomata and size as well as the arrangement of crystals in the leaf blade. The use of anatomy in distinguishing two closely related species C. argentea and C, cristata is discussed.
Macromorphological characters of some species of Cassia L. emend. Gaertner, Senna Miller and Chamaecrista Moench occurring in South Western Nigeria were studied. The aim was to search for stable, distinctive and diagnostic characters for the identification of these genera and their species. Qualitative characters were noted and recorded while quantitative observations were done by the use of a metric ruler and the measurements were taken to the nearest centimeters. The habit ranges from all shrubs in Senna, shrubs and herbs in Chamaecrista while the Cassia species studied are all trees. The shape of the leaflet apex varies in both Senna and Cassia species, while it is distinctly mucronate in Chamaecrista genus. Occurrence of foliaceous stipule in the genus Chamaecrista clearly separates it from Senna and Cassia, which are completely exstipulate. In general, other characters such as number of leaflet pairs, length and width of leaflets, leaflet base, and number of leaflets lateral nerves revealed generic distinctions. Others include the degree of hairiness in sepals, petals shape, types of inflorescence, fruit shape and fruit length. The attributes that delimits the species are mainly quantitative. The results of this investigation suggest macromorphological characters that clearly enhance the taxonomy of these genera and their species and they can be subsequently employed in their delimitation.
A qualitative and quantitative morphological study of eleven species representing four genera in the family Combretaceae was conducted in search of inter-and intra-generic characters which may be of taxonomic use in the identification and classification of the family, as well as enhancing the understanding of the taxonomy of the family. Collection of accessions was done from different parts of southern Nigeria. Life plants, fruits, flowers and seeds from mature plants were collected and subjected to morphological studies. Both qualitative and quantitative characters were recorded. Quantitative data were subjected to analysis of variance, single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA) and principal components analysis (PCA). Morphological characters which separate the taxa include leaf shape, leaf apex, presence of hairs, and colour of reproductive parts such as pedicel, stamen, sepal, petal, style and stigma. Quantitative vegetative and reproductive morphological characters vary significantly (P = .05) among the taxa. The presence of undulating leaf margins and cladodromous venation in Terminalia mantaly, an introduced species is diagnostic for the species.
The systematic relationship existing among members of the all important genus Jatropha was studied using leaf protein electrophoresis. The aim was to identify possible taxonomic importance of the protein profile in the estimation and elucidation of the taxonomic affinity of the six species of Jatropha ( Jatropha curcas Linn., J. podagrica Hook., J. gossypifolia Linn., J. mutifida Linn., J. tanjorensis Ellis & Saroja and J. integerrima Linn.) found in Nigeria. The species were screened for total protein banding patterns using gel electrophoresis. Young leaves (0.8 g) of the plants were washed with distilled water and macerated with sterile mortar and pestle in 0.8% Phosphate Buffer-Saline (PBS) containing 0.4 M NaCl at pH 8.0. Results reveal that protein banding pattern was taxon specific. Generic band occurs at 8.3. The highest number of interspecific bands (4) exists between J. podagrica and J. multifida. Variations exist not only in the number of bands but also in the intensity of the bands. Sokal and Sneath coefficient of similarity ranges between 11.1-44.4 %. Single linkage Cluster Analysis (SLCA) of the relative mobility values of the protein in the taxa shows partial agreement with current sub generic and sectional delimitation of the species based on morphology and anatomy of the species.
This paper presents a synthesis of a comparative leaf anatomy (lamina and petiole) of five species of the genus Terminalia found in southwest Nigeria. Collections of plants were made from different locations in Southwest Nigeria as the geographic locations of the sites of collection were also geo-referenced with a GPS device. The samples were identified at the Herbarium of Botany Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (Ife), Nigeria, and were subjected to anatomical examinations. Quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis and the characters vary significantly (P = 0.05). Anatomical characters which separate the taxa include petiole outline, epidermal features, vascular pattern, occurence of cortical and pericyclic fibres, presence/absence of, and types of trichomes etc, all found to be useful in identification of different species. The variations in the anatomical traits could be effectively used in taxonomic delimitation of the species and are helpful characters in determining the complexes in the genus such as adaptation of the species to xeric environments. The presence of 2-3 layers of palisade mesophyll cells in Terminalia mantaly, which is an adaptation of the species to drought, is diagnostic for the species. It is suggested that a comprehensive consideration of leaf lamina and petiole anatomy should be used as basis of taxonomy.
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