Abstract
This research work aimed to establish scientific basis for the use of Chamaecrista mimosoides, in traditional medicine as anti-epileptic medication. The whole plant part of Chamaecrista mimosoides was extracted with ethanol and screened for phytochemicals. Acute toxicity study was carried out using Lorke’s method and the antiepileptic activity was evaluated using maximal electroshock induced seizure test in day-old chicks, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine using mice. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and cardenolides. Both the chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol portions at 100, 250, and 500mg/kg body weight did not protect the chicks against tonic hind limb extension (THLE) in maximal electro-shock test (MEST). The chloroform and n-butanol portions at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight protected 40% and 60% of mice against clonic spasm induced by pentylenetetrazole, while ethyl-acetate soluble portion did not protect the mice against clonic spasm induced by pentylenetetrazole at all doses used when compared to Valproic acid (200 mg/kg) protected all the mice (100%) against clonic spasm induced by pentylenetetrazole. The chloroform soluble portion at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight protected 40%, 100%, 100% against death induced by strychnine, while ethylacetate and n-butanol portions did not protect the rats against death induced by strychnine but prolonged the onset of convulsion. In all the tests, phenobarbitone (20 mg/kg) was used as positive control and protected 80% of mice against convulsion induced by strychnine. The antiepileptic investigation suggests that the chloroform portion of Chamaecrista mimosoides has a promising antiepileptic activity. Â
Highlights
Plant products have been part of phytomedicines since time immemorial
Pharmacotherapy of epilepsy with available antiepileptic drugs (AED) is symptomatic as these drugs inhibit seizure and do not cure the underlying disease process in the brain (Schmidt, 2002)
The preliminary phytochemical screening of the whole plant extract of Chamaecrista mimosoides using ethanol and the 3 soluble portions using chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol as solvents revealed the presence of some phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins and tannins
Summary
Plant products have been part of phytomedicines since time immemorial. These can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds etc. (Newman and Cragg, 2001). Plant products have been part of phytomedicines since time immemorial These can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds etc. Medicinal plants are known to owe their curative potentials to certain biological active substances, which exist in parts of the plants. Chamaecrista mimosoides is an annual or short-lived perennial herb, sometimes prostrate but more commonly growing as an erect sub shrub up to 1.2 metres. This widespread plant was once placed in the genus Cassia. Pharmacotherapy of epilepsy with available AED is symptomatic as these drugs inhibit seizure and do not cure the underlying disease process in the brain (Schmidt, 2002)
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