Antihepatotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities of Harungana madagascariensis Leaf Extracts

Abstract

The antimicrobial and antihepatotoxic activities of the leaf extracts of Harungana madagascariensis were tested in vivo and in vitro. The leaf was extracted with petroleum ether and 70% ethanol, respectively, and the ethanol extract was recovered in a 0.02% yield. The LD₅₀ of the extract in mice at 24 hours was 200 mg/kg (i.p.). Challenged mice showed neurologic signs prior to death. Intraperitoneal injection of the extract into mice had no significant effect on pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis. Pentobarbitone-induced sleep in CCl₄-poisoned rats was significantly reduced (P < 0.005) by oral administration of the ethanol extract (70 mg/kg). CCl₄-induced elevation of serum GOT and GPT in rats was also significantly attenuated (P <0.005) by the ethanol extract. Antimicrobial evaluation of the differential solvent extracts of H. madagascariensis revealed that the ethanol fraction was bacteriocidal against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and fungicidal for Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans.

Keywords::

• Antihepatoxic
• antimicrobial activities
• Harungana madagascariensis