PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANTIDIARRHOEA ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF BAUHINIA RUFESCENS LAM (CAESALPINIOIDEAE
PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANTIDIARRHOEA ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF BAUHINIA RUFESCENS LAM (CAESALPINIOIDEAE
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Date
2011-06
Authors
TANKO, HAJARA YAHAYA (MRS)
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Abstract
Bauhinia rufescens Lam (Caesalpinioidae) is a scandent shrub or small tree measuring
between 1-3m high but sometimes up to 8m high, often scraggy, stunted and multistemmed.
The leaves are stomachic, anti-diarrheotic and anti-dysentric. This study is
on the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, antimicrobial and anti-diarrhoea (using
castor oil induced dirrhoea method), studies of B. rufescens. The microscopic studies
revealed the presence of anomocytic both at the upper and lower layer, trichomes,
calcium oxalate, petiole of 0.57mm, lamina of average length 7mm and width 9.8mm.
Quantitative evaluation of the crude plant drug revealed the following parameters,
Alcohol soluble extractive of 30.1%, Percentage moisture content: 11%, Total ash
value 0.66%, Water insoluble ash value of 6%, Alcohol soluble extractive value of
5.6%. Chemo-microscopy revealed presence of Cellulose, Lignin, Starch, Tannins,
Proteins, Mucilage and Calcium oxalate. Preliminary phytochemical studies of the
methanolic extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, tannins,
alkaloids, cardiac glycoside and flavonoid. The methanolic extract was found to be
effective against castor oil induced diarrhea on the experimental rats at doses of;
50mg/kg (statistically significant (P<0.1) after one hour), 100mg/kg (statistical
significance after one hour (P<0.05) and after two hours (P<0.02)), 200mg/kg
(statistical significance after one hour (P<0.05) and after two hours (P<0.02)). For the
antimicrobial screening, The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Candida krusei were each 2.5mg/ml respectively while that for
Corynebacterium ulcereans, Corynebacterium hemolyticum, Shigella dysenteriae
and Candida albicans were found to be each 5mg/ml respectively. For the minimum
bactericidal concentration (MBC), Corynebacterium hemolyticum, Shigella
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dysenteriae, and the fungus Candida albicans showed the highest MBC of 20mg/ml
each, followed by Corynebacterium ulcereans, Escherichia coli, and the fungus
Candida krusei with MBC of each 10mg/ml while Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus feacalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showed the least MBC of
5mg/ml. The study revealed that the leaves of Bauhinia rufescens contain secondary
metabolites that are responsible for its anti-diarrhoeal and antimicrobial activity and
thus support the use of this plant by medicinal practitioners in diarrhoeal treatment
Description
AN M.SC THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF
M.Sc PHARMACOGNOSY.
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY AND DRUG
DEVELOPMENT,
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA-NIGERIA.
JUNE, 2011
Keywords
PHARMACOGNOSTIC,, ANTIDIARRHOEA ACTIVITY,, LEAVES,, BAUHINIA RUFESCENS LAM,, (CAESALPINIOIDEAE).