Effect Of Open Shade Conditions On The Phytochemical Content Of Some Medicinal Plants
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-01-24
Authors
Ade-Ademilua, O.E
Enigbokan, T
Fatusi, C. K
Okwutachi, N.T
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Vernonia amygdalina (bitterleaf), Tel/aria occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin) and Acalypha wilkesiana plants were grown under open field
and open shade. V. amygdalin a is a used to treat stomach infections, T. accidentalis (Fluted pumpkin) is used as a blood tonic and Acalypha
wilkesiana is effective in the treatment of skin infections. Plants were grown in planting bags placed in these sites. Results show that all the plant
species have better vegetative growth under direct sunlight. However, phytochemical screenings of the leaves of the plants reveal that the effect of
open shade conditions enhance the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds with medicinal values. The effect is however not specific to
the type of phytochemical but it is actually species specific. Open shade condition enhances the production and accumulation of flavonoids while it
inhibits that of anthraquinone in V. amygdalina. Also, flavonoid content of T. occidentalis plants was enhanced under open shade conditions. The
same conditions did not affect the flavonoid and anthraquinones content of A. wilkesiona but leaves of the plant under open shade conditions had
higher concentration of tannin than those grown under open field condition. Saponin was also found present in A. wilkesiana plants grown under
open shade condition while it was absent in those under open field conditions. The conclusion is that, though direct sunlight help ensure better
vegetative growth, open shade enhance the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds with medicinal values.
Description
To access the full text of this article, kindly contact the University Librarian- Dr. Olukemi Fadehan via the administrators: Dr. Yetunde Zaid (yzaid@unilag.edu.ng) or Dr. Christopher Okiki (cokiki@unilag.edu.ng) of the University of Lagos Library.
Keywords
Phytochemical , Medicinal Plants
Citation
Ade-Ademilua, O. E (2011) Effect Of Open Shade Conditions On The Phytochemical Content Of Some Medicinal Plants Being a Paper Presented At 37th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Botany holding in Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.