Pharmacognostic investigation involving organoleptic evaluation, fluorescent analysis, phytochemical screening and mineral analysis was carried out on the dried powdered leaves of Allophylus africanus used for treating pain, headaches, common cold, Fever and as antibiotics in Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The powdered leaves were light brown in colour with woody odour, bitter taste and gave significant fluorescent derivatives with the reagents 1M NaOH (aq), 1M NaOH(alc.), Ammonia, 50% HCl, and 50% HNO3 when viewed under ordinary visible light and ultraviolet light. The plant organ investigated during phytochemical screening gave positive for carbohydrates and reducing sugar, Amino acids and Proteins, Alkaloids, tannins and phenolic compounds, saponins glycosides Flavonoids, sterols/terpenes and triterpenes all of which have been reported to be pharmacologically active compounds responsible for the medicinal use of Allophylus africanus plant. Elemental analysis of the plant organ was performed with a Niton XL3t GOLDD + Hand held X-ray Fluorescence (Thermo Fisher) and the results indicated that the plant organs investigated contained large amounts of K, Ca, Mg, Al and Fe whilst Ti, Zr, Mn, Zn, Sr, Sc, Rb, Cu, V and Mo were present in minute quantities. The presence of the above elements also support the use of the plant organ investigated as food and medicine. The compounds LK003 isolated from the ethanol extract of the dried powdered leaves of the plant and structure identified using fragmentation patterns from LCMS, Proton NMR spectroscopy and by McLafferty rearrangement as N-(3-methoxyphenyl) acetamide called phenacetamide which has been reported to be a clinically tested drug for pain and fever. Hence, we concluded in this research work that the presence of N-(3-methoxyphenyl) acetamide called phenacetamide, the secondary plant metabolites and minerals present in the dried powdered leaves traditional medicinal plant Allophylus africanus support the use of the plant as a traditional pharmaceutical.
A new compound LK001 identified as 2-Isopropenyl-1-methoxyl-7, 7-dimethyl-4, 9-imidazo-5-hydroxy pyrimidine and named Alchorneinol has been extracted from the root bark of Alchornea hirtella plant. It was isolated using solvent-solvent extraction method from the powdered root bark of A. hirtella. The white powdered compound was slightly soluble in water, ethanol chloroform and tested positive for unsaturation. The compound LK001 contained Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen during elemental analyses. It also tested positive for the presence Hydroxide group thus making it slightly different from the already reported drug Alchorneine. The fragmentation patterns proposed from the Mass spectrum for Sample LK001 and by McLafferty rule support a new compound named Alchorneinol in the root bark extract. Itis therefore one of the active compounds responsible for the treatment of pain, particularly tooth ache, as purgative, stomach-ache and to treat tiredness after intoxication in Sierra Leone.
Pharmacognostic potentials and mineral analysis was carried out on the of dried powdered seeds of traditional medicinal plant Usteria guineensis used for the treatment of Typhoid fever in Sierra Leone. The results indicate the colour of the dried powdered seeds of the plant to be light yellow with fruit odour and had a bitter taste indicating that the powdered plant material contains alkaloids. The following reagents 1M NaOH (aq), 1M NaOH (alc.), Ammonia, 50% HCl, and 50% HNO3 exhibited fluorescent activities when added to portions of the dried powdered seeds of U. guineensis and viewed under UV Lamp. The plant organ investigated contained high contents of carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, proteins sterols/terpenes and tannins, saponins in the Ethanolic, methanol and aqueous extract during phytochemical screening. The detection of the above secondary plant metabolites supports the use of the plant in traditional medicine. Elemental analysis of the dried powdered seeds of U. guineensis using Niton XL3t GOLDD + Hand held X-ray Fluorescence (Thermo Fisher). The spectrum acquisition time was 480sec for the sample and the dead time was around 50% a total of fifteen elements (K, Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, and Sc) were determined in the dried powdered seeds of Usteria guineensis plant by using EDXRF. The results indicate that the plant organ investigated contained K (29458 ± 163 ppm), Ca (3702 ± 54.00 ppm), Mg (5528 ± 1223 ppm), Al (1389 ± 168 ppm) and Fe (167.11 ± 9.20 ppm). The other elements present in smaller quantities were Ti (64 ± 12.00 ppm), Sr (4.74 ± 0.40 ppm), Zn (56.65 ±2.46 ppm), Rb (47.34 ± 1.00 ppm), Zr (20.73 ± 0.67 ppm), and Mo (6.94 ± 0.74 ppm). The elements Sc, Mn, Cu and V were out of limit of detection of the equipment. The above elements detected are essential components of biological structures that mediate vital effect on and play a key role in a variety of the biochemical processes necessary for life.
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