1.0 Introduction
In recent days, substantial number of drugs are developed or obtained from plant as plant is the major sources of medicine. Great attention has been given to medicinal plants because they are very important in the safety of the communities. The use of herbal medicinefor the treatment of diseases and infections is as old as mankind. (Patel et al, 1993). It began from the first appearance of man on earth. A large proportion of the drugs emanated from ethnobotanical knowledge of the traditional use of plant.
The World health organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of the world population presently uses herbal medicine for primary health care. The traditional use of plant in native cultures are manifold and divers as many people still depend on plant for their medicine, food, economy, dyes etc. In traditional societies, nutrition and health care are strongly interconnected and many plants have been consumed as both food and for medicinal purposes.
(karthiyayini and Nithiya, 2015). The curative agents or properties of these medicinal plants are as a result of the presence of various complex chemical substances of different compositions which are referred to as secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites are grouped into flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, carotenoids, atropine, anthraquinine, saponins, phylobatannins, anthranoids etc.
Some of these plants have been analyzed scientifically for the antimicrobial activity while many of the plant products are seen to inhibit the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms. With the increasing frequency in side effects and the resistance of pathogenic micro-organisms built up against antibiotics, alternative antimicrobial strategies are persistently required, which may be to seek structurally novel antibiotics that have entirely different mechanisms of actions from the currently used agents or to employ plants in crude form which show potent effect due to their complex chemical composition and synergistic action. This has led to a re-evaluation of therapeutic use of ancient remedies, such as plants and plant based products. (Mandal and Mandal, 2011). Therefore, there is need to study the plant and plant products for the activities of resistant bacteria. Recently, the interest to investigate the phytochemical composition of medicinal plant and its pharmacological activity is growing gradually in the minds of researchers and research concerning it, is going on.
Antimicrobial activity so far considered empirical, have been analyzed scientifically and confirmed in celosia argentea leaf extract. The whole plant of celosia argentea is traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases, diarrhea, wounds, ulcers, bleeding nose, piles. Also, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulanting, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and anti-bacterial activities have been reported in the extracts and its constituents. (Nidavani et al, 2013).
1.2 Aims / Objectives of the Study
The aim is to ascertain the phytochemical compounds and the antimicrobial activity of celosia argentea leaf extracts.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
The high cost of orthodox medicines, the increasing problem of drug resistant and the treatment problems, has led to the frequent use of herbal medicine by people to cure diseases. Celosia has been used in treating mouth sores, wounds, ulcers, blood diseases, eye problems, chest problems, intestinal worms, lack of vitamins such as vitamin A and C etc.
Exploitation of local sources like celosia argentea leaf can be of benefit to the sufferers of the above mentioned diseases and other deficiencies. Again, the quest for balanced diet with the six classes of food is of great concerns to Nigerians and the exploitation of celosia argentea which is believed to contain considerable amount of proteins, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, minerals, fats and oils will bring a definite end to the malnutrition in the country.
1.4 Significance of the Study
At the end of this study, people will be enlightened and educated on the usefulness and antimicrobial effects of celosia argentea from the information that will be generated at the course of studying this particular plant.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This work will cover areas such as:
- Antimicrobial effects of celosia argentea, aqueous and methanoic extracts.
- Benefits of celosia argentea as regards to its nutritional values.
- Medicinal uses of celosia argentea leaves and flowers.
- Culinary uses and plant uses of celosia argentea.
- The phytochemical constituents of celosia agentea leaf extract.
