1.1 Introduction
Newbouldia laevis is a medium sized angiosperm in the Bignoniaceae family. It is native to tropical Africa, especially used in West Africa to mark property boundaries in rural areas. Plants have traditionally provided a source of hope for novel drug compounds, as plant herbal mixtures have made large contributions to human health and well-being (Shibata et al., 2005). Owing to their popular use as remedies for many infectious diseases, searches for substances with antimicrobial activity in plants are frequent (Shibata et al., 2005; Betoni et al., 2006). Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites, such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties (Lewis et al., 2006).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Newbouldia laevis plant is popularly known as the tree of life or fertility tree in Nigeria. The plant has been found to be effective in the treatment of elephantiasis, dysentery, rheumatic swellings, syphilis, constipation, pile and as a vermifuge to round worms. It has also been found useful for earache, sore feet, chest pain, epilepsy and children's convulsion. Plants are important in our everyday existence. They provide our foods, produce the oxygen we breathe, and serve as raw materials for many industrial products such as clothes, foot wears and so many others (Ajibesin, 2011). The plant kingdom has proven to be the most useful in the treatment of diseases and they provide an important source in all the world pharmaceuticals. The most important of these bioactive constituents of plants are steroids, terpenoids, carotenoids, flavanoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Plants in all face of life have served a valuable starting material for drug development (Ajibesin, 2011).
Plants also have ethical values. Ethical values of plants are based on their religious or quasi-religious feelings of people of many cultures that life forms have intrinsic value and some degree of protection from destruction by humans. Ethno-botany aims to document describe and explain complex relationship between cultures and plants, focusing primarily on how plants are used, perceived and managed by societies (Harazaki et al., 2013). The ethical values and sacredness placed on plants in cultures where they are found is to prevent them from being over exploited.
Nirmal-kumar et al., (2005) reported that in India traditional tales, mythological stories and events in the epics, religious practices of worship in household and in the temples, in festivals, birth and death are all replete with reference to plants. Medicinal plants are the sources of many important drugs of the modern world. Many of these indigenous medicinal plants are used as spices and food plants; they are also sometimes added to foods meant for pregnant mothers for medicinal purposes (Akinpela and Onakoya, 2006). Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and communities. It was the advent of antibiotics in the 1950s that led to the decline of the use of plant derivatives as antimicrobials (Marjorie, 1999). Medicinal plants contain physiologically active components which over the years have been exploited in the traditional medical practices for the treatment of various ailments (Ajibesin, 2011). The use of one plant or its parts for rituals or religious activities or festivals is not only good for health but also helps in conservation of biodiversity (Lui et al., 2002).
Newbouldia laevis is commonly known as African border tree. In Nigerian major languages it is called ‘Aduruku’ in Hausa, Ogirisi” in Igbo and Akoko in Yoruba (Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1963). Newbouldia laevisis a medium sized, sun loving, fast growing drought tolerant angiosperm which belongs to the Bignoniaceae family (Arbonnier, 2004). It grows up to a height of about7–15 meters but is usually a shrub of 2–3 meters with many stemmed forming clumps of gnarled branches.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the plant is used in the management of a variety of ailments for example; the bark is chewed and swallowed for stomach pains and diarrhea as well as toothache (Lewis and Manony, 2007). In Nigeria and Ivory Coast, the stem bark decoctions are used for treatment of epilepsy and convulsions in children (Tor-anyin et al., 2003). For centuries rural people in several communities have used traditional medicine to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases worldwide. In Nigeria, herbalists use the stem, bark and the pulp juice of Newbouldia laevis as an external antiseptic for wound dressing. They squeeze out the juice and then apply it to the affected part for several days. Newbouldia laevis is a plant with so many medicinal properties as it is used in the treatment of malaria fever, constipation coughs, tooth ache, sexually transmitted diseases and breast cancer (Iwu, 2000).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to determine the Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemicals Present in Newbouldia Laevis Leaves.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the challenges of the Newbouldia Leavis Leaves lacks scientific proof for authentication and most of the foreign drugs are expensive to purchase and many were not found within our locality. Phytochemical screenings are now seen as the first step toward the discovery of useful drugs that the nature has been identified as a potential source due to its diverse presence in plants (Ogbannia et al., 2013).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to analyze and determine the Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemicals Present in Newbouldia Laevis Leaves. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the concentrations of secondary metabolites present in Newbouldia laevis; and
- To analyze the leaves of Newbouldia laevis with a view of identifying the phytochemical and nutrient content present.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Analysis and Determination of the Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemicals Present in Newbouldia Laevis Leaves.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
