Appraising the Neurobehavioural Toxicity Potential of Aqueous Methanol Leaf Extract of Tapinanthus globiferus Growing on Azadirachta indica

The high prevalence and disease burden of anxiety disorders against the paucity and liabilities of existing anxiolytics indicates a need for the discovery of additional/new anti-anxiety agents. However, it is necessary to further screen these new/putative anxiolytic compounds/extracts to rule out the unwanted neurobehavioural toxicities inherent in the existing anti-anxiety drugs. Aqueous methanol leaf extract of Tapinanthus globiferusgrowing on Azadirachta indicahost tree has previouslydemonstrated significant (p<0.05) anxiolytic effects in mice. This study, therefore, set out to counter-screen this extract for locomotion-suppressant, acute amnesic, sedative (myorelaxant) and hypnotic effects using standard mouse behavioural and biochemical paradigms. The leaf extract (150, 500 and 1500 mg/kg) did not cause significant (p>0.05) alterations in spontaneous locomotor activity, motor coordination/balance, sleep onset or duration,but dose-dependent and significant (p<0.05) increases (63.28±5.63, 65.63±4.12 and 69.18±3.69) in novel object recognition indices of extract-treated compared to 51.54±4.03 and 61.06±2.91 scores in diazepam-and aqua-treated mice, respectively.These findings indicate the aqueous methanol leaf extract is mostly devoid of the evaluated neurobehavioural toxicities and may possess short-term memory enhancement property in mice. These findings may justifythe traditional use of Tapinanthus globiferusextracts for memory enhancement

Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Effect of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Paullinia pinnata Lin in Mice.

This study was designed to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of methanolic leave extract of Paullinia pinnata L. in mice. The elevated plus-maze and staircase paradigm were used to assess the anxiolytic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Paullinia pinnata and diazepam. The results of the elevated plus-maze test showed that the extract at the dose of 50 mg/kg and diazepam significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.005) increased both the number of entries and time spent in the open arm by mice. In staircase paradigm, the extract produced a significant (P<0.05-P<0.0005) dose dependent decrease in the number of steps ascended and number of rearing events compared to the control mice. Diazepam significantly (P<0.0005) reduced the number of rearing events compared to control. The result of the present preliminary study suggests that methanolic leaf extract of Paullinia pinnata may possess an anxiolytic activity.

Flavonol Glycosides from the Aerial Parts of Indigofera hirsuta and Anti-inflammatory Activity of n-butanol Fraction.

Aims: The study aimed to phytochemically investigate the n-butanol soluble fraction of Indigofera hirsuta aerial parts and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the fraction using laboratory animal models. Study Design: Isolation and elucidation of the bioactive compounds and antiinflammatory activity investigation on n-butanol soluble fraction. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria - Nigeria. The study was completed between January-October, 2011. Methodology: The compounds isolated were identified using different spectroscopic techniques. The n-butanol fraction was investigated for its effect on carrageenan-induced oedema in rat’s experimental model. Results: Two Flavonol glycosides were isolated; Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (T2) and Kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (Q3).The fraction significantly (P = .05) inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw oedema at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg tested. The percentage anti-inflammatory effect of the highest dose tested (300 mg/kg) at the peak hour was higher than that of ketoprofen (10 mg/kg), the standard anti-inflammatory agent. Conclusion: The result of this research suggests that the n-butanol soluble fraction of Indigofera hirsuta aerial parts contains bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity.

Phytochemical and Anticonvulsant Studies on the Aqueous Ethanol Extract of the Root-Back of Ficus Abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq. (Family: Moracea).

Ficus abutilifolia, belonging to the family Moraceae is a small to medium sized tree that grow mostly in the African continent. It was reported to be used traditionally, in promoting fertility in humans and in the treatment of skin wart and management of epilepsy. Preliminary phytochemical investigation of the powdered root revealed the presences of flavonoids, saponins and tannins among others. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the 70% aqueous ethanol extract was found to be 2154.1 mg/Kg in mice. The anticonvulsant studies of the extract revealed that a single administration (at the dose of 100 – 400 mg/Kg) produced a dose-dependent protection against MEST; however, the extract did not offer significant protection against pentylenetetrazole- and 4- amino pyridine–induced seizures. These finding suggest some level of protection by the aqueous ethanol extract against MES induced seizure in chicks, thereby giving support to the traditional claim for the use of the plant in the treatment and/or management of convulsion and epilepsy.