International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethnobotany and phytomedicine of the upper Nyong valley forest in Cameroon

T. Jiofack¹*, l. Ayissi², C. Fokunang³, N. Guedje⁴ and V. Kemeuze¹

¹Millennium Ecologic Museum, P. O Box 8038, Yaounde – Cameroon.

²Cameron Wildlife Consevation Society (CWCS – Cameroon), Cameroon.

³Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.

⁴Institute of Agronomic Research for Development, National Herbarium of Cameroon, Cameroon.

Accepted 24 March, 2020

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an assessment of the ethnobotanical uses of some plants recorded in upper Nyong valley forest implemented by the Cameroon wildlife conservation society project (CWCS). Forestry transects in 6 localities, followed by socio-economic study were conducted in 250 local inhabitants. As results, medicinal information on 140 plants species belonging to 60 families were recorded. Local people commonly use plant parts which included leaves, bark, seed, whole plant, stem and flower to cure many diseases. According to these plants, 8% are use to treat malaria while 68% intervenes to cure several others diseases as described on. There is very high demand for medicinal plants due to prevailing economic recession; however their prices are high as a result of prevailing genetic erosion. This report highlighted the need for the improvement of effective management strategies focusing on community forestry programmes and aims to encourage local people participation in the conservation of this forest heritage to achieve a sustainable plant biodiversity and conservation for future posterity.

Key words: Conservation, ethnobotanical uses, diseases, posterity, Nyong valley.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bioactivity of crude extracts of Euphorbia kamerunica Pax using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay

Ogunnusi, T.A.^1* and Dosumu, O. O.²

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 December, 2019

Abstract

Medicinal plants are gaining recognition worldwide in the treatment and control of diseases. In advance nations a good number of plants are screened for their pharmacological activities but less than 25% of plants native to Africa which are been used to treat diseases have been evaluated. In the present study hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Euphorbia kamerunica Pax were screened for their cytotoxicity and lethality using the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) assay. Three concentrations (10, 100, 1000 ppm) of each extract were applied in the bioassay and the LC₅₀ determined. The least LC₅₀ value of 0.00 was obtained for hexane extract and the highest value of 13.87 was obtained for aqueous extract using the Finneys probit analysis which indicates high lethality of the extracts and presence of potent cytotoxic compounds in the plant extracts.

Key words: Euphorbia kamerunica, Artemia salina, cytotoxicity, insecticidal compound.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro propagation of Crotalaria verrucosa L. an important ethnobotanical plant

Town Mohammad Hussain¹,²*, Thummala Chandrasekhar² and Ghanta Rama Gopal²

¹Department of Horticulture, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, P.O.Box No: 397, Eritrea, North East Africa.

²Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Accepted 16 March, 2020

Abstract

An efficient and reproducible procedure for the large scale propagation of Crotalaria verrucosa, an important ethno botanical herb is described. Multiple shoots were produced from cotyledonary nodes of 15 days old aseptic seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) or benzyladenine (BA). Highest number (6.0) of shoots per cotyledonary node was recorded on MS medium with 0.1 M thidiazuron after 4 weeks of culture. Proliferating shoot cultures were established by repeatedly sub culturing the original cotyledonary node on fresh medium (MS + 0.1 M TDZ) after harvesting newly formed shoots. The shoot forming capacity of explants was influenced by the type and concentration of the growth regulator in the medium. Roots formed on excised shoots when these were cultured on quarter strength MS medium containing 1.0 M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Plantlets were acclimatized in vermiculite and established in soil.

Key words: Cotyledonary node, crotalaria, micro propagation, thidiazuron.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-010, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethnobotany and phytopharmacopoea of the South-West ethnoecological region of Cameroon

T. Jiofack^1*, C. Fokunang², V. Kemeuze¹, E. Fongnzossie³, N. Tsabang⁴, R. Nkuinkeu⁵, P. M. Mapongmetsem⁶ and B. A. Nkongmeneck¹

¹Millennium Ecologic Museum, Po Box 8038 Yaounde – Cameroon.

²Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.

³Organisation pour l’Environnement et le Développement Durable (OPED), Cameroon.

⁴Medical Institute of Medicinal Plants research, Yaounde – Cameroon.

⁵Faculty of Plant Biology, University of Buea, Cameroon.

⁶Faculty of Plant Biology, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

Accepted 17 March, 2020

Abstract

This study highlight the use, commercialisation, cultivation, and conservation status of the major medicinal plants within the South-West and Littoral ethnoecological regions of Cameroon. The methodology was generally based on direct interview or discussion with the main stakeholder. More than 177 plants (lianas, trees, shrubs and herbs) belonging to 80 families are being used as medicine, several are sold as crude material. The propagation and domestication of the very useful medicinal plants, including the threatened species (Prunus Africana) , in the region is neglected. It is important to initiate programs for the establishment of medicinal plant gardens both for livelihood improvement as well as for conservation purposes.

Keys words: Phytopharmacopoea, medicinal plants, ethnoecological region, herbal market, threatened species.