Research Article

REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PLANTS

Korondu S. I.1*, Adeleye S. A2, Okorondu M.M.O.1
1 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Owerri
2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Ozverri
* Corresponding author: sokorondu@yahoo.co.uk
Published: Dec, 2015
DOI: 10.67614/njm.2015.l9umo3et
Pages: 3167-3183

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been of existence from time immemorial. Over 250,000 exist and are believed to have different medicinal activities. Moreover, only the activities of about 50,000 plants have been examined. The use of plants for the remedy of diseases is usually termed phytotherapy, complementary and alternative medicine or phytomedicine. These plants have been classified based on part used, habit, habitat, therapeutic value, Ayurvedic formulations in which they are used and Botanical classification. Plant phytochemicals confer medicinal plants their medicinal activities and has been broadly classified into primary constituents which include the common sugars, amino acids, chlorophylls, proteins, purines and pyrimidines of nucleic acids etc. while secondary constituents are the remaining plant chemicals such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, lignans, plant steroids, curcumines, saponins, phenolics, flavonoids and glucosides. The activity of the phytochemicals depends on their structures. Several methods of extraction of this useful phytochemicals exists depending on the target phytochemical. Medicinal plants have shown promising antimicrobial activities, anti-helminthic, anticancer, antidiarrheal and antiviral activities. Phytotherapy have several advantages over synthetic drugs. Moreover, it also has limitations. The characteristics, advantages, limitations of phytotherapy is been reviewed in this work.

Keywords

Phytotherapy solvents phytochemical medicinal plants phytomedicine herbalism antimicrobial.

References

  1. Aarts T. (1988). The dietary supplements industry: A Market Analysis. Dietary supplements conference, Nutritional Business International.
  2. Amin M. M, Sawhney S. S, Jassal M. M. S. (2013). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals of Taraxacum officinale Wudpecker. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2(1): 1 - 5,
  3. Bassam A. R. H.(2012). Medicinal Plants (Importance and Uses). Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta, 3:10.
  4. Berga S. L, Marcus M. D, and Loucks T. L.(2003). Recovery of ovarian activity in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea who were treated with cognitive behaviour. Fertility and Sterility. 80(4): 976-981.
  5. Blumenthal M. (1999). Harvard study estimates consumers spend $5.1 billion on herbal products? Herbalgram 45: 68.
  6. Boakye-Yiadom K, Fiagbe N, and Ayim S. (1979) Antimicrobial properties of some West African medicinal plants IV. Antimicrobial activity of Xylopic acid and other constituents of the fruits of Xylapia acthiopica (Annonaceae),. journal Of Natural Products 40(6): 543-545.
  7. Calixto J. B. (2000). Efficacy, safety, quality control, marketing and regulatory guideline for herbal medicine (Phytotherapeutic agents). Brazilian journal of Medicine and Biology Research, 33(2): 179-189.
  8. Cindy E, and Houghton M. (2002). How animals keep themselves well and what we can learn from them. In wild Health. 2nd ed. Edinburgh Livingstone. p 5.
  9. Costa M. A, Zia Z. Q, Davin L. B, and Lewis N. G. (1999). Chapter Four: Toward Engineering the Metabolic Pathways of Cancer-Preventing Lignans in Cereal Grains and Other Crops. In Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, Phytochemicals in Human Health Protection, Nutrition, and Plant Defense, ed. JT Romeo, New York. 33: 67-87.
  10. Cowan H.(1999). Antimicrobial activity of traditional medicinal plants in Ethnomedicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 42:120-127.
  11. Cowan M. M. (1999). Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 12(4): 564-582.
  12. Das K, Tiwari R. K. S, Shrivastava D. K. (2010). Techniques for evaluation of medicinal plant products as antimicrobial agent: Current methods and future trends. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 4(2): 104-111.
  13. Dey R. B. K. L. (1984). The indigenous drugs of India. International Book Distributors, Dehradun. India. 387p.
  14. Dobrin J.(2006). Medicinal plants. Mt Simai Journal of Medicine. 73(2): 565-566.
  15. Elujoba AA, Odeleye OM, and Ogunyemi CM.(2005). Traditional medical development for medical and dental primary Health care delivery system in Africa. African Journal of Tradomedicine, CAM, 2(1):46-61.
  16. Elujoba A. A. (2003). Medicinal properties of plants with oral implication. Proceedings of the 2nd dr. David barnes' Memorial Public Health Symposium, 25th March, organized by the regional Center for Oral Research and training for African. Jos (Nigeria) in collaboration with WHO Regional Office, Brazzaville. 2003.
  17. Enwonwu C. O. (2003). Global trends in the use of complementary medicine, proceedings of the 2nd Dr. David barnes' memorial Health Symposium, 25th, March, organized by the Regional Center for Oral health research and Training for Africa, Jos (Nigeria) in collaboration with WHO regional Office, Brazzaville.
  18. Ernst E. (1999). Second thoughts about safety of St John's Wort (Hypericum perfortum L.) Lancet, 354, 2014-2015.
  19. Grunwald J. (1995). The European phytomedicine market: figures, trends, analysis. Herbalgram, 1995; 34: 60-65.
  20. Hahn N. I. (1998). Is Phytoestrogens Nature's Cure for What Ails Us? A Look at the Research. journal of the American Dietetic Association, 98: 974-976
  21. Handa S. S, Khanuja S. P. S, Longo G. Rakesh D. D. (2008). Extraction Technologies for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. International centre for science and high technology, Trieste, 21-25.
  22. Hasler C. M. and Blumberg J. B. (1999). Symposium on Phytochemicals: Biochemistry and Physiology. Journal of Nutrition, 129: 756-757.
  23. Huffmann M. A. (2003). Animal self-medication and ethomedicine: exploration of the medicinal properties of plants. Proceedings Of The Nutrition Society 62(2): 371-381
  24. Hutchings M. R, Athanasiadous S, Kynazakis I, and Gordon I. J. (2003). Can animals use foraging behaviour to combat parasites? Proceedings of The Nutrition Society. 62(2): 301.
  25. Irondi A. E, Anokam K. K, Chukwuma P. C, Akintunde J. K, Nurain I. O. (2013). Variation in nutrients composition of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit at two maturity stages. International Journal of Biosciences; 3(9): 304-312
  26. Iwu M. M, Duncan A. R and Okunji C. O. (1999). New Antimicrobials of Plant Origin. In: Perspectives on new Crops and New Uses. J. Janik (Ed). ASHS press, Alexandria, V.A., p 457-462.
  27. Iwu M. M. (1993). Hand book of African Medical plants. CRC press, Boca Raton, FL. 367p.
  28. Joy P. P, Thomas, Samuel M. and Baby P. S. (1998). Medicinal Plants. Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Odakkali, Asamannoor P.O., Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.
  29. Kabir O. A, Olukayode O, Chidi E. O, Christopher C. I, Kehinde A. F. (2005). Screening of crude extracts of six medicinal plants used in South-West Nigerian unorthodox medicine for anti MRSA activity. Research article. African Journal of Biotechnology 7 (12): 1797-1806.
  30. Nikhal S. B, Dambe P. A, Ghongade D. B, Goupale D. C. (2010). Hydroalcoholic extraction of Mangifera indica (leaves) by Soxhletion. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2 (1): 30-32.
  31. Okigbo R. N, and Nmeka I. A. (2005). Control of yam tuber rot caused by Fusarium oxysporium Schlecht, Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh and Aspergillus flavus link with leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich and Zingiber officinal Roscoe. African Journal of Biotechnology, 4 (8): 807-827
  32. Okigbo R. N and Igwe D. I. (2007). The antimicrobial effect of Piper guineense 'uziza' and Phyllantus amarus 'ebe-benizo' on Candida albicans and Straptococcus faecalis. Acta Microbiologica Hungarica, 54(3): 353-366.
  33. Okorondu Sl, Braide W, Ogbulie T. E and Akujobi C. O. (2006). Antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of some traditional spices. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology 20: (3): 1301-1308.
  34. Okorondu S. I, Sokari T. G, Okorondu M. M. O, and Akujobi C. O. (2009). Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Acalypha wilkesiana plant. International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science, 3(3): 208-211.
  35. Okorondu S. I, Sokari T. G, Okorondu M. M. O. and Chinakwe E. C. (2009). Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Acalypha hispida leaves.
  36. Okorondu S. I, Sokari T G, Akujobi C. O, and Braide W. (2010). Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Musa paradisiaca stalk plant. International Journal of Biological Science, 2(3): 128-132.
  37. Okorondu SI, Aririatu L. E, Chinakwe E. C, and Braide W. (2010). Antibacterial properties of Picralima nitida seed extract. Current Trend in Microbiology, 6: 13-19.
  38. Okorondu S I, Mepba H. D, Okorondu M. M. O, and Aririatu L. E. (2010). Antibacterial properties of Musa paradisiaca peel and extract. Current Trend in Microbiology, 6: 21-26
  39. Okwu D. E.(2005). Phytochemicals, Vitamins and Mineral contents of two Nigeria Medicinal plants. International Journal of Molecular Medicine and Advance Science 94:375-381.
  40. Pamplona-Roger MD. (1999). Encyclopedia of medicinal plants. Madrid (Spain): editorial Safeliz, S.L. 1: 781
  41. Prashant T, Bimlesh K, Mandeep K, Gurpreet K, Harleen K. (2011). Phytochemical screening and Extraction: A Review. Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia. 1 (1): 98-104
  42. Remington I. P. (2006). Remington: The science and practice of pharmacy, 21st edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 773-774.
  43. Robberts J, Speedie M. and Tyler V. (1996). Pharmacognosy and Pharmabiotechnology, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore pp. 1-14.
  44. Sawer I, Berry M, Brown M and Ford J. (1995). The effect of Chryptolepine on the morphology and survival of Escherichia coli, candida albicans and Saccharomyces cervisiae. Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 79: 314-321.
  45. Saxon D. W, Tunicliff G, Broka J. J, and Raess B. U. (2004). Status of complementary and alternative medicine in the osteopathic medical school lulicalum. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 104 (3): 121-6.
  46. Schellenburg R. (2001). Treatment for premenstrual syndrome with Agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study British medical journal., 322: 134-137
  47. Sofowora A. E. (1993). Medicinal plants and Traditional medicines in Africa. Chichester John wiley and sons New York. 256p.
  48. Takeoka G, Dao L, Wong R.V, Lundin R, and Mahoney N. (2001). Identification of benzalkonium chloride in commercial grapefruit seed extract. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 49(7): 3316-3320.
  49. The King James version Holy Bible containing the old and new testament. (1979). Genesis 1:29, Authorized King James version with the words of Christ in red, maps, and selected helps to bible study. Holman Bible publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
  50. Unaeze N. C. and Abarikwu D. O. (1986). Antimicrobial activity of certain medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Nigeria. A Preliminary study. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 2: 117-18.
  51. Vickers A. (2004). Alternative cancer cures: Unproven or Disproven? C A Cancer J. Clin. 54: 110-18.
  52. Walker A. (1996). Clinical Trials in Phytotherapy. European Phytojournal, 1: 1-3.
  53. WHO. (2001). Legal Status of Traditional Medicines and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A world wide review. WHO publishing 1.
  54. Wuttke W. (2000). Phytotherapy in the treatment of mastodynia, premenstrual symptoms and mental cycle disorder, Gynakologie, 33 (1), 36-39.
How to Cite

I., K. S., A, A. S., & M.M.O., O. (2015). REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PLANTS. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 29(2), 3167-3183. https://doi.org/10.67614/njm.2015.l9umo3et

K. S. I., A. S. A, and O. M.M.O., "REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PLANTS," Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 3167-3183, December 2015. doi: 10.67614/njm.2015.l9umo3et

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF View Full Text (PDF) Back to Articles