Antihepatotoxic and Trypanocidal Effects of the Root Bark Extract of Uvaria chamae

Abstract

Antihepatotoxic and trypanocidal activities of a root bark extract derived from Uvaria chamae were tested in vivo and in vitro. The plant material was defatted with n -hexane and extracted with 70% ethanol. The ethanol extract was recovered in a 6.13% w/w yield. The LD 50 of the ethanol extract in mice at 24 hr was 166 mg/kg (i.p.). Intraperitoneal injection of the ethanol extract into mice showed no significant effect on pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis. Pentobarbitone-induced sleep in CCl 4 -poisoned rats was significantly reduced (p<0.005) by oral administration of the extract (60 mg/kg). The elevation of serum GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase and urea induced by CCl 4 intoxication in rats was also significantly reduced (p<0.005) by the ethanol extract. Uvaria chamae ethanol extract showed a significant (p<0.005) trypanocidal effect which was comparable to that of diminazine aceturate (r= 0.89). Reduction of existing parasitaemia in mice experimentally infected with Trypanasoma brucei brucei was dose-dependent.

Key Words:

• Uvaria chamae
• extracts
• antihepatotoxic
• trypanocidal effects