ISSN 2169-303X
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (12), pp. 001-004, December, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antinociceptive activity of methanol extract and aqueous fraction of the stem bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth (Mimosaceae)
Okunrobo L. O.1*, Ching F. P.2 and Ifijeh F.1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin city, Nigeria.
2Department Pharmacology, Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria.
Accepted 12 July, 2020
Abstract
The antinociceptive activity of the methanol extract and the aqueous fraction of the bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla, family: (mimosaceae) was evaluated using the acetic acid induced mouse writhing assay and tail immersion assay in mice. The methanol extract and the aqueous fraction at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight administered orally exhibited significant inhibition of the acetic acid induced writhing assay in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.001) with 100 mg/kg dose giving a higher inhibition. The methanol extract and the aqueous fraction also showed significant increase in the heat tolerance capacity in mice in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.001) in the tail immersion assay. These findings therefore justify the ethnomedicinal use of P. macrophylla stem bark as an antinociceptive agent.
Key words: Antinociceptive activity, Pentaclethra macrophylla, tail immersion assay, mouse writhing assay, stem bark.
Ching F. P and Ifijeh F., Okunrobo L. O*
Page: 1 - 4
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (11), pp. 001-010, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Advances in selected medicinal and aromatic plants indigenous to Africa
R. N. Okigbo1*, C. L. Anuagasi1 and J. E. Amadi2
1Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Accepted 16 September, 2020
Abstract
Medicinal and aromatic plants are reservoirs of curative elements used by a large population of Africans in the treatment of various diseases such as malaria, diabetes, mental disorders, cancer, hypertension and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). These medicinal and aromatic plants are used based on ethnobotanical evidence as being safer, acceptable, affordable, culturally compatible and suitable for chronic treatment. Phytochemical screening of these plants revealed that they contain bioactive chemical substances such as alkaloids, tannins, saponin, and others with therapeutic potentials. The screening of plants for various bioactive substances has led to the discovery of anti HIV drugs from plant such as Ancistrocladus korupensis containing the alkaloid, michellamine A and B. The active ingredients of medicinal and aromatic plants can be found either in the roots, leaves, stems, flowers or bark and can be extracted using an appropriate extraction method. Plant selection for drug discovery can be achieved through phytochemical screening, conducting bioassays on experimental models, ethnobotanical evidence and biologic activity report on the plant. Despite the benefits derived from plants, some of them have some unpleasant side effects which may be related to over doses or other factors. This may lead to acute toxicity and death but when these problems are carefully addressed, will help to harness the therapeutic potentials of medicinal and aromatic plants for further drug development in the future.
Key words: African, treatment, bioactive, alkaloid, health care.
R. N. Okigbo*, C. L. Anuagasi and J. E. Amadi
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Phytochemical and antibacterial investigation of bark extracts of Acacia nilotica
Banso A.
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bida P. M. B. 55, Bida Niger State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 21 August, 2020
Abstract
Acacia nilotica was assessed for active principles. The results showed that the stem bark extract of the plant possessed the active principles e.g. terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was assayed against Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Shigella sonnei using the agar diffusion method. The plant extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the test microorganisms. B. subtilis was the most susceptible to the plant extract while Candida albicans was the most resistant. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the stem bark extract of the plant ranged between 35 and 50 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration ranged between 35 and 60 mg/ml. A. nilotica could be a potential source of antimicrobial agents.
Key words: Acaacia nilotica, active principles, microorganisms.
Banso A.
Page: 1 - 4
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effects of aqueous extract of Eucalyptus globulus on lipid peroxidation and selected enzymes of rat liver
R.O. Arise*, S.O. Malomo, J.O. Adebayo and A. Igunnu
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Accepted 19 May, 2020
Abstract
The effects of repeated administration of varying concentrations of the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus globulus leaves on some biochemical parameters of rat liver were studied. Twenty four albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) with a mean weight of 148.35 g were divided into four groups (A - D) of 6 rats each. Rats in group A served as control and were administered 1 ml of distilled water while those of the experimental groups (B - D) were administered varying doses of the aqueous extract (80 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg body weight respectively) for seven days. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in the liver and serum. ACP and ALP activities were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the liver with no significant difference (P > 0.05) in their serum activities while the activity of SOD was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the liver at concentrations of 100 and 120 mg/kg body weight (b.w) of extract. There existed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the level of MDA in the liver of all the treatment groups and at 120 mg/kg b.w of extract in the serum. Over all, the results indicate that the aqueous extract of E. globulus leaves (despite its efficacy) may have deleterious effects on liver membrane structure and functional integrity.
Key words: Extract, Eucalyptus globulus, lipid peroxidation, enzymes, rat liver.
R.O. Arise*, S.O. Malomo, J.O. Adebayo and A. Igunnu
Page: 1 - 5
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (10), pp. 001-004, October, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of Mucuna pruriens on some haematological and biochemical parameters
G. K. A. Adepoju* and O. O. Odubena
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Accepted 16 August, 2020
Abstract
Mucuna pruriens (MP) has been pharmacologically studied for various activities like aphrodisiac, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-epileptics activities. The present study aims at investigating the effects of shade-dried seeds of M. pruriens on some haematological and bio-chemical parameters. Wistar strain albino rats of both sexes with weights ranging from 220 to 300 g were fed with shade-dried pul-verized seeds of M. pruriens in a 10-days experiment. The result shows that the Nigerian M. pruriens seeds improve the haematological and serum biochemical parameters determined in a dose-dependent manner. The study shows that shade-dried, pulverized seeds of M. pruriens lowers blood cholesterol, blood urea and serum creatinine. It also reduces bleeding time; increases platelet count and these were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, the effect on packed cell volume (PCV) was not statistically significant when compared with the control (p<0.05). Hence, shade-dried seeds of MP seeds are not poisonous when compared with the raw seeds.
Key words: Mucuna pruriens, arteriosclerosis, uremia, haemostatic ability, platelet count, creatinine, hyperchol-esterolaemia, hematological parameters.
O. O. Odubena, G. K. A. Adepoju*
Page: 1 - 4
Research Article
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 9 (10), pp. 001-006, October, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In vitro antileishmanial activity of extracts of Warburgia ugandensis (Canellaceae), a Kenyan medicinal plant
Peter Kamau Ngure1*, Willy Kiprotich Tonui2, Johnstone Ingonga2, Charles Mutai2, Elizabeth Kigondu2, Zipporah Ng’ang’a3, Geoffrey Rukunga2 and Albert Kimutai2
1Daystar University, Science department, P.O. Box 44400, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
2Kenya Medical Research Institute. Nairobi, Kenya.
3Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Accepted 12 August, 2020
Abstract
The antileishmanial activity of extracts of Warburgia ugandensis (family Canellaceae), a known traditional therapy and one of the commonly used medicinal plants in Kenya was evaluated. Extracts of this plant were tested for possible antileishmanial activity in vitro. Different doses of hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of W. ugandensis were tested against Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani promastigotes and amastigotes. The hexane extract had the best activity against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes with IC50 value of 9.95 for promastigotes and 8.65 for amastigotes and minimum inhibition concentrations of 62.5 µg/ml. The activity of the hexane extract on amastigotes was comparable (P > 0.05) to that of pentostam and amphotericin B. Similar results were obtained for L. donovani with IC50 values of 8.67 for promastigotes and 100-fold reduction of amastigotes in macrophage cultures. Warburgia ugandensis had lower levels of toxicities compared to pentostam and amphotericin B. This study scientifically demonstrates the potential of W. ugandensis in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Key words: Warburgia ugandensis, leishmaniasis, promastigote, amastigote.
Peter Kamau Ngure*, Geoffrey Rukunga and Albert Kimutai, Zipporah Ng’ang’a, Elizabeth Kigondu, Johnstone Ingonga, Charles Mutai, Willy Kiprotich Tonui
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