European Journal of Medicinal Plants 31(10): 152-160, 2020; Article no.EJMP.58512 ISSN: 2231-0894, NLM ID: 101583475 Conservation of a Rare Medicinal Plant: A Case Study of Griffonia simplicifolia (Vahl ex DC) Baill Musibau Muyiwa Balogun1,2*, Muhali Olaide Jimoh3,2 and Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe2 1Lagos State Centre for Rural Development (CERUD), Itoikin-Epe Road, Igbodu, Epe Division, Lagos State, Nigeria. 2Department of Botany, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria. 3Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author MMB designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author MOJ managed the literature searches, analyzed the data obtainedin the study, edited and prepared the manuscript. Author OTO conceived, designed and supervised the experiment.All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/EJMP/2020/v31i1030291 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Francisco Cruz-Sosa, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico. (2) Prof. Marcello Iriti, University of Milan, Italy. Reviewers: (1) Subramanian Chandrodyam, University of Gondar, Ethiopia. (2) Hari Shankar Lal, Jharkhand Biodiversity Board, India. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/58512 Received 28 April 2020 Accepted 03 July 2020 Original Research Article Published 27 July 2020 ABSTRACT This study aimed at carrying out the vegetative propagation of Griffonia simplicifolia. This was achieved by growing nodal and stem cuttings of G. simplicifolia using two types of soils under varying environmental conditions including open area and humidity propagator. This revealed that terminal nodal stem cuttings showed the best growth forms in terms of shoot development as well as root development when subjected to open area and topsoil. However, when subjected to the humid propagator and river sand, the distal stem cuttings gave the best growth forms thereby promoting shoot and root development. Hence, it is concluded that the terminal nodes are the best parts to be used for the propagation of G. simplicifolia and the best growth medium is river sand. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that G. simplicifolia can be reproduced through macro propagation using stem cuttings and it can be seen as a basis for conservation and other breeding research on G. simplicifolia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Balogun et al.; EJMP, 31(10): 152-160, 2020; Article no.EJMP.58512 Keywords: Conservation; Griffonia simplicifolia; macro propagation; stem cutting; terminal nodes. 1. INTRODUCTION component of G. simplicifolia extract [11]. The 5- hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), an amino acid that Griffoniais a genus of flowering plant in the helps the body produce serotonin is a natural legume family Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub- relaxant and has been widely reported for some family Caesalpinioideae. There are four pharmacological activities including anti- members of the genus; G. physocarpa (Ball), G. depression, inhibition of obesity, anti-oxidation, speciosa (Benth.) Tanb, G. tessmannii (De wild) alleviation of insomnia and other biological Compere, G. simplicifolia(Vahl ex DC) Baill [1,2]. effects [4]. Serotonin is important in regulating G. simplicifoliais a woody climbing shrub native brain chemistry especially in countering problems to West Africa and Central Africa [3]. Kokou et such as depression, schizophrenia, insomnia and al., [1] stated further that G. simplicifoliaoccurs in eating disorders [12,13]. G. simplicifolia seeds thickets, usually associated with mounds of the also regulate appetite through the increase in termite Macrotermes spp. on plains, in forests, in serotonin, leading to weight reduction in obese secondary vegetation and on old farms. It is persons, while helping normalize the weight of evergreen, vigorous and has wide adaptability. people suffering from anorexia nervosa [14,15]. Theseed of the plant is being used in treating In West Africa, G. simplicifolia flowers from July fibromyalgia, chronic headaches, and of greatest till November. It occurs in grass savanna, in benefit in the treatment of psychiatric and coastal plains on termite mounds, in scrub neurological disorders where there is a thickets, secondary and disturbed forest and deficiency of neuro-serotonin receptors [12]. along the margins of primary forest. It grows to about 3 m and bears greenish flowers followed Lescar et al., [16] also noted in their investigation by black pods (4). The plant produces fair on the plant that the seeds from the African quantities of highly palatable herbage of good legume shrub contain several lectins. Among nutritive value and fair qualities of large, viable them, Tetrameric lectin GSI-B (4) has a strict seeds [4,5]. Pods ripen from August onwards. specificity for terminal alpha-Gal residues, Leaves alternate, simple, glabrous; stipules whereas the closely related lectin GSI-A(4) can triangular, 1mm long, petiole up to 1.5 m long, also bind to alpha GalNAc. These two lectins are blade ovate, 6-12 m x 3-6 cm, based round to commonly used as markers in histology or for short, acuminate, 3(-5)- veined from the base, research in Xenotransplantation. Lectin reticulate veins prominent on both sides. The component of G. simplicifolia seeds and leaves is inflorescence is an auxiliary, pyramidal raceme somewhat resistant to proteolysis. Despite the 5-20 cm long, bracts and bracteoles triangular, aforementioned, currently, no evidence exists as very small, and persistent, developing into an to whether or not these lectins pose a concern to oblique-cylindrical fruit. Seedling is with epigeal a person with celiac diseases [14,17,18]. Benton germination [3,6]. et al., [19] and Zhu et al., [20] also reported that The plant has been reputed as an important G. simplicifolia contains an N-acetylglucosamine- African medicinal shrub with potent anti- specific legume lectin that has insecticidal activity depressant and healing properties. While every when fed to the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus part of the plant is used in native healing systems maculates (F.). These results support the of the region, western use has focused on the hypothesis that legume lectins are encoded by high content of a serotonin precursor and genes that function in plant defence against management of sickle cell anaemia [7]. Other herbivores [20]. traditional uses of the plant include; healing of infected skin lesions (topical leaf and bark Earlier reports suggest that much research decoction), purgative for constipation (oral stem studies have been carried out on the root, leaf, and leaf decoction), treatment of eye pod and seed of the plant. However, there is a inflammation (topical drops from leaf sap) and as dearth of information on its propagation for an aphrodisiac [8,9]. Carnevale et al., [3] and commercial cultivation. Protobase record of the Meybeck, [10] also stated that a decoction of the plant informed that propagation by seed gave stems and leaves is also used to stop vomiting poor results and different seed treatments did not and to treat congestion of the pelvis. improve germination, although fungicide treatment of the seed appeared beneficial for The modern phytochemistry study found that 5- establishment. Aubreville, [6] stated that the use hydroxytryptophan is the main bioactive of stem cuttings has not been successful and 153 Balogun et al.; EJMP, 31(10): 152-160, 2020; Article no.EJMP.58512 there are no indications that G. simplicifolia is was observed underneath the polythene covering currently being cultivated. Furthermore, of each of the chambers. Amujoyegbe et al., [21] and Işik, [22] noted that rare and endemic medicinal plant species with a 2.3 Preparation of Tags much-localized distribution are a particular problem and the need for conserving them Pieces of white plastic tags were cut into 20 cm cannot be over-emphasized. G. simplicifolia is lengths and used as the label for identifying each endemic in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Lome, pot. The corresponding treatment combinations Cameroon and Nigeria. Available literature were inscribed on the tag. shows that much work has not been carried out on the plant in Nigeria especially as it concerns 2.4 Preparation of Soil Media its conservation. The plant has limited distribution and it is a rare plant species, with the dearth of Before the start of the study, the soil samples information on its conservation. This research, were tested for nutrient availability. Three soil therefore, aims at generating information on samples were taken for laboratory analysis; vegetative propagation of G. simplicifolia, to topsoil, river sand and soil from the base of the develop quality planting materials, standard mature plant stand. The soil samples were taken techniques and cultivation practices necessary separately to the Chemistry Laboratory for its production. Also, this study focuses on University of Lagos, Akoka for analysis. About 5 determining the best soil medium for the crop kg of wet river sand (washed with sterilized and to monitor the plant for some growth water) was measured on a labelled, clean, dry parameters which include, shoot development, black poly-pot. These were repeated for the leaf formation and rooting. remaining poly pots, and same weight for the topsoil medium. A