Evaluation of Preliminary Cytotoxic and Growth Inhibitory Effects of Melastomastrum Capitatum (Vahl.) Fern. (Melastomataceae) Leaf Methanol Extract by Bench-Top Bio-Assay (original) (raw)

2018, International journal of medicinal plants and natural products

The plant Melastomastrum capitatum belongs to the family Melastomataceae which is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants commonly found in the tropics. Melastomataceae are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or small trees with simple opposite leaves with a characteristic variation pattern. The main veins which are usually 5-9 are palmate at the base and secondary veins between them are scalariform ,parallel and regularly spaced (Burkill, 1997). Melastomastrum capitatum is a shrubby herb that grows up to 1•25 m high, and it is found in dry situations and stream-banks in Nigeria especially in Mambila Plateau Taraba State (Hutchison and Dalziel, 1958), Guinea, Mali, Uganda and Angola. In Nigeria, it is locally called ""Belkon"" by the Fulani tribe (In Mambila Plateau Nigeria) who use the leaf to treat cancers traditionally. A large part of the plant has sweet to sour taste. The leaf-sap diluted into a little water is used in Ivory Coast as a

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