ANTIEMETIC POTENTIAL OF METHANOL ROOT BARK EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA AVICENNIOIDES (COMBRETACEAE) IN CHICKS
Moh’d AS*1, Ya’u J2, Aliyu M3, Salawu OA1, 4
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
3Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
4Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 9(2): 162-167; Nov/Dec 2017
ABSTRACT
Terminalia avicennioides (Combretaceae) is used to treat emesis and other gastrointestinal disorders in Northern Nigeria. The current study was designed to investigate T. avicennioides for potential antiemetic effect in copper sulphate and cisplatin-induced vomiting models in chicks. Phytochemical screening was conducted and acute oral toxicity test of the methanol root bark extract of T. avicennioides was carried out using OECD 425, 2001. Emesis was induced by oral administration of copper sulphate (60 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal cisplastin (10 mg/kg) to young chicks (150-170 g, 4-7 days old). The anti-emetic activity was studied on the extract at doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The effect of the extract on apomorphine-induced pecking in chicks was also assayed to determine the probable pathway involved in the extract’s antiemetic action. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes and triterpenes, while the oral median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg in chicks. The extract produced a dose-dependent significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of retching (54.12, 59.70 and 73.78 % inhibition of retches) in the copper sulphate induced emesis, with the 600 mg/kg dose of extract inhibiting retches comparable to domperidon but better than metoclopramide. Cisplastin induced emesis was significantly (P <0.05) reduced by 84.52, 83.33 and 72.62 % respectively in inverse-dose dependent manner with the effect of the extract at150 and 300 mg/kg being comparable to metoclopramide but less than ondensetron (90.0 %). Extract of T. avicennioides significantly (P < 0.05) decreased apomorphine induced retches dose dependently in chicks. This study showed that methanol root bark extract of T. avicennioides possess antiemetic activity against copper sulphate and cisplastin induced emesis in chicks, which might be due to the presence of relevant phytochemical constituents.
KEYWORDS: Copper sulphate, Cisplatin, Emesis, Retches, Terminalia avicennioides, Chicks
*Corresponding author: sadmo007@gmail.com;