Elizabeth Temitope AKINTUNDE, Botany - Ahmadu Bello University, 2023

Medicinal plants have always played a key role in the world health, since they are the sources of many important scientific drugs of modern world. It is not a surprise that the earliest drugs in the history of medicine were all derived from plants. Medicinal herbs have been used for healing as an alternative to medicine by all cultures for several thousands of years. About 80% of the world’s population does not have access to conventional drugs and therefore rely on medicinal herbs. Western medicine is well known and in use, but at the same time it has created problems due to some side effects such as carcinogenicity caused by the synthetic drugs in Western Medicine. This has enhanced the interest in search for natural products with medicinal property e.g. naturally occurring anti-oxidants and anti-biotic for use in foods and medicine. Therefore ethno-medicine, using medicinal herbs has been considered an alternative, in order to eradicate side-effects associated with synthetic drugs. The study “Phytochemical screening and quantitative analysis of Sida cordifolia and Sida acuta” aimed to determine and quantify phytoconstituent present in aqueous leaves extract of Sida cordifolia and Sida acuta. The test are as follows; test for carbohydrate, test for flavonoid, test for tannins, test for alkaloid, test for saponin, test for steroid, test for terpenoid and test for cardiac glycosides. Quantitative analysis however, was done by spectrophotometric method using standard procedure, the crude extract (aqueous) leaves of the Sida species was quantified spectrophotometrically as follows: determination of total phenolic content, determination of total flavonoid content, determination of total alkaloid content, determination of total tannin content, determination of total saponin content, determination of total C/glycoside, determination of total steroid content, determination of total terpernoid content, determination of total anthraquinone. The Qualitative Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extracts of the plants parts (leaves) of the two Sida species showed the presence of medicinally active constituents such as carbohydrate, tannins, saponin, flavonoid, terpenoid, steroid, phenol, C/glucosides, alkaloid with the exception of anthraqunione. For quantitative phytochemical screening showed the quantity of phytochemicals associated with the solution extract. However, it was found out that aqueous leaves extract has highest values in tannins (112.22), saponins (141.78), flavonoid (166.54), and alkaloids (105.43) were found in Sida cordifolia compared to Sida acuta. But, phenols (198.82) is highest in Sida acuta compared to Sida cordifolia. Sida cordifolia and Sida acuta is a medicinal plant due to possession of such compound in its leaves the result of this study has provided a scientific evidence to support the vital role of Sida cordifolia and Sida acuta leaves as medicinal plant with great emphasis on traditional medicine.

Nafisat ISSA, Botany - Ahmadu Bello University, 2023

Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influences the germination, growth, survival and reproduction of other organisms. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Eugenia jambolana leaf aqueous extract on the growth of Vigna unguiculata. Aqueous extract of the leaves of Eugenia jambolana were screened for phytochemicals and its effect on the growth of Vigna unguiculata were investigated. The leaf extract was made into a solution to obtain two rates (100mg, 300mg, 500mg, 800mg and 1000mg) which were compared with the control (0g). Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrates and phenols. The aqueous extract significantly (p<0.05) had higher inhibitory effect on the radicle and plumule lenght of Vigna unguiculata from Day 4 and Day 5 after planting when compared to the control and other treatments (100mg, 300mg and 500mg) to that of 800mg and 1000mg.

Oluwatoyin Mary OLAWUYI, Botany - Ahmadu Bello University, 2023

The study is aimed at isolating and identifying the fungi associated with late blight of potatoes in Jos South Local Government Area of plateau State. The infected leaf samples were collected from three different fields in Jos South Local Government Area and transported to the laboratory, the infected leaves were cut into smaller portions using a sterile blade and inoculated on the Potato Dextrose Agar, it was incubated at room temperature for 5 days after which the different colonies obtained were identified using the slide culture technique. The result obtained indicated the presence of 3 different fungal species with their percentage occurrence: Phytophtora sp. (50%), Aspergillus niger (33.3%) and Aspergillus flavus (16.7%), However Phytophtora sp. was the most predominant specie while Aspergillus flavus was the least common. It was concluded that 3 fungal species were found to be responsible for the deterioration of potato plant in the potato fields in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. In order to prevent the fungal infection on the leaves and other parts of the plant, this study recommends the development of suitable cultural, chemical and management practices to improve the quality of potato tuber right from the field.

Rofiat ABUBAKAR , Botany - Ahmadu Bello University, 2023

In vitro anti-trypanosomal effects of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum sanctum against Trypanosoma brucei brucei was examined. The leaf of Ocimum sanctum was collected and maceration method was used for extraction. Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using the method described by (Trease and Evans). Which revealed the presence and absence of active compounds which includes; alkaloids, phenols, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and it further revealed the absence of anthraquinones The in vitro test of anti-trypanosomal activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum was carried out in a 96 well micro-titre plate. Twenty micro-litres (20µl) of blood were exposed to 10µl of the extract solution concentration of 2.5mg/ml, 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml respectively 10µl of the standard drug Diminazine diaceturate, was used as the positive control; while 10µl of phosphate buffered saline glucose was used as the negative control. At five minutes’ incubation, a drop of the incubated blood sample was placed on a glass slide, covered with a cover slip and mounted on a light microscope. The parasite was monitored every 5 minutes of a total of 60 minute, the parasite motility was observed and tracked under microscope at X400 magnification. It was discovered that the leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum exhibited anti-trypanosomal activity in a concentration and time dependent manner on the parasite. When the parasite was exposed to 2.5mg/ml of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum, the parasites were slightly weak in 5 minutes of exposure, under 10 minutes of exposure, motility ceased until 60 minutes. The same procedure applies for 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum, the parasite's motility ceased in 5 minutes till 60 minutes of these concentrations. It can be concluded that the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum exhibited good anti-trypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The bioactive compounds in the plant extract are attributed to the anti-trypanosomal activity. The p-value is < 0.05, here we reject the null hypothesis and concluded that the Ocimum sanctum leaf extract has significant anti-trypanosomal activity.