ABSTRACT
Solanum incanum Linn. and Solanum melongena Linn (Solanaceae) are both shrubs or trees found in the sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Both are called „gauta‟ among the Hausa community of Northern Nigeria and „Tarku‟ among the Bura/Babar speaking people of Southern Borno of North Eastern Nigeria. They are widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain related illnesses such as sore throat, angina, stomach-ache, colic, headache, painful menstruation, liver pain and pain caused by onchocerciasis, pleurisy, pneumonia and rheumatism. Microscopic, chemo-microscopic, quantitative evaluative and thin layer chromatographic (TLC) studies were carried out on the leaves of both plant species using standard pharmacognostic procedures. Elemental analysis using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique was also carried out on the two plant species. Organoleptically, leaves of both plants were green in colour and distinct in odour, but S. incanum had a more bitter taste than S. melongena. Microscopically, leaves of both plants had predominantly anisocytic stomata of different sizes on the adaxial surface, while anomocytic stomata were predominant on the abaxial surfaces. Numerous non glandular stellate trichomes of different sizes were observed on the abaxial surface of both plants. Epidermal cells with wavy anticlinal walls were observed on both surfaces of the two plant species. Transversely, the leaves of both plants were dorsiventral with multilacunar vascular bundles. Calcium oxalate crystal (prism), starch grains (oval-shaped) and xylem vessels (spiral) were observed. Quantitative-leaf microscopy of the two plants had shown that S. melongena had a higher vein-islet termination number (4.80) than S. incanum (3.40). They also differ in their stomatal numbers and indices: 4.00 and 6.80 (upper epidermis) and 12.00 and 20.50 (lower epidermis) in S. melongena were higher than 2.00 and 3.70 (upper epidermis) and 8.00 and 13.30 (lower epidermis) in S. incanum respectively, but had viii the same palisade ratio (4.60) and vein-islet number (2.60). Chemomicroscopic studies showed that both plants had all features tested in common, namely cellulose, lignin, starch, tannins, mucilage, fats and fixed oils and calcium oxalate crystals were present, while calcium carbonate was absent. Physicochemical analysis (%w/w) revealed that water-soluble ash (10.2%) and water-soluble extractive value (19.2%) were higher in S. melongena than in S. incanum (8.4%) and (18%) respectively. While moisture content (4.1%), total ash (20.5%), acid-insoluble ash (7.0%) and alcohol-soluble extractives (12.4%) were found to be higher in S. incanum than in S. melongena (3.5%), (19.0%), (6.0%) and (9.6%) respectively. Quantitative estimation of alkaloids in the leaves of the two plants revealed that S. incanum (8.0%) had a slightly higher percentage of alkaloid than S. melongena (5.0%). The mineral element concentrations (ppm) of the leaf powder of the two plants were found to vary considerably. Generally, S. incanum was found to contain more mineral elements both in number and concentrations than S. melongena. Uranium (0.026+0.007) the potentially toxic element and Neodymium (11.000+3.000) were only present in S. incanum. The percentage yield of the ethanol extract obtained revealed that S. incanum (2.42%) had a higher percentage yield than S. melongena (1.29%). Phytochemical screening on the ethanol extracts of both plants showed that they had all the phytochemicals tested in common namely; alkaloids, carbohydrate, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, tannins and saponins were present while anthraquinone was absent. Thin Layer Chromatographic analysis of the crude ethanol extract showed several numbers of spots with different Rf values. Chromatographic analysis of the alkaloid extract of S. incanum and S. melongena also showed several numbers of spots with different Rf values. The results of this study show that Solanum incanum and S. melongena possess some similar morphological, anatomical and phytochemical characteristics. They were found to differ in respect to their histological features, ix physicochemical parameters and elemental mineral contents. The result can be useful in setting some diagnostic indices for the differentiation, identification, authentication and the preparation of the monograph of the two plants.
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