EVALUATION OF LEAF BASE EXTRACT OF SORGHUM BICOLOR (FAMILY: GRAMINEAE; POACEAE) FOR HAEMATOLOGICAL, IMMUNOMODULATORY AND OTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
EVALUATION OF LEAF BASE EXTRACT OF SORGHUM BICOLOR (FAMILY: GRAMINEAE; POACEAE) FOR HAEMATOLOGICAL, IMMUNOMODULATORY AND OTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
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Date
2008-04
Authors
NWINYI, FLORENCE CHIMEZIE,
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Abstract
Sorghum bicolor is an annual plant having its different parts widely used
ethnomedicinally for different ailments, which includes blood stimulation and body
defence. A number of clinical conditions like cancer, surgery, certain drugs, HIV/AIDS
and various stressors affect different components of the immune system thereby
allowing opportunistic pathogens to overwhelm the host leading to secondary infections
and mortality in such individuals. This therefore shows a great need for investigation of
plants with body defence potentials to increase the catalogue of agents that can modify
the immune system for subsequent drug development and clinical uses. Also, many
scientific reports have shown some drugs to be efficacious, cheap and available, yet
toxic. This therefore shows the importance of evaluation of safety profile of a drug
intended for short and long term uses.
The base of the leaves attached to the suckers of the plant were successively cold
macerated with 70 % v/v methanol over 96 h period producing a yield of 23.6 % w/w
extract. The blood stimulatory and body defence properties of the extract were
evaluated on haematological indices (Hb, PCV, total red blood cell, total leucocyte
count, differential leucocyte count, platelet, clotting time, bleeding time) and
immunomodulatory models for specific and non-specific types of immunity. The
evaluation of safety profile was carried out on pharmacological studies related to
different body systems (CNS, PNS, GIT, CVS and reproductive systems). It was also
evaluated on both acute and sub-acute toxicity models. The results were expressed as
mean SEM. One-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse
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the results as appropriate followed by Student t-test and Least Significant Difference
(LSD). P-values <0.05 were statistically significant.
The extract (100 – 400 mg/kg p.o.) did not produce significant effects on most of the
haematological indices (Hb, PCV, total red blood cell, total leucocyte count, bleeding
time and clotting time). The results did not corroborate the ethnomedicinal use of the
plant leaves for stimulation of blood production. Immunomodulatory studies showed
that phagocytosis and inflammation (usually associated with non-specific type of
immunity) possibly contributed strongly to the ethnomedicinal use of the leaf base for
body defence. The results on the other hand showed that both B- and T-lymphocytes
(associated with specific type of immunity) may not have been sensitised/activated
strongly by the extract. Pharmacological studies revealed centrally-mediated activity,
analgesic effect, anti-motility and anti-diarrhoeal activities of the extract. The extract
did not alter the intrinsic myogenic contractions of rat atria, portal vein and uterus while
the rat vas deferens were minimally contracted.
The results therefore indicate that S. bicolor leaf base extract has a potential of being
developed as a remedy for pain, central nervous system and gastrointestinal related
problems. The acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation also showed relative safety.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PHARMACOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
NIGERIA
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND CLINICAL PHARMACY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
NIGERIA.
APRIL, 2008
Keywords
EVALUATION,, LEAF BASE EXTRACT, SORGHUM BICOLOR (FAMILY: GRAMINEAE; POACEAE), AEMATOLOGICAL,, IMMUNOMODULATORY, PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES.