PHARMACOGNOSTIC, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF THE LEAVES OF AMARANTHUS VIRIDIS LINN.(AMARANTHACEAE)
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
ABSTRACT
Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae), an annual herb, used in traditional medicine as diuretic and emollient, in poultices on inflammations, boils or abscesses, as well as in the treatment of gonorrhea, piles, fever, filaria, dysentery etc. This study focussed on the evaluation of various pharmacognostic parameters including microscopic, physicochemical and phytochemical properties of the leaves of this plant, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The 70% aqueous ethanol leaf extract was used for the antioxidant and antimicrobial studies. The microscopy of the leaves revealed the presence of slightly wavy-walled epidermal cells on the upper surface and larger wavy-walled epidermal cells on the lower surface, with both containing anisocytic stomata; uniseriate glandular trichomes with unicellular head on both surfaces; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals within the cells. A transverse section through the midrib of the leaf revealed it to be a dorsiventral type and a round type of vascular bundles, which possess spiral and annular types of xylem vessels. Chemomicroscopically, the presence of lignins, tannins and starch grains at different specific locations within the leaf; and the absence of fats and oils are worthy of note. The physicochemical properties were determined as follows: moisture content of 12.19 ± 0.06% w/w; total ash value of 19.92 ± 0.10% w/w; acid-insoluble ash value of 1.07 ± 0.08% w/w; water-soluble ash value of 5.97 ± 0.06% w/w; ethanol – soluble extractive value of 1.71 ± 0.26% w/w and water – soluble extractive value of 2.7 ± 0.36% w/w. Phytochemical screening of the 70% aqueous ethanol leaf extract of the plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and cardiac glycosides. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity by the free radical scavenging effect on DPPH showed that the extract has significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity which is comparable to that of ascorbic acid. The aqueous ethanol leaf extract of the plant showed significant (P < 0.05) 8 broad spectrum antibacterial activity, compared to the standard Gentamicin, against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations; 62.5 mg/ml, 125 mg/ml, 15.63 mg/ml, 31.25 mg/ml and 31.25 mg/ml respectively. Determination of the minimum bactericidal concentrations revealed that the extract has no cidal effect against E. coli, S. typhi and B. subtilis, while it has against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus with 125 mg/ml as MBC in both cases. The evaluation of the antifungal activity of the crude leaf extract of the plant revealed its inability to inhibit the growth of Penicillium notatum and Candida albicans as compared to the standard drug, Griseofulvin. The findings in this work were able to establish important pharmacognostic standards for correct identification of the plant, as well as its potentials for possible development of yet another antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.
Related Project Materials
PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL STUDIES OF Ensete gilletii ROOT EXTRACTS
ABSTRACT
Ensete gilletii commonly called wild banana, is ethno-medicinally used for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, stomac...
PRINCIPALS AND SUPERVISION OF INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JSS 3 STUDENTS IN EDUCATION
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine principals and supervision of instruction and acade...
AN INVESTIGATION OF MERGER AND ACQUISITION AND ITS EFFECTS ON AN ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
There are typically triumphs and failures in all human endeavors. As a result,...
THE ROLE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING IN MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Abstract:
This study examines the role of management accounting in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) i...
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND ITS INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Generally, in the whole world, particularly in Nigeria, education has been cons...
THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN IMO STATE)
ABSTRACT
Various accounting system is being used by different organizations or firms to speculate and analy...
KNOWLEDGE AWARENESS AND BENEFITS OF NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME AMONG CIVIL SERVANT IN UYO LGA
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Ever since Emperor Otto Von Bismarck of Germany enacted the mandatory legislation on the “...
OIL-PALM PRODUCTION IN EJIGBO COMMUNITY IN OSUN STATE, 1960-2000
-
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY.
Indigenous arts in Nigeria are as old as time imm...
ANALYSIS OF POVERTY STATUS OF FOREST DWELLERS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN ONDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This study analyzed poverty status of forest dwellers in coastal communities of Ondo State, Ni...
EFFECTS OF WOMENS’ INVOLVEMENT IN COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON INCOME OF GROUNDNUT PROCESSORS IN AGRICULTURAL ZONE I AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The study assessed the effects of cooperative societies on women involvement in groundnut processing in Agricultural Zone I of N...
