Allelopathic Activity of the Essential Oils of Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Since many plant-derived substances which possess antibiotic activity also often possess additional bioactivities, we have investigated the allelopathic potential of extracts and essential oils of three plants commonly used in Nigerian folk medicine. Examined were Eugenia uniflora. Piper guineense, and Chromolaena odorata. Of these, C. odorata appears to be allelopathically inactive as measured by lettuce seedling bioassay, E. uniflora appears to be growth stimulatory, and P. guineense is growth inhibitory at concentrations above 400 ppm according to this same bioassay.