The ethnobotanical, phytochemical and mineral analyses of phragmanthera incana (klotzsch), a species of mistletoe growing on three plant hosts in South-Western Nigeria.

Mistletoe is collected wildly on various plants and Phragmanthera incana is noted to grow on different plant hosts. This study was designed to carry out the ethnobotanical survey, phytochemical and mineral analyses of Phragmanthera incana, a species of mistletoe growing on three plant hosts namely Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), Kolanut (Cola nitida) and Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis). Mistletoe samples were identified at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Herbarium. Phragmanthera incana was screened for its phytochemical constituents and mineral cations along its hosts following standard methods and to confirm if the mistletoe species is host specific. The powdered samples of the mistletoe species (Phragmanthera incana) was used for both the phytochemical screening and the cation mineral analysis. The uses and the harvesting methods of mistletoe were also reviewed extensively in this paper.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of a cucurbitacin isolated from Lagenaria breviflora Roberty fruit.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the bioactive compound in Lagenaria breviflora Roberty responsible for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities was isolated and chemically characterized. METHOD: Compounds in the whole fruit, bark, pulp and seed of L. breviflora were partitioned utilizing their various polarity in n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and ethanol. The fractions of the extract obtained were tested for their bioactivities. The fraction with the most consistent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities was further purified using accelerated gradient chromatography (AGC) and open column chromatography. Elution of compounds in this fraction was monitored through the different chromatography methods using thin layer chromatography (TLC). The pure compound isolated from the chromatography methods was taken for chemical characterization and elucidation of the structure. RESULTS: Ethyl acetate fraction of the whole fruit exhibited the most consistent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities out of the 16 fractions obtained. Purification of this fraction with AGC yielded 7 subfractions composing of eluents with similar Rf values on the TLC plate. One of the sub-fractions yielded a compound which was further purified using the open column chromatography method. Eluent obtained from this sub-fraction was renamed YO1. CONCLUSION: From the result of mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the compound, the structure of YO1 was determined as a cucurbitacin with 10á-cucurbit-5-ene skeleton (9â-methyl-19-norlanosta 5-ene) backbone structure, with six carbon atoms attached to double bonds and one hydroxyl group.

Pharmacological reactivity of isolated guinea pig ileum to ethanol leaf extracts of Amaranthus caudatus and Solanum melongena.

The pharmacological reactivity of guinea pig ileum to ethanol leaf extract of Amaranthus caudatus and Solanum melongena were determined in vitro. Parameters evaluated include the threshold value and the concentration ratio (CR). The potency of the plant extracts as expressed by EC50, the Emax (maximum response) and its corresponding concentration were determined from the concentration response curve in the absence or presence of 2X10-7 M atropine or 2X10-7 M mepyramine. The study showed that the extract of Amaranthus caudatus or Solanum melongena produced a dose-dependent contraction of the smooth muscle of the guinea pig ileum with threshold values at 80 or 100mg/ml respectively. 2X10-7 M atropine or 2X10-7 M mepyramine individually caused a right shift on the cumulative concentration-response curve for each plant extract. The potencies of the plant extracts were significantly decreased, and the concentration producing Emax was significantly increased in the presence of the antagonists. The ileal contraction produced by A. caudatus was more sensitive to mepyramine antagonism. The EC50 (373.80±51.56mg/ml) and the concentration producing Emax (855.00±75.00mg/ml) for A. caudatus extract increased significantly to 849.00±29.16 mg/ml and 875.00±25 respectively in the presence of atropine, indicating that the extract interacted with muscarinic receptors. The mean EC50 and the concentration eliciting the Emax for S. melongena extract increased significantly from 288.91±32.46mg/ml and 600.00±22.00mg/ml to 385.21±19.20mg/ml and 800±0.00 mg/ml respectively in the presence of mepyramine thus indicating stimulation of the histaminergic H1 receptors of the gastrointestinal tract. Taken together, this study demonstrated that A. caudatus predominantly stimulates muscarinic receptors to produce contraction of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, while S. melongena predominantly stimulates histaminergic H1 receptors.

Anti-ulcerogenic and in vitro antioxidant activities of Lagenaria breviflora (LB) whole fruit ethanolic extract in laboratory animals.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-ulcer and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Lagenaria breviflora (EELB) whole fruit in laboratory rats. METHODS: The anti-ulcer property of the ethanolic extract of the whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora (LB) was assessed using the cold-restraint stress-induced (CRU) gastric ulcer, pyloric ligation-induced (PL) gastric ulcer, aspirin-induced (ASP) gastric ulcer and alcohol-induced (AL) gastric ulcer models. The scavenging activity of the LB extract was examined with 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging models. RESULTS: EELB (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg, b.w.) protected against the CRU gastric ulcer dose dependently. Similarly, 150 mg/kg b.w. of the LB extract protected against the PL gastric ulcer, ASP gastric ulcer and AL gastric ulcer and was comparable to omeprazole (10 mg/kg b.w.) or Suscralfate (500 mg/kg b.w.), respectively. The in vitro antioxidant activity of LB was demonstrated by its ability to quench free radicals generated by nitric oxide and superoxide anion with a concomitant scavenging potential against DPPH-induced radical formation. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the study showed that the whole fruit extract possess potent anti-ulcer and antioxidant activities.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Lagenaria breviflora whole fruit in rat and mice.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of an ethanol extract of whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora (LB) in rat and mice. Analgesic activity was measured by hot plate, formalin-induced paw licking, and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing tests, while anti-inflammatory activity was determined by inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Extract-treated animals exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher pain threshold, lower number of licking of paws in response to formalin-induced irritation and writhing movements in response to acetic acid-induced writhing movement. There was significant (P<0.05) inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats pre-treated with the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) by 6.4%, 27.5%, 55.9% respectively. Analgesic effect of the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) in hot plate test was observable within 30 minutes of administration with maximum effect obtainable 90 minutes post-administration. Also, the effect of the extract (50, 100 and 200mg/kg) was dose dependent in both the early (88.17±6.21, 80.33±3.49 and 72.33±5.16) and late (72.50±3.95, 53.83±3.96 and 35.83±3.78) phases of formalin-induced paw licking, and in acetic acid-induced writhing with inhibition of 26.8%, 48.1% and 58.1% respectively. Its effect was comparable especially at 200mg/kg body weight to those of diclofenac, indomethacin and ibuprofen. It could be suggested from the findings of this experiment that the extract may be mediating its action as a central analgesic agent but the peripheral analgesic effect was preponderant based on its outcome from the pain models.