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Abstract Background Medicinal plants represent a valuable source for new effective and safe antimicrobial drugs making them an alternative therapy. Existing antimicrobial agents are costly and mostly associated with possible side effects. The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the antimicrobial property and phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves and its fractions. Method T. bangwensis leaves (harvested from its host plant, Persea americana) was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol and further fractionated with different organic solvents using the solvent partitioning method to obtain the crude extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous fractions. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were screened and quantified. Also, the TLC of the extracts were analyzed to serve as a fingerprint. Using the agar diffusion and broth dilution methods, the antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed. Results The study showed that the hydroethanolic (70%) crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols and reducing sugars. The phytoconstituents were well extracted into the ethyl acetate fraction than the other fractions evidenced in the high levels (p

Utilization of plant extracts for the synthesis of nanomaterials is a green technology that is safe to the environment. In the current study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was synthesised using the methanolic root bark extract of Cassia sieberiana as capping and stabilizing agents for the first time. The ZnO NPs were then characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles were analyzed by egg albumin (EA) denaturation assay and DPPH free radical scavenging assay respectively. The agar well diffusion method was also used to access the antimicrobial activity of the ZnO NPs against S. aureus (gram-positive), E. coli (gram-negative), S. typhi (gram-negative) and C. albicans (yeast). Saponins, anthracenosides, triterpenes and polyphenols were the phytochemicals present in the plant extract. The average particle size (TEM) determined was 12.9 ± 3.1 nm with spherical shapes. ZnO NPs demonstrated good antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.480 ± 0.018 mg mL−1) and dose-dependently inhibited the heat-induced denaturation of egg albumin (IC50 = 0.676 ± 0.000 mg mL−1). In general, the synthesized ZnO NPs showed a positive anti-microbial activity against the selected microbes. The ZnO NPs showed a significant zone of inhibition for S. typhi (20.0 mm), S. aureus (24.0 mm), whereas the zone of inhibition was less for E. coli (13.7 mm) and C. albicans (11.7 mm) at 25 mg/mL. The green synthesized ZnO NPs may be used as an effective drug delivery system.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bridelia ferruginea belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, identified as an important commonly growing shrub, is used in traditional medicine for managing arthritis, dysentery, constipation, chronic diabetes, skin diseases, bladder and intestinal disorders, oral infections, thrush, bites and as an arrow poison antidote. This review aims at providing information on the traditional medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry and toxicity studies of Bridelia ferruginea to bridge the gap between traditional medicinal uses and preclinical studies on B. ferruginea and subsequently lead to the development of valued added medicines from B. ferruginea. Materials and methods: Data in this review were compiled using databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer link, Elsevier and Taylor and Francis, articles from peer reviewed journals and other grey literature (short notes, book chapters, short communications) to access all the relevant information available on B. ferruginea. Results: B. ferruginea contains different phytochemicals including flavonoids, phenolics, phytosterols, triterpenes, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Gallocatechin-(4′-O-7)-epigallocatechin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,3,4,5-tetracaffeoylquinic acid and some derivatives of 3-methoxyflavone, such as quercetin-3-methyl ether, quercetin 3-,7,3′,4′-tetramethyl ether, myricetin 3′,4′,5′-trimethyl ether, myricetin 3,3′,4′,5′-tetramethyl ether, myricetin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside specific flavonoids and biflavonoids like apigenin, kaempferol and glycosides of both have been isolated and further characterized from B. ferruginea. B. ferruginea has several pharmacologically beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-infective, antipyretic, analgesic, diuretic and natriuretic activities. Conclusion: The wide distribution, traditional medicinal uses and wealth of phytochemicals present in B. ferruginea suggests that the plant can be useful in lead compound discovery. Although B. ferruginea has been widely studied, further studies on the mechanism of action, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and side effects in humans need to be investigated.

Elimination of microorganisms from herbal products has been a major concern due to its implicated health risk to consumers. Drying of herbal materials has been employed for centuries to reduce the risk of contamination and spoilage. The present study adopted three drying approaches in an attempt to eliminate microorganisms from Lippia multiflora tea bag formulation. This study also evaluated the tea bags and optimized the extraction procedure. The L. multiflora leaves for tea bagging were air-dried and milled (A), oven-dried and milled (B), and microwaved (the milled air-dried leaves) (C). The moisture contents were determined at 105°C ± 2°C for 2 hours to constant weight. Phytochemical parameters such as phytochemical constituents, total water extractive, and pH were assessed. The microbial safety and quality of the L. multiflora tea bags were evaluated using the British Pharmacopoeia 2019 specifications. The uniformity of the mass of the formulated tea bags was also determined. Extraction from the Lippia tea bags was optimized. The results showed that using the approaches (A, B, and C) adopted for drying and processing, the moisture contents of the formulated tea bags were in the range of 9.75–10.71% w/w. All the formulated tea bags contained reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, polyuronides, flavonoids, anthracenosides, alkaloids, saponins, and phytosterols. The pH range of the formulations was 7.11–7.54, whereas the total water extractive values were in the range of 19.12–20.41% w/w. The one-way analysis of variance demonstrated no significant difference in the data obtained from the results from A, B, and C. The formulation from A was found to be unsafe for consumption due to unacceptable microbial contamination limits. Microbial load of the formulations from B and C were within the BP specifications. All the batches of the formulations passed the uniformity of mass test. An optimized extraction procedure was obtained when one tea bag was extracted in 250 mL of hot water within the specified time. L. multiflora leaves meant for tea bagging should be oven-dried or microwaved before tea bagging for safe consumption.

Antiaris is a monoherbal decoction produced by the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana. It is prepared from the stem bark of Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae), prescribed, and dispensed to patients for the management of nervous disorders. This current formulation presents notable challenges in patients’ adherence to treatment regimen due to its bulkiness and bitterness. These challenges have resulted in a decrease in therapeutic outcome. This study sought to transform Antiaris into oral capsules to mask its bitter taste and reduce bulkiness of the product to improve patients’ convenience. In this study, four (4) conventional release capsule formulations were successfully prepared from the decoction via wet granulation using corn starch, lactose, light magnesium carbonate (LMC), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and labelled A01, A02, A03, and A04 respectively. The drug-excipient compatibility studies on A01, A02, A03, and A04 were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The flow properties of the granules as well as the quality assessment of the formulations such as dissolution, disintegration, uniformity of weight, and assay tests were evaluated using pharmacopoeial and nonpharmacopoeial methods. Appropriate models were used to investigate the difference factor (f1) and similarity factor (f2) of the dissolution profiles of the formulations and Antiaris. From the study, all formulated granules had excellent flow properties with Carr’s index from 7.83 to 9.56%, Hausner’s ratio from 1.09 to 1.10, and angle of repose from 25.13 to 27.87°. Drug-excipient compatibility studies demonstrated no interaction between extract and used excipients. All formulations passed the uniformity of weight, disintegration, assay, and dissolution tests. Formulation A02 had the highest dissolution efficiency of 100.12%, while A03 recorded the least value of 97.22% in the 1 h dissolution studies. A comparison of their various dissolution profiles, respectively, to that of its decoction demonstrated their similarity, since, in all comparisons, f2 50. This implies that, any of these four formulations could be a good substitute for Antiaris.

The incorporation of traditional medicine into the mainstream health care delivery system particularly in some developing countries such as Ghana has resulted in reliable access to herbal medicines and their safe use. This has also led to a surge in the search for herbal alternatives, reformulation, and development of herbal medications in treating and managing diseases such as diabetes. Currently, the surging price of orthodox antidiabetics and their reported adverse effects from long term use has contributed to many Ghanaians switching to the use of phytomedicines as alternatives. The aim of this study is to formulate tea from the leaves of Tapinanthus bangwensis, family Loranthaceae to serve as an additional remedy for the management of diabetes.For standardization, quality control, and authentication of the formulation, FTIR, and HPLC analysis were conducted. The safety profile of the tea via determination of median lethal dose (LD50), microbial load, essential elements and toxic metal contents were also assessed. In addition, the pH, uniformity of mass, total water extractive and optimization of the extraction method were also investigated.The FTIR showed the presence of alcohols, esters, phenols and aromatic compounds. The HPLC fingerprint also showed 23 peaks with the highest peak having a retention time of 15.4 min. The extract also recorded a pH of 7.43 ± 0.02 at 26.1 °C and total water extractive of 39.37 ± 0.05 %w/w. The tea passed the uniformity of mass test with an average net mass of 3.0 ± 0.02 g. Optimum extraction of the tea was realised with 250 mL of freshly boiled water. The formulated tea was found to be safe since the determined LD50 was 50 times more than the daily dose. The microbial load, elemental and toxic metal contents were also within acceptable limits.This study has shown the possibility of introducing this tea at a safe dose as an additional herbal remedy for the management of diabetes.