ANTI-PLASMODIAL, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITIES OF ALKALOID FRACTION OF Maytenus senegalensis LEAF IN MICE

Abstract

The treatment inadequacy and toxicity associated with conventional anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs calls for the search for alternatives from medicinal plants, particularly. In the present study, alkaloid fraction of Maytenus senegalensis leaf was evaluated for anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity test were conducted using standard procedures. Antimalarial studies was conducted using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and four days suppressive test was used at fraction concentrations of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory study were conducted using egg albumin induced paw-oedema and hot plate induced thermal stimuli respectively at fraction concentrations of 75 and 150 mg/kg bw. Sub-acute toxicity study was conducted by administering the extract to rats (5 each group) at dose of 0, 75 and 150 mg/kg bw for 28 days. Results obtained indicated that Maytenus senegalensis crude methanol extract contains alkaloids (198.46±2.56 mg/g) as the most abundant phytochemical while tannins were the least (12.45±0.95 mg/g). The alkaloid fraction had LD50 of> 5000 mg/kg bw and showed dose dependent anti-plasmodial activity with suppressive effects of 38.22±0.53%, 69.80±0.28% and 79.43±0.42% at 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw respectively. Alkaloid fraction also exhibited 53.16±4.09% and 60.76±7.54% anti-inflammatory effects, 43.35±4.98%% and 44.83±3.86% analgesic effects at 75 and 150 mg/kg bw respectively. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of 3 alkaloids; 20α)-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-24-nor-friedela-1(10),3,5,7-tetraen-carboxylic acid-(29)-methylester, 2(4H)-Benzofuranone, 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro- and 3-hydroxy-20(29)-lupen-28-ol and a terpenes (phytol) as the major constituents of the alkaloid fraction. Alkaloid fraction increases the serum total proteins and transaminases concentrations but had no effect on sodium, potassium, chloride, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride and glucose concentrations in the mice. Based on the result obtained, it can be concluded that the alkaloid fraction of M. senegalensis leaf exhibited promising antimalarial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.