PHARMACOGNOSTIC FEATURES AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MITRACARPUS VILLOSUS (SW), DC (Family: RUBIACEAE)
PHARMACOGNOSTIC FEATURES AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MITRACARPUS VILLOSUS (SW), DC (Family: RUBIACEAE)
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Date
1999-04
Authors
ANDREW, G. ONYILOYI
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Abstract
The medicinal plant, Mitracarpus villosus (SW) DC,
formerly (Mitracarpus scaber Zuccarl, family; Rubiaceae is a
herb, occurring in both the Savannah and the Forest Zones
(Wickens, 1976).
Microscopical examinations of the fresh as well as the
powdered root, stem, and leaves of M. villosus were carried
out and characteristic features like calcium oxalate crystals
and paracytic stomata are noted.
Chemomicroscopy of the root, stem, leaves and
inflorescence of M. villosus revealed the presence of lignins,
anthraquinones, oil droplets, starch and clusters of calcium
oxalate crystals, while the preliminary phytochemical tests
showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate (sugars),
flavonoids, saponins and tannins. Paper and thin layer
chromatographic analyses carried out also confirmed the
presence of some of these constituents. Alkaloids were
detected and tentatively assigned to the (phenanthrene type)
group.
Extracts of the entire plant in different solvents
exhibited antimicrobial activity against standard cultures of
B^ subtilis (NCTC 8236) , E. coli (NCTC 10418) , Proteus
vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCTC 67 50), Staphylococcus
aureus (NCTC 6571), Streptococcus pyogenes (NCTC 8189) and
Candida albicans (standard).
The activity of the hot water extract of the entire plant
was higher than those of the cold water/alcohol extracts on
all test organisms.
Extracts of the Unrefined secondary metabolites of the plant
showed activity against both Gram negative and positive
organisms. The Gram positive organisms were slightly more
susceptable.
The rate at which B. subtilis (NCTC 8236), and
Streptococcus pyogenes (NCTC 8198), were killed by extracts
(alkaloids and steroids) were also tested. The rates of kill
were comparable.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
PHARMACOGNOSY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA - NIGERIA
Keywords
PHARMACOGNOSTIC,, FEATURES,, ANTIMICROBIAL,, ACTIVITY,, MITRACARPUS VILLOSUS