In present study, we carried out a systematic record of the relative antioxidant activity in selected Iranian medicinal plant species' extracts. The total phenol varied from 24.1 ± 1 to 289.5 ± 5 mg g -1 in the extracts. Flavonoid contents were between 25.15 ± 0.8 and 78.3 ± 4.5 mg g-1. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The highest radical scavenging effect was observed in Mellilotus officinalis with IC50 = 0.018 mg ml –1. The potency of radical scavenging effect of M. officinalis extract was about 4 times greater than synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT). The greater amount of phenolic compounds leads to morepotent radical scavenging effect as shown by M. officinalis extract

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Antioxidant activity, phenol and flavonoid contents of some selected Iranian medicinal plants

In this present study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant capacities, phenol and polyphenol composition, membrane stabilization, and cytotoxicity to brine shrimps (Arthemia salina) of the leaf and stem extracts of Cissus multistriata were carried out. 2,2- Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The highest radical scavenging effect was observed in the stem extract with IC50 of 29.25 ig/ml. The potency of radical scavenging effect of the stem extract was close to the synthetic antioxidant quercetin with IC50 of 21.05 ig/ml. The antioxidant activities of each extract increased with increasing concentration of extracts. The phenol and polyphenol content of the stem varied between 0.564 ± 0.000 to 6.200 ± 0.557% and that of the leaf content is lower (0.523 ± 0.000 to 3.400 ± 0.355%). The higher amount of phenolic compound in the stem could be contributory to the greater radical scavenging effects observed. The methanolic extracts exhibited minimum and maximum percentage membrane stability of 51.364 ± 11.241 and 56.098 ± 14.654% on human erythrocyte. The highest membrane stabilizing activity was observed in the stem extract with percentage stability of 56.098 ± 14.654%. The activity of the extracts was comparable to the standard anti-inflammatory drug (Indomethacin) used. The extracts are less toxic to the cell (Arthenia salina) with their LC/EC50 higher than that of standard potassium dichromate used. The results obtained in this present study indicate that C. multistriata can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and is relatively safe.

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Comparative antioxidant capacity, membrane stabilization, polyphenol composition and cytotoxicity of the leaf and stem of Cissus multistriata

This study involves the phytochemical screening and ethnomedicinal survey of twenty-three medicinal plants belonging to thirteen families commonly found in Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews and discussions with selected informants were adapted to collect ethnobotanical information on the plants. It was discovered that all of them possess alkaloids, tannins and saponin. Steroid is present in only twelve of the plant species, only five have phlobatannin; terpene is present in twenty of the plants, flavonoid is present in nineteen of the plants, while cardiac glycoside is present in sixteen of the species. Leea guineensis and Uvaria chamae were the only plants among the 23 plant samples that contain all the eight phytochemicals tested. The phytochemical present in the samples were juxtaposed with their ethnomedicinal significance, and from this, several suggestions were deduced on the secondary metabolites responsible for the pharmacological actions of the plants.  Conclusively, it could be said that the ethnomedicinal significance of the selected plants for this study corresponds to the pharmacological actions of the secondary metabolites they contain.

	 

	Key words: Phytochemical, ethnomedicinal, medicinal plants, bioprospecting.

https://www.africaneditors.org/journal/JMPR/full-text-pdf/80266-127538

Phytochemical and ethnobotanical study of some selected medicinal plants from Nigeria

Steam distillation of the dry flower buds of Syzigium aromaticum (clove) yielded 7% (w/w) of the pure light yellow oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the oil revealed that the components were eugenol, caryophyllene, eugenol acetate and alpha-humelene, with eugenol being the main component. The antimicrobial sensitivity of the volatile oil against some Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella paratyphi, Citrobacter spp. and Enterobacter cloacae), a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923), and a fungus (Candida albicans) showed a broad spectrum of activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each organism as 2.4, 1.6, 0.27, 0.016, 0.23, 1.63, 0.73 and 0.067 mg/ml for S. aureus ATTC 25923, E. cloacae, S. paratyphi, K. pneumoniae, E. coli ATTC 35218, E. coli, Citrobacter spp. and C. albicans, respectively. Antioxidant screening of clove oil with 2,2-diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) was positive, indicating the presence of free radical scavenging molecules which can be attributed to the presence of eugenol, a phenolic compound.

Chemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Syzigium aromaticum (clove)

Silicosis — Continued Silicosis is a chronic lung disease associated with the inhalation and pulmonary deposition of dust that contains crystalline silica. Through the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR)* program, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is assessing practical models for implementing state-based surveillance of silicosis and linking follow-up intervention activities to surveillance reports. From 1989 through 1992, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) SENSOR program identified silicosis cases through reports of Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) claims, physician reports, and death certificates. The addition in 1993 of hospital discharge reports as an ascertainment source resulted in a substantial increase in the number of silicosis case reports identified annually (Table 1). This report describes the investigation of a case of occupational silicosis in Ohio and summarizes the impact of hospital-based reporting on surveillance for silicosis in Case Report In September 1991, a case report † was sent to ODH by an infectious disease specialist who was treating a 55-year-old sandblaster with advanced silicosis and an associated Mycobacterium kansasii infection § (2). In January 1992, NIOSH and ODH conducted a joint investigation at the worker's place of employment—a metal preparation shop—to evaluate current levels of exposure to respirable crystalline silica and to screen co-workers for silicosis. The investigation detected excessive exposures to respirable crystalline silica (2–5). Chest radiology revealed radiographic abnormalities consistent with pneumoconiosis in four of 16 current and former workers *SENSOR is a program of cooperative agreements with state health departments to develop surveillance and intervention strategies for selected occupational conditions. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health currently supports SENSOR silicosis programs in seven states and Wisconsin). † Case reports should be submitted for persons with a physician's provisional diagnosis of silicosis, a chest radiograph interpreted as consistent with silicosis, or pathologic findings consistent with silicosis (1).

Current trends in

As part of a screening program for biologically active compounds in plants, twenty two medicinal plants were extracted and screened for anti-oxidant activity using the 2, 2,diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl radical.

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JM Oke

Papers

Screening of some Nigerian medicinal plants for antioxidant activity using 2,2, diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl radical