RESUMO
Ethnopharmacological relevance: In the past, Ethiopian traditional medicine employed the leaves of the native Commelina latifolia Hochst. ex C.B. Clarke plant to treat wounds, pain, and malaria. Aim of the study: The crude extract and solvent fractions of C. latifolia Hochst. ex C.B. Clarke leaves were examined in the present investigation to determine their ability to have an antiinflammatory effect and provide an antinociceptive effect in animal models. Materials and methods: The leaves of C. latifolia were extracted with 80% methanol, and the CL crude extract was further fractionated with chloroform, pure methanol, and distilled water. The carrageenan-induced paw edema model was used to test the extracts' ability to reduce inflammation. The hotplate model and the acetic acid-induced writhing test on rodents were used to test the extracts' potential antinociceptive effect to reduce pain. Results: Inflammation was decreased by 64.59% with CL crude extract (400 mg/kg); 56.34% (400 mg/kg) of methanol fraction, 64.59% of aqueous fraction (400 mg/kg), and 38.27% of chloroform fraction in the carrageenan-induced inflammatory model. All extracts demonstrated a considerable lengthening of the nociception reaction time in the hot plate test, with a maximum antinociceptive effect of 78.98% (crude extract) and 71.65% (solvent fractions). At a dosage of 400 mg/kg, the natural C. latifolia crude extract and aqueous fraction demonstrated considerable antinociceptive effects against acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) during the writhing test (48.83% and 45.37than%, respectively). The current findings support Ethiopia's traditional user's assertions that the herb can alleviate inflammation and pain.
RESUMO
Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Ethiopia, the indigenous medicinal plant Commelina latifolia Hochst. ex C.B. Clarke leaves are used to treat malaria and wounds. Aim of the study: In this work, the antiplasmodial activity of Commelina latifolia crude leaf extract and solvent fractions against Plasmodium berghei-infected mice was investigated. Materials and methods: 80% methanol was used to extract the leaves of C. latifolia, and the crude extract was fractionated using chloroform, pure methanol, and distilled water. All test compounds were undergone an acute oral toxicity test before being put through Peter's 4-day suppressive test to see if they have antiplasmodial activity. The hydroalcoholic crude extract and chloroform fraction were additionally assessed for antimalarial activity using curative and prophylactic tests in P. berghei-infected laboratory mice. Results: All of the tested crude extracts were safe at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. At 400 mg/kg dose both the 80% methanol extract and chloroform fraction exhibited antimalarial activity with parasitemia suppression values of 86.31%, and 76.56% in the four-day suppressive test, 81.97% and 72.05% in Rane's test, and 69.05% and 62.88% in the prophylactic test, respectively. Conclusion: Collectively, the oral dose of Commelina latifolia is safe, and reveals promising antimalarial activity. The findings backed up the utilization of the plant in traditional medicine to treat malaria.
RESUMO
Background: Wounds continue to be a difficult clinical problem, with early and late consequences causing significant morbidity and death. As a result, proper wound management is critical. In addition to contemporary medicine, medicinal herbs serve an essential role in the treatment of wounds and bacterial infections. Z. scabra is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used to treat wounds. However, there are no scientific reports on solvent fraction wound healing activities. As a result, the current study presents a scientific assessment of the wound healing ability of the solvent fractions of Z. scabra leaves. Methods: The leaves were crushed and macerated three times in 80% methanol. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of simple ointment at 5% w/w and 10 percent w/w strengths were prepared using the fusion technique based on the British Pharmacopoeia. Excision and incision wound models were used to assess the solvent fractions' wound healing activities. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of crude and solvent fractions was tested in mice utilizing a carrageenan-induced hindpaw edema model. Results: In rats, a test dose of 2000 mg/kg of the 10% w/w crude extract ointment was found to be safe. Groups treated with the 5% and 10% ethyl acetate fractions of the extract experienced significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01) wound reduction in the excision wound model. When compared to the negative control, the length of epithelization in groups treated with 10% ethyl acetate fraction and aqueous fractions of Z. scabra was statistically significant (p 0.001). By lowering the amount of carrageenan-induced paw edema, the leaf extract and the chloroform fraction of Z. scabra demonstrated a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. Conclusion: The extract showed remarkable wound healing and anti-inflammatory activity and might be recommended for the treatment of many types of human wounds.
RESUMO
Background: Scientists and researchers continue to focus on medicinal plants as a potential source of lead chemicals in the search for and development of new antiepileptic medicines. Biophytum umbraculum Welw. Syn is used to treat epilepsy in Ethiopian traditional medicine. The anticonvulsant effect of Biophytum umbraculum Welw. Syn hydroalcoholic extract and solvent fractions was evaluated in this study since the claim has not been thoroughly explored. Methods: The plant's root was extracted using the maceration procedure, with aqueous, butanol, and chloroform as solvents. The maximum electroshock and pentylenetetrazol model tests were used to assess anticonvulsant activity. Mice were divided into five groups (n = 6) at random. The test groups received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract and solvent fraction, respectively. For the maximum electric shock test, the positive control groups received 25 mg/kg phenytoin and 200 mg/kg valproate for the pentylenetetrazol test. The negative control was given 10 mL/kg of pure water or 2% Tween 80. Results: There were no signs of toxicity in the hydroalcoholic extract or solvent extraction. When compared to the negative control, the hydro-alcoholic extract had a significant anticonvulsant effect in both the maximum electric shock test and the pentylenetetrazol test. In both cases, the butanol component had a comparable impact. In the pentylenetetrazol test, the chloroform fraction had a significant anticonvulsant effect when compared to the control at dosages of MB200 and MB400. Flavonoids, phenols, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, and saponins were found in both the hydroalcoholic and solvent fractions of the plant extract. Conclusion: The plant appears to have promising anticonvulsant properties, and it might be used to generate novel anti-epileptic drugs, according to this study.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The evolution of resistance to currently used malaria medicines together with the severe economic burden of malaria initiates the search for novel antimalarial drugs. Thus, the present experiment was intended to assess the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of Gardenia ternifolia based on the traditional claims and in vitro antimalarial effect of the plant. METHODS: For the crude extraction of stem barks of G. ternifolia, a cold maceration method using hydromethanol as a solvent was employed. The hydroalcoholic extract was then fractionated by three solvents (chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous solvent) with different polarity indexes. Swiss albino mice infected with the chloroquine-sensitive malaria parasite (Plasmodium berghei) were used in this study. Acute oral toxicity study was done according to standard protocols. Four-day suppressive (hydromethanolic crude extract and solvent fractions), Rane's (crude extract), and repository (crude extract) tests were used to examine the antiplasmodial effects of the study plant. RESULTS: The chemosuppressive study revealed that all doses of the crude extract and its fractions displayed a significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of parasitemia compared with the vehicle (negative control). The crude extract's highest dose (600 mg/kg) showed the maximum (57.84%) parasitemia suppression during the chemosuppressive test. The crude extract also produced significant (P < 0.001) curative and prophylactic effects at all doses in Rane's and repository tests compared with the negative control. In the 4-day test, the n-butanol fraction produced parasitemia suppression higher than the chloroform fraction but lower than the crude extract. Of these, water fractions demonstrated the lowest chemosuppressive effect. Anthraquinone, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids were qualitatively detected in the plant material. CONCLUSION: The current results showed that the hydromethanolic extract and fractions of G. ternifolia stem barks have antiplasmodial action with a high curative effect. Chloroform and n-butanol fractions were more active among the fractions, indicating that the nonpolar and semipolar constituents of the plant are responsible for the antimalarial effects.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The increase in antimicrobial resistance worldwide has necessitated the search for alternative therapeutic agents. The leaf extracts of Ritchiea albersii and Cynoglossum amplifolium have been used as traditional medicine for the management of eye, ear and wound infections in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of R. albersii and C. amplifolium against three common bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, the antimicrobial properties of 80% methanol, chloroform and acetone extracts of R. albersii and C. amplifolium were evaluated against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619) and one Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) using the agar-well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin 0.05 mg/disc was used as a positive control. Furthermore, a preliminary phytochemical study was carried out. RESULTS: The zones of inhibition shown by all extracts of the two plants against the tested bacteria were significantly lesser (P < 0.05) than the standard drug. E. coli and S. aureus were the most susceptible strains for most extracts studied. The acetone extract of R. albersii exhibited a higher inhibitory effect (P < 0.05) against S. pneumoniae (16 mm) and E. coli (19 mm) compared with its methanol extract. The chloroform extract of R. albersii was more effective than its methanol extract (P < 0.05) against all tested bacteria. The acetone extract of C. amplifolium displayed a higher inhibitory effect (20 mm) against E. coli than its methanol and chloroform extracts. CONCLUSIONS: The leaf extracts of R. albersii and C. amplifolium exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, highlighting their potential as phytotherapeutic drugs in preventing and treating infections caused by S. aureus, S. pneumoniae and E. coli. Further investigations for isolating specific compounds and elucidating mechanisms are required to address the need for novel antibacterial drugs.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Evolution of antimalarial drug resistance makes the development of new drugs a necessity. Important source in search of such drugs is medicinal plants. Gardenia ternifolia plant is used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria and is endowed with in vitro antimalarial activity. Herein, the in vivo antimalarial activity of the plant was investigated. METHODS: Acute toxicity was carried out using a standard procedure. A 4-day suppressive test was employed to evaluate the antimalarial effect of methanolic crude extract and solvent fractions of the plant. The curative and prophylactic effect of crude extract was further tested by Ranes's test and residual infection procedure, respectively, using Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) in Swiss albino mice. RESULTS: The chemosuppressive effect exerted by the crude extract and fractions ranged between 30-59% and 14-51%, respectively. Curative and prophylactic effects of the crude extract were in the range of 36-63% and 24-37%, respectively. All dose levels of the crude extract prevented loss of weight, reduction in temperature, and anemia on early and established infection. Butanol and chloroform fractions also did reverse reduction in temperature, body weight, and packed cell volume. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the plant has a promising antiplasmodial activity and it could be considered as a potential source to develop new antimalarial agents.