Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the

Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae)

Keywords: Ritchiea longipedicellata, brewer’s yeast, rectal thermometer and paracetamol.

ABSTRACT: Purpose-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was claimed to have anti pyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial properties. The people of Idemili area in Anambra State of Nigeria use the decoction of it to treat wounds, running stomach, aches and pains as well as fever. It is to this backdrop that this investigation was carried out to ascertain the veracity of the claim.

Methodology-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was collected and dried at ambient temperature. It was pulverized into powder. 500 gm of the powdered drug was placed into a two litre beaker containing one litre of methanol. It was allowed to stand with occasional shaking for 48 h. The content was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated using rotary evaporator. The extract contains the following secondary metabolites-alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides. The antipyretic activity was investigated using brewer’s yeast to induce pyrexia.

Result -The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata exhibited significant (p<0.05) antipyretic effect at 600 mg/kg from 1 h to 4 h and at 3 h to 4 h at 300 mg/kg compared with the control.

Conclusion-The claim of Idemili people of Anambra State Nigeria on the use of Ritchiea longipedicellata appears to be obvious in line with the results of the investigation.

192-195 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 2

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Journal of Research in

Plant Sciences An International Scientific

Research Journal

Authors: Chinedu Fred Anowi 1,

Ezugwu CO2, Ilodigwe EE3,

Ajaghaku DL4 .

Institution: 1.Department of

Pharmacognosy and

Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical

Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

2.Department of Pharmacognosy and

Traditional Medicine,

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe

University, Awka. 3. Department of

Pharmacology and

Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 4.Department of Pharmacology and

Toxicology, Faculty of

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

Awka.

Corresponding author: Chinedu Fred Anowi

Web Address:

http://plantsciences.info

documents/PS0048.pdf.

Dates: Received: 26 Dec 2012 Accepted: 10 Jan 2013 Published: 20 Apr 2013

Article Citation: Chinedu Fred Anowi, Ezugwu CO, Ilodigwe EE, Ajaghaku DL. Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae) Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195

Original Research

Journal of Research in Plant Sciences

Jou

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Plan

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An International Scientific Research Journal

INTRODUCTION

The role of medicinal plants in primary

healthcare delivering system have long been established

(Sofowora, 1982). Population growth, inaccessibility and

inadequate supply of drugs, cost, side effects and

resistance to currently used drugs, have encouraged the

wide use of natural products as sources of medicines. In

south eastern Nigeria, R. longipedicellata have been

employed in the treatment of many disease conditions.

The root and leaves when chewed, relieve pain, cold,

and upper respiratory tract infections. It is as well use for

the treatment of typhoid fever, malaria and general

illness.

Normal body temperature is regulated by

complex mechanisms involving the coordination of

autonomic, endocrine and behavioral responses (Dalal

and Zhukovsky, 2006). Pyrexia or fever which is an

elevation of normal body temperature is caused as a

secondary consequence of infection and disease. These

conditions trigger the enhanced formation of

proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF) which

stimulate the central production of the inducible enzyme

cyclooxygenase (COX)2 and subsequently, the

production of prostaglandin of the E series (Matsumura,

1990). These prostaglandins activate thermoregulatory

neurons of the hypothalamic area to elevate body

temperature. High fever contributed to disease

progression through tissue catabolism and dehydration.

Most synthetic agents targeting COX-2 have been

associated with toxic effects on the hepatic cells,

glomeruli, cortex of brain and heart muscles. A natural

remedy with reduced or no toxicity is therefore desirable.

This study aimed at evaluation of the antipyretic

potentials of the methanol extract of the rootbark of

R. longipedicellata.

Plant Collection and Identification

The rootbark of R. longipedicellata was collected

from Echialike in Ikwo Local Government Area of

Ebonyi State, Nigeria in January, 2012 and was

identified by a Taxanomist Mr. Alfred Ozioko of

Bioresource Development and Conservation Project,

Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was subsequently

cleaned, air dried and pulverized.

Extraction

About 500 g of powdered dried rootbark was

cold macerated in 1 L of methanol for 48 h with

occasional agitations. The extract was subsequent filtered

and concentrated in vaccuo at 40°C using rotary

evaporator.

Phytochemical Analysis

The phytochemical analysis of the extract was

done using the standard methods (Odebiyi and Sofowora,

1978; Treas and Evans, 1983).

Experimental animals

Adult albino mice 25-30 g and rats 150 -180 g of

both sex were obtained from the Department of

Pharmacology/Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical

Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus,

Anambra State, Nigeria. The animals were maintained in

standard animal conditions and were allowed free access

to food and water ad libitum.

Acute toxicity

The acute toxicity studies was done using

Lorke’s method (Lorke, 1983). The study was done in

two phases. The first phase comprise of nine mice that

were grouped into three groups of three animals each and

were given 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract (p.o).

The mice were monitored for obvious signs and

Anowi et al.,2013

193 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195

Table 1: Result of Phytochemical Screening of

R. longipedicellata

Secondary Metabolites Presence or absence of the

metabolites (+,-)

Alkaloids +

Tannins -

Flavonoids +

Saponins +

Steroids -

symptoms of toxicity and mortality 24 h post-

administration. For the second phase, four mice were

grouped into four groups of one animal each and were

given 1500, 2500, 3500 and 5000 mg/kg (p.o) of the

extract and were observed for another 24 h post

administration.

Anti-pyretic Activity-Brewer’s yeast induced

hyperexia method

Twenty albino rats of either sexes were divided

into four groups of five animals in each group. The

normal body temperature of each rat was measured

rectally at one hour interval for seven hours. The

antipyretic activities of the extract were evaluated using

the method described by (Pendota et al., 2009).

Hyperthermia was induced in all the four groups by

subcutaneous injection of 20% brewer’s yeast (w/v)

suspended in 0.5% (w/v) methyl cellulose solution. After

18 hrs of yeast injection, the vehicle (5% tween 80),

standard drug (paracetamol 150 mg/kg) and the extract

(300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) were orally administered to

different groups respectively. Rectal temperature was

recorded using clinical thermometer at 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 and

4 h after drugs administration.

Statistical Analysis

The result was presented as mean + SEM. The

data was analysed for statistical significance by one-way

ANOVA test using SPSS 16.0; P values < 0.05 were

considered significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The result of the phytochemical screening

revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Glycosides,

Flavonoids, Saponins, Terpenoids (Table 1). These

phytocompounds have been reported to have good

antipyretic activities (Al-said et al., 1990; Mossa et al.,

1991; Singh et al., 2000).

No death or signs of obvious acute toxicity was

observed at dose up to 5000 mg/kg an indication of

likely safety of this extract. The antipyretic activity

exhibited by the methanol extract is dose and time

dependent. The inhibition produced by the extract at

600 mg/kg was comparable to that of paracetamol at

150 mg/kg as both showed significant (p<0.05)

antipyretic activity from 1 h to 4 h (Table 2). At

300 mg/kg, the extract showed significant (p<0.05)

antipyretic activity at 3 and 4 h.

Increased synthesis of prostaglandins have been

reported as mechanism of yeast induced pyrexia

(Al-Ghamdi, 2001). The anti-pyretic activity of the

extract may have been mediated through inhibition of

COX-2 thus reduction of prostaglandin E2 concentration

or by bosting production of body’s own antipyretic

substances like vasopressin and glucocorticoids.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that the root of

Ritchiea longipecellata has a lot of potential as

antipyretic agent. These observed activities appear to

justify the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant.

Anowi et al.,2013

Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195 194

Table 2: Antipyretic Activity of R. longipedicellata

Treatment Dose Rectal Temperature in oC at various times (h)

(mg/kg) -18 0 1 2 3 4

Control 10 ml/kg 37.3+0.4 39.7+0.2 39.6+0.2 39.5+0.2 39.3+0.2 39.3+0.2

Extract 300 37.5+0.3 40.2+0.2 40.0+0.3 39.8+0.4 *39.5+0.4 *39.1+0.3

Extract 600 37.7+0.3 40.1+0.2 *38.0+0.2 *37.6+0.2 *38.8+0.4 *38.2+0.4

Paraceutamol 150 37.5+0.2 40.5+0.3 *38.9+0.1 *38.5+0.2 *37.7+0.2 *37.1+0.2

Values are expressed as mean + SEM; n = 6; * p<0.05 compared with 0 h of the same group

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