Abstract
Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a very prized plant among traditional healers in Africa. Its leaves are used for its antipyretic properties in traditional areas. The aim of our study is to determine the acute toxicity and the antipyretic activity of a methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves. Acute toxicity was assessed by measuring mortality, changes in body weight, spontaneous movements, and normal rectal temperature in mice. Antipyretic activity was evaluated by brewer’s yeast-induced hyperpyrexia in rats according to Teotino method (1963). The antipyretic effect of methanolicextract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves was compared with paracetamol (100 mg/kg bw) orally. Groups of mice treated with doses of 6500; 3250; 1625 and 812.5mg/kg of the extract did not show any mortality, nor significant alteration of body weight, nor alteration of spontaneous movements. However, incomplete reversed dose-dependent hypothermic activity was observed with doses of 50.78; 101.56; 203.12; 406.25; and 812.5 mg/kg p.o. of the extract, showing acute toxicity of this plant. In the antipyretic assay, the extract with doses of 50.78; 101.56; 203.12; 406.25; and 812.5 mg/kg p.o. exhibited a significant dose-dependent antipyretic activity similar to paracetamol (100 mg/kg bw) in rats. Thus Alchornea cordifolia may inhibit prostaglandins-biosynthesis from hypothalamus. Our results support claims on its traditional uses in management of fever. However Alchornea cordifolia may affect hypothalamus not only during fever but also when body temperature is normal.
Highlights
Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon, as a remedy for several diseases
The aim of our study was to determine the acute toxicity and the antipyretic activity of the methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves in rats
Fresh Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. and Thonn.) leaves were harvested in the Floristic National Center of Abidjan and the collected leaves were given to the botanic expert Prof Aké-Assi Laurent affiliated with the University of Cocody (Abidjan), who verified their uniformity with the specimens previously deposited and catalogued in the herbarium of the Floristic National Center of Abidjan
Summary
Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon, as a remedy for several diseases. Previous studies revealed no mortality in mice in acute toxicity tests, several pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial [2,3,4], antiameobic [5], antimalarial [6], anti-inflammatory [7,8], antispasmodic [9], antioxidant [10], antidiarrheic [11], and anti-stress properties [12]. There is no existing pharmacological data that indicated the antipyretic activity of Alchornea cordifolia. The aim of our study was to determine the acute toxicity and the antipyretic activity of the methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves in rats
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