ABSTRACT

Leaf epidermal studies of Celosia cristata was carried out using standard procedure. Upper surface (adaxial) and lower surface (abaxial), showed the following features which include; irregular and polygonal epidermal cell shape respectively, Anticlinal wall pattern was undulate for abaxial and straight for adaxial surface. They showed anisocytic/anomocytic stomatal type on the adaxial surface and Anisocytic/Anomalous on the abaxial surface. The trichome is absent on both surfaces. The stomatal distribution was amphistomatic on both surfaces. These features could be used to delimit Celosia cristata from others in the family.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification ……………………………………………………………

Dedication …………………………………………………………………..

Acknowledgments …………………………………………………

Abstract ……………………………………………………………………

Table of Contents …………………………………………………………

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study ……………………………………………

1.2 Aims and Objectives …………………………………………………

1.3 Scope and limitation …………………………………………………

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Botanical classification of Celosia cristata …………………………

2.2 Description of Celosia cristata ………………………………………

2.3 Cultivation of Celosia cristata ………………………………………

2.4 Uses of Celosia cristata ……………………………………………

2.5 Chemical composition of Celosia cristata ……………………

2.5.1 Saponins ……………………………………………………………

2.5.2 Peptide ………………………………………………………………

2.5.3 Phenols and their glycosides …………………………………………

2.5.4 Fatty acid and amino acids …………………………………………

2.5.5 Minerals ………………………………………………………………

2.5.6 Others ……………………………………………………………

2.6 Pharmacological activities of Celosia cristata ……………………

2.6.1 Hepatoprotective effect ……………………………………………

2.6.2 Therapeutic effect on Eye diseases ………………………………..

2.6.3 Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities ……………………

2.6.4 Anti-diarrhoeal Activity …………………………………………

2.6.5 Anti-diabetic Activity …………………………………………

2.6.6 Anti-oxidant Activity ……………………………………………

2.6.7 Anti-infectious Activity …………………………………………

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Materials ………………………………………………………

3.1.1 Sample collection ………………………………………………

3.2 Method ………………………………………………………..

3.2.1 Preparation of surface specimen of leaves ……………………

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Results ……………………………………………………………

4.2 Discussion …………………………………………………………

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion ………………………………………………………

5.2 Recommendations ………………………………………………

Reference

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Plants are indispensable source of medicine since time immemorial. Studies on natural products are aimed to determine medicinal values on plants by exploration of existing scientific knowledge, traditional uses and discovery of potential therapeutic agents. Phytochemicals are used as templates for lead optimization programs which are intended to make safe and effective drugs (Balunas, 2005). In the developed countries, 25% of the medicinal drugs are based on plants and their derivatives (Principe, 1991). Medicinal plants are the major components of all indigenous or alternative systems of medicine. Medicinal plants are sources and can be a good start for the discovery of new chemical compounds (Bandna et al., 2013 and Nahida et al., 2012). A group of World Health Organization (WHO) experts, who met in Congo, Brazzaville in 1976, sought to define traditional African medicine as the sum total of practices, measures, ingredients and procedures of all kinds whether material or not, which from time immemorial has enabled the African to guard against diseases to alleviate his/her suffering and to cure him/herself. (Busia, 2005).

The Celosia species is a small genus of edible and ornamental plants belonging to Amaranthaceae . The generic name is derived from the greek word Kelos, meaning “burned” and refers to the flame-like flower heads. The flowers of the species are commonly known as wool-flowers, brain celosia or cockscombs, if the flower heads are crested by fasciation or Velvet flower (In Mexico). The plants are well known in East Africa’s highlands and are used under their Swahili name, mfungu.

Amongst the different plants of the species, C. cristata is an important tropical leafy vegetable crop  of high nutritional value (Aladesanwa et al., 2001). An Indian origin, C. cristata is a plant of town for its very brilliant colors and traditional uses (Koh et al., 2009). C. cristata is commonly named as Semen Celosiae, celosia, silver cock’s comb, quail grass, woolflower in English. In India locally named as sitivara, vitunnaka, sunishannaka (Sanskrit), indivara survali, safed murga(Hindi) annesoppu and kanne hoo (Kannada). Plant bears simple and spirally arranged leaves, often pinkish or white flower while fruits are globular and seeds are black (Wee, 1992). Genetic diversity of 16 population of C. argentea and 6 populations of Celosia cristata L. was investigated in China using sequence related amplified polymorphism (Feng et al., 2009). There are more than seventy different species identified and among al including C. argentea (Cristata) are routinely used as leafy vegetable (Uusiku et al.,, 2010).

People have been using medicinal plants since the dawn of human history. For many of these plants, when and how exactly the isolation and extraction of their medicinal properties have started are unknown. A large number of wild and cultivated plants are being used for treating various disorders and disease around the world particularly in some developing countries. Even the uses of some medicinal plants have been supported by long term practices and systemic theories. With the increasing knowledge of phytochemistry and pharmacology, people have come to clear understanding of the chemical compositions and mechanisms of medicinal plants.

Celosia argentea (cristata) commonly called Qingxiang (In Chinese) is an annual herbs that belongs to the Amaranthaceae  family. Theoblate, black or reddish black seeds commonly called Qingxiangzi in Chinese, are usually collected in autumn when the infructescence matures, then the plant is picked or cut, then dried, and the seeds are collected and then refined. The dried ripe seed is for clinical use. Semen Celosiae was initially recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao (Shen, 1997) which is deemed as the earliest classical herb in China, and is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating eye disease, ulcer, to serve as anthelminthic, to treat trauma to blood, hygro-paralysis, etc.

In this developing world, about 3.4 billion depended upon the traditional knowledge of the medicinal plant based natural products for the treatment of different disorders and diseases (Doughari et al., 2009). The treatment of microbiological disease with the help of traditional medicine plants becomes the main focus of numerous studies (Bhavani and Ballow, 2000 and Charlandy et al., 1999). Plants synthesize different phytochemicals as secondary metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenols which shows antimicrobial properties (Cowan, 1999; Das et. al., 2010; Singh and Navneet, 2016). It is supposed that about 14-28% of plant species are used for medicinal purpose about 74% of them have pharmacologically active compounds.

Medicinal plants have a wide range of pharmacological effects. Celosia cristata is an annual plant (Rubini et al., 2012; Surse et al., 2014; De Bao et al., 1994; Woo et al., 2011; Yaolin et al., 2010 and Wang et al., 2010) of tropical origin and lacking a woody stem. It grows well in both humid and arid conditions and their flowers can last for up to 8 weeks. A high number of seeds can be produced by each flower up to 1500 per g. the plant often grows up to 30cm in height, though many are smaller. The leaves are either green or bronze/maroon, depending on the cultivar. The flower can be broken into three parts; their spikes, plumes and crests vary from one another but have standard commonalities, they are usually brightly colored, usually red, yellow, pink or orange, though other colors can be present in hybrids (Sun et al., 2011; Gholizadeh  and Kapoor; 2004 and Wang, 2012).

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Aim of the Study

The aim of this research project is to study the epidermal leaf structure of Celosia cristata

Objective of the Study

The objective of this research projects is to assess the epidermal structure of Celosia cristata.

1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The design of this research project is to focus on the epidermal leaf structure of Celosia cristata.

Due to time, inadequate facilities, and financial problems, this research project is limited to leaf epidermal studies of Celosia cristata.