Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, PMB 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: Sunday Arowosegbe, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B, 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. E-mail: Sunday.arowosegbe@eksu.edu.ng
Online published on 25 December, 2018.
The importance of medicinal plants in the healthcare delivery of man cannot be overemphasized. Enhancing optimum production and improving the performances of these plants both quantitatively and qualitatively is therefore, very important. The growth and Secondary metabolites (phytochemical) composition of an important medicinal plant-Senna alata was investigated under different organic manures in pot-experiments conducted in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Organic manures namely; goat manure (GM), poultry manure (PM) andcow dung (CD) were applied to the plant at the rate of 100, 150 and 200g per 5 kg of soil. The results of the experiments revealed that application of these manures, most especially GM improved the number of leaves per plant, leaf area, stem girth, root and shoot wet weights and shoot dry weight of S. alata. Interestingly, application of CD, GM and PM also lead to an increase in the total phenol, tannin and flavonoid contents of this plant. It could therefore be concluded that, growth and medicinal potential of S. alata could be enhanced through the application of organic manures.
Senna alata, organic manure, growth, secondary metabolites, medicinal potential
