ABSTRACT
' Morphological and anatomical observation,
cytological and molecular analysis, phytochemical, antimicrobial and
anti-inflammatory potentials, toxicity, enzyme activity, and histopathological
examination were carried out on the ‘epiflorous’ plant - Phyllobotyron
spathulatum obtained from Cross River National Park, Akamkpa. Morphological
characters were macroscopically observed and the following results recorded:
Perennial, rarely branched erect shrub or tree up to 16ft high habit and
terrestrial habitat. Cylindrical, hard, hairy brown stem. Lanceolate leaf about
65cm in length, serrate margin with small palm-like leaflet second outgrowth.
‘Epiflorous’ floral inflorescence on mature leafmidrib. Incomplete, white
flower. Purple to yellow fruit nut, seed are five and white. Flowering and
fruiting time is observed almost through all season. Venation is reticulate
while rooting system is tapering with adventitious roots that support
germination of new shoot. Observation of photomicrographs of the slides of the
epidermal peel and anatomical sections showed the occurrence of hypostomatic
and diacytic stomata with index of 28 and 20 in old and juvenile leaves
respectively. Round epidermal circumference of stem adorned with trichome.
Presence of starch sheath was observed just below the cortex of root and stem.
Piths were less inconspicuous in stem and root. Chromosome number, determined
through the squash method was observed to be 2n=22. Molecular extraction,
purification, amplification and sequencing showed that the isolate of the plant
sample have a band size of 650bp and BLAST result from NCBI data base got a
pairwise identity (74.4) to Phyllobotryon spathulatum Mull.Arg. Phytochemical
studies show that the root and leaf P. spathulatum contains these chemicals in
appreciable quantity that has been recommended for various nutritional and
pharmacological purposes. In vitro antimicrobial analysis using different
solvent showed that the leaf of P. spathulatum possesses inhibitory activity
through inhibition zone (IZ) against most of the tested pathogens at the
various concentrations used. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) study
revealed an MIC value of up to 6.25mg/ml and the corresponding MBC/MFC. In vivo
anti-inflammatory studies using animal model tests showed that the plant
extract at 200mg/kg concentration inhibited carrageenan induced paw oedema by
81 % when compared to 0% in water and 92% in the standardized drug after 3days.
Acute toxicity testing ofthe leafofthe plant showed that the extract was well
tolerated at a dose of 2000 mg/kg as the animals showed no sign oftoxicity or
death after 72 hours. Sub-acute study using the relative weight as well as
liver and kidney enzyme profile showed that the extract ofthe leaf ofP.
spathulatum at various concentrations did not significantly alter
viscerosomatic index of the rats. Activity in the analyzed liver enzymes;
aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) and kidney enzymes; urea and creatinine were not affected as the extract
concentration increased. Histopathological examination from the tissue slides
did not show any changes in the features examined. Results obtained from this
study can be employed in the identification, characterization, nutritional and
pharmacological uses of this rarely known and underutilized plant.
BERNARD, N (2025). Morpho-Anatomical, Molecular, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of the ‘Epiflorous’ plant (Phyllobotryon spathulatuni):- Uwalaka, Bernard N. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Oct 08, 2025, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/morpho-anatomical-molecular-phytochemical-and-pharmacological-evaluation-of-the-epiflorous-plant-phyllobotryon-spathulatuni-uwalaka-bernard-n-7-2
NNABUIKE, BERNARD. "Morpho-Anatomical, Molecular, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of the ‘Epiflorous’ plant (Phyllobotryon spathulatuni):- Uwalaka, Bernard N" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 08 Oct. 2025, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/morpho-anatomical-molecular-phytochemical-and-pharmacological-evaluation-of-the-epiflorous-plant-phyllobotryon-spathulatuni-uwalaka-bernard-n-7-2. Accessed 08 Oct. 2025.
NNABUIKE, BERNARD. "Morpho-Anatomical, Molecular, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of the ‘Epiflorous’ plant (Phyllobotryon spathulatuni):- Uwalaka, Bernard N". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 08 Oct. 2025. Web. 08 Oct. 2025. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/morpho-anatomical-molecular-phytochemical-and-pharmacological-evaluation-of-the-epiflorous-plant-phyllobotryon-spathulatuni-uwalaka-bernard-n-7-2 >.
NNABUIKE, BERNARD. "Morpho-Anatomical, Molecular, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of the ‘Epiflorous’ plant (Phyllobotryon spathulatuni):- Uwalaka, Bernard N" Mouau.afribary.org (2025). Accessed 08 Oct. 2025. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/morpho-anatomical-molecular-phytochemical-and-pharmacological-evaluation-of-the-epiflorous-plant-phyllobotryon-spathulatuni-uwalaka-bernard-n-7-2