The genus Parkia (Fabaceae, Subfamily, Mimosoideae) comprises about 34 species of mostly evergreen trees widely distributed across neotropics, Asia, and Africa. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status of the species from the genus Parkia in terms of its relationship between its phytochemistry and medical uses. Comprehensive information on Parkia species was retrieved from electronic databases, which were Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. This review identified nine species from genus Parkia with properties of medicinal use. They are used traditionally to treat several ailments, such as diabetes, diarrhea, wounds, hypertension, cough, chronic piles, conjunctivitis, and measles. The most common species studied are P. biglobosa, P. speciosa, P. javanica, P. bicolor, P. biglandulosa, P. filicoidea, and P. clappertoniana. A considerable number of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids (aglycone and glycosides), and numerous volatile compounds have been identified in this genus, which are responsible for their diverse pharmacological activities. Their extracts, pure compounds and seed lectins have been reported for their anticancer, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antiulcer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, and antidiarrheal activities. The information gathered in this review might be of help for future studies in terms of the current knowledge on the link between the phytochemical components and medicinal uses. This could facilitate more discoveries on its potentials particularly in the pharmacological characteristics and potential to be developed into modern medicines.

Genus Parkia: Phytochemical, Medicinal Uses, and Pharmacological Properties.

Nigeria is naturally blessed with both savannah and tropical rainforests vegetation and these offer a wide distribution of plants believed to possesses secondary metabolites which are responsible for treating or curing various diseases. Several researches have been carried out in order to explore and identify the chemical compositions responsible for various pharmacological activities in Nigerian medicinal plants. This paper discussed the meaning and historical development of medicinal plants. A brief account of phytochemicals (alkaloids and flavonoids) were also given. The plants presented in this paper confirmed the pharmacological activities of these plants and includes; anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antibacterial, anxiolytic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, anticancer, antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, antithypoid, antitumor, antileishmanial, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, antituberculosis, analgesic as well as others.

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Phytochemical Compositions in Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Properties: A Review

This research was conducted to investigate mortality using logistic regression (Models) for River red-gum (Eucalyptud camaldulensis Dehnh) in Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling and proportional sampling allocation were used in selecting plots and individual trees for measurements. Data on live and dead trees were recorded, variables measured are diameter, total tree heights, spacing and age of the stands within the plots. Diameter at the breast height (DBH) was measured using diameter tape while Haga Altimeter was used in taking the total height of the sampled stands. The Data collected were divided into four portions. Three portions (75%) for model calibration adopting logistic regression model, 25% were used for model validation of logistic model generated.  Chi square test of goodness-of-fit, Negelkerke R2, Cox and snell R2 values were used for model evaluation. The positive regression coefficients (16.737, 49.266 and 1.992) showed by Dbh, Height and age (as independent variables) indicated positive future mortality effects on the stands; as the trees ages and increases in size and height, the chances of mortality will increase. At the present age and sizes of the stands the fitted model shows no significant relationship between the current age, height and size of the stands, as such the notion held by the management of the plantation that Eucalyptus cannot grow for many years and in large sizes is not true. There is therefore, need for periodic re-measurement of the stands to evaluate future effect of the variables (Age, Dbh and height) on mortality.

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Modeling Tree Mortality for Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh) Stands in Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna-Nigeria

This study describes the production of lignocellulosic bioethanol from highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) via pressurized hot water pretreatment, dilute acid hydrolysis and fermentation using Saccha...

Cellulosic ethanol production from highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) grown in Ethiopia

Medicinal plants constitute the major component of traditional medicine practiced worldwide due to the economic viability, accessibility, and ancestral experience. Three medicinal plants (Boswelllia dalzielli Hutch, Carica papaya L. and Parkia clappertoniana Jacq) used locally in diarrheal treatment were investigated. This study was carried on isolated and confirmed strains of multi-drug resistant isolates of salmonallae and shigellae bacteria isolated from diarrheal patients in kaduna metropolis, Nigeria. The antidiarrheal activity of the three plant extracts against multidrug resistant strains of Shigella and Salmonella was performed by agar well diffusion method using standard guidelines. The findings indicated that Boswelllia dalzielli, Carica papaya and Parkia clappertoniana had growth inhibitory effect against the tested bacteria. Ethanolic extract of Boswelllia dalzielli exhibited the highest inhibitory effect at 100mg/ml concentration on both Salmonella and Shigella isolates. When the results were statistically analyzed using Duncan's multiple range test (P<0.05), the highest efficacy was recorded with the ethanol extracts of Boswelllia dalzielli (26.00 ± 1.00). On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that ethanol extracts of Boswelllia dalzielli, Carica papaya and Parkia clappertoniana could be potential sources for antidiarrheal drugs.

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Antimicrobial Potentials of Parkia clappertoniana Jacq, Boswellia dalzielli Hutch and Carica papaya L. Ethanolic Extract on Multi- drug Resistant Diarrheal salmonallae and shigellae Bacteria

The economic and ecological problems associated with fossil fuel have raised interest in biofuel research in recent times in different parts of the world. The use of Eucalyptus forest waste biomass with no appreciable value to industries or for food as alternative and cost effective feedstock for bioethanol production was evaluated in this study. E. camaldulensis biomass (bark and leaves) were pretreated separately with acid (2M H2SO4) and Microwave irradiation (250V, 50Hz) prior to fermentation with Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli isolated from surrounding soil. Higher yield of reducing sugar were obtained from bark (43 %) and leaves (38.5 %) pretreated by microwave irradiation as compared with acid treated plant biomass. Similarly, Bioethanol volume and concentration of 34.89 g/l and 0.51 % respectively were higher in Microwave irradiated bark of E. camaldulensis at 21 days of fermentation when E. coli and B. subtilis were used in synergy The least bioethanol volume yield of 18.79 g/l and concentration of 0.12 % when bark and leaves of E. camaldulensis were combined was obtained on day 7 of fermentation using E. coli. The study concludes that the amount of dried wastes generated (37.8 kg) from one average stand of Eucalyptus tree could yield significant volume (131,884.2 g/l) of bioethanol when B. subtilis and E. coli are used in synergy.

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Bioethanol Production from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Wood Waste Using Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Isolated from Soil in Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna State Nigeria

Usman Yahaya

Papers

Antimicrobial Potentials of Parkia clappertoniana Jacq, Boswellia dalzielli Hutch and Carica papaya L. Ethanolic Extract on Multi- drug Resistant Diarrheal salmonallae and shigellae Bacteria

Bioethanol Production from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Wood Waste Using Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Isolated from Soil in Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna State Nigeria