Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don, popularly known as the African locust bean tree, is a perennial tree legume that belongs to Mimosoïdeae sub-family and family of Fabaceae. This study is aimed at reviewing the botany, nutritional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of P. biglobosa and the information was undertaken using electronic databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, SciFinder, BMC and Open-thesis. Parkia biglobosa is a very important multipurpose tree that is used essentially for food, medicinal, cultural, economic and magico-therapeutic purposes. Due to its socio-economic and cultural importance, P. biglobosa species are vulnerable to unsustainable harvesting and are declining in numbers because they remain semi- or undomesticated in some west Africa countries. Different aqueous and organic extracts of P. biglobosa indicate that the species are rich in saponins, tannins, flavonoids, resins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, phenols, sterols, and cardiac glycosides. The nutritional and pharmacological benefits of P. biglobosa has been associated with its physicochemical properties. Pharmacological studies on P. biglobosa exhibited antimalarial, anti-helminthic, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-trypanosomic activities and antioxidant properties. Threats to the survival of this multipurpose species are also highlighted.
Albuca setosa is a flowering bulb in the Asparagaceae family, endemic to southern Africa, thrives well on rocky ground, flats and mountain slopes. This review is an appraisal of the current information on A. setosa and a systematic and comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic scientific journal articles, books and theses. The bulbous plant is extensively used for medicinal purposes, cultural purposes and to end quarrels between enemies. In the framework of the taxonomic revision of Albuca, a complete description of A. setosa and data on cytology, morphology, ecology and distribution and economic importance are discussed. Pharmacological screening showed that A. setosa possesses some anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The bulbous plant is used for the treatment of wounds, articulation problems, rheumatoid arthritis, digestive disorder and venereal diseases.
In this study, the effectiveness of different pre-treatment methods for the breakings of seed dormancy in Berchemia discolour Hemsley seeds was assessed. Viable seeds were randomly sampled and subjected to different pre-treatment methods which include filing, soaking in 98% concentrated sulphuric acid, pre-chilling and boiling. For each treatment, ten seeds were used and three replications were done for each treatment. The investigation revealed that filing enhances seed germination and seed dormancy is likely due to the hard seed coat which has to be weakened or broken gently to avoid embryo damage, thus facilitating germination. Although, filing caused seeds to germinate, the mean germination rate of 13.3% that was achieved is too low to make this investigation conclusive. Further studies similar to this are recommended to improve the germination rate to higher than 30%.
Citrus reticulata Blanco is a moderately-sized fruit tree widely used as herbal medicine worldwide. The nutritional composition, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of C. reticulata were critically reviewed in the current study. The literature linked to C. reticulata properties was obtained from multiple internet sources including Elsevier, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Pubmed, BMC, Science Direct, and Scopus. Ethnopharmacological research identified antioxidants such as vitamin C, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, also a source of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, pectins, minerals and volatile organic compounds as components of C. reticulata. As a medicinal plant, C. reticulata is used for the treatment of dyspepsia, gastro-intestinal distension, cough with profuse phlegm, hiccup and vomiting. The crude extracts of C. reticulata fruits have depicted anti-inflammatory, anticholesterolemic, analgesic, antiasthmatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, antitussive, carminative, expectorant, stomachic. With more people becoming nutrition-conscious, there has been an increase in the demand for the use of citrus fruits and their by-products as traditional medicines for conventional healthcare in developing countries.
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