Oxytocic effects of the water extract of Musanga cecropioides R. Brown (Moraceae) stem bark

Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) is one of the medicinal plants used in tropical parts of Africa for its oxytocic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activities. This work examined the effect of the water extractof the stem bark on rat uterus pre-treated with 1 mg/kg stilboesterol for 24 h. The effects of oxytocin-a uterine contraction agonist, antagonists like atropine (1-2 mg) and salbutamol (2 ìg) on the uterinecontractile effect of the water extract as well as its acute toxic effect were investigated. The water extract of M. cecropioides produced a dose related increase in the force of uterine contraction. An equivalent force of uterine contraction of 1.10 ± 0.15 g produced by 12.5 mg of the extract wasincreased to 2.53 ± 0.6 g when 1600 mg of the extract was administered. Oxytocin at 0.08 i.u. was observed to elicit a similar force of contraction with 400 mg of the water extract. The drug was observed to potentiate the uterine contractile activity of the extract while pre-treating the tissue with either atropine or salbutamol before administering the water extract showed the inhibitory effects of the drugs on the activity of the extract. The inhibition effect showed by atropine suggests the probable stimulation of the muscarinic receptors of the uterus by the extract. Between doses of 1-4 g/kg, the water extract of M. cecropioides was observed to be well tolerated in mice as no obvious signs of toxicity were observed on the animal

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activities of Sida acuta in mice and rat

The analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties was also studied in mice and rats using the tail immersion, mouse ear oedema and acetylsalicylic acid induced ulceration models. The crude extracts exhibited significant (p< 0.001) analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in mice as well as a marked protection against acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastric mucosal ulceration in rats (p< 0.001). This justified the use of Sida acuta against pain, inflammation and ulcer in herbal medical practice. Keywords: Sida acuta, malvaceae, analgesia, anti-inflammation, anti-ulceration Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 9 2005: 19-2

Pharmacognostic and Toxicity Evaluation of the Stem Bark of Tabernaemontana Pachysiphon Stapf. (Apocynaceae)

Various claims have been made on the ethno-medicinal uses of the stem bark of Tabernaemontana pachysiphon. It is therefore necessary to establish its pharmacognostic characteristics that will help in its identification and standardization. In this study, the pharmacognostic characteristics (phytochemistry, macroscopy, microscopy, chemo-microscopy, quantitative evaluation, proximate and preliminary Thin Layer Chromatography analyses) and toxicity potential of the stem bark were evaluated using standard methods of analysis. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The stem bark has a bitter taste, flat in shape when fresh and curved when dry, greyish brown in colour on the outer surface and brown on the inner surface. It is longitudinally fissured and lenticels are present. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of cork cells, fibres, sclereids and calcium oxalate crystals. Chemo-microscopic tests showed the presence of lignin, calcium oxalate crystals, mucilage, cellulose and oil. Quantitative parameters (% w/w &plusmn; S.E.M) were as follows: moisture content 4.68 &plusmn; 0.01; total ash value 8.98 &plusmn; 0.12; acid insoluble ash value 0.54 &plusmn; 0.01; water soluble ash value 2.05 &plusmn; 0.01; alcohol soluble extractive value 3.10 &plusmn; 0.01 and water soluble extractive value 0.42 &plusmn; 0.01. Proximate analysis of the powdered drug gave 16.59 % protein, 1.90 % fibre, 0.10 % fat, 67.75 % carbohydrate and 4.68 % moisture. Total gross energy was estimated to be 338.26kcal while preliminary thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed three spots. The aqueous extract of the stem bark, at a dose of 5 g/kg, caused neither death nor any observable symptoms of toxicity, after 24 hours. These validated pharmacognostic standards will be useful towards proper identification of a closely related sample of the plant material and in the production of the Nigerian Pharmacopoeia of Nigeria medicinal plants.Keywords: Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Stem bark, Pharmacognostic standards, Acute toxicity testNigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 9 No 1 pp. 63 - 71 (February 2011

ANTI-ULCER ACTIVITY OF STEM BARK OF DANIELLIA OLIVERI

The MeOH extract of Daniellia oliveri showed a dose related activity on the induced ulcers. The 500mg/kg extract had an activity (

Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of Dissotis rotundifolia Triana (Melastomataceae)

Dissotis rotundifolia Triana (Melastomataceae), a native of tropical West Africa is known to have many uses in ethnomedicine. Establishment of pharmacognostic profile of the leaves will assist instandardization which can guarantee quality, purity and identification of samples. Evaluation of fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves was carried out to determine the macromorphological,micromorphological, chemomicroscopic, numerical and phytochemical profiles. Macroscopically, the leaf was linear in shape, with a glabrous texture, a short petiole, margin entire, apex and leaf base acutewith pinnate venation. Microscopically, stomata was anomocytic, epidermal cells were straight and polygonal with uniseriate and multiseriate covering trichomes. Chemomicroscopic characters presentincluded lignin, starch, mucilage and calcium oxalate crystals while phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and saponins. The investigations also included themoisture content, ash values as well as palisade ratio, stomata index, vein – islet and veinlet termination numbers. These findings should be suitable for inclusion in the proposed Pharmacopoeia of Nigerian medicinal plants

Pharmacognostic Characteristics and Hypotensive Effect of the Stem Bark of Musanga cecropioides R. Br. (Moraceae)

Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) is a plant reported to have oxytocic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activities. Pharmacognostic evaluation to establish the identity of the stem bark, as well as experiments to determine the possible pharmacological mechanism of its hypotensive effects, were carried out. Microscopically, the stem bark was observed to contain cork cells, cortical parenchyma, sclereids, fibers, vessels and calcium oxalate crystals. It had a moisture content of 3.68±0.06%, ash value of 10.38±0.12% while the alcohol and water extractive values were 1.29±0.02% and 1.10±0.13%, respectively. It contains saponins, tannins and flavonoids. The water extract of the stem bark produced a dose – related reduction in mean arterial pressure. The mean arterial pressure fell by 4.51±0.5mmHg at 10mg/kg and 65.23±6.28mmHg at 40mg/kg. The hypotensive effect of the extract was not affected by prior administration of either atropine (0.5mg/kg) or promethazine (0.25mg/kg). The extract had no direct effect on the intrinsic myogenic activity of the isolated rat portal vein. However, at 1.0mg/ml, the water extract remarkably reduced both the amplitude and force of contraction of isolated rabbit heart. The hypotensive effect of the extract therefore appears not to be due to a direct vascular effect but due to its effect on cardiac output as a result of inhibition of cardiac activity. Key Words: Musanga cecropioides, sterm bark, hypotensive effect. Résumé Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) est une plante repotée ayant des activitées oxytociques ,hypotensives et anti-diabetiques. L'evaluation pharmacognocsique pour determiner l'identitée de l'écorce souche de même que des experiences pour déterminer le possible mechanisme pharmacologique de son effet hypotenseur on été conduits. Microscopiquement l'ecorce a été observé contenir : cellule cork , parenchyma corticaux,scleroid, vaiseaux,et des crystaux d' oxalate de calcium. Il a une teneur en humidité de 3.68±0.06%, une valeur ash de10.38±0.12% alors que la valeur extrative de l'alcool et de l'eau étaient de 1.29±0.02% and 1.10±0.13% respectivement. Il contient de la sapponine, tannine et la flavonoide. Les extrait acqueux de l'ecorce produsirent une reduction de la pression arterielle moyenne et ce à dose-dependente. la pression arterielle moyenne tombait de 4.51±0.5mmHg à 10mg/kg et 65.23±6.28mmHg à 40mm/kg. L'effet hypotenseur de l'extrait n' était pas affecté par une primo administration soit de l' atropine (0.5mg/kg) ou promethazine (0.25mg/kg). L'extrait n'a eu aucun effet direct sur l'activitée myogenique intrisique des veines portal de souris isolée. Néanmoins à 1.0mg/ml, l'extrait acqueux a reduit remarquablement en même temps l' amplitude et la force de contraction des Coeur de lapin isoles. L'effet hypotenseur de l'extrait apparait donc ne pas être due à un effet vasculaire direct mais probablement due à son effet sur le quantite de sangs pompée par le Coeur ce comme resultat de l inihibation de l'activité cardiaque Mot cles: Musanga cecropioides, ecorce souche, effet hypoteseur. West Afr. J. Pharmacol. Drug Res. Vol.19 (1&2) 2003: 37-4

Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents, Antibacterial Activities and Effect of Exudate of Pycanthus Angolensis Weld Warb (Myristicaceae) on Corneal Ulcers in Rabbits

Purpose: A 1: 1: 2 mixture of exudates of Anchomonas difformis, Cyrtrospherma senegalense and Pycanthus Angolensis is claimed to be used for the treatment of corneal ulcers. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activities and the effectiveness of a mixture of these exudates in the treatment of corneal ulcers as claimed in Traditional medicine practice. Method: Fresh exudates were collected in different containers. They were reduced to dryness and each residue tested for phytochemical constituents. Exudates of P. angolensis was further tested for antimicrobial activities and its effect on chemical - induced corneal ulcers in rabbits. Result: Only reducing sugars were detected in exudates of A. angolensis and C. senegalensis. Bioactive constituents detected in exudates of P. angolensis were the reducing sugars and phenolic compounds- tannins and flavonoids. This also showed antimicrobial activity against the organisms used. It healed the NaOH - induced corneal ulcers in rabbits within ten of days of treatment. Conclusion: Exudates of P.angolensis contained bioactive constituents and exhibited antibacterial activity, and healed the corneal ulcers induced in rabbits. Its use in traditional practice for healing corneal ulcers is rational, even in the absence of exudates of A. angolensis and C. senegalensis