Maynard W. Quimby

A Preliminary Pharmacognostical Study of Ten Nigerian Plants

SummaryA preliminary pharmacognostical study was made on ten Nigerian plants. This study consisted of the taxonomic study of the plants; the phytochemical screening and testing for alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids; and the use of thin layer chromatography further to separate certain constituents of the plants. The latter was found to give rapid, reproducible separations which could be used to supplement the usual methods for the identification of subsequent collections of a given plant.

Ammi Visnaga Lam.—A medicinal plant

Extensive investigation has shown that khellin, an active principle obtained from this plant, is of value in treating angina pectoris and bronchial asthma.

Studies on nigerian plants v. comparative anatomy of lophira lanceolata and lophira alata

Lophira lanceolata Van Tiegh. ex Keay and Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn. f. belong to a small family of plants, the Ochnaceae of the order Parietales. The Ochnaceae contain 21 genera and 375 species of pantropieal distribution, especially abundant in northeastern South America. The northern limits of this fanfily in the New World are in Mexico. This family is represented in Nigeria by three genera--Ochna~ Ouratea~ and Lophira. The two species of Lophira are very similar but grow in different habitats. Lophira lanceolata is a much-branched savannah tree, 40 ft high, while L. alata has a single trunk and no branching near the ground. I t grows in the rain forest and reaches a height of 180 ft. The leaves of both species are entire, leathery, and with feathered venation, but those of L. lanceolata are longer in relation to their width (Fig. 1). Also, the leaves of L. alata are sessile (~ig. 2). Both species have flowers borne in panicles, white for L. lanceolata and white or golden yellow for L. alata. Of the five sepals, two are unequal, and these enlarge to form wings surrounding a beaked nut. The wing of L. alata is shorter than that of L. laneeolata.