Thesis (Msc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Bioengineering Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 39-43)

ABSTRACT
Nerium oleander has been used by traditional herbalist to treat many diseases in
African traditional medicine. There is a widespread anxiety about the scourge of
diseases caused by excessive free radicals in the body and lack of standardization of
medicinal herbal products. Therefore, this research is aimed at evaluating the chemical
and antioxidant activity of Nerium oleander Leaves extracts. The powdered Leaves
was evaluated for its biological profiles and then extracted successively by maceration
method using water. The extracts obtained was concentrated using rotary evaporator
and the percentage yields of the extracts were determined. Phytochemical constituents
of both qualitatively and quantitatively using standard protocols were done. Elemental
analysis of Synthesized Nanoparticles (AgNp) was carried out using SEM, XRD and
Zeta size machine. The plant’s identity has been established to be Nerium oleander.
The qualitative phytochemical analysis shows that saponin, tannins, flavonoids,
Steroids, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids are present, while alkaloids and
anthraquinone are absent. This indicates that the antibacterial activity demonstrated is
concentration dependent. The tested multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria were
susceptible to the potential antibacterial action of the produced AgNPs. In order to
clean waste water in the community and stop the spread of water related diseases, these
AgNPs could potentially be a source for the creation of extremely effective
antimicrobial coatings.
Keywords: Nerium oleander; Phytochemicals; SEM; Waste-Water; XRD,