PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTI MICROBIAL SCREENING OF SEED AND COAT OF CITRUS SINENSIS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The Citrus sinensis popularly known as sweet orange seed in Igbo of Nigeria is of the Rutaceaefamily. The seed is best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe after thoroughly rinsing it, sow stored seed in March in a greenhouse, germination usually takes place within 2-3 weeks at 130C. seedlings are liable to damp off so they must be watered with care and kept well ventilated. Citrus sinensis
Contains a wide range of active ingredients and research is still underway in finding uses for them. They are rich in vitamin c, flavonoids, acids and volatile oils. They also contain coumarins such as bergapten which sensitizes the skin to sunlight. Bergapten is sometimes added to tanning preparations since it promotes pigmentation in the skin, though it can cause dermatitis or allergy responses in some people. Some of the plants more recent applications are as sources of anti-oxidants and chemical exfoliants in spercified cosmetics. The fruit is an appetizer and blood purifier, it is used to allay thirst in people with fever and also treat catarrh. The fruit juice is useful in treatment of bilious infections and bilious diarrhea. The fruit rind is caminative and tonic cure for acne. The dried peel is used in the treatment of anorexia, cold cough
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
To screen the coat and seed of Citrus sinensis for the presence of phyhtochemicals of interest
To determine the antifungal/antibacterial activities of the seed and coat of Citrus sinensis
LITERATURE REVIEW
- SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM: PLANTAE
(Unranked) Angiosperm
(Unranked) Eudicot
(Unranked)Â Rosids
Order Sapindales
Family Rutaceae
Genus Citrus
Species C. xsinensis
Bionomial na,e Citrus Sinensis
The research into phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of active compounds from natural source has always been of great interest for scientists looking for new sources of useful drugs against infection and diseases [1].
Plants are indispensable sources of medicinal importance used in both western type pharmaceutical products and local medicinal preparations. The traditional use of plants materials for treatment of human ailment dates back to prehistoric times [2] according to the world health organizations 80% of the world population relies on traditional medicines to meet their daily health requirements[3]. However, from the estimated 250 000 species of higher plants described to date, only 5-15% have been studied for their potential therapeutic value[4].
Ethiopia is a tropical country with a high floral diversity and endermism[5]. According to [6], there are about 700 species of higher plants of which 12% are endemic, more than 80% of the Ethiopian population depends on traditional remedies[7] the nation wide use of plants as a sole source of traditional medicine provides promising opportunities for the search of ethnobotanical specimens based on traditional knowledge.
Several researchers have studied the ethnobotanical [8] phytochemical[9] and antimicrobial activities[10] of a variety of medicinal plants.
