The methanolic crude extracts of some commonly used medicinal plants were screened for their free radical scavenging properties using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The overall antioxidant activity of green tea Camellia sinensis, was the strongest, followed in descending order by Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) (Salvia officinalis L.) Showed less free radical scavenging activity with the DPPH method. All the methanolic extracts exhibited antioxidant activity significantly. The IC50 of the methanolic extracts ranged between 7.4 ± 0.1 and 14.9 ± 0.2 µg/ml and that of ascorbic acid was 9.8 ± 1 µg/ml. The study reveals that the consumption of these spices would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity.

The phenology, morphology and biomass production of six velvet bean (M. melanocarpa) accession were evaluated at Bambasi Medicinal Plants Field Gen Banks. The time from seeding to first floral buds ranged from 83-135 days, to first blooms 109-149 days, and to first pods 109-160 days. The six accessions initiated blooming in a certain order, which could be described by calendar days. Five accessions had an indeterminate flowering habit, while one was determinate. Accession number DM00102, DM00103 and DM00105 produced the most biomass and accession DM00101 the least. The petiole constitutes 14% to 23% of total leaf weight. Leaf weight at bloom accounted for 81% of above-ground plant weight in indeterminate accessions, and 69% in determinate accessions. The period from first bloom to first pods spanned 8 weeks. Differences in velvet bean growth habits may be used to stag per planting dates of other crops. Growers may implement a strategy of “one time planting” of several velvet bean lines of various maturation rates each on a fraction of their acreage.