Pride of Barbados is a therapeutic herb which has wide traditional applications in the treatments and management of diverse ailments. Diseases pose great threats to human race. This research was aimed at evaluating the phytochemicals, proximate composition, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of the pod extract of Pride of Barbados in order to provide a scientific validation for its use as a therapeutic herb. All analyses were carried out using already established methods; the antioxidant potential was examined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, while the formalin-induced inflammation and acetic acid-induced writhing techniques were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, respectively. Phytochemicals detected were alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The moisture content, crude fibre, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash and total ash were 9.02 ± 0.02%, 9.04 ± 0.01%, 2.78 ± 0.02%, 1.20 ± 0.00% and 4.35 ± 0.13%, respectively. The IC50 values for the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the pod extract and ascorbic acid (standard) were 50.05 ± 0.50 and 5.20 ± 0.85 µg/mL, respectively. The oral administration of crude ethyl acetate pod extract of Pride of Barbados to Swiss mice was not toxic even up to a dose of 5,000 mg/kg. The pod extract showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the formation of formalin-induced oedema and the number of writhes in the acetic acid-induced writhing test in a concentration (dose) dependent manner. This study confirms the phytomedicinal use of the pod extract of Pride of Barbados with rich pharmacological and antioxidant properties. Keywords:  Pride of Barbados; Caesalpinia pulcherrima; Anti-inflammatory; Analgesic; Phytochemicals

Polyalthia longifolia (masquerade tree) is a plant which is believed to possess varied pharmacological and therapeutic values among different populations. The present report investigated the phytochemical composition, proximate, acute toxicity and antioxidant potential of P. longfolia root. All analyses were carried out using established methods; the antioxidant activity of the crude methanol extract and its fractions (n-hexane and ethyl acetate) were examined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay while the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu and the aluminum chloride calibration methods respectively. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, reducing sugars, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and protein in aqueous extract. The proximate analysis showed moisture content, total ash, alcohol extractive value, water extractive value, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash at 8.80, 9.35, 3.28, 3.29, 2.27 and 7.29% respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest antioxidant property compared to the n-hexane fraction and crude methanol extract in all assays conducted. Also, the methanol fraction was found to have the highest flavonoids and phenolic content among the extract and fractions. Oral administration of crude methanol extract of P. longifolia to Swiss mice was relatively non-toxic at a maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg. The root extract and fractions of P. longifolia indicated moderately high level of some phytochemicals with outstanding radical scavenging activity, and therefore substantiate its use as a conventional and comparatively non-toxic plant antioxidant.

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Ganoderma lucidum is a popular woody and spongy mushroom (fungi) widely distributed throughout the world. It is commonly used in the production of nutriceuticals, functional foods and also serves as a therapeutic herb used in the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemicals, proximate composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as acute toxicity of the crude methanol extract of G. lucidum. The phytochemicals, proximate composition and antioxidant potential were determined using already established methods. The formalin-induced inflammation and acetic acid-induced writhing techniques were applied to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities respectively. Phytochemicals detected were saponins, flavonoids and terpenoids. The moisture content, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, total ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive value were 12.53 ± 0.18%, 1.45 ± 0.21%, 2.68 ± 0.51%, 3.31 ± 0.2%, 1.41 ± 0.00% and 1.07 ± 0.01% respectively. The IC50 values for the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extract and ascorbic acid standard) were 31.56 ± 1.30 and 18.84 ± 2.06 µg/mL respectively. The crude extract at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight showed the highest % inhibition of edema after 4 hours and there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the number of writhes in a dose dependent manner. In the oral administration of the crude extract to Swiss mice, 100% mortality was recorded at 5000 mg/kg. The study confirms that G. lucidum is a potential source of phytomedicine with substantial pharmacological and antioxidant properties but however, could be toxic at higher doses.

The study evaluated the phytochemicals, acute toxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimalarial activities of B. vulgaris extract. The antioxidant potential was examined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and the formalin-induced inflammation technique was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Also, the in vivo antimalarial activity was evaluated against Plasmodium berghei parasites and the required doses were given according to the weight of the animal two hours after inoculation of parasites on D1, then once daily for D2-D4. Phytochemical analysis showed that Beta vulgaris extract contained alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. The oral administration of crude ethanol extract of B. vulgaris to Swiss mice was not toxic even up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg. The root extract had the highest percentage inhibition of 74.46 ± 0.98 and for ascorbic acid 98.66 ± 0.16 at 1000 µg/mL extract in the antioxidant evaluation. Beta vulgaris had significant anti-inflammatory activity at 50 mg/kg at 1hr being the most effective. There was a dose-dependent increase in percentage chemo-suppression of the parasites by the different groups with maximum effect at 800 mg/kg (59.68-35.09%). This study validates the phytomedicinal use of beet root extract for the management of inflammation, malaria and oxidative stress-related infections.