SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE)
SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE)
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Date
2006-06
Authors
MUSA, ALIYU
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Abstract
Some pharmacological effects of the 70% ethanolic stem bark extract of Pterocarpus
erinaceus were investigated in experimental animals.
Preliminary Phytochemical studies of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of
Tannins, Carbohydrates, Proteins & Amino acids, Flavonoids and Steroids.
Acute toxicity test using Lorke’s method indicated LD50 values of the ethanolic stem
bark extract of P.erinaceus to be 447.21mg/kg I.P and >5000mg/kg P.o in rats.
In the sub acute toxicity studies, haematological parameters like Haemoglobin
concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), Platelet count, White blood cell count
(WBC) and differential count of WBC were within normal limits.
A significant decrease (P<0.05) in bleeding time was observed in rats treated with
200mg/kg extract. The clotting time only slightly decreased.
The extract P.o did not cause any death during the period (30 days) of administration.
The ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus at doses 50,100 and 200mg/kg body
weight caused significant (P<0.05) dose dependent antinociceptive activity in both
(central and peripheral) pain models used. The peripheral action may be linked partly to
lipooxygenase and / or cyclo-oxygenase, while the central antinociception is probably
mediated via opioid receptors in the CNS.
The ethanolic stem bark extract produced significant (P<0.01-0.001) dose dependent antiinflammatory
effects against egg-albumin induced inflammation in rats. The effect of the
extract was however lower than the standard drug used piroxicam.
The ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus relaxed the isolated pregnant rat uterus.
Oxytocin induced contractions of the pregnant rat uterus was blocked by the extract dose
dependently.
The studies on isolated guinea- pig ileum and rabbit jejunum smooth muscles
demonstrated that the ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus produced a dose
dependent relaxation these muscles. The extract also attenuated the contractile effects of
acetyl choline on these tissues dose dependently. This finding might lend credence to the
use of the stem bark of the plant in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery traditionally.
From the results of this work and information from literature, flavonoids and tannins
identified during phytochemical screening of the extract may be the biologically active
principles responsible for the haemostatic, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and
gastrointestinal effects of the ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE
DEGREE IN PHARMACOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND CLINICAL PHARMACY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
JUNE, 2006
Keywords
SOME,, PHARMACOLOGICAL,, STUDIES,, ETHANOLIC,, STEM,, BARK,, EXTRACT,, PTEROCARPUS,, ERINACEUS,, POIR,, FABACEAE,