Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile — Ife, Nigeria

Keywords: Phytotheraphy, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, discoveries and challenges

Every period of time in the entire life span of a particular generation of Homo sapiens is faced with various challenges. Such challenges do vary greatly, and they range from professional, survival, domestic, political, economic and scientific challenges. In the last 200 years or so for instance, there have been tremendous challenges facing the world of Science including the subject of Pharmacognosy and attempts to rise up into those challenges have resulted in various discoveries and advancements. New challenges in Pharmacognosy and the ways to face them in the next century are suggested.

Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile — Ife, Nigeria.

Key words: Research and development, medicines, medicinal plants.

ABSTRACT:

Recent advances in the Research and development of Herbal Medicines are highlighted and a scheme for R & D work is presented. The need for adequate information (chemical, biological, botanical and so on) on local plants is highlighted. There is also the need to standardize the herbal product, prepare it in an acceptable dosage form and appraise it clinically to ensure safety. R & D work can be very expensive as its success hinges on ready availability of raw materials, access to relevant technology, analytical support, trained manpower and the availability of social facilities.

Managing Director, Pharma-Deko Plc, Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun state, Nigeria

Keywords: herbal drugs patient, pilot plant, commercialization, and marketing.

The processes for herbal drug commercialization must start from scientific research results, which must have a patent for any benefits to accrue to the researcher. Development from pilot plant to industrial production requires established Companies with the financial capacity and Government support.

Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Keywords: Caesalpinia crista, caesalpiniaceae, microscopy, marcroscopy, leaves, stems

ABSTRACT:

Caesalpinia crista leaves are bipinnate of about six pairs with alternate leaflets while the stem us fibrous, cylindrical hollow and prickly. Microscopical examination revealed the presence of strained cuticle, straight-walled epidermal cells, paracytic stomata, unicellular covering trichomes, fibres, prisms as well as cluster of calcium oxalate crystal and vascular tissues. The stem showed reticulately pitted vessels, cork cells, sclereids (mostly in twos), fibres, starch grains (occurring singly); prisms as well as clusters of calcium oxalate, unicellular covering trichomes and phloem parenchyma.

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria

Keywords: Enantia chlorantha, Anonaceae, malaria, fever, pain, Klesbsiella sp., mice and rabbits

ABSTRACT:

Aqueous extract of the bark of Enantia chlorantha administered intraperitoneally (i.p) into healthy adult albino mice at does of 1.0 and 5.0g/kg resulted in elevation of pain threshold. The action of E. chlorantha was found to be about 20 times less potent than morphine. On the other hand, a dose if 15.0g/kg of the extract given orally to rabbits infected with Klebsiella sp was able to relieve the pyrogenic induced fever whereas no such effect was observed in the control group that was given ordinary water.

Department of Chemistry and ²Morbid Anatomy, College of Medicine University of Lagos. ¹National Institute for Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos.

Keywords: Bridelia ferruginea, Euphorbiaceae, blood chemistry, rat lungs and heart

ABSTRACT:

Aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark caused significant increases in serum K⁺, creatinine, total bilirubin, GOT, GPT, HDL, Alkaline phosphate, BUN (p<0.001) and decreases in serum Na⁺, Cl^-, CO₂, cholesterol, glucose, Ca²⁺ (p<0.01,0.001) in rats. No changes were observed in serum triglyceride, uric acid, phosphate and total protein levels when compared with the control. The increase in some if these parameter was detected by means of PAS staining. The heart and lungs also showed adverse effects.

Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile — Ife. Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Keywords: Colocasia esculenta, Artocarpus communis, Araceae, Moraceaem, starch elemental analysis.

Artocarpus communis (breadfruit) and Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam) starches compared favourably with Zea mays (corn) starch and complied individually with the official requirements as specified in the British Pharmacopoeia and Handbook of Pharmaceutical excipients.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Keywords: Khaya grandifoliola, Meliaceae, antimalarial activity, grandifolin

The antimalarial n-hexane fraction of K. grandifoliola stem bark on fractionation gave methyl-6-acetoxy angolensate and novel grandifolin characterized by spectroscopic methods.

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Usukka.

Keywords: Polysaccharide, Treculia africana, Moreaceae, Hydrophilic matrix, theophylline hydrate and dissolution rate.

ABSTRACT:

A hydrophilic polysaccharide obtained from Treculia africana fruit was employed as a release matrix for theophylline hydrate tablets. The polysaccharide was employed at concentration levels of 0-30%w/w and tablets were formulated using the wet granulation method. There was a relatively prolonged release of theophylline from Treculia gum matrix at all concentrations employed, an effect that was concentration dependent. Treculia gum matrix exerted the highest retardant effect on theophylline release in simulated intestinal fluid pancreatin (SIF) and least in simulated gastric fluid without pepsin (SGF). There was no enhancement on theophylline release when a hydrophilic plasticizer was incorporated into the tablets. The release kinetics of theophylline from the polymer matrix at all concentrations was of dominant controlled mechanism. While Tragacanth was superior to Treculia gum, the latter performed better than sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) as a sustained release hydrophilic matrix for theophylline hydrate.

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Jos, Jos.

Keywords: Allium cepa, Liliaceae, diuresis, rats

Allium cepa extract frusemide and 1%NaCl solution initiated a significant increase (p<0.05) in urine production by white albino rats. The effect was greater with the extract and frusemide when compared with NaCl.

Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and ¹Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Keywords: Murraya koenigii, Rutaceae, antibacterial activity.

The volatile oil of Murraya keonigii was active against Staphylococcus epidemidis, S. aureus, and Streptococcus specie while the aqueous extract was not active

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Key words: Ornamental plants; Ixora brachypoda, Polyscias bolfouriana, Scindapsus aureus, chemical constituents, antimicrobial activity.

The MeOH extracts of Ixora brachypoda. Polyscies bolfouriana and Scindapsus aureus exhibited significant broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Escherichia coli and yeast organism Saccharamyces cerevisiae at a concentration of 2.5mg/ml.

Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo.

Key words: Capsicum annuum (varieties U-SRCP, U-RSP,U-LP and N-YAP), Solanaceae, essential oils, antibacterial activity.

An in vitro antibacterial action of the essential oils from the fruits of four varieties of Capsicum annuum (U-SRCP, U-RSP, U-LP and N-YAP) was evaluated. The oils exerted significant action against all the test organisms with N-YAP and U-SRCP showing highest activities.

Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

*Correspondence

The petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Sphenoceutrum jollyanum leaves possess significant in vitro analgesstic and antipyretic activities.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Keywords: Gladiolus actinomorphantus, Iridiaceae, starch, molecular weight, amylose/amylopectin ratio.

Gladiolus actinomorphantus starch is oval with single, double and triple rayed clefts with a molecular weight of 5.85x10³. The amylose/amylopectin ration shows that the starch is composed mainly of amylopectin (91.05%)

Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, ¹Department of Chemistry, University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka and ²Institute fur Pharmazeutishe Chemie, West falische Wilhelms-Universitat 48149 Munster, Federal Republic of Germany.

Keywords: Clausena lansium; Rutaceae; stembark, 3-formylcarbazole; furocoumarins, phellopetrin

3-formylcarbazole, imperatorin, chalepin and phellopterin were isolated from Clausena lansium stem bark. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.

Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria. ¹Department of Chemistry, Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30314, U.S.A.

Keywords: Targetes patula, compositae, flowers, hydroxytremetone.

The flowers of Targetes patula gave known hydroxytremetone. The structure was elucidated using spectroscopic methods. It was also detected in the leaves and the stem of the plant.