Aim: Asthma is a condition that affects the airways in human lungs. It causes its (lungs) inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. Conventional therapies used in its management are expensive and have been found to come with undesirable side effects. The use of herbal remedies in treating the disease is widespread especially in local communities with little or no access to primary health care. This indigenous knowledge on the cure of asthma is gradually being lost among the populace. This study is aimed at documenting local remedies used in the management of asthma. Methodology: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Federal Capital Territory (FCT)- Abuja and surrounding communities, among Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs), Herb’s sellers and elderly in the community using semi-structured questionnaire and interview methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ethnobotany index. Results: 80 respondents were interviewed, 58 of them laid claims to knowledge about medicinal plants used in asthma management. Majority of the respondents are Traditional Medicine Practitioners (48%). 59 plants species belonging to 38 plant families was documented with most belonging to the Moraceae plant family (10%). The recipes mentioned were mostly prepared as decoctions which are taken orally with a case of two being by smoking and inhalation. Conclusion: This study has shown that the Federal Capital Territory and settlements within its environ are blessed with medicinal plants used in the management of asthma which serve as a cheap and alternative source of remedy for the local populace and as well, being a repository for scientific inquest that may lead to yet another drug discovery from plant origin used in the management of asthma.
IntroductionPavetta crassipes is a medicinal plant with various documented biological activities. It has a folkloric use as an anti-viral therapy and pharmacologically documented anti-microbial activity. However, its immune modulatory property has not been explored. The study is designed to evaluate the phytochemical profile as well as the anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory potential of the methanol extract of Pavetta crassipes leaf. Methodology In vitro antioxidants activity was determined by nitric oxide inhibitory assay. phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract was also determined. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated using cyclophosphamide induced immunomodulation model in mice. Phytochemical evaluation of leaf extract was done using HPLC analyses. Results were expressed as the mean ± SEM, IC50 value for the antioxidant activity was determined, One-way ANOVA was used for differences in mean followed by Dunnett’s test for multiple comparison for the immunomodulatory activity. To test for level of significance, P< 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe extract had phenolic and flavonoid contents of 17.6 ±0.1 mg/GAE/g and 8.4 ± 0.3 mg/QE/g respectively. The extract also showed nitric oxide inhibitory antioxidant activity with IC50 of 2.3± 0.4 while gallic and ascorbic acid had IC50 of 1.6 ±0.1 and 8.0 ±0.6 respectively. P. crassipes leaf extract indicated a significant (p<0.05) countering influence to cyclophosphamide induced decrease in total white blood count, differential leucocyte counts and red blood count. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of phenolic compounds such a rutin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid. ConclusionThe phytochemical profile, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory properties of the methanol extract of P. crassipes leaf as evaluated in this study corroborates and justifies its folkloric use.
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