Aim:To identify and screen the phytochemicals of medicinal plants with anti-diarrhea potential in Lagos State, Nigeria. Place and Duration of the Study: Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screenings of plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhea in Nigeria were carried out between April and November, 2014. Methodology: Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diarrhea in Lagos State, Nigeria was carried out using oral interviews (without questionnaire) method to gather information from herb sellers in major herbal markets in Lagos State. The qualitative phytochemical screenings of the identified medicinal plants was carried out using standard screening procedures. Results: Twenty-five plant species belonging to 16 families were identified. The families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Combretaceae have the highest number of plant species followed by the family Fabaceae. Aristolochia albida, Parinari curatellifolia, Acanthospermum hispidum, Phyllantus amarus and Gongronema latifolium were the most frequently mentioned and highly 2 recommended of all the species. The plant parts used for the treatment are the leaves, bark and roots which were prepared by infusion, decoction or taken in powdered form. Majority of the plants are taken orally. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, anthraquinones and phlobatannins.
Agapanthus praecox subsp. praecox Willd. is a highly valued medicinal plant of family Amaryllidaceae. The genus Agapanthus has been difficult to classify into distinct species due to broad similar morphology of its members. Present taxonomic confusion in this genus and numerous medicinal uses of A. praecox necessitate its proper identification. The leaf and rhizome microcharacters were studied using scanning electron, light microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Epidermal cells are polygonal having wavy anticlinal walls with mean adaxial length of 80.04 ± 0.5 m and mean abaxial length of 85.33 ± 0.6 m. The leaf is amphistomatic with anomocytic stomata with mean pore length of 22.14 ± 0.2 m on the adaxial and 15.02 ± 0.3 m on the abaxial surface. The mean stomata densities on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces were 280.5 ± 0.5 mm 2 and 350.6 ± 0.6 mm 2 . Trichomes and secretory ducts are absent on both surfaces. EDX spectroscopy showed that beryllium, carbon, oxygen, sodium, and silicon were present on both epidermal surfaces and rhizome while nitrogen, aluminum, and chlorine were detected only on the adaxial surface and sulphur was detected only in the rhizome.
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