MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF BITTER LEAF (VERNONIA AMYGDALINA) AND SCENT LEAF (OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM)

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF BITTER LEAF (VERNONIA AMYGDALINA) AND SCENT LEAF (OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM)

INTRODUCTION

Herbal medicine also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine refers to using a plant seeds, barriers, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purpose. As improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research show the value of herbal medicine in the treating and preventing disease. (Ehrlich, 2009)

Medicinal plants is an important natural resources and potentially safe drugs, plays an important role in assuaging human health by contributing herbal medicines. The high cost of allopathic or conventional medicine and their potential side effects encourage humans to use traditional or herbal medicine. (Whorton, 2004).

The increasing demand of plant extracts to use in the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries suggests that systematic studies of medicinal plants are very important in order to find active compounds and their use as a medicine for curing various diseases. In addition, the use of medicinal plants in developed societies have been recognized, which can be seen by the extraction and development of several rugs and chemotherapeutics from plants and traditionally used herbal remedies. (Fabricant et al., 2006).

Medicinal plants are known to contain substances which could be used for treatment purposes or used to produce drugs. There is a rich abundance of plants reputed in traditional medicine to possess protective and therapeutic properties. (Ibrahim et al., 2009). Many of such plants known to be used primitively to alleviate symptoms of illnesses have been screened to have medicinal importance, some of which are Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf).

Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) is a vegetable used for preparing the popular bitter leaf soup. It is also known as Onugbu by the Igbos, Shiwaka by the Hausas and Ewuro by the Yorubas in Nigeria. As the name implies, is actually a bitter plant whose leaves, stems, barks and extracts are used for culinary, medicinal and curative purposes. The vitamins in bitter leaf include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B1 and B2. (Adaramoye et al., 2008).

Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) is a medicinal plant of the family Asteraceae. It is a small perennial shrub that grows in tropical Africa, it can be propagated either by cutting or seeding. Today, the plant is widely known throughout the continent and nearly 85% of Nigerians cultivates the plant due to its nutritional and medicinal values. The leaves of the plant may be consumed either as a vegetable (macerated leaves in soups) or aqueous extract as tonics for the treatment of various illnesses. (Atangwho et al., 2007).

Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf or clove basil), which is found in many tropical countries, some of its vernacula names in Nigeria include Ncho-anwu in Igbo, Efinrin in Yoruba, and Daidoya in Hausa. Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) has numerous medical uses, the oil extracted from its leaves has been described to be active against several species of bacteria and fungi, which also the extract is used to lower blood pressure, strong insect repellent effects and kill many microorganisms that cause diseases, including candida. The perennial plant Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf), which belongs to the family Labiatea and it is the most abundant of the genus Ocimum. (Ijeh et al., 2004).

DESCRIPTION OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA (BITTER LEAF) AND OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (SCENT LEAF)

Vernonia amygdalina is a shrub or small tree of 2-5m with petiolate leaf of about 6cm diameter and elliptic shape. The shape leaves are green with characteristic odour and a bitter taste, no seeds are produced and the tree is therefore distributed through cutting. The plant grows under a range of ecological zones in Africa and produces large mass of forage and is drought tolerant. (Bonsi et al., 1995)

The perennial plant Ocimum gratissimum (sent leaf) is widely distributed in the tropics of Africa and Asia. It belongs to the family labiatae and it is the most abundant of the genus Ocimum. The plant is woody at its base, has an average height of 1.3m high. The leaves are broad and narrowly ovate, usually 5-13cm long and 3-9cm wide. It is a scented shrub with lime-green fuzzy leaves. (Ijeh et al., 2004).

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANTS (BITTER LEAF AND SCENT)

Vernonia amygdalina extracts may help suppress, delay or kill cancerous cell in many ways, such as; induction of apoptosis as determined in cell culture and animal studies, enhance chemotherapy sensitivity, inhibition of the growth or growth signals of cancerous cells, suppression of metastasis of cancerous cells in the body by the inhibition of an anti-apoptotic transcription factors demonstrated in animal studies and reduction of oestrogen level in the body by the suppression of aromatase activity. Vernonia amygdalina may provide an anti-oxidant benefits, man chronic diseases and causes of food spoilage are liked to pro-oxidants, antioxidants are useful in food preservation and drug formulations. Vernonia amygdalina is useful in the treatment of wounds and some gastrointestinal problems due to its antimicrobial activities. Vernonia amygdalina decreases blood glucose by 50% compared to untreated animals. It also serves as an ingredient of cuisine, its leaf extracts reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 50% while also boosting good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The leaves decoction of Vernonia amygdalina is used in the treatment of pneumonia and increase breast milk in nursing mother, Ocimum gratissimum is used as local medicine against leech and bilharziasis, it is also used instead of hops to make beer in Nigeria. The roots of Vernonia amygdalina are useful in the treatment of tooth ache and as well as prevent gum decay due to its bactericidal and antimicrobial activities. (Erasto et al., 2006).

The medicinal importance of scent life includes:

Ocimum gratissimum is extensively used throughout West Africa as a febrifuge (fever reducing), anti malarial and anti-coagulant. The crushed leaf juice of Ocimum gratissimum is used in the treatment of convulsion, stomach pain, and catarrh. Oil from the leaves posses antiseptics, antibacterial and antifungal activities. In the coastal area of Nigeria, the plant is used in the treatment of epilepsy, high fever, and diarrhea. Ocimum gratissimum is used by the Igbos of southern Nigeria in the management of the baby’s cord, it is said to keep the baby’s cord and wound surface sterile. Ocimum gratissimum is used in the treatment of fungal infections, fever and cold. (Orafidiya et al., 2004).

HEALTH BENEFITS OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA (BITTER LEAF) AND OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (SCENT LEAF)

Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) increases the rate of metabolism in the body system thereby improving loss of weight, contains anti-parasite, anti bacteria properties that is needed to cure malaria, therefore serves as an anti malaria, detoxify the blood, prevent indigestion, rheumatism, scurvy and nourishes the skin. Regular intake of bitter leaf in diet, helps to counter the effects of excess sugar in the blood, thereby preventing diabetes. Bitter leaf cures common skin diseases, such as eczema, ring worms, rashes etc, by squeezing the leaves and applying it to the affected parts. Bitter leaf juice when taken by nursing mother, improve the quality and production breast milk, it also cures mild stomach ailment, pile, fight liver problems and energizes the body. Finally bitter leaf is reach source of vitamins, such as vitamin A, B1 and B2 which are needed for the body. (Ijeh et al., 2011).

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (SCENT LEAF)

Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) is grown around houses as a mosquito repellant, and it is used for the treatment of fever, the leaf serves as a decongestant for head colds, bronchitis and sinusitis. The leaf is also chewed traditionally for all tooth and gum disorders. Ocimum gratissimum promote optimal health, rich source of anti-oxidant nutrients and helps in protection against rheumatoid arthritis. Scent leaf is a reach source of calcium phosphorous, iron and vitamin A, K and C. Extracts of scent leaves lowers blood pressure, kill many micro organisms that cause disease, including candida. In Congo, scent leaf decoction is used for diarrhea, gonorrhea infects, vaginal douches for virginities and used in treatment of mental illness. (Ijeh et al., 2004).

USES OF THE PLANT BITTER LEAF AND SCENT LEAF

Every part of the plants is useful; the stem, leaves and root. The leaves are mainly used to garnish meals and prepare soups, but other parts have medicinal benefits. Bitter leaf may be use for preparation of soup when it is fresh or its dried form. Bitter leaf may also be used to wash off slime from fish and snail before cooking, the stem can be used as chewing stick, while its juice extract may be prepared for drinking. This plant is useful in toning the vital organs of the body especially the liver and the kidney. (Adaramoye et al., 2008).

Uses of scent leaf include:

Ocimum gratissimum is extensively used throughout West Africa as a febrifuge, anti-malaria and anti-convulsant. The crushed leaf juice is used in the treatment of convulsion, stomach pain and catarrh. The leaves are mainly used to garnish meals and prepare soups. It can also be used as seasoning because of its aromatic flavour. (Ijeh et al., 2004).

ACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA AND OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM

The biological-active compounds of vernonia amygadlina are saponins and alkaloids, terpenes, steroids, coumrains, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, xanthones and anthraquinone, edotides and sesquiterpenes while that of Ocimum gratissimum are alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and sterols. (Erasto et al., 2006).

CONCLUSION

Plants are the major constituent of traditional medicine, many of these plant materials such as vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) used in herbal medicine are readily available in rural areas and this has made it relatively cheaper than orthodox medicine for the treatment of various disease. The upsurge in the prevalence of side effects of many synthetic antimicrobial agents and incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and pests has spurred scientist into the research for plant based antimicrobial of therapeutic and pesticidal potentials.

REFERENCES

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Atangwho, I.J, Ebong, P.E, Eteng, M.U, Eyong, E.U, Obi, A.U. (2007). Effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf of kidney function of diabetic rats. Int. J. Pharmocol. 3: 143-148.

Bunsi, M.L, Osuji, P.O, Tuah, A.K, Umunna, N.N. (1995) Vernonia amygdalina as a supplement to left straw (Erogrotistef) Fed to Ethiopia merge sleep. Agro forestry systems 31(3). Pp. 229-241.

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Orafidiya, L.O, Agbani, E.O (2004) Studies on the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum leaf. Internal Journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacy. Vol 11(1) pp.71-76

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