Journal of Natural Remedies

E. O. Ajaiyeoba , O. M. Bolaji , D. O. Akinboye , C. O. Falade , G. O. Gbotosho , J. S. Ashidi , L. C. Okpako , O. O. Oduola , M. O. Falade , O. A. Itiola , P. J. Houghton , C. W. Wright , O. A. Ogundahunsi , A. M. J. Oduola

Abstract

In order to evaluate the ethnomedical uses of plants as remedy for malaria, in Southwestern Nigeria, six crude methanol extracts obtained from five plant species, identified and selected from ethnomedicine, were studied for in vitro anti-plasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. Method: The antiplasmodial properties were evaluated in vitro, using the lactate dehydrogenase assay against Plasmodium falciparum (multi drug resistant K1) and the cytotoxicity activities were assessed using KB nasopharyngeal cell line. Thereafter, three of the crude extracts were fractionated and subjected to activity studies. Results: Methanol extracts of three of the plant extracts; Cassia siamea stem bark, Tithonia diversifolia leaf and Cajanus cajan leaf, were found to display intrinsic anti-plasmodial properties with IC₅₀ values of 24.9 μg/ ml, 52.9 μg/ml and 53.5 μg/ml, respectively. Fractionation of three crude extracts using organic solvents led to acquisition of twelve fractions, of which the ethyl acetate fraction of C. cajan displayed the highest activity with IC₅₀ value of 15.6 μg/ml. The other active fractions were the aqueous methanol of C. siamea bark and ethyl acetate fractions of Gossypium arboreum, both displaying anti-plasmodial activities, with an IC₅₀ value of 31.3 μg/ml. The crude methanol extract of T. diversifolia was found to be most toxic in the cytotoxicity assay, with an ED₅₀ value of 3.6 μg/ml and least selective to the malaria parasites.Conclusions: The ethnomedicine of southwestern Nigeria could provide leads for the discovery of antimalarial drugs.

Keywords

Anti-plasmodial Activity, Cytotoxicity, Nigerian Ethnomedicine

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M. A. Adebayo , J. O. Adeboye , E. O. Ajaiyeoba

Abstract

Objective: Stem bark of Alstonia boonei was screened phytochemically for the presence of various plant secondary metabolites and for diuretic properties. Methods: The diuretic properties of 3 extracts of A. boonei stem bark were evaluated by determination of urine volume, electrolyte concentration and diuretic potency in male Wistar rats. Extracts were administered orally at doses of 250 and 500mg/kg respectively. In the assay frusemide, was used as reference drug while 0.9% saline was used as control. Results: Preliminary phytochemical examination of this drug indicated the presence of indole alkaloids and saponins but absence of anthraquinones and cardenolides. All the extracts exhibited a dose dependent diuretic property with the methanol extract displaying the highest activity with a potency value of 2.0 at a dose of 500mg/kg/hour while the same dose of hexane and chloroform gave a value of 1.9 and 1.0 respectively. Conclusion: The result of this experiment suggest that Alstonia boonei stem bark extract possessed significant diuretic activity and may be useful in the treatment of urinary oedema and hypertension.

Keywords

Alstonia boonei, Diuretic Activity, Plant Extracts

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