Introduction
Given that the time immemorial, our ancestors in Africa have been engaged in the use of vegetation and their various pieces for treatment method of numerous illnesses, as perfectly as for as for hazardous functions- such as poisons. Usually, vegetation have been in use in the course of the entire world in people medicine and as local cures for prevalent ailments. Medicinal vegetation in unique has been in use for centuries as cures for human conditions for the reason that they include factors of therapeutic value (Okoli et al., 2009) Folk drugs gave increase to standard units of medication in various illnesses. Diodia scandens Sw has tremendous usefulness and significance (Essiett et al., 2011).
Description
According to Essiett et al., (2010). Diodia scandens Sw (Rubiaceae) is an evergreen perennial herb, which has an alternate leaf arrangement, petiole is existing. It has compound leaves, ovate to lanceolate in form, reticulate venation, entire in margin, its apex is acute, its base is cuneate, it has glabrous surface area and its texture is charteceous. Diodia scandens Sw has a darkish environmentally friendly coloration, tasteless, odorless and has solitary inflorescence. It is a straggling herb, which has been in use in the Western African technique of medication. It has great usefulness and great importance complete elements of the plants are beneficial in curing various conditions.
Utilizes
Generally, the crops medicinal benefit contains its use as antidotes (venomous stings, bites, and so forth.), painkiller, procedure of veneral ailments and cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal bacterial infections. However, the unique sections of the vegetation- sap, leaf, stem and root, are applied for many medicinal uses. The leaf is utilised for treating arthritis, rheumatism, cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic an infection, diarrhea, dysentery and anti-abortifacients the leaf as well as roots are used for dropsy, swellings, edema, and gout and as lactation stimulants while the sap is employed for treating ear bacterial infections, paralysis, epilepsy, convulsions, spasm and pulmonary troubles.
Photochemical attributes
In the modern years, secondary plant metabolites- known as photochemicals have been thoroughly investigated for their efficiency as medicinal agents. Research carried out on some crops showed that some vegetation include many substances these as peptides, tannins, alkaloids, critical oils, phenols and flavonoids amid other people, which could serve as sources for antimicrobial output (Okoli et al., 2009). D. scandens does not comprise alkaloids, flavonoids, phobotannins and anthraquinones. Nonetheless, it has saponins, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-yeasts, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-tumor, anti-viral and anti-abortifacient routines have been present. Tannins, which have astringent and detergent attributes had been also current, and can be utilized against diarrhoea. In accordance to Essiet et al. (2011), the photochemistry of the leaf extract revealed the existence of saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and absence of flavenoides, phlobatannins, alkaloids and anthraquinones.
Antimicrobial homes
D. scandens also has antimicrobial houses of which significantly is not recognized or documented nonetheless. It is utilised in some localities in Nigeria to take care of cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal infections. The treatment will involve squeezing out the sap from the entire plant, freshly collected and appling the fluid on the contaminated skin by scrubbing. If done routinely for about3- 5times, the antifungal impact is noticed. This agrees with the report of Essiett et al. (2011), who stated that in Nigeria, the leaves are utilised for curing eczema-, which is a fungal an infection.
Summary
Usually, vegetation have been in use all through the world in folks drugs and as regional cures for common illnesses and medicinal plants in distinct has been in use for hundreds of years as therapies for human disorders for the reason that they comprise elements of therapeutic worth. Diodia scandens Sw has enormous usefulness and value (Essiett et al., 2011). The different areas of the plant Diodia scandens- sap, leaf, stem and root, are applied for many medicinal functions. The plant does not consist of alkaloids, flavonoids, phobotannins and anthraquinones but has saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides. The plant has antifungal attributes apparent in its use for managing cutanbeous and sub-cutaneous fungal bacterial infections this sort of as eczema. It is proposed that further investigation be completed on the plant to effectively examine its antibacterial houses.
References
Akah, P.A., Okogun, J.I. and Ekpendu, T.O. (1993). Antioedema and Analgesic actions of Diodia scandens extract in rats and mice. Phytotherapy Exploration. Vo. 7, Challenge 4: 317- 319.
Essiett, U.A., Bala, D.N. and Agbakahi, J.A. (2010). Pharmacognostic scientific tests of the leaves and stem of Diodia scandens Sw in Nigeria. Students Research Lirary, Archives of Applied Science Investigation. 2(5): 184- 198.
Okoli, R.I., Turay, A.A., Mensah, J.K. and Aigbe, A.O. (2009). Phytochemical and Antimicrobial homes of 4 Herbs from Edo Point out, Nigeria. Report and Impression. 1(5): 67- 73.
