Investigation of the methanol root extract of Cochlospermum planchonii for pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Some pharmacological activities of Cochlospermum planchonii Kunth (Cochlospermaceae) root extract were studied. The extract yielded 3.4% w/w dry matter. The extract was well tolerated in all doses (250- 3000 mg/kg bw, per os) used in the experiment. Brine shrimps lethality test gave LC₅₀ of 4.42 ppm at 95% confidence interval. The extract significantly (p <0.05) increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time at all doses. The extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kgbw, p.o.) significantly (p <0.05) decreased the paw licking time in the second (late) phase of the formalin test. Also, it significantly (p <0.05) decreased the number of acetic acid-induced writhings in all doses used. The anti-inflammatory study showed that the extract caused a biphasic inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema, similar to indomethacin (20 mg/kgbw). Despite the potent analgesic effect of the extract, it did not protect mice from leptazole-induced convulsions. The extract (250, 500, 1000 mg/kgbw p.o.) significantly (p <0.05) decreased blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The phytochemical tests showed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides and carbohydrates. In conclusion, C. planchonii root extract contains very potent bioactive compounds, which showed CNS depressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic effects with minimal toxicity. Therefore, it is endowed with a potential for pharmacological control of pain, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus.

Keywords::

• C. planchonii
• analgesic
• anti-inflammatory
• bioactive
• antihyperglycemic
• CNS depressant
• potent bioactive
• minimal toxicity

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to P. Ekwuno of the Department of Wildlife and Forestry, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, for the collection and identification of the plant material. We acknowledge Professor I.U. Asuzu of the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria for providing carrageenan used in this study and proof reading the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.