Blighia sapida(B.sapida)K.D.Koenig(Family Sapindaceae)is a branchless straight bole approximately 15 m in length.The study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract and fractions of...Blighia sapida(B.sapida)K.D.Koenig(Family Sapindaceae)is a branchless straight bole approximately 15 m in length.The study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract and fractions of B.sapida stem-bark using in vitro methods.Ethanol extract and its fractions were investigated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging activity,ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and quantitative phenolic and flavonoid contents.Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assays.The extract and its fractions exhibited radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties.The ethyl acetate fraction possessed maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents(136.67±1.55 gallic acid equivalent mg/g and 75.76±4.03 quercetin equivalent mg/g,respectively).Antioxidant studies revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction displayed superior activity with an IC_(50)=0.09±0.03 mg/mL DPPH,and values of 146.96±3.81 ascorbic acid equivalent(AAE)mg/g and 359.20±4.98 AAE mg/g for FRAP and TAC,respectively.Furthermore,the anti-inflammatory activity was revealed by inhibition of heatinduced albumin denaturation and red blood cell membrane stabilization at concentrations of 200 -1000 mg/mL and 50-250 mg/mL,respectively.The ethanol extract and fractions exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities,with ethyl acetate fraction showing superior activity,which could be attributed to secondary metabolites,mainly phenolic compounds.Overall,the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of B.sapida can be exploited by ethnomedicinal users.展开更多
Wood anatomical structures of various tree species help identify the wood. The characteristics and composition of these structures affect their utilisation. In this work, the microstructure of Blighia sapida a lesser-...Wood anatomical structures of various tree species help identify the wood. The characteristics and composition of these structures affect their utilisation. In this work, the microstructure of Blighia sapida a lesser-known Ghanaian hardwood species using light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was studied. The relationship between the microstructure and some physical properties such as density, and bending strength were also studied. The anatomical features studied were fibre length, double fibre wall thickness, fibre proportion, vessel diameter and proportion, rays and axial parenchyma proportions. It was observed that the use of SEM in studying the anatomical or ultra-structural aspects of wood gives a clearer understanding of the features and structures found in wood. Anatomical features such as presence of crystals and absence of axial parenchyma in Blighia sapida are reported in the work. The study also established that Blighia sapida had a low water uptake even though it had vessel distribution of 12 vessels/mm<sup>2</sup>. Having not very distinct axial parenchyma may have accounted for the low water uptake. The presence of occluded pits could also account for the low water uptake and the fibre wall thickness may also account for a medium bending strength of 62.8 N/mm<sup>2</sup> at 12% moisture content.展开更多
文摘Blighia sapida(B.sapida)K.D.Koenig(Family Sapindaceae)is a branchless straight bole approximately 15 m in length.The study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract and fractions of B.sapida stem-bark using in vitro methods.Ethanol extract and its fractions were investigated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging activity,ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and quantitative phenolic and flavonoid contents.Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assays.The extract and its fractions exhibited radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties.The ethyl acetate fraction possessed maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents(136.67±1.55 gallic acid equivalent mg/g and 75.76±4.03 quercetin equivalent mg/g,respectively).Antioxidant studies revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction displayed superior activity with an IC_(50)=0.09±0.03 mg/mL DPPH,and values of 146.96±3.81 ascorbic acid equivalent(AAE)mg/g and 359.20±4.98 AAE mg/g for FRAP and TAC,respectively.Furthermore,the anti-inflammatory activity was revealed by inhibition of heatinduced albumin denaturation and red blood cell membrane stabilization at concentrations of 200 -1000 mg/mL and 50-250 mg/mL,respectively.The ethanol extract and fractions exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities,with ethyl acetate fraction showing superior activity,which could be attributed to secondary metabolites,mainly phenolic compounds.Overall,the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of B.sapida can be exploited by ethnomedicinal users.
文摘Wood anatomical structures of various tree species help identify the wood. The characteristics and composition of these structures affect their utilisation. In this work, the microstructure of Blighia sapida a lesser-known Ghanaian hardwood species using light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was studied. The relationship between the microstructure and some physical properties such as density, and bending strength were also studied. The anatomical features studied were fibre length, double fibre wall thickness, fibre proportion, vessel diameter and proportion, rays and axial parenchyma proportions. It was observed that the use of SEM in studying the anatomical or ultra-structural aspects of wood gives a clearer understanding of the features and structures found in wood. Anatomical features such as presence of crystals and absence of axial parenchyma in Blighia sapida are reported in the work. The study also established that Blighia sapida had a low water uptake even though it had vessel distribution of 12 vessels/mm<sup>2</sup>. Having not very distinct axial parenchyma may have accounted for the low water uptake. The presence of occluded pits could also account for the low water uptake and the fibre wall thickness may also account for a medium bending strength of 62.8 N/mm<sup>2</sup> at 12% moisture content.
