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The Role Of Plants In The Treatment Of Diseases Caused By Micro-organisms Based In The Natural Products
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Plants contain numerous constituents, some tend to possess some level
of toxicity. Cases of this toxicity in plants have been reported (Santox
et al; 1995, Shaw et al; 1997, Kaplowitz, 1997). P. amarus has been
classified among plants with a low potential for toxicity, with an LD50
averaging 2000mg/kg 1day (Krithika and Verma, 2009).
1.1.3 Phyllantus niruri (P. niruri)
P. niruri is commonly called stone breaker, also known as “Chanca
piedraâ€. It belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. P. niruri is similar to
P. amarus. It is a wide spread tropical plant commonly found in coastal
areas that grows 40-70cm tall (Chukwuma, 2012).
In Nigeria,
it is called enyikwonwa and ngwu in Ibo, Oyokeso amanke edem in Efik,
geeron- tsemtsaayee in Hausa, ehin olobe and yin-olobe in Yoruba
(Chukwuma, 2012).
Although P. niruri is considered a
problematic weed to formers it is a valuable medicinal plant. (Oudhia
and Tripathi, 2002), and holds a reputed position in both Ayurvedic and
Unani system of medicine. Recently, it has attracted the attention of
researchers, because of its hepatoprotective (ability to prevent damage
to the liver) properties. No effective specific therapy is available for
viral Hepatitis but P. niruri has shown clinical efficiency in viral
Heptatis B (Paranjape, 2001).
P. niruri is an annual plant,
its stem is angular with numerous distichous, ellipticoblong leaves.
Flowers are yellow and very numerous; monoecious with 1-3 staminate
flowers and solitary pistillate flower borne axillary. Fruits capsule,
very small, globose, smooth, seeds 3-gonous, longitudinally ribbed on
the back. Seed to seed cycle occurs in two or four weeks (Caius 1986),
(Agharkar 1991). Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice and whole plants
are used as medicine. According to Ayurvedic system of medicine it is
considered acrid, cooling, aleixipharmic and useful in thirst,
bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary disharge, anuria, boiliousness,
asthma, for hiccups, and as a diuretic. According to Unani system of
medicine, it is stomachic and good for sores and useful in Chromic
dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies
and ring worm (Agharkar 1991, Krishanamurty 1993). The fresh root is
believed to be an excellent remedy for jaundice.
In many parts
of India, it is commonly used for the treatment of snake bite. The
active compounds phyllanthin and hypophyllanthim, nirtetralin and
phyltetralin have been isolated from leaves, (Rastogi and Mehrotra,
1991). The plant is used as a fish poison. In many parts of India
especially in deserts, the roots mixed with Commiphora mukul are given
to camels to cure indigestion. The decoction of leaves and stem are used
for dying cotton black, (Singh et al; 1996).
P. niruri is one
of the medicinal plants used to treat malaria in India and Nigeria. P.
niruri has been used traditionally to treat various illnesses including
renal stones, gastrointestinal disturbance, cough, hepatitis, gonoorhea,
fever and malaria. It has also been reported to posses hypoglycemic
activity (Hukuri, et al; 1988), angiotension converting enzyme
inhibition (Ueno, et al; 1988), lipid lowering activity (Khanna, et al;
2002), anti HIV activity (Qian cutron, et al; 1996) and anti cancer
activity (Giridharan, et al; 2002).
1.2 Aim and objectives
This study is aimed at showing which of the plants above is more
effective in the treatment of diseases caused by micro-organisms based
in the natural products present in them.
The specific objecti ves include;
a. Determination of antibacterial effect of P. amarus and P. niruri.
b. Determination of anti fungal effect of P. amarus and P. niruri.
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