Abstract:
A survey research was conducted on Cryplolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schtr., an
antimalarial plant species harvested from three sampling sites, namely, Pepease, Mamfe
and Abonse all in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The research was to determine
intraspecific variation within the species, using a secondary chemical constituent, that is,
the total alkaloid content, morphological and anatomical characters, as well as some
edaphic factors. The study also, investigated the seasonal variations in the levels of the
total alkaloid content, soil nutrients and the micro- and macro-elements in the soils
obtained from the sampling sites. The soil samples were analysed for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Sb,
Th. U. V and Zn using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (lNAA) coupled with
conventional counting system. Comparative studies were also performed using the total
alkaloid content. anatomical characters, morphological characters, topsoil characteristics
as Nell as soil and toxic/trace elements to assess the degree of relationship or
resemblance within the stated variables. Statistically, a series of linear models (SPSS
10.0. Minitab 13 .32 and MStats for WINDOWS, Version 6.1) was fitted to the dataset to
determine whether variations do exist. Results showed that: a) Topsoil characteristics
including soil pH were significantly different in the locations. b) The enrichment index
values computed for the soils indicate that the soils were not enriched with toxic elements
with the enrichment index values decreasing in the order of Pepease > Abonse > Mamfe.
c). Phytochemical screening of the plant confirmed the presence of alkaloids in the root,
stem and leaf. d) Soi l pH, soil nutrients, enrichment index -of the soils and environmental
factors really influenced the levels of alkaloid contents in the organs of the plant species.
e) The alkaloid contents of the plant organs were significantly different from one another.
I) The total alkaloid content of the leaf was higher than that of the root and stem, and
there were seasonal variations of the total alkaloid content in all the three locations; g)
Morphological characters were more variable than histological characters and the total
alkaloid content. h) Two phenetic groupings were identified based on the morphological
characters, histological characters and the total alkaloid content. Within the locations, the
total alkaloid content obtained from Abonse showed a closer association or resemblance
to that of Pepease in terms of the root and stem organs. The resemblance of the locations
vvas much protound between Pepease and Abonse at a rescaled distance of about 2,
Mamfe showed a loose association at even a rescaled distance of20. An exceptional case
was encountered of the leaf total alkaloid content where the degree of association or
resemblance was much stronger between Pepease and Mamfe with Abonse loosely
associated at a rescaled of 20.
