PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIMICROBIAL AND CYTOTOXICITY STUDIES OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF APHANIASENEGALENSIS (SAPINDACEAE)

Background:

Aphania senegalensis (Sapindaceae) is commonly used in Senegalese traditional medicine to treat pain, inflammation, asthenia, bacterial and fungal infections.

The aim of this study was to determine the type of phytochemical constituents present in the ethanol leaf extract and its antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Materials and Methods:

The ethanol leaf extract of A. senegalensis was evaluated for its cytotoxic effect in the MTT assay against Vero cells. Flavonoids and tannins were the main constituents of the ethanol leaf extract.

Results:

The extract inhibited the growth of the three fungal strains used in this study moderately with the lowest MIC obtained for Candidaalbicans (0.16 mg/mL). The extract also inhibited the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans with an MIC of 0.62 mg/mL. For bacterial pathogens, strong inhibition was obtained against Enterococcusfaecalis (ATTC 29212) (MIC 0.08 mg/mL), while moderate inhibition was obtained for Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922) (MIC 0.16 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATTC 29213) (MIC 0.31mg/mL). The extract however did not inhibit the growth of Pseudomonasaeruginosa (ATTC 27853) at the highest concentration (2.5 mg/ml) tested. The ethanol leaf extract of A. senegalensis had a higher cytotoxicity than berberine used as the positive control (LC₅₀2.67±0.04 µg/mL and 9.99±0.54 µg/mL respectively). The best selectivity index values was obtained for Enterococcus faecalis (SI = 1.24), followed by Escherichia coli (SI = 0.62) for bacterial pathogens and C. albicans (SI = 0.62) for fungal pathogens.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study suggest that the extracts may not be safe for use in animals infected by some pathogens.

[Myorelaxant and antispasmodic activity of ethanolic total extract's fractions of roots of Cassia sieberiana D.C. (Caesalpiniaceae) on isolated wistar rat ileum]

INTRODUCTION

Cassia sieberiana DC (CAESALPINIACEAE) is a plant which grows in Southern Senegal. Its roots are used by traditional medicinal practitioners for its s pasmolytic and antiparasitic properties. The objective of our study was to investigate the myorelaxant and antispasmodic activity of the roots of C. sieberiana on the isolated Wistar rat ileum.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The powder of the roots of C. sieberiana was treated in a soxhlet with ethanol at 90 degrees. After dry evaporation, the extract was dissolved into water before successive treatments with ethyl acetate and butanol. Ethyl acetate, butanolic and aqueous residual fractions as well as the ethanolic total extract were tested on isolated rat ileum.

RESULTS

The mean of inhibition Percentage (MIP) of the basal tonus of rat ileum after the total ethanolic extract (75 microg/ml) treatment was 50.51 +/- 10.18% (p < 0.05, n=5). Ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions were significantly more active on the ileal basal tonus to the one of total ethanolic extract. At 37.5 microg/ml, it decreased the ileal basal tonus with MIP respectively to 70.46 +/- 5.18% and 60.61 +/- 1.5% (p < 0.05, n=5). In contrast, the residual aqueous fraction was not active at all. After intestine precontracted with acetylcholine, the total ethanolic extract (MIP=52 +/- 20.49%) as well as the butanolic (MIP = 73 +/- 6.09%) and the ethyl acetate (MIP = 71 +/- 4.07 %) (p < 0.05, n=5) fractions induced a significant decrease of spasms (p < 0.05) (n=5).

CONCLUSION

the butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions of the roots of C. sieberiana were more potent than the total ethanolic extract to induce myorelaxant a nd antispasmodic activity on isolated rat ileum. This study provides a pharmacological basis for a rational use of the roots of C. sieberiana in traditional medicine to treat gastro-intestinal disorders.

[Antipyretic effect of aqueous extract and alcaloid of Tinospora bakis (Miers) in rabbits]

Lyophilised aqueous extract and alcaloidic totum (basic form) from roots of Tinospora bakis (Miers) have been tested with hyperthermic rabbits by sub-cutaneous administration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mixture at 2g/kg. Total aqueous extract had been orally administrated at three doses: 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg and we obtained significant antipyretic effects at 300 and 600 mg/kg. With the alcaloidic totum at 2.5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg (per os) corresponding to 150 and 600 mg/kg of the aqueous extract, we have observed significant antipyretic effects as compared with those of Aspirin used as reference product. These results show that aqueous extract of Tinospora bakis (Miers) has an antipyretic effect and total alcaloids could account for this activity.

[Preparation of a syrup with Bakis roots (Tinospora bakis) and evaluation of its choleretic activity in rats]

The aim of this work was to prepare a pharmaceutical using the aqueous extract of bakis roots and to check if the choleretic activity of this latter was maintained in cholestatic rats. So, a sirup was prepared and tested. The obtained results had shown that the aqueous extract maintained its choleretic activity. Indeed, when it was used at a dose of about 7.5 mg/100 g of weight, the sirup induced a significant increase of bilary secretion in healthy rats and cholestatic rats, confirming the results observed with the aqueous extract. Therefore, futher investigations in order to improve the quality of the sirup can be considered before performing clinical trials.

[Toxocological study of Guiera senegalensis Lam (Combretaceae)]

The study was based on an aqueous extract derived from a 60 degrees ethanolic tincture containing 0.032 g of dry matter per ml. The leaves of Guiera senegalensis Lam (Combretaceae) were collected in December 1991 at Nguekhokh a village within 20 km from Mbour (Senegal). The extract was administered for six months through daily forced-feeling at 2 g/kg to Wistar male and female rats whose weight at the beginning of the experiment tanged between 140 g and 180 g. The urine was analysed during the study and the animals were weighed every four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals were slaughtered and various analyses carried out. Haematological features in relation with erythropoiesis, haemoglobinogenesis and leucopoiesis, were studied in relation with renal and hepatic functions; biochemical features too. Some organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, cerebellum, spleen and liver) were removed and examined in order to detect possible lesions following the experiment. Judging by the results, Guiera senegalensis Lam (Combretaceae), as used in the experiment, did not show any significant toxicity.

[Antibacterial activity of essential oils from mint in Senegal]

Three species of the Mentha gender are found in Senegal under the name of "Nana", and are essentially used in tea and juices as flavour. The aerial parts of the three species (common mint, mentholated mint and "fass" mint) have been harvested two months after they have been sown and the extraction of the essential oils was done by carrying them away with water vapour by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were used to study the antibacterial potency (typing of the Minimal Inhibitory concentrations-MIC) by the agar dilution method. This survey has been carried out on ten bacterial strains among which three (3) ATCC reference stubs, and on one fungus (Candida albicans). The MIC found was less than 25 mcg/ml; these results show an antibacterial potency according to the NCCLS norms (MIC < 256 mcg/ml). The tested strains were more sensitive to the essential oil of the "common mint" than the "fass mint". Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most resistant strain and Candida albicans the most sensitive agent.

[Application of phytotherapy in odontology: the case of Euphorbia balsamifera. Endodontic clinical trial]

Phytotherapy is a medicinal and ancestral practice in Africa. It deals with all the fields of human pathology. We wanted to ascertain the efficacy of some plants used in odontology as Euphorbia balsamifera traditionally used as antalgic treatment of acute dental pulpitis. The latex of the plant was caught and treated as to get enough stable paste. We used that paste in the same conditions we use arsenical nerve caustics, a pulpal devitalizer widely used in dental offices. The study carried out on 37 teeth has shown that latex of Euphorbia balsamifera is an effective pulpal devitalizing in contact with the pulp. Its lifetime action was comparable to that of the pulpal nerve caustics. The active principles are not known, however the product seems attractive as a pulpal devitalizing agent.

[Antihypertensive action of Parkia biglobosa+ (Jacq) Benth seeds in the rat]

Hundred white Wistar rats have been used to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of entire seeds and decorticated, fermented seeds of a soudanian plant, Parkia biglobosa. The arterial blood pressure was measured by using bloody method in anesthizied animals. The Pham Huu Chanh method was used to determine type plant's antihypertensive activity. According to the results obtained, in both preparations, adequate doses decrease arterial blood pressure, diastolic more than systolic, but the effect of fermented seeds was more important than the entire seeds. In the two cases, the decrease in blood pressure is greated in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects, and the hypotension induced was well correlated with a bradycardia.