-
The Role Of Plants In The Treatment Of Diseases Caused By Micro-organisms Based In The Natural Products
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 2]
Page 2 of 2
-
-
-
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.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 2]
Page 2 of 2
-
