Acacia xanthophloea is a tree in the Fabaceae family with wide distribution mainly around Laikipi... more Acacia xanthophloea is a tree in the Fabaceae family with wide distribution mainly around Laikipia in Central Kenya and major parts of the Rift Valley town of Naivasha, Kenya. A number of trees under the Fabaceae family are renowned as sources of vegetable tannins for leather processing. Despite recent advances in research, locally available vegetable tanning materials have not been widely exploited in Kenya for commercial tanning purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties of goat leather tanned with crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea from Naivasha, Kenya. Crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea combined with pre-tanning and tanning procedures were used to produce leather. The commercial mimosa was used as a control. The leather tanned with crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea had a thickness of 0.81 ± 0.11 mm, tearing strength of 37.87 ± 2.09 N, tensile strength of 27.50 ± 7.51 N/mm2, percentage elongation of 18.00 ± 6.67, grain crack of 6.19 ± 0.20 mm and g...
Background. Some secondary metabolites found in plants have been used to control pests and pathog... more Background. Some secondary metabolites found in plants have been used to control pests and pathogens. The plant Embelia schimperi contains complex compounds that can be used to biosynthesize agrochemicals for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes. Objective. This work analysed the phytochemical profile of the E. schimperi plant and assessed the biological potential of its crude extracts. Methodology. The phytochemicals were extracted in three solvents: ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane, utilising maceration and ultrasonication procedures. Results. These solvents performed well in extracting flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins, according to the findings. Implication. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita can be inhibited from hatching, and the lesion nematode Pratylenchus zeae can be killed as a result of these chemicals' bioassay activities. Conclusion. Plant-parasitic nematode may be controlled with crude extracts from this plant, which can be ...
Herein, we report the occurrence of four new compounds in ethanolic extract of Albizia coriaria W... more Herein, we report the occurrence of four new compounds in ethanolic extract of Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver leaves along with other compounds previously reported in this species. The compounds were isolated and characterized using column chromatography, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. FTIR spectrum of the extract showed phenolic OH stretching (3362.30 cm-1), C=O (1660.08 cm-1), CO stretching (1369.46 cm-1 and 1319.00 cm-1) and CN stretch (1072.44 cm-1) which confirmed the presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids and nitrogen-containing compounds. Oleanolic acid (1), oleanolic acid acetate (2), pterin-6-carboxylic acid (3), undecanol (4), betulinic acid (5), betulin (6) and benzyl alcohol (7) were tentatively identified in the extract. Compounds 1-4 are being reported for the first time in Albizia coriaria.
Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver (hereafter A. coriaria) is a revered medicinal tree whose organs... more Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver (hereafter A. coriaria) is a revered medicinal tree whose organs are used by indigenous African societies for managing various ailments. Herein, we assessed the secondary metabolites, total polyphenolics, free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of A. coriaria flowers. The dry powdered sample was extracted serially with ethyl acetate, ethanol and distilled water. Results of classical phytochemical screening showed that saponins, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and terpenes were the dominant phytochemicals. The highest total polyphenolic content (10.37 ± 0.02 mg QE/g DW and 72.09 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW) and free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 24.23 ± 0.04 mg/mL) were for the ethyl acetate extract. It also had a higher bacteriostatic activity than the ethanolic extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with diameters of inhibition ranging from 7.00 ± 0.00 to 22.00 ± 1.73 mm. The aqueous extract showed no appreciable antibacterial effect on the tested microorganisms. This is the first report which support the use of floral extracts of this species in the management of ailments in African traditional medicine.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are powerful methods for treating substrates using radicals t... more Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are powerful methods for treating substrates using radicals that are generated in situ. This study reviewed applications of AOPs in enhancement of biohydrogen production. The AOPs are applied in substrate pretreatment because of their ability to break the complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass for ease of subsequent hydrolysis. The mechanism of solubilization of complex organics resulting in increased biodegradability of substrate during pretreatment has been suggested. Documented studies indicate that up to 98% color removal from organic wastewater is possible by the use of AOPs. Furthermore, a combination of AOPs with biological processes can achieve more than 90% COD removal from biohydrogen production effluent. Sonication, microwave-enhanced AOPs, and electrochemical treatment are the most applied AOPs in enrichment of biohydrogen with up to fivefold increase in biohydrogen yield achieved after electrochemical pre-treatment. The mechanism of enhancement of hydrogen yield in dark fermentation after pretreatment of the substrate and inoculum with AOPs has been proposed. The excess sludge produced during hydrogen fermentation can be pretreated with ozone and ultrasound before biomethanation process. More studies on co-production of biohydrogen and electricity through electrochemical oxidation in fuel cells are necessary. This study proposes the integration of AOPs with conventional processes in biorefinery production approach with aim of improving biohydrogen yields, co-producing it with other biofuels, and reducing the process costs. Future studies should focus on the scale-up of AOPs for commercial applications. Comparative studies on energy requirements for various AOPs applications are lacking and should be carried out. Graphical abstract
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in tradit... more Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, a synopsis of the research strides on various aspects of C. anisata are presented. Electronic literature review revealed that formularies containing C. anisata are used in the management of diabetes, eye problems, malaria, snake envenomation, malignancies, venereal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, respiratory, dermatological and odonatological ailments. To date, 90 compounds have been isolated and characterized from extracts of C. anisata. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from C. anisata have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, anti-HIV 1, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. These bioactivities are elicited by alkaloids, coumarins, limonoids and phenylpropanoids abundant in its different parts.
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in tradit... more Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, a synopsis of the research strides on various aspects of C. anisata are presented. Electronic literature review revealed that formularies containing C. anisata are used in the management of diabetes, eye problems, malaria, snake envenomation, malignancies, venereal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, respiratory, dermatological and odonatological ailments. To date, 90 compounds have been isolated and characterized from extracts of C. anisata. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from C. anisata have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, anti-HIV 1, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. These bioactivities are elicited by alkaloids, coumarins, limonoids and phenylpropanoids abundant in its different parts.
Acacia xanthophloea is a tree in the Fabaceae family with wide distribution mainly around Laikipi... more Acacia xanthophloea is a tree in the Fabaceae family with wide distribution mainly around Laikipia in Central Kenya and major parts of the Rift Valley town of Naivasha, Kenya. A number of trees under the Fabaceae family are renowned as sources of vegetable tannins for leather processing. Despite recent advances in research, locally available vegetable tanning materials have not been widely exploited in Kenya for commercial tanning purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties of goat leather tanned with crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea from Naivasha, Kenya. Crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea combined with pre-tanning and tanning procedures were used to produce leather. The commercial mimosa was used as a control. The leather tanned with crude extracts of Acacia xanthophloea had a thickness of 0.81 ± 0.11 mm, tearing strength of 37.87 ± 2.09 N, tensile strength of 27.50 ± 7.51 N/mm2, percentage elongation of 18.00 ± 6.67, grain crack of 6.19 ± 0.20 mm and g...
Background. Some secondary metabolites found in plants have been used to control pests and pathog... more Background. Some secondary metabolites found in plants have been used to control pests and pathogens. The plant Embelia schimperi contains complex compounds that can be used to biosynthesize agrochemicals for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes. Objective. This work analysed the phytochemical profile of the E. schimperi plant and assessed the biological potential of its crude extracts. Methodology. The phytochemicals were extracted in three solvents: ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane, utilising maceration and ultrasonication procedures. Results. These solvents performed well in extracting flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins, according to the findings. Implication. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita can be inhibited from hatching, and the lesion nematode Pratylenchus zeae can be killed as a result of these chemicals' bioassay activities. Conclusion. Plant-parasitic nematode may be controlled with crude extracts from this plant, which can be ...
Herein, we report the occurrence of four new compounds in ethanolic extract of Albizia coriaria W... more Herein, we report the occurrence of four new compounds in ethanolic extract of Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver leaves along with other compounds previously reported in this species. The compounds were isolated and characterized using column chromatography, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. FTIR spectrum of the extract showed phenolic OH stretching (3362.30 cm-1), C=O (1660.08 cm-1), CO stretching (1369.46 cm-1 and 1319.00 cm-1) and CN stretch (1072.44 cm-1) which confirmed the presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids and nitrogen-containing compounds. Oleanolic acid (1), oleanolic acid acetate (2), pterin-6-carboxylic acid (3), undecanol (4), betulinic acid (5), betulin (6) and benzyl alcohol (7) were tentatively identified in the extract. Compounds 1-4 are being reported for the first time in Albizia coriaria.
Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver (hereafter A. coriaria) is a revered medicinal tree whose organs... more Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver (hereafter A. coriaria) is a revered medicinal tree whose organs are used by indigenous African societies for managing various ailments. Herein, we assessed the secondary metabolites, total polyphenolics, free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of A. coriaria flowers. The dry powdered sample was extracted serially with ethyl acetate, ethanol and distilled water. Results of classical phytochemical screening showed that saponins, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and terpenes were the dominant phytochemicals. The highest total polyphenolic content (10.37 ± 0.02 mg QE/g DW and 72.09 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW) and free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 24.23 ± 0.04 mg/mL) were for the ethyl acetate extract. It also had a higher bacteriostatic activity than the ethanolic extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with diameters of inhibition ranging from 7.00 ± 0.00 to 22.00 ± 1.73 mm. The aqueous extract showed no appreciable antibacterial effect on the tested microorganisms. This is the first report which support the use of floral extracts of this species in the management of ailments in African traditional medicine.
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are powerful methods for treating substrates using radicals t... more Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are powerful methods for treating substrates using radicals that are generated in situ. This study reviewed applications of AOPs in enhancement of biohydrogen production. The AOPs are applied in substrate pretreatment because of their ability to break the complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass for ease of subsequent hydrolysis. The mechanism of solubilization of complex organics resulting in increased biodegradability of substrate during pretreatment has been suggested. Documented studies indicate that up to 98% color removal from organic wastewater is possible by the use of AOPs. Furthermore, a combination of AOPs with biological processes can achieve more than 90% COD removal from biohydrogen production effluent. Sonication, microwave-enhanced AOPs, and electrochemical treatment are the most applied AOPs in enrichment of biohydrogen with up to fivefold increase in biohydrogen yield achieved after electrochemical pre-treatment. The mechanism of enhancement of hydrogen yield in dark fermentation after pretreatment of the substrate and inoculum with AOPs has been proposed. The excess sludge produced during hydrogen fermentation can be pretreated with ozone and ultrasound before biomethanation process. More studies on co-production of biohydrogen and electricity through electrochemical oxidation in fuel cells are necessary. This study proposes the integration of AOPs with conventional processes in biorefinery production approach with aim of improving biohydrogen yields, co-producing it with other biofuels, and reducing the process costs. Future studies should focus on the scale-up of AOPs for commercial applications. Comparative studies on energy requirements for various AOPs applications are lacking and should be carried out. Graphical abstract
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in tradit... more Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, a synopsis of the research strides on various aspects of C. anisata are presented. Electronic literature review revealed that formularies containing C. anisata are used in the management of diabetes, eye problems, malaria, snake envenomation, malignancies, venereal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, respiratory, dermatological and odonatological ailments. To date, 90 compounds have been isolated and characterized from extracts of C. anisata. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from C. anisata have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, anti-HIV 1, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. These bioactivities are elicited by alkaloids, coumarins, limonoids and phenylpropanoids abundant in its different parts.
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in tradit... more Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. (C. anisata) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, a synopsis of the research strides on various aspects of C. anisata are presented. Electronic literature review revealed that formularies containing C. anisata are used in the management of diabetes, eye problems, malaria, snake envenomation, malignancies, venereal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, respiratory, dermatological and odonatological ailments. To date, 90 compounds have been isolated and characterized from extracts of C. anisata. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from C. anisata have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, anti-HIV 1, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. These bioactivities are elicited by alkaloids, coumarins, limonoids and phenylpropanoids abundant in its different parts.
21st International Congress of International Society for Ethnopharmacology
The East African Community is a treasure trove of medicinal plants and other natural products tha... more The East African Community is a treasure trove of medicinal plants and other natural products that have traditionally been utilized in the management of various diseases and conditions. This speech highlights some of the progresses, challenges and opportunities for drug discovery from natural products in the East African Community. Marked strides in ethnopharmacology has been (1) increased ethnomedicinal surveys across different ethnic communities in the region, (2) hosting of the Centers of Excellence in Phytochemicals, and Pharmaceutical-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine, (3) development of a national natural products library, (4) formulation of herbal products such as Covidex, Covilyce and a potential a COVID-19 cure (UBV-01N), (5) formation of Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE), and (6) strengthening of the regional Natural Products Society: The Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa. Collaborations among regional universities, research institutions and with other Universities and laboratories outside the region in natural products research have improved with Makerere University, University of Nairobi, Moi University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Kenya Medical Research Institute partnering with University of Potsdam, the Technical University of Berlin, the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and University of Lorraine (France). Whereas regional funding towards ethnopharmacological studies have increased in the 21st century (especially in the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemonium), these are still inadequate given the limited instrumentation and laboratory structures in the region. Ambiguity in ethnomedicinal information captured and the strict regulatory requirements for clinical trials poses additional challenges. This therefore highlights the need for; increased budgetary allocation for research and innovations in natural products, addressing issues surrounding intellectual property rights and benefits sharing, conducting elaborate ethnomedicinal surveys, fostering collaboration between research institutions, governments and researchers to identify and bridge research gaps; enhancing commercialization of research as well as developing a regional natural products library.
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