The Igbo people of the South-eastern part of Nigeria claims that a combination of Ehirta and honey has therapeutic effect for Ulcer. The study was designed to scientifically evaluate the phytochemical composition of E. hirta and the safety of the phytomedicine. Nine hundred gram (900 g) of E. hirta gave an average yield of 49.05 g of the extract and this gave percentage yield of 5.45% when extracted with continuous extraction process of Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical screenings of E. hirta showed that the extract contains alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Flavonoids and Unsaturated steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed that LD 50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The phytomedicine of E. hirta combined with did not produce significant changes in the blood biochemical and haematological parameters. Though slight reductions were witnessed in blood ALT the phytomedicine drugs has no significant effect on the liver and other vital organs like the kidney, the heart, spleen, intestine and the brain except the lungs that witnessed slight alveoli congestion. The study revealed that E. hirta combined with honey is safe for consumption.
Introduction: Fungal endophytes of medicinal plants origin are gaining increasing interest as sources of novel bioactive agents with therapeutic capacity. This study was designed to identify and evaluate secondary metabolites isolated from Fusarium equiseti; an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum for their antimicrobial potentials. Methods: The isolation and molecular identification of the endophytic fungus, as well as fermentation, and extraction of secondary metabolites were carried out following standard laboratory procedures. The crude extract was partially purified by partitioning into different fractions using column chromatographic techniques and the fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity. The phytoconstituents in the bioactive fractions were detected by dereplication using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography linked with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). Results: Our findings showed that fraction 4 (DCM/ Methanol fraction 95:5) exhibited moderate to strong inhibition against the test micro-organisms namely, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans with MIC values in the range of 0.03 to 1 mg/mL but had no inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Salmonella typhi. The compounds detected in the HPLC assay include Phomoxanthone A, Scalarolide, equisetin, epi-equisetin an episomer of equisetin, Naamine A, Carbonarone A, destruxin B, cytosporin G, and WLIP (β-hydroxydecanoyl-Leu1-D Glu-De-Thr-Dval-DLeu3 DSer-Leu-Dser-Ile). These compounds have been reported to possess antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: The detection of these metabolites further confirms the potential of the endophytic fungus, Fusarium equiseti isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum as a potential source of bioactive molecules for treatment of infectious diseases.
Stomach ulcer is an endemic gastrointestinal disorder which constitutes a major public health problem all over the world. Stomach ulcer results when there is an imbalance between the protective factors (mucus and bicarbonate) and aggressive factors (acid and pepsin) in the stomach. Dried powdered leaves and stem of the phytomedicine Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) (1000 g) was extracted with methanol using a soxhlet apparatus. The evaluation of the phytochemical constituents of E. hirta and acute toxicity (to ascertain the safety of using the phytomedicine over a short period of time) was carried out. The antiulcer and gastroprotective effects of crude extract of E. hirta combined with honey in rats were evaluated. The study model using 0.6 M HCl model of ulceration was used to evaluate the antiulcer and gastroprotective activities of the phytomedicine. The soxhlet extraction of E. hirta gave a yield of 54.5 g of crude extract (5.45%). Phytochemical screening of E. hirta showed that the extract contains alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, and unsaturated steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The study showed that the crude extract of E. hirta at 200 mg/kg when administered alone had 54% inhibition of ulceration while when administered together with honey increased to 94% inhibition of ulceration, but honey alone had 89.47% inhibition of ulceration. This implied that E. hirta when combined with honey had a synergistic effect and enhanced the inhibition of ulceration, and this could be seen by the protection of the gastric mucosa. The study of the phytomedicine E. hirta combined with honey revealed that the phytomedicine has antiulcer activities against 0.6 M HCl-induced gastric ulcer in rats. This therefore validates usage and claim by the Igbo people of the southeastern part of Nigeria that the phytomedicine of E. hirta combined with honey has good antiulcer potential.
Endophytes have continued to gain fame due to their ability to produce an array of secondary metabolites within the host system with huge untapped pharmacological potentials. This study was carried out to further identify and isolate novel therapeutic compounds from Fusarium equiseti, an Endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum. Endophytic fungal isolation, fungal fermentation, and extraction of secondary metabolites were carried out using standard laboratory methods. The crude extracts of Fusarium equiseti were subjected to further chromatographic techniques using vacuum liquid chromatography, Sephadex LH 20 and semipreparative HPLC for isolation of bioactive compounds. The fractions and the isolated compounds obtained were further subjected to high performance liquid chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). The analytical HPLC led to the further detection of many bioactive compounds namely: Enniatin A, Aureonitol, Serasinoside H1, Altenusin, Aplysinamisin, benzylnitril, ruspolinone and Orientin. Semipreparative HPLC led to the isolation of 6 pure compounds of which two were identified as benzylnitril, and ruspolinone. The remaining four were not identified due to lack of library hits. The detected and the isolated compounds have been previously shown to exhibit a wide array of biological activities including antiviral, antifungal, hepatoprotection, antibacterial, anticancer, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties. The unidentified compounds may hold enormous potential as new bioactive lead compounds for development into novel therapeutic agents. Therefore, the Endophytic fungus, Fusarium equiseti should be harnessed for its potential pharmacological, pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications.
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenal mucosa. This study was aimed at evaluating the antiulcer activity of the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa (black seed) and its constitutents. The pharmacognostic properties of the dry seeds were determined. The seeds were extracted using two methods digestion and hydro-distillation. The acute toxicity, phytochemical constituents and the antiulcer evaluation were performed on ethanol-induced ulcer in wistar rats using a standard method. FTIR and GC-MS analysis of the aqueous seed extract was also determined using standard methods. Nigella sativa seed shows the presence of starch grains, lignified tissues, tannins, cellulose, protein and oil globules. The aqueous extract has a high safety margin. The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, fats and oil. The black seed aqueous and oil extract at 500 mg/kg significantly reduced the acidity, total acidity, and ulcer index, and pH of gastric content when compared with the positive control (Famotidine). The FTIR analysis identified the presence of the following functional groups chloro, ether, amine, carboxylic acid, nitriles, methylene, alcohol, while the GC-MS identified five compounds such as glycerin, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid-methyl ester, 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid and 9, 12-octadecadienoyl chloride. The pharmacognostic properties can act as a reliable tool for the standardization of the plant part. This study suggests that aqueous and oil extract possess antiulcer properties. Thus the aqueous and oil extract of black seed can be considered as antiulcer medication traditionally. Keywords: Nigella sativa, Black seed, Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical, Acute toxicity (LD50), Antiulcer.
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