This study examined the phytochemicals and medicinal potentials of the leaf essential oil of E. maculata from Nigeria. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation technique and was analysed for various chemical composition using GC-MS. The essential oil was also screened for its antimicrobial activities against multi-drug resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. The GC-MS analysis revealed that β-citronellol (18.5%), β-pinene (9.4%), 2,6-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene (8.3%), α-pinene (7.1%), 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene (6.7%), and citronellyl acetate (6.0%) were the major compounds in the leaf essential oil. The essential oil exhibited strong antibacterial activities against most of the tested bacteria, with diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 15.0-30.0 mm. The leaf essential oil of E. maculata is a possible alternative antibiotic drug for treatment of disease caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.
This study examined the effects of Petrol or Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) vapour on lungs and the impact of coconut oil and coconut water in ameliorating its degenerative effects. Thirty-five albino rats were grouped into seven groups (n= 5). Groups 1, 2,3,4,5, and 7 were exposed to PMS vapour using an inhalation chamber, 8 hours daily for two weeks. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with 0.4ml/kgb.w coconut oil and coconut water respectively; group 3 was treated with a regular drug (indapamine) at 0.4ml/kgb.w; and groups 4 and 5 were treated with 0.2ml/kgb.w coconut oil and coconut water respectively. Group 6 was negative control and were neither exposed nor treated while group 7 was positive control, exposed to petrol vapour but not treated. Histological analysis showed that the lungs of the experimental test groups indicated degenerative changes in the ultrastructural integrity of interstitium cells. The lungs showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the glutathione (GSH) level on exposure for two weeks when compared with the negative control. It was also observed that the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly in all exposed groups compared with the negative control. Treatment with coconut water significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the effects of PMS vapor on the levels of GSH and MDA when compared with the other groups. Hence, treatment with coconut water and oil may provide a useful preventive measure against tissue injury consequent to exposure to PMS vapour experienced in our houses and at petrol filling stations.
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