Festus Okoye

Nnamdi Azikiwe University | Unizik · Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry

Piliostigma thonningii leaves are used in Nigeria folk medicine for the treatment and management of diverse ailments. This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the secondary metabolites produced from endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of Piliostigma thonningii. The isolation of endophytic fungi was carried out a...

Many diseases are treated using medicinal plants because they contain components that have therapeutic properties. The prevention and treatment of diseases linked to oxidative stress depend heavily on antioxidants. With over 20 genera and 600 species, the Combretaceae family is a vast group of plants that is distributed tropically throughout the wo...

A B S T R A C T Ethnopharmacological relevance: Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kunze) Exell, a member of the Phyllanthaceae family, is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Africa. Decoctions from the leaves are used in Nigeria to treat fevers, convulsions, some neurological disorders and malaria. Aim of the study: This study is to evaluate the anti-m...

Milletia aboensis has long-standing ethnopharmacological indications for the treatment of symptoms and diseases related to menopause. This investigation examined the effects of its phytoestrogen-rich fraction on some predictors of cardiovascular risk in an ovariectomized rat model of menopause. In vitro, antioxidant activity was determined using 2,...

Attention is being diverted toward the bioprospecting of newer bioactive compounds from marine endophytic fungi. This is because marine fungi have shown a large chemo-diversity of untapped important secondary metabolites needed for drug development. In the present study, the secondary metabolites of a mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Pseudopestal...

Diarrhea remains one of the most important health issues worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates, accounting for more than two million deaths annually. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is central to the management of diarrhea, and is sufficient to prevent complications due to dehydration in most patients while the disease runs its course....

Intracellular pathogens are mainly eliminated by cell-mediated immunity from phagocytic cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and monocytes. Tannin glycosides, 1-O-galloyl-6-O-luteoyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3-O-methylellagic acid 3'-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction (EF) of the methanol leaf extract of Phyll...

A new siderophore, serratiochelin D (1), was isolated from a soil-derived, non-pigmented strain of Serratia marcescens along with two previously reported siderophores, serratiochelins A and B. Siderophores were obtained after cultivating the bacterium in an iron-deficient medium, and the chemical structures were elucidated based on HPLC-UV, mass sp...

Endophytic fungi can inherently establish mutual relationships with host plants while also synthesizing similar and enhanced bioactive compounds as the host. The investigation of exploitable antibacterial and antioxidant bioactive compounds produced by fungal endophytes from selected medicinal plants was the focus of this study. Following standard...

Marine fungi have shown large chemo-diversity of unharnessed important secondary metabolites required for drug development. In this study, endophytic fungi Nigrospora species (5S3) was isolated from the fresh stem of Rhizophora racemosa from a mangrove forest in Lagos Nigeria and axenic colonies were fermented on sterile rice medium for 21 days. Th...

Bioactive compounds isolated from leaves of Acioa barteri are responsible for its antiinflammatory activity. The result of qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence flavonoids, alkaloids, Tannins, Resin, Saponins, Cardiac glycosides, Terpenoids, Steroids and Phenols. The result of anti-inflammatory activity testing...

Investigation of microorganisms for natural product is the new paradigm in drug discovery research. Microorganisms are obtained from different sources for this purpose, and plants are one of these sources. Endophytes usually present in the plant's cell walls have been confirmed to synthesize secondary metabolites similar or sometimes different from...

Background There is a constant search for biomaterials from natural products like plants for food and industrial applications. The work embodied in this report aimed at investigating the effects of microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction (MAE and SE) techniques on the functional physicochemical quality characteristics of Moringa oleifera seed oi...

In the science of drug discovery, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been applied to induce mutagenesis in fungi to provide possibilities for the stimulation or enhancement of fungal biosynthetic capabilities. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of UV radiation on the biosynthesis of antibacterial secondary metabolites in an endophytic...

Over the years, endophytic fungi have generated novel bioactive lead molecules for drug development. A detailed chemical investigation of ACL-4, an endophytic fungus previously isolated from Ageratum conyzoides, led to the isolation of eight low molecular weight bioactive secondary metabolites. The metabolites generated by the axenic fungus, when g...

In the science of drug discovery, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been applied to induce mutagenesis in fungi to provide possibilities for the stimulation or enhancement of fungal biosynthetic capabilities. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of UV radiation on the biosynthesis of antibacterial secondary metabolites in an endophytic...

Background: Endophyte phytochemicals have piqued interest in drug development programs due to their enormous potential for assisting in the discovery of novel biologically active compounds. Aim and objectives: The study was aimed to isolate, evaluate the antimicrobial properties and characterize the secondary metabolites of Curvularia lunata endoph...

Recent upsurge in mortality rate and long hospital stays in hospitals as a result of antimicrobial resistance caused by multidrug resistant bacteria is a huge burden to public health sector. Intensive search for more effective and newer agents to deal with these problems. Endophytes are a novel source of potentially useful medicinal compounds. Aim:...

The endophytic fungus, colletrotricum species, isolated from the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina was investigated for its chemical constituents and biological activity. The pure fungus was grown using solid fermentation on rice medium and the metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate. Further purification of the extract was carried out using vac...

Abstract Background:Endophytic fungi have continued to be a source of very inspiring and novel bioactive secondary metabolites. Our detailed chemical investigation of Cladosporium sp, a fungal endophyte isolated from the leaves of newbouldialaevis, led to the isolation of anthraquinone,citrinin and quinolactacinderivatives. Methods: Fresh leaves of...

The antimicrobial properties of secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus associated with the Nigerian plant Bryophyllum pinnatum were investigated in this study. Standard procedures were followed for fungal isolation and identification, as well as fermentation and extraction of fungal secondary metabolites. The...

Introduction: Fungal endophytes of medicinal plants origin are gaining increasing interest as sources of novel bioactive agents with therapeutic capacity. This study was designed to identify and evaluate secondary metabolites isolated from Fusarium equiseti; an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum for their antimicrobial pot...

Background : In Africa, Piliostigma thonningii is utilized traditionally for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, and various stomach complications. Purpose : The study's aim is the screening of the extract/fractions of P. thonningii for antioxidant activities and isolation of some of the components. Methods : The root bark was extracted with me...

Intracellular pathogens are mainly eliminated by cell-mediated immunity offered by phagocytic cells like neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes. Two tannin glycosides, 1-O-galloyl-6-O-luteoyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3-O-methylellagic acid 3'-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction (EF) of the methanol leaf extract...

Chemical analysis of the methanol extract of the root bark of Millettia aboensis led to the isolation of homopterocarpin (1), secundiflorol I (2), and maackain (3). The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on their MS and NMR spectra. The crude methanol root extract was screened for its cytotoxic activity on mouse lymphoma cell line...

Chemical analysis of the methanol extract of the root bark of Millettia aboensis led to the isolation of homopterocarpin (1), secundiflorol I (2), and maackain (3). The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on their MS and NMR spectra. The crude methanol root extract was screened for its cytotoxic activity on mouse lymphoma cell line...

Endophytic fungi remain an unexplored reservoir of chemical diversity, and have become the primary focus is several bio-prospecting programs. This study was carried out to detect the constituents and bioactivity of the secondary metabolites of an endophytic Lasiodiplodia theobromae associated with Musa paradisiaca. Following standard protocols, the...

Bioactive compounds of microbial origin remain the frontline for novel drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry. Endophytic fungi are gaining much attention as reservoirs of bioactive compounds with beneficial therapeutic activities. The present study is focused on evaluating the chemical compositions and antimicrobial activit...

Oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in the development and progression of many diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate the toxicity and antioxidant profiles of Diaphananthe bidens. Powdered leaves of D. bidens were extracted in methanol by cold maceration and fractionated into n-hexane, ethylacetate and butanol fractions. In...

Background: Various studies have been conducted to identify drug candidates to combat the virus, meanwhile some persons believe that consuming herbal medicines or medicinal plants that act as immunomodulators can prevent or even cure COVID-19. It was reported that about 85% of COVID-19 patients in China received combined treatment with Traditional...

Endophytes are symbiotic microorganisms that reside in the host plant, either intracellular or intercellularly. Phytochemicals of endophytes have generated significant interest in drug discovery programs due to their immense potential towards contributing to the elucidation of new biologically active molecules. Azadirachta indica is used traditiona...

Gnetum africanum(Gnatacae) is a ceremonial delicacy in many parts of Eastern Nigeria and the leaves are either eaten raw or are finely shredded and added to soup.The effect of cyclophosphamide (CP) administration on the liver biomarkers of albino rats and the possible protective role of G.africanum extract was studied. Thirty rats were randomly div...

Natural products from Nigerian plants are significant in the search for drug compounds, as they contribute new compounds with biological properties to the fight against resistant pathogens, hence the study. Fresh leaves of M. indica were prepared for fungal isolation, identification, fermentation, and secondary metabolites extraction. The extract,...

Endophytes possess several phytohormones and bioactive metabolites of medicinal importance and thus, continue to generate research interest as candidates in drug discovery programmes. This study was carried out to investigate the secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of Psidium guajava. Endophytic fungal isolation, fung...

The genus Psydrax is one of the ethno-medicinally important genera of the Rubiaceae family which has only received a limited scientific attention, despite coming from a pharmacologically and phytochemically important plant family. The genus has found applications in ethnomedical management of diabetes, stomach disorders, inflammations, cardiovascul...

Objective: Combretum bauchiense as claimed in folkloric medicine is used for treatment of infectious diseases, feverish condition and as a tonic. There is no documented scientific report on its biological activity as at the time of this research. This research work evaluates the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of extract and f...

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv) led to the isolation of two new caf-feic acid glycosides, Newboulasides A (1) and B (2). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D-, 2D-NMR and MS data. The extracts and fractions and the...

Natural products from Nigerian plants are significant in the search for drug compounds, as they contribute new compounds with biological properties to the fight against resistant pathogens, hence the study. Fresh leaves of M. indica were prepared for fungal isolation, identification, fermentation, and secondary metabolites extraction. The extract,...

Purpose: To evaluate the xenosiderophoric properties of siderophores produced by Serratia marcescens towards Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods: A non-pigmented strain of S. marcescens was isolated from soil after cultivation in iron-limited LB medium. The isolate was identified using both bioche...

Recently, there is biotechnological interest in secondary metabolites of endophytes since they have been shown to be capable of producing substances of pharmacological importance. Piliostigmathonningii is a tree whose parts are widely employed in Nigeria for diverse medicinal applications. The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical c...

Isoflavones and flavonoids in general found in fruits and vegetable act as natural antioxidants. This study was aimed at screening the isoflavone-rich fractions of Vitex doniana fruit extract for antioxidant activity using in vitro and in vivo models. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH fr...

Endophytic fungi have demonstrated a harmless relationship living within the internal tissues of several plant hosts and at the same time produce diverse important bioactive compounds having a wide range of pharmaceutical applicability. In this study, nine endophytic fungi, eight from Cassava leaf: Clg1, Clg2, Clr4, Clr5, Clr6, Clr7, Clr9 and one f...

Extremophilic fungi have received considerable attention recently as new promising sources of biologically active compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications. This study investigated the secondary metabolites of a marine-derived Penicillium ochrochloron isolated from underwater sea sand collected from the North Sea in St. Peter-Ording, Ger...

Poor compliance with conventional estrogen replacement therapy due to associated side effects has led to the need for alternative therapeutic intervention to mitigate the symptoms and diseases associated with menopause. This study investigated the estrogenic effect of root extract of M. aboensis (MA) as a potential plant derived alternative for hor...

Flavonoids are known for their wide biological activities, including antimicrobial activity. This study was aimed at investigating the antimicrobial potential of the flavonoid-rich fractions of Lawsonia inermis leaf extract. The ethylacetate fraction from the methanol extract of L. inermis leaves was subjected to Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC)...

Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) is a versatile plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of ailments and the claims of its efficacy are particularly remarkable in the treatment of infections and immuno-inflammatory disorders. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic stem bark extract and fractions...

Aim: The study aims to investigate high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC)-based chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic leaf extract and fractions of D. bidens. Study Design: The study is a laboratory-based research involving collection, identification and preparation, of plants, extraction, characterization and evalu...

The importance of the availability of good antioxidants for human health and the associated health challenges as a result of its deficiency calls for a search for newer bioactive compounds with the potentials to scavenge free radicals thus preventing oxidative stress. In this study, the antioxidant activities of some endophytic fungal extracts C...

Morinda lucida is of great demand in ethnomedicine for treating different kinds of sicknesses. This research work was directed towards validation of the immunostimulatory potentials of M. lucida in immunocompromised animal model as well as filling the gap in knowledge on the bioactive compounds responsible for this effect. The methanol leaf extr...

Despite the long standing traditional use of Millettia aboensis in the management of menopausal symptoms and diseases including osteoporosis, no scientific evidence has been reported on their osteoprotective effect. This study investigated the osteoprotective effect of phytoestrogen rich fraction (PERF) of M. aboensis root extract. Osteoporosis was...

Background Plant endophytic fungi have been recognized as an important and novel resource of natural bioactive products with potential application in different fields of life. Purpose The present work evaluated the antioxidant and immunosuppressive activities of the extracts of endophytic fungi isolated from Psidium guajava and Newbouldia laevis....

Piliostigma thonningii leaves are used in Nigeria folk medicine for the treatment and management of diverse ailments. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, polyphenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the crude extract and fractions with a view to validating its folkloric usage. While the phytochemical screening w...

Aim This study tries to prospect for new antimicrobial agents using some Nigerian plants Background: Antimicrobial compounds from fungi endophytes have shown great promise in mitigating the threats of resistant pathogens. Objective The study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial property of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from Ne...

Nanosilver-in-epoxy lining can serve as self-disinfecting coating in pharmaceutical packaging materials and surfaces. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using antioxidant-rich fractions of the methanolic extracts of Alchornea cordifolia. The concentration ratio of extract to silver nitrate was varied (from 2:1, 1:1 to 1:4) to obtain several batc...

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and antimalarial properties of secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of A. indica. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the potentials possessed by endophytic fungi of A. indica as sources of biologically active compounds with pharmaceutical im...

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv) led to the isolation of two new caffeic acid glycosides, Newboulasides A (1) and B (2). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D-, 2D-NMR and MS data. The extracts and fractions and the i...

Fungal endophytes of medicinal plants are gaining interest in the prospecting for biorelevant molecules due to their capacity to contribute novel compounds. This study was designed to identify and evaluate secondary metabolites of Daldinia eschscholtzii isolated from leaves of Musa paradisiaca for biorelevance. Plant leaves collection, fungal isola...

Endophytic fungi of selected Nigerian plants are important sources of bioactive products with enormous potentials for the discovery of new drug molecules for drug development. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the major causes of healthcare-associated bacterial infections, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. In this study, isolated endophy...

Phaseolus vulgaris is used in ethnomedicine for the management of overweight and cardiovascular disorders with claims of efficacy. This motivated this study in which the antihyperlipidemic activities of the extracts of P. vulgaris and its antioxidant activities were evaluated. Methanol/methylene chloride (1:1) extract was screened and further parti...

The morbidity and mortality rates from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are increasing, due to the development of drug-resistant strains. This study aimed to explore the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi of Garcinia kola for their antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa. The endophytic fungi associated with healthy leaves of G. kola...

Background M. aboensis has wide ethnopharmacological applications but very little has been done on the pharmacological basis for these indications. This study evaluated the antioxidant potentials of the leaf extracts of M. aboensis . Methods Total phenolic content of the extract and fractions was carried out using folin-ciocalteu method while in v...

Alchornea floribunda is an evergreen plant that grows up to 32 feet tall and belongs to the family of Euphorbiaceae. It is found mainly in African forest undergrowth. In Nigeria, its leaves, stems and roots are widely used in folkloric medicine to manage ailments and diseases. The pharmacological activity of A. floribunda depends mainly on the part...