Author Guidelines

Authors’ Guidelines

Authors are expected to report results of original research not published elsewhere. The language of communication must be English. Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word with 1.5 line spacing using Times New Roman font type and font size 12. Margin of 25 mm (1 inch) should be used on all the sides of the paper. Prospective authors are advised to adhere strictly to the guide while submitting their manuscripts.

Manuscripts should contain the following sub-headings:

• Title(Not more than 20 words, cconcise and informative).
• Authors’ Full Names: The Corresponding Author’s and co-author(s) E-mail Addresses and Phone Numbers (WhatsApp) are required.
• Abstract (Not exceeding 300 words, single line spacing, and should consist of Background, Objectives, Materials and Methods, Results, Conclusions.
• Keywords (Six keywords or phrases in alphabetical order, separated by commas and not italicized. Note that apart from Abstractand Keywords all other sub-headings should be in double column, with the gutter (space between columns) being approximately 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) wide.
• Introduction: Stating the significance of the work, with adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey.
• Materials and Methods: Provide sufficient details to allow the work to be reproduced by an independent researcher. Methods that are already published should be summarized, and indicated by a reference. All equations must be written using Equation Editor.
• Results and Discussion: These should be presented concisely, with Tables or Figures for clarity. Tables, graphs and figures should be placed at their relevant section in the body of the work with appropriate legends and captions. All figures must be of high printing quality.
• Conclusion:The conclusion section should be brief and come at the end of the article.
• Acknowledgement: Acknowledgement should be brief and concise.
• References: In-text, references should be cited using the IEEE format. References should be cited by consecutive numbers in square brackets; not by names of authors and year of publication. The actual authors can be referred to, but the reference number(s) must always be given.

Example:

1. '..... as demonstrated [3,6]. Barnaby and Jones [8] obtained a different result ....'

Citations should appear here in the format:

Journal Article:

    - Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Vol(Issue), pp. Page Numbers.

2. Book:

    - Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.

3. Website:

    - Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of webpage. Retrieved from https://www.url.com/

4. Thesis:

    - Author, A. A. (Year). Title of thesis (Master's thesis or Doctoral dissertation). University Name.

• Plagiarism Check: Authors are to ensure that manuscripts ready for submission do not exceed 20% when assessed with the turn-it-in plagiarism software.

The Appendix I below is a sample, to guide in having manuscripts for submission to ChemClass Journal according to the authors’ guidelines.

• Paper Submission email: journalchemclass@gmail.com

Processing Fees: Each article must be accompanied by a processing fee of five thousand naira only (N5,000), while publication fee of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) is required after a successful peer review process.

Bank Account Name: CSN Zaria Chapter   Account Number: 2005338524   Banker: First Bank of Nig. Plc

Foreign Authors are to pay processing and publication fees of 100 USD after a successful peer review process into the domiciliary account below.

Bank Account Name: Omoniyi Kehinde Israel   Account Number: 0017276914   

Banker: Stanbic IBTC Bank

Appendix I is a sample of an article published in ChemClass Journal for further clarity.

Peer Review process

Articles submitted to ChemClass Journal will be subjected to double-blind review system.

Appendix I

A Survey of the Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Some Medicinal Plants

* A.O. Oyewale, O.T. Audu and J. O. Amupitan

Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author: 08022408198; oyewaleao@yahoo.co.uk

O.T. Audu: 08034762345; otaudu@yahoo.com

1. O. Amupitan: 08032458719; amupitan2003@yahoo.com

Abstract

Eight medicinal plants commonly found in Nigerian were investigated for their secondary metabolites and biological activities. The plants are Mitracarpus scaberZucc., Jatropha curcas, Citrus paradisi Macf., Stachytapheta angustifolia,  Alchornea cordifolia Schum and Thonn.,  Nauclea latifolia SM. Erythrina senegalensis DC and Viscum album Linn. They were extracted with various solvents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, saponins, tanins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Extracts of these plants showed various level of activity against Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albican, Pseudomona aeruginosae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Keywords: Secondary metabolites, Phytochemical screening, solvents, activity

Introduction

Plants contain a large number of constituents and are valuable sources of new and biologically active compounds [1]. Bioactive compounds from a variety of natural sources have been proposed to be useful for treating a number of human maladies [2]. The isolation, characterization, study of structure-activity relationship and synthesis of bioactive compound begin with the general screening of plants to pick those with bioactivity against organisms.

The chemical constituents and biological activities of eight plants growing in Kaduna State of Nigeria, claimed by folklore to be medicinal will be investigated. The objective is to get candidate plants for isolation of bioactive compounds which can be used for chemotherapy. The biological activity of these plants will be determined by screening their extracts against six microorganisms.

Materials and Methods

Plant material: Alchornea cordifoliua Schum and Thonn was collected from Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Mitracarpus scaberZucc., Jatropha curcas, Citrus paradisi Macf., Stachytapheta angustifolia, Nauclea latifolia SM., Erythrina senegalensis DC and Viscum album Linn were collected from Sabon  Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna

State. They were properly identified at the Herbarium of Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. A voucher specimen of each sample was deposited in the Herbarium for filing. The plant material were air dried and pulverized.

Extraction: 100g of each plant material were successively extracted using the soxhlet extractor with petroleum spirit 60-80⁰C (PS), chloroform (C), ethyl acetate (EA) and methanol (M); and separately extracted with water (W). The extracts were evaporated to dryness on a rotavapour at 40⁰C.

Phytochemical screening

• Alkaloid - small quantity of each extract washeated in 50ml 1% dilute hydrochloric acid on a steam bath and filtered. The filterate was made alkaline with 28% ammonia solution (pH 10) and then extracted with chloroform (3x5 ml). Combined chloroform extracts were concentrated in vacuo and then treated with equal volume of 1% hydrochloric acid. This was then divided into two equal portions and each was respectively treated with few drops of Mayer’s and a drop of Wager’s reagents [5, 6].
• Saponin - The methods described by Wall et al 1952, 1954 and blood haemolysis test were adopted [5,6].
• Anthraquinone - Borntragers test was used [5,6].
• Tannins - Small quantities of each extract weredissolved in water (10ml), boiled and filtered. To the filterate was added few drops of 1% iron (III) chloride solution.
• Cardiac glycoside - the following tests wereemployed (i) Legal (ii) Keller-Kiliani (iii) Lieberman Burchardt   (iv) Salkowski  [5,6].
• Flavonoid - Ferric chloride and sodium hydroxide tests described by Trease and Evans [5] were adopted.

Antimicrobial Test: The diffusion method was used [3, 4].

Standard strain of Staphylococcus aereus ATCC 13709, Candida albican ATCC 10231, Salmonella typhi ATTC 9184, Escherichia coli NCTC 10418, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 6750 and Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 10031 were obtained from Department of Medical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

All cultures were checked for purity and maintained in nutrient agar slants. Solution concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05g/ml were prepared for each extract using the pure extracting solvent of each extract. The solutions were used for the measurement of the antimicrobial activities of the extract by the paper disc method of the agar diffusion technique. Blood agar was used as growth medium for the microorganism. 40.5g of the agar was dissolved in a litre of distilled water in a flask capped with cotton wool and boiled to dissolve the medium. This was sterilized at 121⁰C for 15min. It was allowed to cool. 20ml of sterilized medium was poured into sterilized petridishes covered, allowed to cool and to solidify. The plates were incubated at 37⁰C for 24hours, after which they were inspected for the zone of inhibition of growth. The zones were measured and recorded in millimeters.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 shows the plants general characteristics and

the result of phytochemical tests. Essentially all the plants contain tannins, which are known to have antiviral, anti-tumor and antidiarrhoeal properties [7, 8]. The plants also contain alkaloids except for Viscum album. Typical alkaloids are known to have marked physiological activities on man and other animals; and several drugs currently in use are from alkaloidal plants or synthetic analogue of alkaloids e.g. narcotic analgesic (morphine), anti-malarial cinchona alkaloids (quinine). They are useful as respiratory stimulants, insecticides, skeletal muscle relaxant and analgesics [9].  Glycosides are also

present in several of the plants extracts.  They are acetates formed by the combination of one or more sugar units with non-sugar components through oxide ring.  Cardiac glycosides are known to act directly on the heart muscles and therefore useful for the treatment of failing heart disorder and has beneficial effects on cardiac arxhythmias. Another class of compounds present in the plants are flavonoids, some plants were seeded with  the

test organisms. The spread plate technique was used and then left for an hour to dry. Filter papers were cut into small discs and sterilized at 100⁰C for 30min. These sterilized discs were soaked in the solution of the extract and were allowed to dry. The dried discs were then planted on the blood agar medium seeded with the test organisms. The of which are known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects and anti-thrombic properties for inhibition of tumour promotion, as well as protection for gastric mucosa.  Some saponins are reported to be effective in the treatment of syphilis, rheumatism, skin diseases, ulcers and septic wounds [5].  

The presence of aloes in J. curcas lends credence to its use as a strong purgative [6].

Table 2 presents the results of the microbial screening of the plants extract on six microbes.  C. albican is the causative agent of candidiasis, vaginitis and oral thrush.  K. pneumonia is responsible for about 2% bacterial pneumonia and urinary infection or enteritis. P. aeruginosae is known to have secondary effect on the body as it affects wounds or skin burn thereby expanding the affected area.  S. typhi is an exclusively human pathogen which produced generalized illness of long duration in which septicaemic symptom predominates over intestinal symptom e.g. typhoid fever.  E. coli is known as the causative agent of various gastrointestinal disorder.  S. aureus causes skin problems of various kind e.g. boils, pus, venereal discharge.

As enumerated in Table 2, the appropriate solvent extracts of A. cordifoliua; N. latifolia; M. scaber; J. curcas; S. angustifolia and V. album would be effective for various wound infections and skin problems caused by S. aureus, C. albican and P. aeruginosae.  While gastric and vaginal or urinary infections caused by K. pneumonia, E. coli and C. albican could be treated with the appropriate extracts of A. cordifoliua; C. paradisi and S. angustifolia.  The extracts of A. cordifoliua; C. paradisi, S. angustifolia and V. album could also be effective against typhoid fever since they inhibit the growth of S. typhi.  Some of these observations lend some credence to the traditional uses of the plants, for example M. scaber is said to be effective in the cure of skin diseases particularly caused by S. aureus [10].

Conclusion

The result of this investigation indicates the presence of bioactive compounds in these plants extracts, which could be effective against the common pathogens responsible for several human maladies. They are therefore potential candidate plants for isolation of bioactive compounds, which can be used for chemotherapy.

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the Department of Chemistry Ahmadu Bello University, for making facilities available for this investigation and the following undergraduate students for their contribution to this work. A, Adekoyo, C. Ejike and Q. Ajuma.

References

1. Hostettmann, (1998). Strategy for the Biological and Chemical Evaluation of Plant Extracts, Pure Application., 70, No. 11.
2. Hamburger, M. and Hostettmann, K. (1991). Bioactivity in Plants: The Link Between Photochemistry and Medicine, Phytochemistry, 30: 3864-3874.
3. Ericson, H.C., Tunerall, G and Wickman, K. (1960). The Paper Disc method for Determination of Bacterial Sensitivity to Antibiotic, Scand, J. Chem. Lab. Invest.12: 414.
4. Baver, A.W. Kilby, N.M.M., Sherris, J.C. and Turck, M., (1996), Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by a Standard Single Disc Method. Amer, J. Clinical Path., 45: 493-496.