TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Certification           –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Dedication   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Acknowledgements         –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background Information –         –         –         –         –         –

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1     Botanical Description of Gongronema latifolium    –         –

2.2     Description of Gongronema latifolium          –         –         –

2.3     Phytochemical Composition of Gongronema latifolium    –

CHAPTER THREE: HEALTH BENEFITS

3.1     Nutritional Value of Gongronema latifolium           –

3.2     Medicinal Uses of Gongronema latifolium    –         –

3.2.1  Hypolipidemic activity    –         –         –         –         –

3.2.2  Antioxidant Activity        –         –         –         –         –

3.2.3  Hematological Effect       –         –         –         –         –

3.2.4  Anti-inflammatory Effect –         –         –         –         –

3.2.5  Anti-ulcer Effect    –         –         –         –         –         –

3.2.6  Antimicrobial Effect        –         –         –         –         –

3.3     Ethnomedicinal Uses of Gongronema latifolium     –

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1     SUMMARY          –         –         –         –         –         –

4.2     CONCLUSION     –         –         –         –         –         –

References

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background Information

Gongronema Latifolium (Amaranth globe) is popularly known for its nutritional and medicinal values. The health benefits of different parts of this plant cannot be over emphasized especially in traditional medicine. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides and tanning among others. The nutritional composition includes carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and fats. Pharmacological activities of the plant  such antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic hepatoprotective and antimicrobial are well documented.

The tropical rainforest is the most biologically varying ecosystem on earth and its is enriched with enormous properties resources with rich dietary and medicinal properties utilized locally in folkloric medicine (Dalziel, 2000). Although modern medicine may be available in developing and cultural reasons (Nwanguw et al., 2009). Making traditional medicine an unavoidable global discuss. The use of medicinal plants is one of the primary complementary advances to medicine advances to medicine in many parts of the world (American Society for testing and materials, 2001). The presence of wide range of bioactive phytochemicals and secondary metabolites has made plant promising source of modern synthetic drugs for management of several disease.one of the basic principles of medicinal herbs is that constituents in the whole plant extract work collectively to efficacy (WHO, 1996). The use of plant extracts in treatment and prevention of diseases have shown a comprehensive framework of healing by stimulation the body’s own innate healing capacities in a manner that is safe and effective.

Gongronema latifolium (G. latifolium) is widely believed to have strong nutritional and medicinal values. The leaf is rich is rich in fats, proteins vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids (Eleyinmi, 2007). It is commonly used in soup as vegetable, or dried and applied as powdery spice. It is also consumed fresh and can be used in salad preparations (Morebise et al., 2002). In Sierra Leone, the root and stem are used as chewing stick or liquor is obtained by boiling the sliced plant with lime juice or infused in water for over 3 days. It is taken as a purgative for colic and stomach pains as well as to treat symptoms of worm infection (Onike, 2010). Apart from its nutritional values. G. latifolium is believed to posses strong medicinal qualities due to its composition of different active chemicals. Some of the medicinal values of G. latifolium have also been scientifically validated.