Ethno medicinal survey of plants used by the indigenes of Rivers State of Nigeria.

CONTEXT: The medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine of Rivers State of Nigeria were surveyed. OBJECTIVE: The survey aims to identify and document the plants used amongst the indigenes of Rivers State. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted during a field trip to gather information from traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) and community elders. RESULTS: Medicinal plant species (188) representing 169 genera and 82 families used in the ethno medicine of the people of Rivers State were recorded from 460 households. The most represented genera were Ipomoea and Citrus providing four species each. The most important species showed the highest Fidelity level (FL) value and these included Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) (100%) and Tridax procumbens L. (Asteraceae) (100%). The most important categories of diseases were those that showed the highest Informant consensus factor (ICF) value of 0.99, such as dermal or digestive problems and fever/malaria. The most used plant part was leaves (42%), while decoction was the main method of drug preparation (36%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The survey shows that more than half of the medicinal plants gathered in Rivers State are also used in other countries of the world for various ailments. The high values of ICF recorded indicate high degree of agreement among the informants, while the high FL values suggest the popular use of the plants. The survey provides a useful source of information for TMPs and medicinal plant researchers. These medicinal plants gathered may bring about drug discovery and may also be incorporated into the healthcare delivery system of the country.

Isolation and characterization of bioactive xanthones from Hippocratea africana (Willd.)Loes.ex Engl. (Celastraceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hippocratea africana root is used in African folk medicine for the treatment of several ailments, including pain and inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To isolate anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds from the roots of H. africana, with accompanying antioxidant potentials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of H. africana roots, and isolated compounds from the bioactive ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities using the xylene induced oedema in mice and thermal induced pain models, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of isolated compounds were tested in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, ionization mass spectrometry, and comparison with literature data. RESULTS: Isoathyriol (1,3,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyxanthone) and norathyriol (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone) were isolated from the potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic ethyl acetate fraction of H. africana roots. Isoathyriol and norathyriol demonstrated good anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties compared with the standards used in each assay. CONCLUSIONS: This study substantiates the use of H. africana root extract in the alleviation of inflammation and pain, and reports the characterization of secondary metabolites in H. africana and for the first time the presence of xanthones in Hippocratea genus.