ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts recipe of Alchornea cordifolia and Antrocaryon klaineanum. A preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out. Methods: The total phenols content was determined by the Folin Ciocalteu reagent method, while the antioxidant activity of both extracts was characterized by the 2-2diphenyl-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) and β-carotene assays. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated as the inhibition of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) denaturation and antiproteinase activity. Results: The aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia and Antrocaryon klaineanum contained more polyphenols [270 mg Ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g dry weight (dw)] than the hydroethanolic recipe extract (262.41 mg AAE/g dw) at the same concentration level. On the other hand, the aqueous and hydroethanolic recipe extract had the same radical scavenging activity with the antiradical power of 0.851 and 0.830, respectively. Similarly, the recipe extract had the same reducing activity with reducing the power of 94.2±2.03 mg EAA/g dw and 97.4±4.16 mg EAA/g dw for the aqueous and hydroethanolic recipe extract of Alchornea cordifolia and Antrocaryon klaineanum respectively. For the anti-inflammatory activity it was observed that both extracts possess the same activity as Diclofenac® with an IC50 of 50.21 μg/ml. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenols and tannins, which may account for their activities. Conclusion: The plant recipe extract studied possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials, which may be beneficiary to its consumers.
ABSTRACT
Poor lipid and glucose regulation increases the risk for the development of major cardiovascular diseases and other organ damage. The study evaluated the serum glucose and lipid lowering effects of the 70% (v/v) ethanolic leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia (ALC) using the dexamethasone-induced diabetic rat model. Thirty six female Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200g; n=6) were rendered hyperglycaemic with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, sc) once daily for 8 days except the normal control. Each group received either normal saline 0.5 ml/rat, ALC (250 mg/kg, p.o. or 500 mg/kg, p.o.), glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, p.o.) or atorvastatin (5mg/kg, p.o.) as treatment once daily for 8 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBS) readings were recorded at baseline, day 4, 6 and 9. Blood was collected for the estimation of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) on day 9. The diabetic control group had significantly raised FBS levels (8.20 ± 1.04 mmol/l; ***p<0.001). Glibenclamide (5.20 ± 0.29; ***p<0.001) and the extracts [(ALC 250 mg/kg, p.o.; (5.35 ± 0.95 mmol/l); *p<0.05); ALC 500 mg/kg, p.o.; (5.98 ± 1.12 mmol/l); *p<0.05)] prevented an increase in FBS level. The herbal extracts also reduced the level of serum lipids of rats treated. The 70% (v/v) ethanolic leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia has some potential for use in lipid and glucose control.
ABSTRACT
The study aims at determining the antisicking effectiveness of the extracts of the leaves of a herbal medicinal plant Alchornea cordefolia. The plant is widely distributed in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. The study is designed to involve phytochemical exploration, the nutrient and mineral compositions, the free amino acid, ascorbic acid and the amino acid constituents. Apart from these, the rates of sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization were assayed with different fractions of extracts and compared with the control to ascertain their antisickling effectiveness. Sickle cell blood samples were donated by a total of forty patients (25 males and 15 females) of ages (17-32 years) whose sickle cell status were confirmed by electrophoresis of sickle cell blood by staff of the hematology unit of the centre . The donors were co-opted into the study by the personnel of the sickle cell unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. The determination of the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio was to assess the oxygen affinity of sickle cells or drepanocytes. The antisickling properties of leaf extracts of Christmas bush (Alchornea cordefolia) were investigated. Results from phytochemical analysis of crude aqueous extract (CAE) revealed the presence of flavonoids (4.2±0.1%), alkaloids (5.7±0.12%), saponins (4.60±0.10%), tannins (6.50±0.1%), phenol (3.0±0.10%) and oxalate (5.47±0.1%). Proximate composition showed the following results: moisture (11.05±0.0%), ash (6.8±0.1%), crude fat (6.03±0.0%), protein (6.10±0.0%), fiber (24.5±0.2%) and carbohydrates (44.50±0.2%). Assay of mineral composition, revealed a preponderance of such, which include: Potassium (150.30 mg/100g), Sodium (228.20 mg/100g), Calcium (1.60 mg/100g), Magnesium (2.40 mg/100g) and Phosphorus (1.00 mg/100g) of dry weight of sample. The determination of the antisickling effects of the extracts of Alchornea cordifolia was assessed based on the inhibition of sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization and the improvement of Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. Fifty grams (50 g) of the powdered sample was used for the batch extraction procedures with chloroform, methanol, butanol and distilled water to obtain the fat soluble fraction (FAS), the butanol soluble(BUS) and water soluble fractions (WAS) respectively. The FAS, BUS and WAS fractions exhibited profound antisickling effectiveness by inhibiting the HbSS polymerization to varying degrees from (47.50% for the BUS to 98.12% for the WAS fractions respectively in 20 min. The WAS and FAS fractions improved the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio remarkably, except the BUS fraction . Thin layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis revealed the following amino acids - Phenylalanine, Alanine, Glutamate, Histidine, etc. The total free amino acid concentration of the fractions were as follows: the FAS (526.8 mg/100g); the WAS (79.33mg/100 g and the BUS (15.65 mg/100 g). The total vitamin C concentration was found to be 1929.18 mg/100 g of sample. Alchornea cordefolia leaf extracts, with the preponderance of micro and macronutrients, vitamins, amino acids and others, may be very beneficial for the management of sickle cell disease.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To carry out the antistaphylococcal activity of n-butanol and aqueous sub-fractions of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. And Thonn.) Müll. Arg. leaf extract against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Study Design: Characterization and antibiotic susceptibility determination of the test S. aureus isolates, extraction of A. cordifolia leaf, partitioning of the extract, Zones of inhibition and Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations determination. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. February 2010 to October 2011. Methodology: A. cordifolia leaves were collected from Abuja, Nigeria. The activity of the ethanol extract, N-butanol (NSF) and aqueous (ASF) sub-fractions of the plant leaf against five clinical staphylococcal isolates and the standard Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ATCC 33591 were determined using agar-well diffusion and broth dilution methods. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined by the Kirby- Bauer-CLSI modified disc agar diffusion technique (DAD). Results: The diameter zones of inhibition showed by ethanol extract against the test staphylococcal isolates ranged between 12 mm - 26 mm, while the diameter zones of inhibition observed from N-butanol sub-fraction and aqueous sub-fraction against the isolates were between 11 mm - 36.5 mm and 11 mm - 35 mm respectively. The diameter zones of inhibition of the sub-fractions against the standard MRSA ATCC 33591 ranged from 11 mm – 27.5 mm. The diameter zones of inhibition of the test antibiotics ranged from 10 mm to 23 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (M. I. C.) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (M. B. C.) values produced by ethanol extract were higher than those of the sub-fractions. N-butanol sub-fraction produced the lowest M. I. C and M. B. C. values of 0.625 mg/ml – 1.25 mg/ml and 1.25 mg/ml – 2.5 mg/ml respectively. The M. I. C. and M. B. C. values of the N-butanol sub-fraction against the standard strain ATCC 33591 were 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml respectively. Conclusion: The tested N-butanol and aqueous sub-fractions of A. cordifolia leaf were active against the S. aureus strains at low concentrations. The plant can be a possible candidate in the search for alternative antistaphylococcal agents.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate and residual aqueous fractions of the methanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600, Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Candida albicans ATCC 18804 in comparison to standard antibiotics. Study design: Extraction of Alchornea cordifolia leaf, partitioning of the extract, susceptibility tests (Zones of inhibition) and Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations determination. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu – Abuja, Nigeria and Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, July and October. Methodology: The leaves of Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. & Thonn.) Muell. Arg. were collected, dried at room temperature and extracted with methanol using a soxhlet extractor. The methanol extract was partitioned between ethyl acetate and distilled water to obtain an ethyl acetate sub-fraction (EAF) and an aqueous residual fraction (AF). Agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) were used to test the antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Alchornea cordifolia against the above mentioned microbial species. Results: Both fractions; ethyl acetate and residual aqueous fractions of the methanol extract showed antimicrobial activity against the standard organisms viz: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600, Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Candida albicans ATCC 18804. The highest activity was observed for the ethyl acetate fraction against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600 with zone of inhibition of 27 mm, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (M.I.C) of 1.25 mg/ml and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (M. B. C) of 2.5mg/ml. Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600, Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Candida albicans ATCC 18804 were susceptible to the ethyl acetate sub-fraction and residual aqueous fractions of the methanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf.