Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Activities, and Phytochemical Analysis of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC (Ebenaceae): A Review.

Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the traditional uses, pharmacology, and phytochemical analysis of D. mespiliformis, with the objective of identifying its therapeutic potential for further research. Scientific resources, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Scopus, were used to find pertinent data on D. mespiliformis. Secondary metabolites tentatively identified from this species were primarily terpenoids, naphthoquinones, phenolics, and coumarins. D. mespiliformis has been reported to demonstrate pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-hypersensitivity, and antidiabetic properties. The phytochemicals and extracts from D. mespiliformis have been reported to have some pharmacological effects in in vivo studies and were not toxic to the animal models that were utilized. The D. mespiliformis information reported in this review provides researchers with a comprehensive summary of the current research status of this medicinal plant and a guide for further investigation.

ln vitro inhibition of beta-hematin formation and in vivo effects of Diospyros mespiliformis and Mondia whitei methanol extracts on chloroquine-susceptible Plasmodium berghei-induced malaria in mice.

Background and aim: This study was carried out to investigate antiplasmodial activities of Diospyros mespiliformis (DM) and Mondia whitei (MW) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Materials and methods: Air-dried stem of DM and root of MW were soaked in methanol, decanted and concentrated to give extracts. Parts of these extracts were partitioned successively to give dichloromethane, ethylacetate and methanol fractions. Mice (18 ± 3 g) were infected with Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes from a donor mouse and were treated with the extracts, while the drug control group received 10 mg/kg body weight of artesunate and the parasitized control received the vehicle (5% v/v DMSO). Percentage parasitemia and clearance were estimated from thin films of blood smear. Hematological parameters were determined using standard methods. Both extracts were also tested on in vitro inhibition of ß-hematin formation. Results discussion and conclusion: Results showed that DM had the least percentage parasitemia (0.67%) and highest percentage parasite clearance (84.7%) while the MW had 0.89% percentage parasitemia and 79.7% clearance at the highest dose used after the seventh day relative to untreated control. The cell free antiplasmodial activity of the fractions and extracts of both DM and MW revealed that DM significantly inhibited ß-hematin formation than MW. The packed cell volume, white blood cell count, Lymphocyte, Eosinophil, Monocyte and Neutrophil significantly increased in the treated groups compared with the control. The results showed that the DM had higher antiplasmodial activity.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity evaluation of the crude methanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis hochst ex a. Dc (ebenaceae) and its fractions.

Diospyros mespiliformis, commonly called Jackal berry or African ebony, belongs to the plant family, Ebenaceae. The roots, barks and leaves have been used traditionally to treat wide varieties of conditions, however, there is limited information and literature reports concerning the toxicity and safety of this plant. The present study was conducted to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the crude methanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis and its fraction in Wistar rats. Diospyros mespiliformis was extracted by methanol 96 %. The crude methanolic extract was then fractionated into low, average and high polar compounds using hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol respectively. For the acute toxicity study, the revised limit Dose Test of "Up and Down" procedure according to the OECD guideline was used to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of the crude methanolic leaf and bark extracts using a single fixed dose (5 g/kg) of the extracts administered by oral-gavage sequentially to 5 female Wistar rats. The rats were observed for instant death and toxicity signs for 24 h and then daily for 14 days. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, the bark and leaf ethyl acetate fractions (extract) was administered orally at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg bw /day respectively for 28 days to healthy Wistar rats. At the end of the experimental period, body weight, certain haematological, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Results showed that acute oral administration of crude methanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis (5 g/kg bw) produced neither mortality nor visible changes in behavior or any other physiological activities and indicated that the LD50 of crude methanolic leaf and bark extract was greater than 5 g/kg bw in Wistar Rats. In the 28-days repeated dose oral toxicity study, no significant toxic effects was detected in any of the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, the crude methanolic extract was found safe in the acute toxicity study and the ethyl acetate fraction of Diospyros mespiliformis in the sub chronic study in rats could be safe for therapeutic purposes over a period not exceeding 28 days.

Acute toxicity study and effect of prolonged administration (28 days) of crude ethanolic root extract of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst (Ebenaceae) on clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters of albino rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Different parts of the plant Diospyros mespiliformis have been used traditionally for the treatment of ailments in Nigeria particularly among the Kamwe people of Michika local government area of Adamawa State where the root has been used as an anti-malarial for ages. Most of the uses have been without any scientific evidence and toxicological assessment. The present study aimed to determine acute toxicity profile as well as the effect of prolonged administration of the extract on clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters of albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty and twenty-five Wistar rats of both sexes and of varying weights were, respectively, used for acute toxicity study and prolonged administration study of crude ethanolic root extract of Diospyros mespiliformis. The rats used for both studies were each administered graded concentrations of the extract (100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600mg/kg) for acute toxicity testing and (50, 100, 200 and 400mg/kg) for the study of the effect of prolonged administration. The rats used for acute toxicity study were observed for a period of 24h for signs of toxicity and eventual death while parameters for prolonged study were recorded at weekly interval starting from day zero up to day 28 post administration. RESULTS: The extract produced an intraperitoneal LD50 of 570mg/kg. Body weight changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05) while haematological parameters (packed cell volume (PCV)), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and differential leucocyte counts (DLC) were significantly modulated (p>0.05) after administration. Haematological indices (mean corpuscular volume (MCV)), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) were similarly modulated significantly (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The extract appeared to be moderately toxic while prolonged administration improved the blood parameters of rats, suggesting that the plant׳s extract at lower doses can be used for a prolonged period, without deleterious effect on the haematological profile and serum enzymes.