COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF Gongronema latifolium (UTAZI LEAVE) AND Moringa oleifera (HORSERADISH).

COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF Gongronema latifolium (UTAZI LEAVE) AND Moringa oleifera (HORSERADISH).

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1       Phytochemicals

Plants are powerful biochemical and have components of phytomedicine since times immemorial. Man is able to obtain from them a wondrous assortment of industrial chemicals. Plant based natural constituent can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flower, root, seeds e.t.c. (Gordon and David, 2001). Any part of the plant may contain active components. The beneficial medicinal effects of plant material typically result from the combination of secondary products present in the plant. The medicinal action of plants are unique to particular plant species. The systematic screening of plant species with the purpose of discovering new bioactive compounds is a routine activity in many laboratory in particular, the search for component with antimicrobial activity has gained increasing importance in recent times, due to growing worldwide concern about the alarming increase in the rate of infection by anti-biotic resistant microorganism (Davies, 1994). Hence, there is a constant need for new and effective chemotherapeutic agents.  Many plant species have been utilized as traditional medicine but it is necessary to establish the scientific basis for the therapeutic action of traditional plant medicine as these may serve as the source for the development of more effective drugs. Scientific analysis of plant component follows a logical pathway. Plant are collected either randomly or by following lead supplied by local healers in geographical area when the plant are found. (Vileges, et al., 1994).

In recognition of this fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been attempting to incorporate traditional medicine officially into the health care systems of developing nations. In 1998, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wild Fund (WWF), together with WHO brought health professionals and leading conservationist together in Thailand to produce a set of guidelines for countries wishing to make the best use of their medicinal herbs/ plants and to conserve them for the future. They stressed the vital importance of these plants in primary health care and the great potential of the plant kingdom to provide new drugs (Silva, 1998). Several countries already boast their systems in which traditional plant-based medicine is officially accepted. However, it is apparent that, there exists a significant difference in the way in which western scientists view an illness and its cure, and the way it is perceived else where. It is often at a loss to explain how plants are used directly, especially in a traditional manner which sometimes involves rituals and supernatural intervention (Busia, 2005). In essence, all plants are by nature living chemical factories, and it is the complex substances that they produce that we have mostly used to help keep us healthy. Apart from the medicinal properties of these plants, some serve as a good source of food and shelter for man. And thus, the ability of plants to be converted to orthodox medicine used to relieve pain and effect cure is often seen in some parts of the plants. These parts are the stem barks, root barks, fruits, seeds, leaves and root. (Leckridge, 2004). The medicinal value of drugs is due to the presence of certain substances such as alkaloid, saponin etc. these are known as active principles. They are commonly found or more concentrated in the storage organs of plant such as roots, bark, leaves and seeds.

Gongronema latifolium: This class of medicinal plants is beneficial in preventing and treating certain diseases and ailments that are detrimental to human health. The leaves, which can be chewed, infused or used for cooking, are mainly used in the Western part of Africa for nutritional and medicinal reason. Utazi has a characteristic sharp, bitter and slightly sweet taste, especially when eaten fresh. It contains essential oils, glycoside, alkaloids, saponins and  tannin, various minerals, vitamins and some essential amino acids. The leaves have very high nutritional value and contain nutrients like potassium, calcium, sodium, proteins, copper, manganese, and fibre.

Moringa oleifera: This is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutrition value. Different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and is a good source of protein, vitamin, B carotene, amino acids, and various phenolics. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and high nutritional value, Moringa  oleifera is very important for its medicinal value. Various part of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature  pods  acts  as  cardiac  and  circulatory  stimulants,  possess antitumor,  antipyretic,  antiepileptic,  anti-inflammatory,  antiulcer, antispasmodic,  diuretic,  antihypertensive,  cholesterol  lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities.

1. Background of the Study

One of the increasing differences between citizens of developed nations and the developing ones is clearly expressed in the quality of life that is led by them. In Nigeria and Africa at large, the average life expectancy is less than 55 years (WHO, 2014). In contrary to this figure, the average of those in developed nations was put at 71 years (WHO, 2013). This stunning difference calls for concern and essentially erodes the need to embark on policy backed scientific investigation into palpable reasons for this phenomenon. Emerging facts show that primary to quality of life when drive they determines the life expectancy index among other variables in the quality of health nutrition of a people and closely knitted to this are the availability and access to medicine and health practitioners. However, the problem of wide spread poverty which translates into inability to afford both good food nutrition and medical care is a challenge and factor that, in most cases, constrains most of the local people to rely heavily on locally available foods and plants herbs for treatment of diseases when the occasion arises. Having considered the above, it is important to state that government and stakeholders are beginning to lay emphasis on the need to co-opt ethno medicine into mainstream practice as a way of augmenting shortfalls in its obligations in providing healthcare to local populace.  The Federal College of Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) is one of the few examples that readily comes to mind. Thus, on this basis, there is an increased and continuous research on various plant types both by health nutritionist and pharmacologist with the aim of identifying valuable nutritive and medicinal plants for health needs and challenges. The conscious effort to investigate the chemical compositions of the sample leafy vegetable in this more is influenced by the sustained use of the vegetable over the ages either as simple food or herbal medicine. Thus, testing the leafy vegetable to ascertain the presence and amount of phytochemicals compositions alongside proximate and antinutrient is to enable a statement of affirmation or otherwise of the M. oleifera and G.latifolium, as a plant of high value in the health needs of the populace and should therefore, be given proper publicity to encourage increased domestic cultivation and consumption of the vegetable.

It is against the backdrops of the foregoing that the efforts at research on the leaves are embarked upon to validate, refute or add to existing body of findings on the sample leaf of fact found during this work. While attention will be given to testing, screening to detect and determine through quantitative analysis of test results. It is hoped that emerging facts will be of immense help to anticipated end users.

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals are a large group of plant derived compounds hypothesized to be responsible for much of the disease protection conferred from diets high in fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and plant based beverages such as tea and wine. Phytochemicals can be broken into the following groups, Flavonoids, Phenols, Steroids, Tannin, Glycoside and Alkaloid and many others.

1. Statement of the Research Problem

With the ever increasing need and challenges in society, the use of Moringa oleifera (Horseradish) And Gongronema latifolium, (Utazi) Leaves has been acknowledged as some of the common leafy vegetables used in communities as herbs for ethnomedicine in treating a variety of diseases and also serves as staple nutritive vegetable.

The research problem is that of attempt of investigating the presence of phytochemicals composition in the Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera which may have satisfactorily encouraged their uses over the ages.

Aim and Objectives

To determine the qualitative analysis of constituents that make up the phy tochemical in Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleiferaleaves.

To carryout comparative analysis on the phytochemicals present in the leaves of the two plants.

Scope of Study

This study focuses on the leaves of Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera, there phytochemical contents.