Chemical Substances and in-Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity of Ageratum Conyzoides in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice

Malaria afflicts millions of people globally, particularly in tropical Africa; it is transmitted to humans through a bite of an Anopheles mosquito. Phytochemical, acute toxicity and in-vivo antiplasmodial activity of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides were examined to study its effects on Mice that have been infected with the malaria parasite. Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and chromene. The LD50 was established at ˃ 1000 mg/kg body weight of mice. The methanol extract of A. conyzoides displayed intrinsic prophylactic and curative anti-malaria activity. At 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight of mice, the extract revealed the highest percentage inhibition (83 and 61) for the prophylactic and curative study respectively. The acute toxicity study showed that A. conyzoides extract is relatively safe within the study administered doses. The methanol extract of the prophylactic study against Plasmodium berghei revealed an increase in the level of significance at administered portions of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in comparison with 0.2 ml distilled water and 10 mg/kg chloroquine. The methanol extract of the therapeutic study against Plasmodium berghei revealed a slight increase in the level of significance at administered doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, however, no significant effect was observed for 400 mg/kg compared to the negative control and reference drug. The outcome implies that methanol leave extract of A. conyzoides possesses meaningful antiplasmodial activities and could be a promising source of novel antimalarial.Keywords: Malaria, Ageratum conyzoides, phytochemical screening, acute toxicity, Plasmodium berghe

Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Stem Bark of Yellow Flamboyant (Peltophorum pterocarpum)

Peltophorum pterocarpum (family; Fabaceae) is an evergreen perennial crop grown in tropical gardens. Different parts of this tree are being used for the management of many diseases. This study investigated the acute toxicity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of n-hexane extract of P. pterocarpum stem bark. Acute oral toxicity of n-hexane extract of P. pterocarpum stem bark was investigated using standard method. Analgesic activity was investigated by using acetic acid-induced writhing model, using indomethacin as a reference drug. Antiinflammatory activity of n-hexane extract of P. pterocarpum stem bark was investigated by using formalin-induced paw licking model, using aspirin as standard drug. In the acute toxicity study, mortality was observed at 500 and 2500 mg/kg body weight. In the acetic acid induced writhing test, the n-hexane extract of P. pterocarpum (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) showed a significant reduction in the number of writhing with 55.5 % and 60 % of inhibition respectively. In formalin-induced rat paw oedema test for acute inflammation, the n-hexane extract of P. pterocarpum in 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight showed 26.00 %, 27.89 % and 32.27 % inhibition of oedema respectively after 4hours, which is comparable to that of standard drug-aspirin (33.59 %). These results validated that the extract of P. pterocarpum possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.Keywords: Peltophorum pterocarpum, acute toxicity, analgesic activity, anti-inflammatory activit

Anti-haemolytic, anti-anaemic and biosafety examination of combined Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas leaves extract

Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas leaves have traditionally been reported as haematinic and blood boosting agents. This study investigated the effect of polyherbal (Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas; 1:1) aqueous leaves extract in chloramphenicol induced haemolysis and biosafety. The plant leaves were collected and extracted by cold maceration with water. The anti-haemolytic and anti-anaemic properties of the leaves were studied using astymine (10 mg/kg, orally) as standard and graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally) of the extracts. Results from this study revealed anincrease in the myelo/erythroid ratio, triggered by the polyherbal extracts on the bone marrow cells. Normal morphology of red blood cells was maintained in the treated groups. A significant difference, at p<0.05, existed in the RBC, RDW, HBG and PLT (6.61±0.45, 21.53±2.23, 13.93±1.08 and 36.10±9.22, respectively) when compared with control groups (6.45±0.10, 15.63±0.96, 13.30±0.26 and 25.47±4.55 respectively). Biosafety analysis from the histological study show that the combined extracts exhibited no adverse effects on the various organs. These findings thus justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the plants’ leaves, in the management of anaemia.Keywords: Telfairia occidentalis, Ipomoea batatas, anti-haemolytic, anti-anaemic, AstymineJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 16 No.4 (2019

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of Picralima nitida Stem Bark Extracts

Picralima nitida has varied applications in West African traditional medicine. The stem bark of the plant was  successively extracted with n-hexane and chloroform using cold extraction techniques. The phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of P. nitida extracts were determined using established methods. Chemical composition of the n-hexane extract was determined by GC-MS. The phytochemical screening of the n-hexane and chloroform extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, eugenols, terpenoids, reducing sugars and proteins. The GC-MS of the n-hexane extract of P. nitida stem bark revealed the presence of 54 compounds, representing 100% of the total identified components. The major components detected were found to be dodecanoic acid (lauric acid)(18.34%), 9 octadecanoic acid (Stearic acid) (7.49%) , n-hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) (5.95%) while among the minor component were phytol (1.73%) and 5cholesten-3-Beta, 2,6-dioic-16-one (0.36%). The result of the antimicrobial activity revealed that the n-hexane extract exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli while the chloroform extract exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The activity of the extracts against the fungi isolates were found to insignificant at all test concentrations. The MIC value for of n-hexane was found to be 150 and125mg/ml for S. aureus and E. coli respectively while that of chloroform extract was found to be 125 and 125mg/ml for S. aureus and E. coli respectively. This study has shown that the n-hexane extract was more active against the Gram negative bacteria while the chloroform extract was more active against the Gram-positive bacteria .This investigation therefore revealed that the stem bark extracts possess some antimicrobial properties and could be a promising source of novel drugs

Physico-Chemical Properties, Chemical Composition, Biodiesel Production and Antibacterial Potential of Terminalia catapaSeed Oil

Terminalia catapa (Almonds) are highly nutritional powerhouses full of healthy fats, fibres, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. Its usefulness includes food and for the production of some other desirable necessities to man. The aim of this study was to extract, characterize, determine the chemical constituents and investigate the antimicrobial potential of oil from almond seed, as well as biodiesel production. All analyses were done using established methods. The result obtained showed the proximate composition with moisture content (20.00%), crude fat (20.60%,) protein (25.60%,),carbohydrate (25.60%,), ash (4.80%) and crude fibre (3.40%). The physicochemical properties of the T. catapppa seed oil were moisture (0.20%), specific gravity (0.90g/cm3), viscosity at 40oC (27.50 mPa.s), cloud point (15.00oC), pour point (11.00oC), smoke point (170.00oC), flash point (203.00oC), fire point (265.00oC), acid value (2.94 mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (FFA) (1.74 mgKOH/g), saponification value (326.08 mgKOH/g), Iodine value (131.37 gI2/100g) and Peroxide value (3.81meq/kg). The biodiesel produced had a percentage yield of 36.9% with the physicochemical properties including specific gravity (0.89g/cm3), viscosity at 40oC (5.8 mPa.s), cloud point (7.0oC), pour point (6.0oC), smoke point (161.0oC), flash point (215.0oC), fire point (186.0oC), acid value (0.76 mgKOH/g), FFA (0.38 mgKOH/g), saponification value (313.45 mgKOH/g), Iodine value (54.56 gI2/100g) and Peroxide value (4meq/kg). A total of 21 compounds were identified from the T. catapa seed oil by the GC-MS, with the major constituents being fatty acids; n-Hexadecanoic acid (17.96%), Oleic acid (22.42%) and 2,9-octadecadienoic acid (22.82%)by composition. The oil also demonstrated a good antibacterial potential at all concentrations (50, 75, 100 and 125 mg/mL) against all tested isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus sp). The results obtained revealed that the oil from almond seed may possibly find its useful application in the cosmetic industry, and could also be a promising source of renewable energy