CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

From time immemorial man depended on plants as medicine. From a

historical perspective it is evident that the fascination for plants is as

old as mankind itself. The plant kingdom represent a rich store house of

organic compounds many of which have been used for medicinal

purposes and could serve as lead for the development of novel agents

having good efficacy in various pathological disorders in the coming

years.Plants are the richest source of drugs for traditional medicine

modern medicines nutraceuticals food supplements folk medicine

pharmaceutical intermediates and chemical entities for synthetic drugs

(Hammer et al. 1999). The use of plant product as medicines could be

traced as far back as the beginning of human civilization. The earliest

mentioned medicinal used plant in Hindu culture is found in “Rigveda”

which is said to have been written between 4500-1600 B.C. and is

supposed to be the oldest repository human knowledge. The active

principle isolated have provided leads in the development of several

life saving drugs which are in use today (Rastogi and Mehrotra 2002).

The isolated active compounds of the plants are secondary metabolites

chemical compound that occur naturally in plant with no nutritional

value to human life. These active compounds are generally called

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phytochemical. These phytochemicals play protective roles in plants

each chemical labeled phytochemical works in different ways not all

are the same for human and not all come from the same plants. Some

have shown more promise than others in fighting disease and illness in

humans. There are some basic types of these active compounds that

are found in different fruits and vegetables. We have some of them like

antioxidants they are present in onions and some other fruits and tea

they act as preventive measure for premature cell death and some

forms of cancer and aging. Isoflavones or plant estrogen; they are

found in soy and soy products; they are helpful in the year just before

and after menopause. Capsaicin is found in hot pepper and it has been

shown to significantly reduce prostate tumors in size at least in mice.

Taking capsaicin on a regular basis by eating spicy foods with hot

peppers may prove an excellent preventative agent to prostate cancer

and benign growth of prostate (Ahmedabad 382- 481). This experiment

was carried out on moringaoleifera and Azadirachtaindica leaves.

Moringaoleifera or the horseradish tree is a small or medium-sized

about 10 m high perennial softwood tree with timber of low quality

pantropical specie plant that is known by such regional name as

benzolive drumstick tree kelor marango mlonge mulangay nebeday

saijhan and sajan. Over the past two decades many reports have

appeared in the mainstream scientific journals describing its nutritional

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and medicinal properties (Akerele 1993).Moringaoleifera is the most

widely cultivated species of a monogenetic family the moringaceae

that is native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of India Pakistan Bangladesh

and Afghanistan it also now naturalizes in West Africa and Nigeria as a

whole.

Azadirachtaindicaon the other hand is a very useful traditional

medicinal plant in the sub-continent and each part of the tree has some

medicinal properties. The plant is native to Asia but has now

naturalized in West Africa and is widely cultivated in Nigeria as an

ornamental as well as medicinal plant.

1.2 Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals which occur naturally

in plants that have protective or disease preventive properties. They

are nonessential nutrients meaning that they are not required by the

human body for sustaining life. It is well-known that plant produces

these chemicals to protect them but recent research demonstrates that

they can also protect humans against diseases. There are more than

thousand known phytochemicals. Some of the well-known

phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes isoflavonesin soy and

flavanoids in fruits.Alkaloids (examples are Caffeine Theobromine

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Theophylline).Organosulfides(examples are AllicinGlutathioneIndole-

3-CarbinolIsothiocyanates).Tannins steroids Glycosides etc.

1.2.1 Activity of phytochemicals

Antioxidant - Most phytochemicals have antioxidant activity and

protect our cells against oxidative damage and reduce the risk of

developing certain types of cancer. Phytochemicals with antioxidant

activity includes:allyl sulfides (onions leeks and garlic) carotenoids

(fruits carrots) flavonoids (fruits vegetables) polyphenols (tea

grapes).

Hormonal action - Isoflavones found in soy imitate human estrogens

and help to reduce menopausal symptoms and

osteoporosis.Stimulation of enzymes - Indoles which are found in

cabbages stimulate enzymes that make the estrogen less effective and

thus couldreduce the risk for breast cancer. Other phytochemicals

which interfere with enzymes are protease inhibitors (soy and beans)

terpenes (citrus fruits and cherries).

Interference with DNA replication - Saponins found in beans interfere

with the replication of DNA cell thereby preventing themultiplication of

cancer cells. Capsaicin found in hot peppers protects DNA from

carcinogens.

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Physical action - Some phytochemicals bind physically to cell walls

thereby preventing the adhesion of pathogens to human cell walls.

Proanthocyanidins are responsible for the anti-adhesion properties of

cranberry. Consumption of cranberries will reduce the risk of urinary

tract infections and will improve dental health.

Phytochemicals are naturally present in many foods but it is expected

that through bioengineering new plants will be developed which will

ontain higher levels. This would make it easier to incorporate enough

phytochemicals with our food.

1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Moringaoleifera and Azadirachtaindica are plants(leave) are claimed to

have a lot of economic value such as medicinal nutritional and

pesticidal values. These claims have not been clearly justified.This

research and experiment is therefore centered on investigating

analyzing and justifying the claims made on these plants (leave). And

also to know the chemical composition responsible for the Medicinal

value of these plant (leave).

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1.4 AIM/OBJECTIVE OF PHYTOCHEMICAL

i. Phytochemical anaylsis on the Moringaoleiferaand

Azadiractaindica. In the other words identify isolate and

quantify each phytochemical present in the plant material

ii. To describe clearly the unit operation (Extraction process) used

on these plant.

1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

To justify the claims made on these plants for its medicinal and

economic values like moringaoleifera is responsible for curing malaria

reducing high blood pressure and reduces blood sugar and

Azadirachtaindica is responsible curing fevermalaria bacteria and fungi

disease.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

The phytochemical analysis will be carried out only on the leaves of the

plant under study.

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