EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF
ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ANTHOCLEISTA DJALONENSIS (LOGANIACEAE) IN MICE
OYERONKE MEDINAT AIYELERO1,*, MARDIYYAH ADEOLA SALAHUDEEN1 , KAYODE
MURITALA SALAWU2 , FATIMOH IDOWU OJUADE1 , NGAITAD STANISLAUS NJINGA3 ,
RASHIDAT OLUWAFUNKE AYANNIYI1
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Ilorin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Ilorin
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 15(1): 17-23; 2023
ABSTRACT
Anthocleista djalonensis (Loganiaceae) is used traditionally for the treatment of convulsions, hypertension, stomach pains, hemorrhoids, syphilis, diabetes, and other conditions. The objective of this work was to access the phytochemicals (using standard methods) and anticonvulsant potential (using adult Swiss albino mice) of the ethanol leaf extract of A. djalonensis (EEAD). The acute toxicity profile of EEAD was investigated following standard guidelines established by the OECD 423. The study examined the anticonvulsant activity of EEAD at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg in pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizure tests. The phytochemical analysis of the extract was carried out and revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, terpenoids and alkaloids. When given orally to mice, the extract’s median lethal dose (LD50) was more than 2000 mg/kg. Despite the fact that there was no significant difference between the control and 200 mg/kg doses, the ethanol leaf extract of A. djalonensis showed a significant (P<0.05) dose dependent increase in the start of clonic and tonic seizures.. The 800 mg/kg dose of the extract produced an almost similar effect as standard drug (diazepam) in stopping the occurrence of clonic and tonic seizure. Also, the higher the dose of EEAD, the higher its protection of the mice against mortality in both strychnine and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure models as 800 mg/kg dose produced complete protection against mortality similar to diazepam. These findings suggest that EEAD possess anticonvulsant activity which justifies the traditional utility of the plant in the management of convulsion.
Email of correspondence: kolaola.om@unilorin.edu.ng;
KEYWORDS: Anthocleista djalonensis, Anticonvulsant, Pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, Strychnine-induced seizures, Acute toxicity