Phytochemicals, polyphenols content, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver flowers

Albizia coriaria Welw ex.Oliver(hereafter A.coriaria)is a revered medicinal tree whose organs are used by indigenous African societies for managing various ailments.Herein,we assessed the secondary metabolites,total polyphenolics,free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of A.coriaria flowers.The dry powdered sample was extracted serially with ethyl acetate,ethanol and distilled water.Results of classical phytochemical screening showed that saponins,phenols,alkaloids,flavonoids,tannins and terpenes were the dominant phytochemicals.The highest total polyphenolic content(10.37±0.02 mg QE/g DW and 72.09±0.09 mg GAE/g DW)and free radical scavenging potential(IC50=24.23±0.04 mg/mL)were for the ethyl acetate extract.It also had a higher bacteriostatic activity than the ethanolic extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Salmonella typhi,Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with diameters of inhibition ranging from 7.00±0.00 to 22.00±1.73 mm.The aqueous extract showed no appreciable antibacterial effect on the tested microorganisms.This is the first report which support the use of floral extracts of this species in the management of ailments in African traditional medicine.

Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants:The case of Artemisia vulgaris L.substituted for Artemisia annua L.in Western Uganda

Background:Different parts of Artemisia vulgaris L.(A.vulgaris)are ethno-medicinally used as an emmenagogue and for the treatment of ailments such as malaria fever,ulcers,and cancer.However,anecdotal evidence shows that the plant is often substituted for Artemisia annua L.(A.annua)by herbalists in Western Uganda due to similarities in their morphology.Misidentification of medicinal plants and mislabelling of herbal products have been incriminated in toxicity and adverse health outcomes in traditional medicine practise.Because safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies,it becomes imperative therefore that medicinal plants should be correctly identified.Methods:This study focused on investigating the macroscopic,microscopic,physicochemical characteristics and phytochemical composition of A.vulgaris leaves compared to A.annua to ease its correct identification.Results:The results showed that there are some colour differences between the leaves of the two species,with a close arrangement of microscopic features but different leaf constants.The leaves of the two Artemisia species had similar tastes,but their shapes and colours(greenish-yellow for A.annua and dark green for A.vulgaris)can be used by the local community to distinguish between them.The artemisinin content was higher in A.vulgaris leaves(1.72%)than in A.annua(1.43%),but the reverse was observed for the total flavonoid content.Conclusion:This observation could justify the change in the use of A.vulgaris by the indigenous community in western Uganda.Further studies should consider the pharmacognostic comparison of A.annua with other species in the genus Artemisia and the use of molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding.

Leaching of Lead, Chromium and Copper into Drinks Placed in Plastic Cups at Different Conditions

Plastic cups commonly used by communities of Uganda lose color with time as they are used. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of copper, lead and chromium in drinks placed in blue and green plastic cups from two companies (anonymized as A and B) in Uganda. New blue and green polyethylene plastic cups produced from unrecycled material were purchased from company A and company B while control cups of Luminarc white (Saudi Arabia) and porcelain white glazed (China) were purchased from shops in Mbarara city. The ash from the burnt blue and green plastic cups was digested using Aqua Regia. After a holding time of 30 and 60 minutes, milk and tea samples in the four different cups were also digested using Aqua Regia. Sample analysis for the supernatants was done in triplicates using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The ash of blue and green cups from company A was found to contain the highest concentration of heavy metals which ranged from 0.73 to 1.86 ppm for lead, 8.05 to 38.32 ppm of copper, and 655.80 to 756.57 ppm for chromium. For company B, the heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 1.43 ppm, 5.51 to 22.85 ppm, and 756.67 to 815.25 ppm, respectively. The concentration of the leached metals ranged from 0.001 to 5.75 ppm for copper, 0.001 to 0.60 ppm for chromium, and 0.001 to 0.41 ppm for lead for the cup of company A. For the cup from company B, the concentration ranges for the leached metals were from 0.001 to 3.59 ppm, 0.001 to 1.08 ppm, and 0.001 to 0.29 ppm, respectively. Most of the values obtained for the leached concentrations of the metals studied were above the respective drinking water in WHO and USEPA permissible limits of 1 ppm (copper), 0.05 ppm (lead) and 0.1 ppm (chromium). The blue and green plastic cups from both companies had leached concentrations of copper, lead and chromium below the permissible limits at 25°C, pH 6.2 (milk) and a holding time of 30 minutes. The control cups did not leach detectable amounts of copper, chromium and lead under the study conditions, hence it may be safe for holding the hot drinks at the temperatures experimented in this study.

Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.(Rutaceae):ethnomedicinal uses,phytochemistry,pharmacological activities,toxicity,and clinical application

Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.is a plant extensively used in traditional medicine.Here,a synopsis of the research on various aspects of Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.is presented.An electronic literature review revealed that formulations containing Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.are used to manage and treat diabetes,eye problems,malaria,snake envenomation,malignancies,as well as venereal,gastrointestinal,reproductive,respiratory,dermatological,and odonatological ailments.To date,90 compounds have been isolated and characterized from extracts of Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.Crude extracts and isolated compounds from Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.possess anti-inflammatory,antimicrobial,antioxidant,antiplasmodial,antiproliferative,anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1,antimycobacterial,antihypertensive,and antidiabetic activities.These bioactivities can be attributed to alkaloids,coumarins,limonoids,and phenylpropanoids present in different parts of the plant.Although some studies have indicated moderate toxicity of the extracts,some of the dominant compounds in this species,such as estragole and carbazole alkaloids,are mutagenic or cytotoxic.A clinical trial utilizing a Ghanaian herbal formulation containing Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.was found to be effective in reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis.Research progress to date supports the traditional use of this species in herbal medicine.However,these studies do not explain the relationships between traditional uses,pharmacological activities,and mechanisms of action.Thus,further studies should be designed to understand the biochemical properties and physiological effects of Clausena anisata(Willd.)Hook.f.ex Benth.extracts,facilitating the development and utilization of this medicinal resource.