TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page-   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

Certification-          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

Dedication-  –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

Acknowledgement-         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

Table of Contents- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         v-vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION–       –         –         –         –         1-3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF EGGPLANT- –         –         4-6

2.1     Description of Eggplant- –         –         –         –         –         –         6-7

2.2     Morphology of eggplant- –         –         –         –         –         –         7-9

2.3     Propagation Cultivation Techniques of eggplant-    –         –         9-12

2.4     Biodiversity of eggplant- –         –         –         –         –         –         12-15

2.5     Postharvest Factors Affecting their End-use Quality-        –         15-20

CHAPTER THREE

CARDIOPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF EGGPLANT FRUITS

3.1     Phytoconstituents of Eggplant-  –         –         –         –         –         21-24

3.2     Cardioprotective Properties of eggplant-       –         –         –         24-25

3.3     Other Pharmacological Potentials-       –         –         –         –         25

3.3.1  Antioxidant Activity-       –         –         –         –         –         –         25-27

3.3.2  Analgesic Property-         –         –         –         –         –         –         27-28

3.3.3  Health Benefit of Eggplant-       –         –         –         –         –         28-29

3.3.4  Antipyretic Action-          –         –         –         –         –         –         29

3.3.5  Hypolipidemic Action-    –         –         –         –         –         –         30

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1     Summary-    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         31-32

4.2     Conclusion- –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         32

            References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

In Africa numerous types of edible wild plants are well known in traditional medicine (Denton, 2004). Plants are the source of medication for preventive, curative, protective or primitive purposes. Their use for disorders can be commonly observed at household level (Denton, 2004). African eggplant is represented in Nigeria by some 25 species including those domesticated with their leaves fruits or both are consumed as vegetables or used in traditional medicine (Gbile, 1989). They are highly valued Constituents of the Nigerian foods and Indigenous medicines. They are commonly consumed on daily basis by both rural and urban families (Chinedu et al., 2011).Members are mostly herbaceous plant, the fruit is berry and the seeds have large endosperm grown mainly for food and medicinal purpose (Kwon et al., 2008).

There are different types of species and selection in the genus that have diverse shape, size and other colours. African eggplant originated from West Africa and is now widely distributed in Central and East Africa. The plants also grow in the Caribbean, South America and some parts of Southeast Asia (Oboh et al., 2005).

The composition of African eggplant is comparable to that of the dark, green leafy vegetables. It contains per 100g edible portion, moisture 85.6g, energy 176kcal, protein 4.6g, carbohydrate o.4g, fat 1.6g, fiber 1.6g, calcium 391mg, phosphorus 4mg. the non nutrient composition of eggplant species, include Spisosalne alkaloids, including solanine and solanidine. These are bitter testing (Oboh et al., 2005).

African eggplant in traditional medicine lowers hyperlipidemia (Burkiill, 1985). It also has renal and hepatoprotective effects (Sadipo et al., 2009). The roots, leaves, and fruits of African eggplants contain medicinal qualities. In Nigeria, the fruit of African eggplant contain medicinal qualities. In Nigerian, the fruit is used as laxative and as a mean to treat cardiac diseases. The flowers are chewed to clean teeth. In Sierra Leone, the leaves are heated and used to east throat pain. In Kenya, the roots are boiled and the juice is consumed to kill intestinal hookworms. The roots are also used for bronchitis, body aches, asthma and to speed up the process of healing of wounds. The seed is crushed to treat tooth ache. The aqueous extract of the fruits have been shown to lower high blood pressure, treat constipation and lower hyperlipidemia (Chinendu et al., 2011).