Medicinal Plants Used for Management of Asthma in FCT, Abuja and Its Environs

Aim: Asthma is a condition that affects the airways in human lungs. It causes its (lungs) inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. Conventional therapies used in its management are expensive and have been found to come with undesirable side effects. The use of herbal remedies in treating the disease is widespread especially in local communities with little or no access to primary health care. This indigenous knowledge on the cure of asthma is gradually being lost among the populace. This study is aimed at documenting local remedies used in the management of asthma. Methodology: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Federal Capital Territory (FCT)- Abuja and surrounding communities, among Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs), Herb’s sellers and elderly in the community using semi-structured questionnaire and interview methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ethnobotany index. Results: 80 respondents were interviewed, 58 of them laid claims to knowledge about medicinal plants used in asthma management. Majority of the respondents are Traditional Medicine Practitioners (48%). 59 plants species belonging to 38 plant families was documented with most belonging to the Moraceae plant family (10%). The recipes mentioned were mostly prepared as decoctions which are taken orally with a case of two being by smoking and inhalation. Conclusion: This study has shown that the Federal Capital Territory and settlements within its environ are blessed with medicinal plants used in the management of asthma which serve as a cheap and alternative source of remedy for the local populace and as well, being a repository for scientific inquest that may lead to yet another drug discovery from plant origin used in the management of asthma.

Phytochemical and Anti-diarrhoeal Properties of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Maerua crassifolia Forssk.

Maerua crassifolia Forssk. Leaf is used in African traditional medicine for management of gastrointestinal disorders. The anti-diarrhoeal activity of the methanol extract of Maerua crassifolia leaf was investigated in rats. The phytochemical screening was also carried out. The methanol extract of Maerua crassifolia leaf dose dependently decreased intestinal propulsion of charcoal meal in rats. Maerua crassifolia also exerted significant anti-enteropooling effect in rats. A profound anti-diarrhoea activity was observed when the extract was tested in diarrhoeic rats. The frequency of defecation as well as the wetness of the faecal droppings was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the leaf extract produced 100% inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, resins and cardiac glycosides. The oral LD50 obtained was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats. The study showed that the methanol extract of Maerua crassifolia leaf possesses anti diarrhoeal activity and its action may be linked partly to direct inhibitory effect of the extract on the propulsive movement of the gastrointestinal tract smooth muscle.

Antistaphylococcal Activity of N-Butanol and Aqueous Sub-Fractions of Alchornea cordifolia Leaves.

Aims: To carry out the antistaphylococcal activity of n-butanol and aqueous sub-fractions of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. And Thonn.) Müll. Arg. leaf extract against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Study Design: Characterization and antibiotic susceptibility determination of the test S. aureus isolates, extraction of A. cordifolia leaf, partitioning of the extract, Zones of inhibition and Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations determination. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. February 2010 to October 2011. Methodology: A. cordifolia leaves were collected from Abuja, Nigeria. The activity of the ethanol extract, N-butanol (NSF) and aqueous (ASF) sub-fractions of the plant leaf against five clinical staphylococcal isolates and the standard Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ATCC 33591 were determined using agar-well diffusion and broth dilution methods. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined by the Kirby- Bauer-CLSI modified disc agar diffusion technique (DAD). Results: The diameter zones of inhibition showed by ethanol extract against the test staphylococcal isolates ranged between 12 mm - 26 mm, while the diameter zones of inhibition observed from N-butanol sub-fraction and aqueous sub-fraction against the isolates were between 11 mm - 36.5 mm and 11 mm - 35 mm respectively. The diameter zones of inhibition of the sub-fractions against the standard MRSA ATCC 33591 ranged from 11 mm – 27.5 mm. The diameter zones of inhibition of the test antibiotics ranged from 10 mm to 23 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (M. I. C.) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (M. B. C.) values produced by ethanol extract were higher than those of the sub-fractions. N-butanol sub-fraction produced the lowest M. I. C and M. B. C. values of 0.625 mg/ml – 1.25 mg/ml and 1.25 mg/ml – 2.5 mg/ml respectively. The M. I. C. and M. B. C. values of the N-butanol sub-fraction against the standard strain ATCC 33591 were 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml respectively. Conclusion: The tested N-butanol and aqueous sub-fractions of A. cordifolia leaf were active against the S. aureus strains at low concentrations. The plant can be a possible candidate in the search for alternative antistaphylococcal agents.

Ethno-Medicinal Plants and Methods used by Gwandara Tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria; to Treat Mental Ilness

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey; various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music; incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations - decoction; powder; infusion - which are administered in various ways like fumigation; inhalation; bathing; steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion; there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such; at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge

Ethno-Medical Plants and Methods Used by Gwandara Tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria; to Treat Mental Illness

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State; Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey; various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music; incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations - decoction; powder; infusion - which are administered in various ways like fumigation; inhalation; bathing; steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion; there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such; at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge