Taxonomic Studies of Cryptolepis Sanguinolenta (LINDL.) SCHTR., an Antimalarial Plant Species Used in Ghana

Abstract

A survey research was conducted on Cryplolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schtr., an antimalarial plant species harvested from three sampling sites, namely, Pepease, Mamfe and Abonse all in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The research was to determine intraspecific variation within the species, using a secondary chemical constituent, that is, the total alkaloid content, morphological and anatomical characters, as well as some edaphic factors. The study also, investigated the seasonal variations in the levels of the total alkaloid content, soil nutrients and the micro- and macro-elements in the soils obtained from the sampling sites. The soil samples were analysed for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Sb, Th. U. V and Zn using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (lNAA) coupled with conventional counting system. Comparative studies were also performed using the total alkaloid content. anatomical characters, morphological characters, topsoil characteristics as Nell as soil and toxic/trace elements to assess the degree of relationship or resemblance within the stated variables. Statistically, a series of linear models (SPSS 10.0. Minitab 13 .32 and MStats for WINDOWS, Version 6.1) was fitted to the dataset to determine whether variations do exist. Results showed that: a) Topsoil characteristics including soil pH were significantly different in the locations. b) The enrichment index values computed for the soils indicate that the soils were not enriched with toxic elements with the enrichment index values decreasing in the order of Pepease > Abonse > Mamfe. c). Phytochemical screening of the plant confirmed the presence of alkaloids in the root, stem and leaf. d) Soi l pH, soil nutrients, enrichment index -of the soils and environmental factors really influenced the levels of alkaloid contents in the organs of the plant species. e) The alkaloid contents of the plant organs were significantly different from one another. I) The total alkaloid content of the leaf was higher than that of the root and stem, and there were seasonal variations of the total alkaloid content in all the three locations; g) Morphological characters were more variable than histological characters and the total alkaloid content. h) Two phenetic groupings were identified based on the morphological characters, histological characters and the total alkaloid content. Within the locations, the total alkaloid content obtained from Abonse showed a closer association or resemblance to that of Pepease in terms of the root and stem organs. The resemblance of the locations vvas much protound between Pepease and Abonse at a rescaled distance of about 2, Mamfe showed a loose association at even a rescaled distance of20. An exceptional case was encountered of the leaf total alkaloid content where the degree of association or resemblance was much stronger between Pepease and Mamfe with Abonse loosely associated at a rescaled of 20.