International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 8 (12), pp. 001-004, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Pisidium guajava and Gongronema Latifolium

Nwinyi Obinna C.¹*, Chinedu Nwodo S.¹ and Ajani Olayinka O.²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Km 10 Idiroko Road, PMB 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Km 10 Idiroko Road, PMB 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 August, 2019

Abstract

Pisidium guajava and Gongronema latifolium are local plants used traditionally in south -eastern Nigeria to treat ailments such as cough, loss of appetite, malaria and stomach disorders. In this study, aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of P. guajava and G. latifolium were screened for antibacterial activity against two clinically isolated organisms of the gastrointestinal tract, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results obtained show that leaf extracts of both plants possess significant antibacterial activities against the two isolates. Ethanolic extracts showed more inhibitory effect compared to the aqueous extracts. Extracts of P. guajava exhibited higher inhibitory effect than that of G. latifolium. The diameter of zones of inhibition by the leaf extracts of P. guajava was 8 - 16 mm and 14-21 mm respectively for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 5.0 and 0.625 mg ml^-1 respectively for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. guajava. For the extracts of G. latifolium, the diameter of zones of inhibition was between 6 and 10 mm while MICs were 10.0 and 2.5 mg ml^-1 respectively for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts.

Key words: Pisidium guajava, Gongronema latifolium, antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 8 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Alterations in behavior and memory induced by the essential oil of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) in mice are cholinergic-dependent

Cícero Francisco Bezerra Felipe¹*, Kamyla Sales Fonsêca¹, André Luiz dos Reis Barbosa¹, José Noberto Sousa Bezerra², Manoel Andrade Neto², Marta Maria de França Fonteles¹ and Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana¹

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.

²Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.

Accepted 19 September, 2019

Abstract

The objective of the work was to investigate the effects of the essential oil of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (EOG - 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p) on the behavior and cognition of male Swiss mice (25 - 30 g), treated daily for 7 days. In the 7^th day, animals were submitted to the elevated plus maze, open field and rota rod tests to evaluate anxiolytic, sedative and motor coordination effects, respectively. Memory tasks and cholinergic system effects of EOG were also assessed by the T-maze, passive avoidance, oxotremorine and pilocarpine- induced convulsions tests. EOG did not show anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze test, while it showed a sedative effect in the open field test at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. EOG did not alter motor coordination of the animals, while it produced a cognitive impairment, in the passive avoidance test, in animals treated with the dose of 100 mg/kg. In the T-maze test, cognitive impairment was also evident and occurred in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EOG (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked the oxotremorine-induced tremors and significantly increased the latency of pilocarpine-induced seizures, as well as animals survival. Altogether, our results suggest that EOG effects are, at least in part, dependent upon an antagonist action on the central muscarinic cholinergic system.

Key words: Zingiber officinale Roscoe, memory, scopolamine, oxotremorine, pilocarpine.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 8 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) improves athlete endurance: Its mechanisms of action

'Afa K. Palu¹*, R. D. Seifulla² and. Brett J. West¹

¹Tahitian Noni International Research Center, American Fork, Utah 84003 USA.

²Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Sports Medicine, 105120, Moscow, Zemlyanoy Val St., 53

Accepted 10 July, 2019

Abstract

The ability of noni juice to improve endurance in athletes was evaluated clinically. A placebo-controlled clinical trial with TAHITIAN NONI® Juice (TNJ) was conducted in 40 highly-trained athletes. Drinking 100 mL of TNJ twice daily increased endurance (time-to-fatigue) by 21%, and improved antioxidant status as measured by a 25% decrease in blood chemiluminescence. Chemical analyses by multiple laboratories and drug-urine screening of human volunteers reveal that TNJ does not contain any illegal drugs or substances prohibited by the World Anti-doping Agency. The collective results indicate that TNJ improves endurance via potent antioxidant effects. The results warrant human clinical trials to assess the dosages and the feasibility of using TNJ by athletes participating in strenuous sports such as football, rugby, ice hockey, soccer and basketball.

Key words: Noni, Morinda citrifolia, antioxidant, free radicals, endurance.

International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 8 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Plants used in traditional management of human ailments at Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia

Haile Yineger^{1 *}, Ensermu Kelbessa², Tamrat Bekele² and Ermias Lulekal³

¹Department of Biology, Jimma University, P. O. Box 5195, Jimma, Ethiopia.

²National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

³Department of Biology, Debre Berhan University, P. O. Box 445, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.

Accepted 13 June, 2019

Abstract

Though the majority of people in Ethiopia at large, and at Bale Mountains National Park in particular, rely on ethnomedicinal plant species to manage human ailments, the indigenous knowledge largely remains undocumented. Therefore, an ethnobotanical study was conducted on medicinal plant species used to manage human ailments at Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethnobotanical data. Altogether, 56 ailments were reported to be managed using 101 different ethnomedicinal plant species. Consensus of traditional healers was high in managing eczema (ICF = 0.58), tinea versicolor (ICF = 0.50), rheumatism (ICF = 0.43), haemorrhoids (ICF = 0.33), earache (ICF = 0.33) and gonorrhoea (ICF = 0.27). The mean number of plant species used by each healer showed significant difference with district. Most medicinal plant species reported in this study were found to be under threat and this calls for urgent conservation measures so as to maximize the sustainable use of these vital resources in the study area.

Key words: Ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, indigenous knowledge, medicinal plant, traditional medicine, traditional healer, Bale, Ethiopia.