Abstract
BackgroundA decoction of Crassocephallum vitellinum (Benth.) S. Moore (Asteraceae) is used in Kagera Region to treat peptic ulcers. This study seeks to evaluate an aqueous ethanol extract of aerial parts of the plant for safety and efficacy.MethodsAn 80% ethanolic extract of C. vitellinum at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body wt was evaluated for ability to protect Sprague Dawley rats from acidified ethanol gastric ulceration in comparison with 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. The extract and its dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions were also evaluated for acute toxicity in mice, brine shrimp toxicity, and antibacterial activity against four Gram negative bacteria; Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella typhi (NCTC 8385), Vibrio cholera (clinical isolate), and Streptococcus faecalis (clinical isolate). The groups of phytochemicals present in the extract were also determined.ResultsThe ethanolic extract of C. vitellinum dose-dependently protected rat gastric mucosa against ethanol/HCl insult to a maximum of 88.3% at 800 mg/kg body wt, affording the same level of protection as by 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. The extract also exhibited weak antibacterial activity against S. typhi and E. coli, while its ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and aqueous fractions showed weak activity against K. pneumonia, S.typhi, E. coli and V. cholera. The extract was non-toxic to mice up to 5000 mg/kg body wt, and the total extract (LC50 = 37.49 μg/ml) and the aqueous (LC50 = 87.92 μg/ml), ethyl acetate (LC50 = 119.45 μg/ml) and dichloromethane fractions (88.79 μg/ml) showed low toxicity against brine shrimps. Phytochemical screening showed that the extract contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids.ConclusionThe results support the claims by traditional healers that a decoction of C.vitellinum has antiulcer activity. The mechanism of cytoprotection is yet to be determined but the phenolic compounds present in the extract may contribute to its protective actions. However, the dose conferring gastro-protection in the rat is too big to be translated to clinical application; thus bioassay guided fractionation to identify active compound/s or fractions is needed, and use of more peptic ulcer models to determine the mechanism for the protective action.
Highlights
A decoction of Crassocephallum vitellinum (Benth.) S
Antibacterial activity The results for antibacterial activity (Table 2) indicate that the total extract had weak activity against Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli with Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.125 mg/ml
When the extract was fractionated to aqueous, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions the results show that the ethyl acetate fraction was active against the four bacteria used; i.e. K. pneumoniae, S. typhi, E
Summary
A decoction of Crassocephallum vitellinum (Benth.) S. Moore (Asteraceae) is used in Kagera Region to treat peptic ulcers. This study seeks to evaluate an aqueous ethanol extract of aerial parts of the plant for safety and efficacy. Moore (ASTERACEAE); Synonym: Gynura vitellina Benth is among plants used in Bukoba for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease [1]. The aerial parts of C. vitellinum are boiled with water and the resulting decoction is taken regularly for management of peptic ulcers [1]. The leaves are used in veterinary medicine for treatment of mastitis, fever, and to facilitate lactation and activity has been linked to the flavonoid content of the leaves [9]. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of the aerial parts of the plant was recently reported [10]. In refugee camps in Tanzania, traditional healers use the leaves of C. vitellinum for constipation and abortion [11].The leaves are used by the Haya people to treat gonorrhea [1]
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