Abstract:
Pangolin and Alligator have been of great medicinal values to traditional practitioners in certain
African countries. Pangolin and Alligator integuments were extracted and extracts were subjected
to chemical investigation which includes: proximate analysis, chemical analysis, antimicrobial
screening, seedling growth test, mineral analysis and adsorption studies. Proximate analysis of the
integuments using (A.O.A.C) official method of analysis of the association of analytical chemist
gave percentage ash content to be 9.75±0.05 and 0.55±0.05, percentage moisture content
9.90±0.10 and 10.05±0.05, percentage fibre content-0.93±0.06 and 1.45±0.05, percentage crude
fat content 9.25±0.05 and 6.50±0.10, percentage crude protein content-51.20±0.40 and 38.00±0.20
and carbohydrate by difference-18.97±0.26 and 43.45±0.35 for Alligator and Pangolin
integuments respectively. The chemical screening of pangolin integument showed the presence of
saponins and flavonoids, while tannins, steroids, terpenoids and alkaloids were absent, these
chemicals were not detected in alligator integument. The antimicrobial analysis showed a low
potency of the extract against the test organisms which were (Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, E.
Coli, S Aureus, P Syringine, B Cereus and B. Sustilis). Seed germination result of the extract using
tomatoes and maize seed revealed that at four days, there was no germination of tomatoes seed
treated with alligator extract while tomatoes treated with pangolin extract and maize seed treated
with pangolin and alligator extracts germinated. Seedling growth test showed maximum growth
inhibition at 10% extract concentration revealing that increase in concentration results to increase
in growth inhibition. The anti-oxidant assay revealed that alligator and pangolin extract contains
phenol at 0.08 mg/l and 0.06 mg/l, flavonoid at 0.16 mg/l and 0.02 mg/l and DPPH-68.57% and
50.16% respectively. The mineral analysis showed the presence of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu
and Ni at different values except for Pb that was not detected. The adsorption studies revealed that
it is a good adsorbent for copper(II)ion in aqueous medium.
