Evaluation of anticonvulsant properties of ethanol stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata (Ochnaceae) in mice and chicks

Decoction of Lophira lanceolata known in Hausa as Namijin Kadanya has been used by many communities in northern Nigeria for the treatment of various ailments, commonest of which is epilepsy. The current study is aimed at evaluating the claim of this medicinal plant part by herbalist for the treatment of epilepsy. A preliminary phytochemical screening was performed on the stem bark extract after which intraperitoneal LD50 was determined in mice. Anticonvulsant screening was carried out using Maximal electroshock Test (MEST) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in one day old chicks and mice respectively. Flavonoids, saponins, tannins and glycosides were found to be present. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was found to be 1131.31 mg/kg. There was no significant prolongation in the latency of seizures or protection in both the MEST and PTZ model. Conversely, a significant (p.0.05) delay in the mean onset of seizures was recorded with standard drugs, sodium valproate (200 mg/kg) and phenytoin (40 mg/kg) in PTZ and MEST respectively. The findings of this study revealed that the stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata at the doses tested do not contain any bioactive constituents that is useful in the management of epilepsy.Key words: Epilepsy, maximal electroshock, pentylenetetrazole, Lophira lanceolat

Anti-Diarrheal Activity Of The Leaf Extracts Of Daniellia oliveri Hutch And Dalz (Fabaceae) And Ficus sycomorus Miq (Moraceae)

The leaves of the plants Daniellia oliveri (Fabaceae) and Ficus sycomorus (Moraceae) used in diarrhea treatment in Hausa ethnomedicine of Northern Nigeria were investigated. The study was carried out on parfused isolated rabbit jejunum and castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The n-butanol extracts: NBD and NBF (0.16- 3.2mg/ml) caused a dose-dependent relaxation of isolated rabbit jejunum. The acute toxicity test for NBD and NBT in mice established an i.p LD50 of > 4000mg/kg for D. oliveri and 1131.4mg/kg for F. sycomorus . In castor oilinduced diarrhea, 80% protection was observed for D. oliveri at doses of 200mg/kg and 60% protection was observed at 100mg/kg and 50mg/kg respectively. For F. sycomorus 100% protection was observed at doses of 120mg/kg and 60mg/kg, for the n-butanol extract. The antidiarrheal activity was comparable to loperamide 5mg/kg. The result revealed that the extracts have pharmacological activity against diarrhea. Keywords: Anti-diarrhea,castor oil,n-butanol extracts,tissue relaxation.African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 4 (4) 2007: pp. 524-52

Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Combretum Micranthum g. don (Combretaceae) on gastro intestinal smooth muscle.

The effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Combretum micranthum were studied on gastro intestinal smooth muscle of rodents. The extract was screened using isolated rabbit jejunum, guinea pig ileum and rat uterus. The extract produced relaxation of isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum. The relaxation of guinea pig ileum was inhibited by phentolamine. The effect of the extract on rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum may involve adrenergic receptors. The extract had no effect on pregnant and non-pregnant isolated rat uterus. The result of preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract showed that, the aqueous leaf extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins and phlabotannins. The properties of the extract may be due to the presence of these active constituents of pharmacological importance that bear relevance to its therapeutic claims in traditional medicine.Keywords: Combretum micranthum, Rabbit jejunum, Rat uterus and Guinea pig ileum

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous leafextract of Combretum micranthumg. Don (Combretaceae)

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Combretum micranthum were studied in mice and rats. The extract was screened for analgesic activity; using acetic acid induced writhing in mice and formalin induced paw licking test in rats. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using formalin induced hind paw oedema in rats. Results showed that, at a dose of 200 mg/kg the extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in mice and at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the licking time in rats in the formalin induced paw licking test. The extract at doses of 50,100 and 200 mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) reduced hind paw oedema in rats from the first hour of formalin administration. The intraperitoneal LD50 value of the extract was found to be 2,154.1mg/kgin mice and 2,852.l mg/kg in rats. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the plant extract may probably be due to the presence of phytochemical contents.Keywords: Combrentum micranthum, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Mice, Rats

Effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Tapinanthus globiferus A. rich on liver function in rats

The effects of ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferus in the liver of rats were evaluated on serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB) and conjugated bilirubin (CB) while histological analysis was evaluated on section of liver after 28 days of oral administration. The oral LD50 of the extract in rats was found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical analysis revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TP at all doses treated (87.5, 175 and 350 mg/kg) but there was significant (p < 0.05) evaluation of serum TB at higher dose and significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent increase in CB when compared with control. The photomicrograph of transverse section of the liver treated with doses of 175 and 350 mg/kg showed areas of fibrosis at 100 magnifications while no effect was observed at 87.5 mg/kg body weight. This work revealed that, Tapinanthus globiferus extract has no toxic effect on the liver of rats after short and low dose administration but can cause sign of liver damage at higher dose.Key words: Tapinanthus globiferus, Biochemical, Ethanol, Histological, Photomicrograp

Median lethal dose (LD50) evaluation of some polyherbal formulations marketed in northern Nigeria

The polyherbal preparations reported here are traditionally used in Northern Nigeria for the treatment of wide range of illnesses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity potential of 70% ethanol extracts of forty polyherbal products by determining their median lethal dose (LD50) estimates intraperitoneally and orally using the Lorke’s method in mice. Overall 90% of the extracts indicated values that were either less toxic or slightly toxic intraperitoneally, while 10 % had values that were practically non toxic using the same route. Oral administration of the extracts showed that 25% had values that were only slightly toxic while 75 % of the herbal products had median lethal dose values that were practically non toxic. From our results this could imply that most of the extracts tested may be safe for oral use and this could explain the continuous use of the polyherbal preparations by the local people in traditional management of various ailments in the Northern part of Nigeria.Keywords: Herbal products, AcuteToxicity, Lorke’s method, Northern Nigeri

Anticonvulsant potentials of methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia Planch (Vitaceae) in mice and chicks

Cissus cornifolia Baker-Planch is an annual herb used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. The anticonvulsant effects of the methanol extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf was evaluated in chicks using maximal electroshock test, and in mice using 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole, strychnine and picrotoxin induced seizure models at doses of 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to convulsions in 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and strychnine-induced seizure models. Cissus cornifolia extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg provided 66.67% protection against picrotoxin induced convulsions. It also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to picrotoxin-induced convulsions at the same doses. On the other hand, the extract did not protect the chicks against hind limb tonic extension in maximal electro-shock test. The results obtained indicated potential anticonvulsant activity of the methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia, thus giving credence to the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of epilepsy.Keywords: Cissus cornifolia, Epilepsy, Chemoconvulsant, Anticonvulsan

Some behavioural studies on methanol root bark extract of Burkea africana (fabaceae) in mice

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. The research was conducted to evaluate some central nervous system properties of the root bark methanol extractof B. africana in mice. It involved the following animal models: diazepam-induced sleep, hole-board and walking beam assay. Results: The methanol extract showed a significant decrease in the onset of sleep at doses of 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg (p<0.05); as well as produced significant increase in the duration of sleep (40 and 80 mg/kg) at p<0.05, p<0.005 respectively. The number of head dips significantly increased at 20 and 80 mg/kg (p<0.05 and 0.005 respectively). From the beam walking test for motor deficits, the result showed a significant increase in the number of foot slips at doses of 20 mg/kg (p<0.05); 40 and 80 mg/kg (p<0.005), where as there was no significant difference in the time taken to cross the two ends of the beam (time taken to complete the task). The median lethal dose (LD50) value of B. africana extract was found to be 288.5 mg/kg (i.p) in mice. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoid, aglycones, tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, unsaturated steroids and triterpenes. Our results suggest that the B. africana extract contains biologically active compounds with potential sedative and anxiolytic properties.Key Words: Sedation, B. Africana, Diazepam, ethnomedicin

Assessment of the effect of dihydroartemisinin-sodium valproate combination on some behavioural activities in mice

Co-morbidity inevitably warrant occurrence of polypharmacy that may result in interactions or modification of either the therapeutic or toxic effect of any of the drugs employed. Malaria and epilepsy have been known to occur concurrently as such may necessitate the co-administration of two or more drugs. This study evaluated the effect of dihydroartemisinin-valproate combination on some behavioral activities related to central nervous system. The study was conducted using animal models as follows: maximal electroshock-induced seizures test in mice, diazepam-induced sleep in mice and mouse beam walking test for motor coordination deficit. Generally, the results showed that there were no statistical significant effects in the test models. Therefore, dihydroartemisinin did not significantly influence the protective effect of sodium valproate in convulsion; and did not significantly cause sedation in animals. Hence, the result of this study suggests that dihydroartemisinin-sodium valproate combination could be considered safe in seizures condition.Keywords: Dihydroartemisinin, Polypharmacy, Valproate, Drugs, Epileps

Effects of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum on blood glucose levels of streptozocininduced diabetic wistar rats

The hypoglycemic effects of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratisimum was investigated in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. A single administration of the extract at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight was done. The aqueous extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg significantly lowered blood glucose level (