PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY) STUDIES OF CARISSA EDULIS VAHL. (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)
PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY) STUDIES OF CARISSA EDULIS VAHL. (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1997
Authors
IBRAHIM, HAJARA
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study deals mainly with the pharmacognostic and biological
(analgesic activity) studies of the roots, stem, leaves, fruits and
seeds of the plant Carissa edulis Vahl.
Carissa edulis belongs to the family Apocynaceae it is a much
branched straggling or climbing glabrous shrub up to 16ft (5m) high
with paired 2inch (5cm) axillary spines. In northern Nigeria the
plant is used with other plants in treating sickle cell anaemia and
for treating stomach ailment especially hernia. The fruits are also
edible.
A detailed macroscopical, microscopical, evaluation of the
morphological parts of the plant and phytochemical studies were
carried out. The microscopical studies showed the plant to contain
laticifers characteristic of thfamily Apocynaceae but without a
bicollateral (interxylary phloem) vascular bundle. Peculiar groups
of epidermal cells were also seen in the upper epidermis of the
leaves (a group of panenchyma cells formed a circle with the upper
epidermal cells between the elongated palisade cells).
The following quantitative values were obtained from the
evaluation of the crude vegetable products: moisture content, roots,
8.0% w/w, stem 10.4% w/w leaves 12 . 6% w/ , P, fruits 6.1%w / , seeds
9.3%w/w; ash value, roots 13.5% w/ stem, 15.(?%w/, leaves 8 .w5% / ,
fruits 3.7%w/w, seeds 7.5w%/ acid insolubule ash value, roots
6.0%w/w, stem 5.7%w/w, leaves 2.0%w/w, fruits 1.2%w/w, seeds 3.2%w/w,
alchohol soluble extractive value,: roots, 13.3%w/w, stem, 4.0%w/w,
leaves, 20.7%w/w, friuts, 28.3w% /w, seeds, 27w.3% /w, and water
soluble extractive value: roots, 12.0%w/w, stem, lO.O%w/w, leaves,
17.0%w/w, fruits, 25%w/w, seeds, 24.3%w/w.The phytochemical screening of different parts of the plant
studied revealed the presence of carbohydrate;;, tannins, flavonoids,
cardiac glycoside, cyanogenic glycoside;; (found present only in the
Leaves), saponins, steroids and terpenes. Alkalojids,anthraquinones,
Resins and balsams were, however absent. The presence of lipids was
observed in chemo-microscopy.
Chromatographic analysis indicated the presence of salicylates
in the water extracts Co-chromatographic analyses on paper and thin
Layer indicated the presence of methyl salicylates.
The analgesic activity studies showed the water extracts of all
organs had activity. The fruit was found to be most active followed
by the leaves, seeds, root and stem respectively. Significant
different P<0.05 was obtained with 50mg/kg roots water extract at
30mins and P<0.001 with 50mg/kg seeds and lOOmg/kg fruits water
extracts at 45 mins after intraperitonial administrations of the
extracts. The doses used were 10, 50, 100 and 150mg per kg body
weight of mice, and were prepared from a stock solution of O.lg in
5ml of water extracts of the different parts of the plant were used.
10,20 and 30mg/kg body weight of metamizol (Analgin(R)) were used as
the standard analgesic. (Ampoules of 20mg/5ml were purchased).
This would justify the use of the plant as analgesics.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY & DRUG DEVELOPMENT,
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
1997
Keywords
PHARMACOGNOSTIC,, BIOLOGICAL,, (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY),, CARISSA EDULIS VAHL,, (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)