Seasonal Variation of Phytochemicals in Four Selected Medicinal Plants (original) (raw)

2021, Pharmacognosy Research

There is increase in the use of plants as medicines worldwide , due to lack of access to conventional drugs, financial challenges and the ineffectiveness and side-effects of some conventional drugs. [1-3] Plant parts such as roots, leaves and barks are usually used as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds that work for treatment of different ailments and as natural antioxidants. [4,5] These bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, anthraquinones, stilbenes, terpenes, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and phenolic compounds are synthesized in plants via different pathways, such as shikimic acid, salonic acid, mevalonic acid and non-mevalonate. [6,7] In many African countries including Malawi, some of these medicinal plants (e.g. S. singueana, L. discolor, M. oleifera and M. azedarach) are used for treatment of different diseases. [8-13] Senna singueana also known as wild Cassia whose family is Fabaceae is used a lot in Africa for treating various ailments. [8,10] It has been claimed that this plant is effective in managing skin cancer, [8,14] diabetes, constipation, stomach pains, sexually transmitted