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In most developing countries, people who earn low such as farmers, people of small isolated villages and rural communities makes use of Traditional medicine which has been an age global practice, extracts from the seeds, leaves, fruits, barks and roots of plants in the preparation of syrups and infusions (Anibijuwon et al., 2010).
These preparations have been used in diagnosing, preventing or eliminating cases ranging from the common cold to malaria, liver cirrhosis, hypertension and so many physical, mental or social diseases and infections (Anibijuwon et al., 2010). The active constituents imparting to these protective effects are the phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals (Okwu and Ekeke, 2003).
The term, traditional medicine can be interchanged with herbal medicine and natural medicine (Hazan and Atta, 2005). Since ancient times, man has used plants to treat common infections and disease and even long before mankind uncovered the existence of microbes, the idea that certain plants had healing potential was well approved (Rios and Recio, 2005).
Herbal medicine may be made of cellular structures such as bark, leaf, root, petal or may be made of non-cellular structural agents such as gum, latex among others (Malau et al., 2009).
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Herbal medicine may also be a decoction, which may be in cold water or prepared by boiling and allowing to cool, or infusion or tisane which is tea made by either decoction (Malau et al., 2009). The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes expanded to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts (Falodun, 2010). It has been estimated that 80% of African population use herbal remedy for treatment and control of diseases (Hugo and Russell, 2003).
More than 50% of all modern chemical drugs are of natural plant product origin, and is imperative in drug development programs of pharmaceutical industry (Ezeigbo et al., 2016). This provides a reasoning for studying medical plant extracts as a possible source of alternative therapy against infection.
The primary advantage of using herbal drugs is that they are relatively safer and cheaper than their synthetic alternatives (Aiyegoro and Okoh, 2009). In addition, herbal medicine is a complex mixture of different phytochemicals acting by different mechanisms, which would require much effort for pathogens to develop resistance (Daferera et al., 2003). Medicinal plants can be said to be any plant part containing substances that are significant for therapeutic purposes or are precursors for chemo- pharmaceutical synthesis.
Aspilia africana is one of such medicinal plants, which are widely accepted and recognized. Geo- politically, it is known by various names among the Nigerian population based on their native languages it is called Uranjila in Igbo, Tozalin in Hausa and Yunriyun in Yoruba, Edemeron in Efik, Ndinuene (ibibio), Uwhoridhoatu (Ekpeye) and Ottabi (Eutung) language (Agbor et al., 2012). A large majority of the plants in the family are herbaceous while tree and shrubs are comparatively uncommon (Faleye Francis et al., 2012).
There are about 380 genera with 3000 species currently notable in the family, which have yielded an astounding number of medicinal drugs. It is a common weed of field crops in West Africa and at some point found in fallow land, especially, the forest zones (Abii and Onuoha, 2011). The plant is a weed feed on by cattle and sheep and is mostly used in Nigeria as food for rabbits prior to its high protein content. A. africana is widely used in medicinal practice for its competence to stop bleeding, even from a severed artery, as well aids in quick healing of wounds and sores and for the management of difficulty related to cardiovascular diseases (Okolo et al., 2007). Traditional communities in Africa and Asia make use of this herb as antimicrobial (Boka et al., 2014), anti-ulcer (Ubaka et al., 2010), anti-inflammatory (Okoli et al., 2007) and astringent agents.
In Tanganyika, the root decoction of A. africana is used for tuberculosis (Ezeigbo et al., 2016). The leaf infusion is used in treating cough and related ailments in children in Ghana and in Uganda, a leaf decoction is taken for the treatment of gonorrhea. It can also be mixed with clay as a medicine for stomach disturb (Okwu and Josiah, 2006). Traditional midwives administer the leaf and stem extract of Aspilia africana to pregnant women for rapid and ease delivery (Etukudo, 2003). Prior to its active roles in treatment and many more medicinal purposes, Aspilia africana is of high economic importance.
Aspilia africana (common name: Wild Sunflower) of the family Asteracea are widely distributed across tropical Africa and sub Saharan Africa (Ilesanmi, 2018) and recognized throughout the Eastern and Western region on wasteland of the savanna and forested zones (Ilesanmi, 2018).
Fig.1. Distribution map of Aspilia africana in Africa
Its widely distributed in countries like; Senegal, Benin, Zambia, Gabon, Bioko Isl. (Fernando Poo), Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea, South Sudan, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Central African Republic, D.R. Congo (Zaire), Burkina Faso, Gambia, Benin, Togo and Angola as highlighted in the map.
Medicinal plants refer to any plant part comprising of substances that are significant for therapeutic purposes or are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical synthesis. This study was carried out to ascertain and elucidate the various phytochemicals and the antimicrobial potential of Aspilia africana leaves in a bid to determine whether or not it is therapeutically relevant for the synthesis of drugs and medicinal plants.
The main aim of this study is to determine the Antimicrobial potential and bioactive constituent of Aspilia africana against some bacteria.
1. To determine the Antimicrobial potential of Aspilia africana against some bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus substilis, Escherichia coli.
2. To know the bioactive constituent of Aspilia africana.
The Use of Traditional Methods in Developing Countries. (2019, Dec 15). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/herbal-medicine-2-essay
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