The rising incidence of cancer is a major concern globally being a leading cause of early mortality in most countries. This burden is projected to increase to 28.4 million cases worldwide by 2040 and ...yet, may be worsened by continuous exposure to risk factors due to a sheer shift from consumption of natural nutrients. To reverse this trend, it is imperative to source novel anticancer metabolites from plants that could minimize carcinogenic effects by suppressing the proliferation and survival of cancer cells.
This study aimed at characterizing and quantifying index anticancer and antioxidant metabolites, in the cultivars of T. portulacastrum.
The Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (UHP-LCMS) was used to quantify and characterize index anticancer and antioxidant metabolites in shoot, root and whole plant extracts of Trianthema portulacastrum (T01,T02,T03,T04,T05,T06). The biological activity of the tested samples was monitored on the xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analyzer to determine the cytotoxicity of the extracts as a function of cell index at a specific time post dose using the concentration range of 0.16–2.5 %.
Based on the responses observed 48 h post exposure, all extracts showed high levels of cytotoxicity as determined by the xCELLigence apart from the root extracts. Rapid decreases in cell index (CI) values observed at higher extract percentages are highly indicative of cell death. These biological activities may be attributed to different anticancer metabolites such as epigallocatechin, glucaric acids, byakangelicin, xanthotoxin, apaensin, acetoxy-6-gingerol among other compounds of significant therapeutic benefits that were quantified with UHP-LCMS.
These findings suggest that T. portulacastrum contains diverse anticancer metabolites which could be leveraged to develop plant-based anticancer drugs or novel chemicals with extended therapeutic utility.
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The C_3 and C_4 photosynthetic pathways in dicotyledons were investigated with the four species of Boerhavia occurring in Nigeria using light microscopy. The study is not yet well reported on ...dicotyledons as done for monocotyledons. The features cross-examined were stomata index, stomata size, inter-stomatal distance, stomatal density, interveinal distance, intercellular air spaces, leaf thickness, mesophyll thickness, Kranz tissue, one cell distant count criterion, maximum lateral cell count criterion, vein density and vein distance. Based on these features, these species (B. erecta, B. coccinea and B. repens) were grouped into C_4 while B. diffusa was grouped as a C_3 plant. In particular, interveinal distance less than 166μm and maximum lateral count ranging 2 to 6 will help in grouping C_4 dicotyledons species while those that were greater than these values are useful in grouping C_3 and plants.
The Russian wheat aphid (RWA, (Diuraphis noxia) and the Bird cherry‐oat aphid (BCA, (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) cause severe damage to grain crops, including barley. An investigation of the effects of ...these aphids on a susceptible cultivar revealed that BCA‐infested barley plants remained healthy looking for 2 weeks after feeding commenced. In contrast, signs of stress and damage, including chlorosis and leaf necrosis were evident in RWA‐infested plants. Our study suggests that damage to the vascular tissue because of sustained feeding by BCA was not as extensive as that caused by RWA. In addition, there is a marked difference in the salivary secretion pattern within xylem elements punctured by aphids tapping the xylem for water. RWA deposit electron‐dense, amorphous to smooth saliva, which completely encases the inner walls of affected elements, and saliva encases pit membranes between xylem elements, and between xylem vessels and xylem parenchyma. Xylem tapped by BCA contained more granular saliva, which apparently does not occlude vessel wall apertures or the pit membranes to the same extent, as was observed with RWA. Damage to phloem tissue, including phloem parenchyma elements, sieve tube–companion cell (CC–ST) complexes as well as thick‐walled ST, was extensive. Plasmodesmata between phloem parenchyma elements as well as pore plasmodesmata between the CC and ST were occluded by callose. We conclude that severe, perhaps permanent damage to conducting elements in RWA‐infested leaves may be responsible for the detrimental chlorosis and necrosis symptoms. These symptoms are absent in BCA‐infested plants.
Foliar epidermal characters of ten species from the genus Cassia L. Emend. Gaertner, Senna Miller and Chamaecrista Moench found in South Western Nigeria were studied. The aim was to establish some ...useful diagnostic features that may be employed in combination with other characters as intra or inter-specific or generic tools for their delimitation. Our results revealed exciting features that are helpful in the identification of each species. These include guard cell area, stomatal index and frequency, presence or absence of trichomes, types of trichomes, as well as their length on epidermal surfaces and wall types. These results, therefore suggest diagnostic features that were found on the epidermal surface that can be employed to justify the separation of the new genera Senna and Chamaecrista from their initial genus Cassia.
Macromorphological characters of some species of Cassia L. emend. Gaertner, Senna Miller and Chamaecrista Moench occurring in South Western Nigeria were studied. The aim was to search for stable, ...distinctive and diagnostic characters for the identification of these genera and their species. Qualitative characters were noted and recorded while quantitative observations were done by the use of a metric ruler and the measurements were taken to the nearest centimeters. The habit ranges from all shrubs in Senna, shrubs and herbs in Chamaecrista while the Cassia species studied are all trees. The shape of the leaflet apex varies in both Senna and Cassia species, while it is distinctly mucronate in Chamaecrista genus. Occurrence of foliaceous stipule in the genus Chamaecrista clearly separates it from Senna and Cassia, which are completely exstipulate. In general, other characters such as number of leaflet pairs, length and width of leaflets, leaflet base, and number of leaflets lateral nerves revealed generic distinctions. Others include the degree of hairiness in sepals, petals shape, types of inflorescence, fruit shape and fruit length. The attributes that delimits the species are mainly quantitative. The results of this investigation suggest macromorphological characters that clearly enhance the taxonomy of these genera and their species and they can be subsequently employed in their delimitation.
Leaf anatomical characters of twelve species from the genus
Cyperus
, a genus known to contain species with both C
3
and C
4
plants, have been investigated. We investigated and established the ...usefulness of all‐inclusive functional leaf anatomical characters for identifying the photosynthetic pathways of these species. The species investigated were
C. articulatus
L.,
C. compressus
L.,
C. difformis
L.,
C. dilatatus
Schum. & Thonn.,
C. distans
L.,
C. esculentus
L.,
C. haspan
L.,
C. imbricatus
Retz.,
C. iria
L.,
C. rotundus
L.,
C. sphacelatus
Rottb. and
C. tenuiculmis
(Boeck.) Hooper, collected from locations in southwestern Nigeria. Standard anatomical procedures for examining epidermal and cross sections of leaves were employed. Our data suggested that a combination of characters, such as the occurrence of Kranz tissue, maximum cell distant count, maximum lateral cell count, interveinal distance, and to some extent leaf and mesophyll thickness, provide a reliable basis for the assessment of the photosynthetic pathways of the investigated species as compared to the isolated characters used previously. The study indicate that
C. difformis
and
C. haspan
are C
3
species while the rest follow the C
4
photosynthetic pathway. A salient feature of this study is the identification of
C. dilatatus
as belonging to the C
4
group.
Leaf anatomical characters of twelve species from the genus Cyperus, a genus known to contain species with both C3 and C4 plants, have been investigated. We investigated and established the ...usefulness of all‐inclusive functional leaf anatomical characters for identifying the photosynthetic pathways of these species. The species investigated were C. articulatus L., C. compressus L., C. difformis L., C. dilatatus Schum. & Thonn., C. distans L., C. esculentus L., C. haspan L., C. imbricatus Retz., C. iria L., C. rotundus L., C. sphacelatus Rottb. and C. tenuiculmis (Boeck.) Hooper, collected from locations in southwestern Nigeria. Standard anatomical procedures for examining epidermal and cross sections of leaves were employed. Our data suggested that a combination of characters, such as the occurrence of Kranz tissue, maximum cell distant count, maximum lateral cell count, interveinal distance, and to some extent leaf and mesophyll thickness, provide a reliable basis for the assessment of the photosynthetic pathways of the investigated species as compared to the isolated characters used previously. The study indicate that C. difformis and C. haspan are C3 species while the rest follow the C4 photosynthetic pathway. A salient feature of this study is the identification of C. dilatatus as belonging to the C4 group.
A synopsis of anti-psychotic medicinal plants in Nigeria Ayokun-nun Ajao, Abdulwakeel; Alimi, Afolakemi Abibat; Olatunji, Olusanya Abiodun ...
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa,
01/2018, Volume:
73, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Psychosis is a mental disorder characterised by multiple symptoms affecting thought, emotion, perception, volition and general wellbeing of the sufferers. Psychotic patients in Nigeria are mostly ...managed by traditional medical practitioners, who employ varieties of medicinal plants. This review was conducted to compile a list of antipsychotic medicinal plants in Nigeria and also probe into the active metabolites that have been scientifically implicated for the management of psychosis and its opportunistic diseases. The information used was gathered from published scientific journals, books and conference proceedings sourced from scientific databases. The results revealed medicinal plants as being mostly used in the treatment of psychosis in Nigeria. This may be attributed to the belief that the ailment is due to supernatural forces that can only be cured traditionally. The majority of plants being used belong to the families Fabaceae and Apocynaceae. Leaves, stem, stem bark and sometimes roots are mostly employed in the treatment of psychosis. Alkaloid was the most implicated psychoprotective metabolite. In spite of the menace of this disease, the medicinal plants for the management of this disease have not been adequately explored. However, it is our belief that this concerted effort will pave the way for continuous research on these potent and excellent antipsychotic phytotherapies.
The deposition of callose and the damage-related symptoms subsequently expressed by infested plants were investigated after feeding on barley leaves by bird cherry-oat aphid (BCA), Rhopalosiphum padi ...L. Feeding by this aphid does not result in appearance of visible damage to the plants, provided the feeding population is small. Using aniline blue fluorochrome, we confirmed that whilst low feeding density (5 aphids) results in appearance of wound callose in sieve tubes, this only occurs after 14d of feeding, when the feeding population had increased. Continued feeding results in progressively more callose deposition and by 21d, severe damage has been caused. In contrast, feeding by larger populations (50 adult aphids), results in the appearance of wound callose within 72h, in longitudinal and cross veins. We suggest that this wounding response appears to play a role in the appearance of golden yellow streak symptoms reported to occur in leaves where BCA feeding density was high.
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