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Plant-base remedies for the management of mental health disorder in Buea Municipality, Southwest Cameroon
Full text linkMental health issue (mental illness) is the malfunctioning of individuals as a result of altering their behaviour, reasoning, life achieving goals and as well as emotions of the affected individual. In Buea, there is a rise in mental health issues as a result of socioeconomic crises and an increase in modernization that has resulted in increased school dropout. The health facilities in the municipality are very limited in managing these increased mental health issues. As a result, plants have come in as alternatives. The study was conducted to evaluate the different plants used in managing mental health disorders. Field surveys, interviews and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from this study. RFC = FC/N (0<RFC<1), Use Reports (UR), the use value (UV) and the informant agreement ratio (IAR) were computed. Twenty-two plants were used to treat one or more categories of mental illness in Buea municipality. The mental illness categories were depression (52.5%), stress (26.3%), fear (21.3%), anger (13.8%) and anxiety (10%). Ocimum gratissimum, Aframomum melegueta and Afrostyrax lepidophyllus were reported to treat four of the five categories of mental illness. The medicinal plants with the highest Frequency of citation were A. melegueta, Ageratum conyzoides, Voacanga africana, O. gratissimum and A. lepidophyllus (42, 32, 26, 22, 21) respectively. For the used reports, 168, 96, 88, 84 and 78 were reported for A. melegueta, A. conyzoides, O. gratissimum, A. lepidophyllus and V. africana respectively. Leaves were the most used plants parts and the mode of preparation was by decoction. In conclusion, these plants will be further screened to improve on drug discovery in mental health management
Harnessing the phytochemical potential of Curcuma angustifolia rhizomes: A comprehensive evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant properties: Phytochemical potential of Curcuma angustifolia
No full textHerbaceous perennial Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. has been traditionally utilized in folk medicine for a variety of purposes. The objective of the current study was to assess the phytochemical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant qualities of Curcuma angustifolia plant rhizomes. Based on preliminary phytochemical investigations, the chemical classes found in the extracts included flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and tannins. The findings suggested that the plant phytochemical qualities could be used to treat a variety of illnesses. With the agar-well diffusion method, the antimicrobial effectiveness of the plant extracts was evaluated against both clinical isolates and standard strains of certain bacteria. The extracts demonstrated an inhibitory impact on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus had the largest zone of inhibition, whereas gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae had the lowest. The DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to assess the extracts antioxidant properties. Antioxidant activity increased with extract concentration. Since it has antibacterial and antioxidant qualities, it is useful for treating a range of illnesses, enhancing immunity, and combating harmful bacteria that infect humans
Survival of transport-stressed black pepper stem cuttings after glucose, sucrose, fructose, and IBA treatments
Full text linkThis study aimed to determine the survival, sprouting, and rooting performance of black pepper stem cuttings to glucose, sucrose, and fructose at different concentrations. The two-node stem cuttings were prepared from six to seven-node cuttings collected from mother vines of black pepper in the field from far and remote areas in Sarawak, Malaysia. The two-node cuttings were soaked completely for one hour with the following treatments: 1% glucose, 2% glucose, 3% glucose, 1% sucrose, 2% sucrose, 3% sucrose, 1% fructose, 2% fructose, 3% fructose, and 1000 ppm IBA served as a positive control, while filtered water was a negative control. All treated cuttings were sown in the polybags containing soil mix and monitored daily for up to 45 days. The study found that black pepper cuttings treated with a 3% glucose solution exhibited significantly better survival, sprouting, and rooting, total number of roots, and total length of roots at day 45, but they were about the same when soaked in IBA at 1000 ppm. The present study demonstrates that cuttings that have been in transit for a long time require sugar and hormone treatment once they arrive at a certain location to restore their vitality and survival
Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Malayali tribes of Bodamalai Hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India
Full text linkEthnomedicinal plants have played a vital role for human healthcare systems across the world. Ethnomedicinal research is necessary to investigate different biological resources for usage as remedies. Many traditional medicinal herbs have been utilized extensively by indigenous people of India to treat a variety of human and animal-related illnesses. The current ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in the Bodamalai Hills of the Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. The study revealed that the Malayali tribes of Bodamalai Hills used 55 plants from 45 genera and 28 families to treat various diseases such as abdominal pain, arthritis, asthma, bone disorders, blood disorders, bronchitis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cholera, cold, cough, fever, constipation, cuts, wounds, diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery, ear problems, elephantiasis, fertility problems, jaundice, malaria, nervous disorders, paralysis, piles, skin diseases, smallpox, stomach disorders, toothaches, tuberculosis, ulcers, and urinary disorders. The tribes still rely on medicinal plants. The research findings showed that the number of traditional medicinal healers is declining since younger tribes have begun to migrate to towns and cities and lack interest in and expertise in this type of medicine. Therefore, documentation is required in order to properly conserve the ethnomedicinal plants
Analysing the performance of small cardamom during pre and post WTO regime: Performance of small cardamom
No full textIndian agricultural trade has undergone significant changes during the last three decades, especially during the WTO regime. The small cardamom, which is regarded as the queen of spices, was one of the Indian spices that witnessed several setbacks during the WTO regime. In this context, the present study analyses the performance of variables like area, production, productivity, prices (domestic and international prices), exports, and imports of small cardamom in terms of growth rate, instability, and structural stability during the pre- and post-WTO periods. Unlike the area under small cardamom cultivation, the production and productivity of small cardamom increased during the post-WTO period. Consequent upon the new liberalised trade regime under the WTO, the CAGR of exports and imports has increased during the post-WTO. Prices of small cardamoms have been showing a decreasing trend since the 1980s. While the competitiveness of small cardamom declined, some of the major export destinations of Indian small cardamom remained the same, especially in the Middle East. Due to the unique quality of the Indian small cardamom, its demand has always been high in the international market, despite higher prices than in its competitors, like Guatemala. The higher cost of production, high domestic demand, and qualitative restrictions by importing countries have slackened the trade performance of Indian small cardamom, these can be overcome through promotion of sustainable farming practices and crop-specific plans and policies for enhancing crop production efficiency
Antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus species against some pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria
Full text linkThe present study was conducted to examine the antimicrobial activity of different Lactobacillus species against pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria. Four species of Lactobacillus were isolated from homemade cheese, raw milk, dosa paste, sauce, and curd. Lactobacillus species isolated from the sampled food source include; Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus casei. The antimicrobial activity of L. plantarum (P2), L. brevis, L. plantarum (P1), L. casei, and L. fermentum was investigated against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus using well diffusion method of the indicator isolate. The results reveal that the L. plantarum (P2) has highest inhibition zones towards E. coli (25.7±1.35 mm), S. aureus (27.6±0.94 mm), P. aeruginosa (24.4±1.05 mm), and B. cereus (04.2±0.17 mm). The lowest zones of inhibition towards the sampled pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria were reported by L. casei. Our results confirm that the L. plantarum (P2), L. brevis, L. plantarum (P1), L. casei, and L. fermentum had efficient antimicrobial inhibitory effect on E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and B. cereus. Thus these Lactobacillus species could be effectively used for the protection of food from different pathogenic and food Spoilage bacteria
Efficacy of jerangau merah (Boesenbergia stenophylla R.M. Smith) crude root extracts for suppressing Collectotrichum gloeosporiodes Penz. associated disease of chili (Capsicum annum L.)
Full text linkEnvironmental pollution issues have prompted the exploration of biological control as a promising alternative for managing diseases in chili plants. However, the use of plant extracts and microbial inoculants to promote growth and control diseases in chili, particularly in Malaysia, especially Sarawak, is limited. The primary objective of this study was to assess the potential of Trichoderma and Boesenbergia stenophylla R.M Smith in suppressing Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz., a pathogen associated with chili (Capsicum annum L.) diseases. The efficacy of B. stenophylla in inhibiting C. gloeosporioides showed a maximum PIRG (Percent Inhibition Relative to Control Growth) value of 86.26% on day 8. The formulation of B. stenophylla (jerangau merah) demonstrated potential in suppressing chili anthracnose disease both in vitro and under field conditions. Two Trichoderma spp. isolated from the soil of rehabilitated forest floors were evaluated for their in vitro antagonism against C. gloeosporioides. T. harzianum gradually inhibited the growth of C. gloeosporioides starting from day 2, completely overtaking it by day 8 with a PIRG of 87.40%. T. harzianum inoculants proved effective in controlling the pathogen in vitro and enhancing the growth of chili seedlings, in addition to inhibiting C. gloeosporioides. Meanwhile, T. longibrachiatum also gradually inhibited the growth of C. gloeosporioides, achieving a PIRG of 56.02% by day 8. The presence of Trichoderma in the rhizosphere and on the roots generally improved the root growth of chili seedlings compared to controls inoculated with sterile distilled water (SDW) and those treated with B. stenophylla extracts. Chili seedlings responded better to T. harzianum inoculants than to T. longibrachiatum inoculants and B. stenophylla extracts. By week 8, seedlings inoculated with T. harzianum showed the highest root growth with 26.87 cm in root length and 9.48 g in root fresh mass. Disease assessment studies indicated that T. harzianum exhibited the greatest potential as a biocontrol agent (BCA), reducing disease incidence and severity by 53% and 51%, respectively. Similarly, application of B. stenophylla powder slowed down infection progression and improved chili plant growth, with disease incidence and severity values of 72% and 60%, respectively. Overall, the study demonstrated the efficacy of B. stenophylla in protecting and enhancing the growth of chili plants, potentially replacing harmful chemicals. Both B. stenophylla and T. harzianum inoculants showed effectiveness against C. gloeosporioides, suggesting their potential development as biocontrol agents. Assessment of plant-microbe interactions indicated that T. harzianum mediated induced resistance by producing inducible compounds such as peroxidase (PO). Single inoculation with T. harzianum was most effective, followed by a mixture of T. harzianum + B. stenophylla, delaying symptom onset and reducing disease incidence and severity. In conclusion, the findings suggest that Trichoderma inoculants and B. stenophylla extract powder are effective against C. gloeosporioides while promoting plant growth. Further research into formulation, application frequency, and techniques is essential to maximize their potential as BCAs against Colletotrichum diseases in chili plants
Advancements in DNA-based molecular markers to unravel the genetic diversity of endangered plants
Full text linkOne of the primary requirements to develop effective and practical sustainable management strategies for endangered plant species, is the assessment of genetic diversity. DNA-based molecular markers have proven themselves to be an excellent tool to assess many parameters including elucidation of genetic diversity for the past few decades. During this period, DNA-based marker technology has undergone many changes. From the initial RFLP to the contemporary systems that use high-throughput sequencing or next-generation sequencing platforms that have revolutionized genetic diversity assessment. This review focuses on the application of the molecular markers and, a few of their variants, to evaluate the genetic diversity of endangered plants along with their advantages, limitations as well as future prospects and scope
Antibacterial and antifungal activities from leaf and bark extract of Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze
Full text linkPractical knowledge of traditional medicine from ancient times, medicinal plants, often known as medicinal herbs, have an extensive history. Plants produce hundreds of different kinds of chemicals to serve various purposes, such as defense and protection against pathogens, fungi, insects, and herbivorous mammals.The present study investigates the antibacterial and antifungal potential of Cassine glauca leaves and bark extract. The antimicrobial activity was to find out in the extracts by using the agar disc diffusion method. Chloroform, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were obtained from the leaves and bark. It showed that antimicrobial activity against tested microbes from the four bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 9542), E. coli (MTCC 732), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC 3040) and Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 7299) and three fungal strains such as Aspergillus niger (MTCC 1785), Aspergillus versicolor (MTCC 280) and Candida albicans (MTCC3958). The zone of inhibition of leaf and bark extracts were compared with standards like Ampicillin, Methicillin, and Norfloxacin for antibacterial and Terbinafine and nystatin for antifungal activity. The antimicrobial study result reveals that good inhibition of the bacterial and fungal grown against the tested microbes. The antimicrobial activity showed that to justify the use of their plant in traditional medicine and the practice of supplementary decoction
Micro-morphological and molecular characteristics of Jasminum binhchauense
Full text linkJasminum binhchauense was recently described as a new species to science of which its specimen was found in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Vietnam. This study aims to characterize the DNA barcode and micro-morphological traits of J. binhchauense for the first time. As a result, the anatomical characteristics of the studied species were similar to those of J. azoricum. In addition, the matK, psaB, and psbB regions of J. binhchauense were successfully amplified and sequenced and they were also deposited at the NCBI database with the accession numbers of PQ415075, PQ415076, and PQ415077, respectively. The pairwise alignment of the matK, psaB, and psbB regions between J. binhchauense and J. nervosum, a morphologically resembled species, provided five, one, and two non-homologous locations, respectively